Dear Fox News,

Through the entire primary process I watched your network and have come to trust your reporting. I appreciate the “Fair and Balanced” approach.

I’ve learned something today that actually leaves me disappointed in Fox news. Today I learn from European news sources that Obama’s big Oregon rally was preceded by a free open to the public 45 minute concert by a very in demand musical group. I find out the same thing has just happened prior to Obama’s Berlin speech. Prior to his Berlin speech Obama hired (2) very popular music groups to perform.

Why haven’t you or other news organizations reported these facts? By not reporting these facts you give voters the false impression that all these people have gathered for the sole purpose of seeing Obama. While I’m sure the truth is somewhere in the middle - meaning that some came for Obama and some came for the music; the point is that this kind of information should be reported.

I’m sure this kind of thing is done in many campaigns but the point is that I’d like to know who uses these tactics and who doesn’t.

Thanks for listening,

Sincerely,
Ana Romanik

I saw the live broadcast on German TV which started few hours earlier than the actual speech, and at no point there were bands or musical acts shown.

Music was played, yes, but from records not from actual bands.

Germans everywhere are going nuts for Obama there was no need in hiring some musicians.

Anna,

I dont know which is worse, the fact you said fox is fair and balance or giving credit to the bands for people showing up. Come on.

“We report, you decide.” Hey fox you need to stick to your moto and report what really happened at todays obama speech. There was a thunder of applause that could be heard throughout berlin. That speech was nothign less than inspiring. This president has led more in his campaign than the bush administration has led in 8 years. Now, all of a sudden, bush is trying to create a withdrawl plan from iraq, and a surge in afganistan. Obama puts pressure on the entire world to be better and thats exactly thre leadership we need as a president.

Ana,

Are you emplying that the mucical performance before the speech actually “news”. I’ve gone to a few large rallys with speeches and there is usually some type of musical performance or activities, which is done to keep the people entertained while they wait. There is nothing unusual or tactful about doing it other than keeping the people happy.

Would you have felt better about today’s event and Oregon rally if the rally had very “unpopular” musical performances. Would you have preferred that 200,000 people sit there in silence for hours waiting on the start time. Yeah..that would have been safe. Think about it what you’re saying. The rally uses the energy from the music to get the people going. It would have been very “dry” to simply have 200,000 sitting thee in silence.

Nobody sees this as being important but you. Apparaently, you haven’t gone to any big rallys in your lifetime

“Ich bin ein “empty bag of warm air” - awesome ain’t it ?

We know that the Socialists and Communists Parties in Europe are behind this man. Where is the surprise at the crowds, since they boarded busses to go and see him?

What it is very sad, it’s the purported ignorance of the American press, which has been bought 100% by wealthy Liberals. NBC, CBA, ABC, and CNN are no longer objective; otherwise, why are they not asking the hard questions.

Obama in Europe is meaningless to this election. This was a first ever campaign visit for an inexperienced elitist socialist who desire to “change” America into something that mirror images the EU and that is NOT us…period. Obama can take hos socialism and take it to the EU and maybe run for a EU position…this is america and I believe Obama disrespects the american voters by having a rally in europe. Poor judgment once again.

Ah, could be the bands or the dancing girls that open the show, don’t ya think?
Of course the empty promises and free hand jobs don’t hurt either…

THE TRUTH: UNREPORTED FREE ROCK CONCERT BEFORE OBAMA SPOKE at Hit ler’s Victory Column.

Just like UNREPORTED FREE ROCK CONCERT before Obama spoke in Portland, Oregon.
Obama organizes these concerts and gives out the free tickets!

Dance BO Dance !

Blah! Blah! Blah!

Dear Ana,

I read your comment by accident and need to correct it immediately.

I’m German, living in Germany and following the coverage as well as the speech itself.

There was no seperate concert or any other event before Obama showed up.
I can guarantee you that every single of the more than 200,000 people came to see and hear Obama.

Please dont spread false informations, I don’t even know where your heard this?
At least 5 TV channels broadcasted the speech, including the 2 biggest national TV station hours before the speech and no concert was held.

So, sorry about that.

greetings from Germany

Hater!

As much as I do not agree with what Obama stands for, at least the Germans were waving the Stars and Stripes and not the Mexican flag. If the Germans like him so much they can have him. He is not the President yet and I don’t think he will be. When he does loose he can go over to Europe and live out his dream.

If drawing large crowds in other countries has become the criteria for electing our President, why don’t we just elect Michael Jackson … he’s just as qualified as Obama.

Shame on Obama for staging a political rally rather than visiting our troops in Germany…
I am one of thousands of Latino’s that will not vote for Obama. I am going to write in Hillay
Clinton’s name when I vote in November… Oh! by the way, it was reported in the media that Obama has already put together a transition team, How Arrogant is that??? I don’t dig the dude!!

John Mccain is jealous. He couldn’t even draw a crowd at the 4 o’clock early bird seniors 3.99 buffet dinner special if he tried.

Obama should have visited the troops instead he found it more important to give a wonderful speech. also Obama has already put together a transition team - How arrogant is that!!! I will not vote for this self centered trickster….I hope that there is a nominating roll call at the convention.
I will be writng in Clinton’s name come November… I am a Democrat that is disappointed with the choice of our party has made.

Wow! I think the music groups probably helped a little. But even the biggest musical acts aren’t able to get 200k plus to show up to a free concert. Obama is the draw. I can’t help but feel that there is a whole lot of flash and not enough substance though.

Car wrecks also draw big crowds

Ana,

Your point is well taken, but you should know that most political candidates utilize celebrities, musicians, ect, in their political events. Incidentally, McCain is doing a campaign appearance today with Lance Armstrong.

So to be fair (and balanced-no pun intended), if a political candidate hold a rally, specch, or event, and utilizes a celebrity or musician and thus draws a very small crowd, could we say that the most or all of those attending only showed up to see the celebrity?

What a surprise, socialist Germany loves Obama.

It is amazing that I can post intelligent responses on the fox website, but they never seem to appear. the type of “seemingly innocent” yet loaded posts like the one above may, or those who are not for mcCain but sound ignorant…but the reasonably well thought out intelligent responses by those who are behind Barack Obama to NOT seem to pass Fox censors. The other sites do post both sides. I just posted a response to the letter above, but, as usual, it didn’t get posted. so much for “fair and balanced”.. ha ha ha.

Yes, I read in the internet, that Obama Campaign hired two very popular bands in Germany and this concerts were free to the german people. Yes, I also believe that this should be reported as news. The Obama camp wants to mislead the american people that all those people came to hear Obama’s talk. Well I think they came to see the concert.

FOX,

I enjoy watching your reports, but I have to agree with Ana. Please report everything. Also could you take a look to see just how close Obama came to violating The Logan Act?

The Logan Act, codified at 18 U.S.C. § 953, states: Any citizen of the United States, wherever he may be, who, without authority of the United States, directly or indirectly commences or carries on any correspondence or intercourse with any foreign government or any officer or agent thereof, in relation to any disputes or controversies with the United States, or to defeat the measures of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both. This section shall not abridge the right of a citizen to apply, himself or his agent, to any foreign government or the agents thereof for redress of any injury which he may have sustained from such government or any of its agents or subjects.

There was more than one response to this. Fox very heavily censors mail to fit the ideological agenda.

The fact that there was a concert just prior to Obama’s speech(convinient), just like in Oregon during the primary, (again convinient) SHOULD be said. It makes a world of difference and yet ALL the media, INCLUDING FOX fails to report it. Is this the american way ??? I don’t think so.

Ana Romanil
The reason they did not mention that there was live music because that was NOT why the people of Berlin. If they were there for the free music the would have stated leaving before Obama came to the stage. They would not be waving American flags if they were there for the free concert so get over yourself and face the fact. They were there to see Soon to be President Obama. I know it hurt that your guy is losing, but it is what it is. And not matter how bad you want to believe the 200,000. People only came out for the free music it is just not true.

Imagine…Barack Obama putting himself in the same class as Jack Kennedy and Ronald Reagan.
To quote Lloyd Bentsen…”Senator, you are no Jack Kennedy!”

McCain

Ana, you sound like a bozo. They came to see and hear Obama.

Dear Ana,

Perhaps Foxnews didn’t see a local oregon band (that frequently performs free and has never had a crowd larger than 2,000) as “the draw” for Obama’s speech in Oregon.

Seriously Ana, do you really think there were that many people who just came for concerts and had absolutely no interest in hearing Obama speak? You are only kidding yourself. The numbers would only have been slightly less if the bands had not performed.

If anything, it shows Obama’s amazing ability to connect with his audience, regardless of the venue or the agenda. Why think nearly 200,000 Germans were waiving American flags? Could it possibly be that after 8 years of George Bush’s “your either with us or against us, love us or leave it mentality” the German people are actually excited by the possibility of a totally new, fresh and hopeful direction coming out of Washington in November?

Ana

Right On

But they did show it. How do you think he got all those people to come? Free conserts. Would you go if you did not have a free concert? Then just think he is campaigning in Berlin, Why? Is he running for president of Berlin too?

Take your Conservative trash and stick it in the same place you stuck the constitution.

Oh yes, get the youth vote by giving them what they want…something different than Mom and Dad are doing, and loud music. They have NO idea how they are being used at this time in their lives. Natural state exploited!

Obama claims to be a christian but he has denounced and refuted most christian beliefs.

Obama is a PHONY.

Beware of Obama.

Obama = FALSE PROPHET

Ana,
It’s only about five Groups in the world that could come close to drawing 200,000 people. I’m sure they were not there. Stop whining.

and this is important because? Since the bands played before the speech, the people who wanted to hear the band only must have gone home! You mean to tell me there were probably over 300 thousand there?!

Boy oh boy, when you are hot , you are hot! Regardless of how empty/hollow inside you are!
Obama’s real things of his qualifications to be in the position of the HEAD for this great country, even though it’s a “NEGATIVE OF AAA” in fact, has never been considered nor has been thought about by those foreigners! Even they do sense of it, but they really don’t care about the needed and required experiences to be the commander in chief for all of us here!
The main reason made those Genmans in an ecstasy of joy to welcom Obama’s
visit is because that after the world war II, the German had never felt comfort to deal with America with a “big white boy” as her president. Suddenly, here is a hopeful and entirely new kind of guy who would be much easier to deal with on the issues between these two countries, and the mentality of German superiority will be once again reflecting on every diplomatic trail as well!
So, folks, if you are Obana’s worshiper, wake up please, DONT’T let any of those
delusive shows fool you any more!
Obama is one of the kind, perhaps one out of the millions! But we just have to elect
(or to hire) a right person with needed experiences to fill in this highest position for the toughest job in this country. As a matter ofN fact, HE IS NOT READY THIS TIME!
We all know that with our heart, but many of those short-sighted and narrow-minded people just HATE the REPS, they will vote any one but whoever is REPS!
This is a nonsense blindly conviction, we shouldn’t be bothered by any other factors but focus on the CADIDATES only, with only a simple question of IS HE A RIGHT PERSON TO DO THE JOB?
My answer is NO to Obama, because I evaluated him as the same way as I hire some one to fill a specific job, HE IS NOT QUALIFIED TO RUN FOR THE PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
If you believe in his CHANGE, here is my impression about it:
“C”haracteristic “H”ollow “A”pparently “N”egative “G”enerate “E”mptiness!

Chrene

Also why is Obama over in Berlin bashing the United States? Why is he saying we are prejudice, violent, and war mongerals? What is wrong with him? Does he really hate Americans that much? Well I hope every man and woman who votes him in is happy with a man that thinks we are one of the worse nation on earth.

Let me just say - due to the population and size of Germany the majority of people have quite small apartments and balconies. You are considered fortunate if you have a small garden, therefore, on a nice day the Germans love to go out for beer, wine, food, entertainment and open air. So I now ask, what is so impressive about the crowd that showed up? The love parade also draws a huge crowd.

Am I the only person in America . . . or the World for that matter . . . who finds Obama revolting. I am shocked by his arrogance of traveling the world as though he were the Leader of this Great Company when he is nothing more than a person who has exploited the system in order to advance his own ego. I’m sick that he may be the next president.

I guess Ana you are a Republican!. I bet you are not happy to see how Obama is received in Europe, I would to if I voted for McCain. Think about who you are going to vote for his friends, say women shoul enjoy rape, women should not have equal pay, he calls his wife****, his jokes are terrible, and above all he does not want to bring our troops home.

Senator Obama should have taken a page out of JFK’s book when he said, ” Ich bin eine Berliner.” Obama should have said, ” Ich bin eine beginner.”

Fox News,

I think you owe it to your loyal viewers to investigate into Ms. Romanik’s post, especially since no other news agency has.

D. Dathe

People may comment that for Obama to make such a grand event in Germany is “presumptuous”, that he is assuming he will be the winner of the outcome of the General Election, but do not forget, that he wouldn’t have been able to have such an event without the HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS of Europeans GOING TO SEE HIM!

Is it a ‘victory lap’ event for him if the reason he is in such a spotlight is due to the fact that he actually DOES warrant the spotlight because of his popularity around the world, ability to speak to the people of the USA and the world, and his often unrecognized talent and experience in foreign affairs?

He is using this trip to help America by showing his ability to repair our reputation around the world, which in turn makes other countries more willing to help us do the things necessary for our energy and economic problems.

Romanik, you should not fret. My friend from Germany reassures me the musical acts were not big draws. Most people didn’t even know there would be a concert. Most of the fliers advertising the event never mentioned a musical act. This crowd was for Obama. This crowd was waving American flags! How beautiful was that? A foreign country proud to support America again!

Tired of Obama, tired of Flip-flopping.
Tired of FISA and Obama’s empty promises.
People United Means Action;
http://blog.pumapac.org/

Obama is running to be the President of America, not the President of the world. It is very obvious
what he is trying to do, he does not run to be a serious President but he is taking advantage of the phenomenon, a rock star image. Is that the kind of an American President we want to run America. In the middle of a war, and economic crisis?
the media does not care, the media has lost their human pride. The media are only after what they can create on Obama, the media forget that they are also citizens of america.
The americans does not pay attention to Obama’s flip flopping, flip flopping here flip flopping there to his friends such as Pastor Wright, Rezko, Ayers, Fr. Pfhelger, and many others. He tried to distance himself when the going gets rough for political gain. Now he says that, then tomorrow he says different. Is that the kind of a leader american wanted?
Obama has full of Airs, arrogance, intelligence, smart, conceited, good looking, named it, but where is the substance. obama is a very nice guy, but i would rather go to a good one.

Ana
I have never gave that a thought but your right.

This is silly. People didn’t come to see the bands (and hey, they’re not that huge over here, believe me) but came to see Obama. The bands were seen as a side program and really, we’re used to bands being side program to events in Germany, no-one goes to events wanting to see those. People were interviewed all day on german TV yesterday and it’s clear why they went to Tiergarten. It seems like you people are clinging to straws here, trying to think up ways of why people would want to see Obama and focus on the negative. Guess what, people went to see Obama because people wanted to hear him speak. More than could ever be said about McCain and Bush over here.

Bianca, Germany

We have been told by the World that they need BO as Pres. of the World-oops Pres. of the US.. The world is in love with BO and issues are irrelevant. His rock star status proves he is qualified and his ‘groupies’ give us further evidence that he is THE ONE. The disrespect to the office of the President of the US is in full view-the BO campaign is treating this like a concert and not giving it the seriousness it deserves.

what happened to his predicted million people…..not everyone is open to his bull….how big can his ego get

I find it shameful that a presidential nominee would say that America is not perfect in a foreign country. Senator Obama should say that no one is perfect but that the overwhelming majority of Americans do have at least some qualities that are perfect and that together this makes us “a more perfect union.” In short, Senator Obama should demonstrate what it is that makes America so great.

I watched the whole speech. The number of people who came were wonderful for US and Barack Obama. Obama’s speech was great. If he becomes our president this speech will be remembered! For your information - forget the criticism. This was in all ways a huge positive.

I agree with Ana R. I thought these 200,000 people were there for the sole purpose of listening to Obama. Apparently, there was a free concert prior to Obama’s speech. It seems to me, like these musicians were used as bait to draw in the huge crowd. Leaving this “minor” detail out of your news stories is both misleading and dishonest.

It’s nice that he, Obama, is so popular with the German people. However, they DON”T vote in our election. Just recieved e-mail from soldier, that Does vote. He was explaining how Obama just blew off the soldiers that had lined up to meet him on his recent visit to Afganastan..Now I hear his group refused to go to a military hospital to greet wounded soldiers..Is it true that his plane has been striped of all american flags?

Oh, oh! I bet my comment to this article is being blocked/rejected either last night or this morning.
That’s okay, but I got another simple but meaningful one for Obama, no matter how HOT he is today, yet he is still deeply hollow/shallow inside of the needed experiences/knowledge/value, etc. to be elected as the head of this greatest country under the sun!
OBAMA stands for “O”riginal “B”elief “A”nnoy “M”ajor “A”mericans!

Chrene

Short and sweet, Barack’s “Rock Star Tour” is nothing but excessive narcissism.

Dont forget to mention those FREE rock concerts that precede most Obama speeches. Did you really think that most of those people came to hear “both ways Barry ??” Always a photo opportunity for Obama - yet he shuns our troops in German yand Adfghanistan. What a fake- the fairy tale continues - propelled by ther media idiots who r in love with him.

Why didn’t BO impress us with his intellect by reciting his speech in German?

And of course the networks are failing to mention the before and after concerts hired by the BO handlers that contributed to the crowd numbers.

I’m still laughing at the crowd of “200,000″ in Berlin. Has anyone wondered how many of those Germans understoon a single word of English?

You are a fraud, Barry. Now just go away.

I am now wondering, after Obamha’s trip) where his spine is located. How can the person who wants to be our Commander-in-Chief speak to 200,000 in Germany but could not visit the troops who provide our freedom? Don’t tell me that the base could not have kept the press off of the base and the visit could have been a one on one with the wounded men and women. I guess this trip was just a photo op after all.

Comment by Ana
July 24th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Dear Fox News,

Through the entire primary process I watched your network and have come to trust your reporting. I appreciate the “Fair and Balanced” approach.

I’ve learned something today that actually leaves me disappointed in Fox news. Today I learn from European news sources that Obama’s big Oregon rally was preceded by a free open to the public 45 minute concert by a very in demand musical group. I find out the same thing has just happened prior to Obama’s Berlin speech. Prior to his Berlin speech Obama hired (2) very popular music groups to perform.

Why haven’t you or other news organizations reported these facts? By not reporting these facts you give voters the false impression that all these people have gathered for the sole purpose of seeing Obama. While I’m sure the truth is somewhere in the middle - meaning that some came for Obama and some came for the music; the point is that this kind of information should be reported.

I’m sure this kind of thing is done in many campaigns but the point is that I’d like to know who uses these tactics and who doesn’t.

Thanks for listening,

Sincerely,
Ana Romanik
################################################################

How can anyone know whether the people attending these events are atrracted to Obama or this “supposed” rock band unless there is some poll taken? To assume that they came mostly to see the Rock Band does not fall under the category of “FAIR and BALANCED”. What news sources are you quoting? Why did you not mention them?

I agree with Ana and i would like to see a response from FOX.

Why haven’t the media seen fit to tell us that their was a rock concert before his big event? I thought reporters are supposed to report the news and the facts. Just learned this today, the day after his sermon. I guess the office of the president has been reduced to that of a rock star-no respect of the importance of the office. Guess we will next see promos that are like most music videos on MTV. How the world must be laughing at us that we are so gullible, maybe they aren’t laughing, maybe they are glad to see America falter because they resent the fact that we had to help them in their times of need. Rock on Big O!

Like Ana, I am curious why no mention of the facts regarding the “popularity” of Obama have not surfaced.

Paying for “rock stars” to draw a crowd is something the public needs to know.

Is Obama the real draw, or is it the “rock group”?

In Berlin, was the crowd really an anti war protest?

The numbers look good on the surface, but are the really smoking mirrors?

Respectfully submitted,

Ted Gaffin

Dear Ana Romanik.

What difference a day makes in twenty four hours?

Needless to explain the reason why of all this warmly reception to Senator Obama. Mr.Barack is
the “Man”. So, kindly accept the fact that both people came to see Mr. Barack and at the same time took a chance to listen to a good musik and shuffle the skeleton a little. Regarding the tactics,oh please, it does not matter who is who, relax and wait for the facts.

Thanks.
Sincerely

Luiz Silverio Barcellos Borges

I agree totally with the person before me… Why isn’t it reported when the crowds are basically

paid to attend his speeches. If any of the candidates hire a well known band to play before

there boring speeches they all would have good turnouts. I think it is only fair that the media

reports all the facts not just the ones they want to report.. It is unfair to the voters and to the

advitisers that use the media if they dont report true and accurate information. Just finding out

this is a possibility has changed my vote aready.

I, too, was very disappointed that Fox News let their faithful listeners down by not reporting that the huge Berlin crowd was treated to a concert, beer and brauts. So far, the only commenter I’ve heard this from is Rush.

Simply awsome!

Could John McCain generate that much excitement? We need a president to generate excitement when they come to town.

My age is 64. During the early years of my life, I remember news clips at the movies about pre-WII Germany in which huge German crowds energetically listened and cheered an infamous German/Austrian orator.

Yeah, the europeans loved Jimmy Carter too; “Mr. Malaise” himself with his misery index, weak hand wringing leadership and totally incompetent Middle East policy which led to the 444 day hostage crisis and the situation with Iran that we’re still dealing with today.

I know, I was serving in West Germany at the time.

So with the fair and balanced??? What happened to journalism’s basics: Who, what, where, when and WHY?
Why was there a big crowd there? It wasn’t because “Yo-bamma” was going to be there, it was because of the rock band/s.
Either get it straight or shut down Foxnews.!

Pete Pi

I understand the crowd numbers were inflated at yesterday’s event.

http://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/blog/blog.aspx?id=2492

Question….WAS Obama the only guest appearance at that event in Berlin…or were there OTHERS drawing that large crowd. I have learned in the past that often these candidates are just ONE part of an event that draws a large crowd.

He scares me!!!!!!

Soory, folks; looking at that crowd, it’s nowhere near 200K. More like 50- 75K. Most people there (other than the police, who took the campaing’s numbers for the crowd) are agreeing the number was much lower.

Still impressive; problem is, Germans don’t vote in the U.S. elections.

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Post from Linda P Walker’s Blog:
CHANGE IN NATION AS A FREE WORLD
By Linda P Walker - Jul 25th, 2008 at 1:02 am EDT

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When Barack Obama is elected President and his vision of all the Countries of this great Nation come together, we people of the free world will have the change that we have so desperately needed.

I am so tired of the racial injustice in this world. I have witnessed it first hand way too many times. As a middle aged woman in Florida, and now a Florida voter, I was born in Alabama, Selma, Alabama. I was raised in Selma and Montgomery, Alabama.

I am so proud to vote and elect Barack Obama as my President of The United States of America. I believe in my change to the world. I should hope all would vote with me and elect Barack Obama as our leader of the free world, our next President of The United States of America.

Just imagine when Barack Obama is President of United States of America and his vision of all the Countries of this great Nation come together, what a wonderful world we would live in. One that our children and grandchildren would most certainly be most proud of, and knowingly see that we changed it for them for generations to come.

Ditto Ana above…the public needs to start railing the media for editing the whole story (truth) to fit their agenda’s. We rely on them to report the whole story in order to make an informed decision. They are doing a disservice to the citizens of America and giving false impressions to the rest of the world.

Please express your outrage!!

Did they sell tickets? How did they come up with 200,000. From the pictures, the crowd’s not even as any crowd at any US college football game.

Who cares anyway…..the Germans don’t pay taxes or make policy for the United States, however, if they are really so enamoured with him, they can have him……

I completely agree with Ana.

I understand the crowds were there for the main event - and Obama simply played the “warm-up” act. And an act it was.

Thanks, Ana for doing Fox’s job - reprot the news - in its entirety……….let the people decide.