BECK - WHITE HOUSE FOX "SMEARS THE ADMINISTRATION"

WHITE HOUSE FOX "SMEARS THE ADMINISTRATION"

The White House on Wednesday responded to Fox News commentator Glenn Beck's ongoing attack on President Obama's efforts to win the 2016 Olympics for Chicago. In a message posted on the official White House blog, Online Programs Director Jesse Lee accused Fox News in general and Beck in particular of continuing to disregard the facts "in an attempt to smear the administration's efforts to win the Olympics." Lee noted that in the past hosting the Olympics had brought "pride and unity" to the country. However, he said, "Once again Fox News' Glenn Beck program has shown that nothing is worthy of respect if it can be used as part of a partisan attack to boost ratings." Lee questioned a series of facts laid out by Beck on his program -- among them, that "Vancouver lost ... a billion dollars when they had the Olympics." The "reality," Lee responded, is that Vancouver hasn't even hosted the Olympics yet. "Vancouver will host the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games from February 12-28 and March 12-21 respectively." Lee also referred to a comment by Fox News contributor Pat Caddell, who claimed that "the biggest scandal" would be rewarding a city that "is closing the government several days a week because they cannot afford to be open." Lee said that the fact is that the city had one reduced-service day on August 17 and will have two more on the Friday after Thanksgiving and on Christmas Eve.

01/10/2009