Obama aide accuses Fox of operating as GOP arm

[October 13, 2009]  NEW YORK (AP) -- One of President Barack Obama's top aides says Fox News Channel acts like a wing of the Republican Party.

White House Communications Director Anita Dunn told CNN's "Reliable Sources" on Sunday that Fox News operates "almost as either the research arm or the communications arm of the Republican Party."

It's another sign of the White House's aggressively going after Fox.

Commentators Glenn Beck, Bill O'Reilly and Sean Hannity have been strong administration critics. The president avoided Fox when he visited five Sunday morning news shows last month, and a recent White House blog post accused Beck of lying.

Fox News executive Michael Clemente (cleh-MEN'-tay) says most viewers know the difference between news and opinion shows. He says attacking the messenger doesn't work.

[Associated Press]

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