It was … a pure Roger Ailes production-and the latest sign that the Fox News chairman is quietly repositioning America's dominant cable-news channel. Hours before last week's presidential debate in Orlando, Ailes's anchors sat in a cavernous back room, hunched over laptops, and plotted how to trap the candidates. Chris Wallace said he would aim squarely at Rick Perry's weakness: "How do you feel about being criticized by some of your rivals as being too soft on illegal immigration? Then I go to Rick Santorum: is Perry too soft? "" That's going to get some fireworks going, "said managing editor Bill Sammon, grinning. SNIP But the real eye-opener was the sight of his anchors grilling the Republican contenders, which pleases the White House but cuts sharply against the network's conservative image-and risks alienating its most rabid right-wing fans. SNIP Democrats have noticed the change. Says former Obama aide Anita Dunn: "You have the sense that they're trying to at least appear less of the hyper-partisan political network they had been. "On the day that Obama is to deliver his jobs speech to Congress, Bret Baier attends a secret White House meeting. Over Dover sole in the Red Room, the president tries to sell his $ 450 billion plan to a handful of anchors. The earnest, square-jawed Baier is animated upon returning, briefing two news executives in the hallway. Obama "painted a picture of a double-dip recession" and said if the bill "does not get through, I will blame Republicans" for their "irresponsible position," Baier says, reading from his scribbled notes. Although the two men clashed during an interview last year in which Baier repeatedly interrupted the president, Obama made a point of praising the previous Fox debate, telling Baier: "By the way, you guys did a great job in Iowa." (Excerpt) Read more at thedailybeast.com …
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