The campaign of presidential hopeful Senator Barack Obama has launched a website to debunk what it claims are false accusations against the candidate and his wife, at the same time critics are slamming the Fox News Channel over controversial references to her.

The website, titled Fight the Smears, was launched Thursday to counter claims that a tape exists of Michelle Obama using the word "Whitey" from the pulpit of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago.

"No such tape exists. Michelle Obama has not spoken from the pulpit at Trinity and has not used that word," the website states.

Critics have also complained over references Fox News has made about Michelle Obama in past weeks — the most recent being a graphic that appeared on Wednesday labelling her as "Obama's baby mama."

During an interview on Fox with conservative columnist Michelle Malkin about whether Barack Obama's wife has been the target of unfair criticism, a graphic appeared on the screen that read: "Outraged liberals: Stop picking on Obama's baby mama."

Fox anchor E.D. Hill also had to apologize after she referred to an affectionate onstage fist bump shared by the couple as a "terrorist fist jab."

Hill later said the comment was picked up from something she had read online. She said some people "thought I had personally characterized it inappropriately. I regret that. It was not my intention and I certainly did not mean to associate the word 'terrorist' in any way with Senator Obama and his wife."

Fox cancelled Hill's weekday afternoon program as part of a larger reorganization. She remains on staff.

But Michelle Obama sparked controversy over a speech she made in February. Talking about her husband's campaign, she said that "for the first time in my adult lifetime I'm really proud of my country."

Meanwhile, while Fox has come under fire, MSNBC has also sparked anger for comments by some commentators about Hillary Clinton.

The network's Chris Matthews has been accused by some of being pro-Obama, and was ridiculed after saying that he felt a "thrill going up my leg" after watching an Obama speech. He later had to apologize for his remarks about Clinton after he said "the reason she's a U.S. senator, the reason she's a candidate for president, the reason she may be a front-runner is her husband messed around."

MSNBC reporter David Shuster was also suspended for two weeks for saying Clinton's campaign had "pimped out" daughter Chelsea by having her make political phone calls.