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Fox News hosts, political analysts spend Tuesday celebrating and shilling for conservatives and GOPers

November 04, 2009 9:45 am ET by Eric Hananoki

How'd you spend your election day Tuesday?  If you're a Fox News host or political analyst, you might have spent it shilling and celebrating for conservative and Republican candidates:

  • Mike Huckabee (Fox News host):  On his Twitter account, Huckabee repeatedly implored followers to make "phone calls for Bob McDonnell, David Harmer and Doug Hoffman."  On election night, Huckabee wrote:  "It's a great night to be a conservative Republican! Now let's get to work and change America in 2010. We can do it!!"  Huckabee also made robocalls in Virginia to conservative voters on behalf of Ralph Reed's Faith and Freedom Coalition.  The potential 2012 candidate frequently uses his and other Fox News shows to promote his political action committee and conservative candidates.    
  • Sean Hannity (Fox News host):  On his syndicated radio program - which airs before his 9pm E.T. Fox News program - Hannity told New Jersey listeners to "get to the polls" and "stop Obama-care in its tracks."  Hannity, of course, frequently uses his Fox News program as a platform for conservative causes. 
  • Karl Rove (Fox News political analyst):  On his Twitter account, Rove repeatedly solicited funds for the Republican Governors Association and Doug Hoffman.  While soliciting funds on Tuesday, Rove also appeared frequently on Fox News' "fair and balanced" Tuesday election coverage to offer analysis.  Then-Fox News executive John Moody once said of Rove:  "Are we getting a Republican spin? Of course. But that's what he's there for. There's no attempt to conceal that."
  • Newt Gingrich (Fox News political analyst):  Before Election Day, Gingrich wrote on his Twitter:  "If you know anyone who lives in new jersey make sure they vote for christie tomorrow."  Gingrich followed up by writing on November 3:  "If you are in virginia new jersey new york 23 or the california special election remember to vote today Remind your friends in those four."  Gingrich received criticism from conservatives for endorsing Republican Dede Scozzafava in the NY-23 race. 
  • Tammy Bruce (Fox News political analyst):  On her blog, the conservative radio host wrote:  "Today is the day when New York, New Jersey and Virginia can give a tip of the hat to President Ronald Reagan and the vital importance of fiscal conservatism and small, unobtrusive government. Now go out there you guys and win three for the Gipper, that's all we ask." 
  • Eric Bolling (Fox Business host and FoxNews.com host):  Bolling endorsed Hoffman, Christie and Mike Bloomberg (I) on the November 2 edition of Fox Business' Happy Hour.  On election night, Bolling celebrated Christie and Bob McDonnell's victory. 

That glee transferred to Fox & Friends, where Fox News revelled in calling GOP victories the "winds of change," a "Republican revival" and a "blueprint for success."

Tags: Fox News Channel, Karl Rove, Mike Huckabee

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    • Author by tbone (November 04, 2009 10:01 am ET)
      3  
      You're absolutely right righties. Keep that focus on your wins in state races and ignore your loss in the congressional race - you know, the one that actually impacts national politics.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by phredicles (November 04, 2009 10:07 am ET)
      5  
      Tammy Bruce is writing as if the Gypper were still in office. Much as in North Korea where Kim Il Sung is "eternal president", the cult of personality to Great Leader Ronnie is still going strong.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by newzhound (November 04, 2009 11:04 am ET)
      4  
      Politico, striving mightily to become the Faux Noise of the Internets, buries the lede with this 7th paragraph in their story about yesterday's elections: "What’s more, there is an argument that these off-year elections may not have produced an ideological or partisan verdict so much as revealed a deeply aggrieved electorate — ready to rough up incumbents of all varieties."

      In other words, what usually happens in mid-term elections happened again.

      "What's more?" After several paragraphs proclaiming this severe rebuke of President Obama?
      Report Abuse
    • Author by slowtyper (November 04, 2009 3:43 pm ET)
      1  
      you kinda get the feeling that if a republican won a dog catcher race..fox would be covering it 24/7..

      but dems/progressives beware..sitting on our hands and not getting out the vote let's the wingnuts back in the door..
      Report Abuse
    • Author by Cheney2012 (November 05, 2009 8:05 am ET)
        1
      Well FOX had it before Harry Reid announced there woul be no vote this year. I guess FOX was right, AGAIN!
      Report Abuse
    • Author by bluestate69 (November 05, 2009 8:26 am ET)
      2  
      this is what's happening. the right wing of this country is united. they are louder than obama, and are drowning him out. it's media saturation of republican talking points, and the white house looks flat footed. there isn't a consistent message coming from the white house. obama appears to be bogged down with health care, and it makes him appear ineffective. meanwhile, the republicans are defining the stimulus as a failure, which it isn't. there needs to be a shake up in the white house before it's too late. not just to take on republicans, but to energize the progressives. i say fire axelrod. seriously. obama was sinking in the polls before the financial crisis last year. i believe it was events that got obama elected, not the genius strategy of axelrod. we can't win on obama's personality alone. if it starts to look like he's ineffective, he'll look like an empty suit.
      Report Abuse

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