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Fox News promotes contributor Gingrich's "real jobs summit" with round-the-clock coverage

December 03, 2009 4:27 pm ET by Eric Hananoki

For non-office holding Republicans with political interests, there may not be a better job than Fox News personality.

Mike Huckabee has used his gig to promote and fundraise for his leadership PAC.  Dick Morris regularly uses his "political analyst" position to fundraise for groups with which he has financial ties.  And former Republican congressman John Kasich kept in the public spotlight by hosting Fox News programs before running for Ohio governor (Huckabee is following a similar model for 2012).    

Yesterday, Fox News contributor Newt Gingrich began his so-called "Real Jobs Summit" as "the Obama-Pelosi-Reid machine attempts to force its secular-socialist model on Americans in the form of job-killing health, energy, and big labor legislation." 

Fox News responded by heavily promoting the summit with round-the-clock coverage.  Between 9pm yesterday and 4pm today, Fox News devoted more than 17 minutes to Gingrich on five different programs.*  In addition to interviewing Gingrich, Fox News dispatched correspondent Jonathan Serrie to cover Gingrich -- "considered by some political analysts to be a potential 2012 presidential candidate" -- in Jackson, Mississippi.

Why the jobs summit?  As Think Progress' Matt Corley noted, Gingrich is recycling the same tax breaks for the rich ideas he always proposes.  And in a statement on his website and on last night's Hannity, Gingrich claimed that the Obama administration can't be trusted because "only 8 percent of the senior [Obama] appointees have a private sector background."  But as PolitiFact.com reported, the private sector stat is "false" and the author of the graph "acknowledged fault" in compiling some of the data.

That, of course, hasn't stopped Fox News from treating the "real jobs summit" by one of its own as a major event.

*Hannity (9-10pm ET):  8 minutes, 30 seconds; America's Newsroom (9-11a.m. ET):  2 minutes, 30 seconds; Happening Now (11-1pm):  2 minutes; Live Desk (1-3pm):  2 minutes, 15 seconds; Studio B (3-4pm): 1 minute, 50 seconds)

Tags: Fox News Channel, Newt Gingrich

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    • Author by egb (December 03, 2009 4:54 pm ET)
      2 15
      O isn't even talking to the main creators of jobs -- small business. In fact, he is on the war path against business recommending higher taxes and openly fighting with the Chamber of Commerce. At least Gingrich is talking to people who create jobs. O talks to Krugman, Immelt and Stern.

      It seems that economics 101 is a complete mystery to our President. He should take some night classes.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by wookie (December 03, 2009 5:00 pm ET)
        4  
        We're back to the Joe the Plumber thing? Taxes that kick in after $250,000 won't be a job killer even for real plumbers. And small biz will get a cut of the stimulus.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by benjr (December 03, 2009 5:16 pm ET)
        2  
        Fail. On both accounts.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by marco21 (December 03, 2009 5:55 pm ET)
        2  
        Reading is not your friend.
        Report Abuse
        • Author by marco21 (December 03, 2009 5:57 pm ET)
          5  
          BTW, the last thing anyone in America wants is advice from the Republican party on jobs or anything actually.
          Report Abuse
      • Author by smarshall1432997 (December 03, 2009 6:42 pm ET)
        1  
        The Chamber of Commerce is a Republican, Right-Winged, Neo-Conservative organization - that's point #1.

        Gingrich does "NOT" hold ANY official ELECTED Public Office in the United States of America at this time - that's point #2.

        Knowledge with "true" belief of Democrats bringing America out of EIGHT YEARS of Financial Ruins, Two Wars, High Unemployment, HealthCare Insurance Scams, Foreclosures, etc. etc. left by Republicans is just plain old Common Sense 101, LOL.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by ILikePizza (December 03, 2009 7:35 pm ET)
           
        What the Republicans figured out during W's administration is that if you refuse to feel shame it frees you to say anything. Thus Mr. Gingrich can say with a straight face that the Obama administration lacks "private sector" experience while ignoring that his next "private sector" job will be his first.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by Don Hussein Fabuloso (December 03, 2009 10:54 pm ET)
           
        The main creators of jobs are people who work. Until they show up, it's just work that needs to be done.

        Besides, if you own a small business, and you're clearing a quarter million, you're not passing up work or not hiring because of taxes. I can't believe anybody still buys that pile.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by jediknight65 (December 04, 2009 11:26 am ET)
           
        just like the mystery that supply side economics actually works right?
        Report Abuse
    • Author by Limit Corp. Ownership (December 03, 2009 4:54 pm ET)
      3 1
      Yesiree,
      That tax cut, deregulation regime worked beautifully under Dingbat Bush.

      Destroyed the economy, destroyed the middle class, and left us with the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.

      Of course, we want to do it again!
      Report Abuse
      • Author by Limit Corp. Ownership (December 03, 2009 4:57 pm ET)
        3 1
        Most of the Bush tax cuts went to the rich, as everyone knows.
        Report Abuse
        • Author by ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© (December 03, 2009 7:33 pm ET)
            1
          On the other hand, there are some who prefer to believe what they want to be true, rather than face the facts.

          We call them "Republicans".
          ~
          Report Abuse
          • Author by John Paradox (December 04, 2009 12:40 am ET)
               
            On the other hand, there are some who prefer to believe what they want to be true, rather than face the facts.

            Thus, Stephen Colbert coined the term "truthiness"....
            Report Abuse
    • Author by rwmacdonald2091 (December 04, 2009 3:53 am ET)
         
      I am really confused here. Why would Gingrich need a big jobs summit? Isn't his cure all lower taxes, run up the deficit, and laugh his way to the bank?

      Report Abuse
    • Author by Jurgan (December 04, 2009 8:16 am ET)
         
      We're missing the obvious joke. Gingrich is on TV constantly even though he has no authority. What else does he do with his time? Anything?

      If Gingrich is hosting a "real jobs" summit, maybe he should get a real job.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by elizbar (December 04, 2009 9:52 am ET)
         
      I am perplexed by the notion of a trickle down economy where tax breaks to the rich would somehow entice them to use their extra cash to create jobs instead of spending it on themselves. Why create more jobs if the demand for your product is not there? It seems more fundamentally sound to work on creating demand for products by increasing income at the low and middle class level by increasing the minimum wage and providing affordable healthcare, etc. The increased demand will cause businesses to step up production and hire more workers, which will create jobs and also increase profits. This seems like common sense to me.
      Report Abuse

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