Fox News employment again used as GOP launching pad for office

Fox News has provided yet another launching pad for an aspiring GOP office-holder: Former Fox News "political analyst" turned Mississippi congressional candidate Angela McGlowan.

Back in May 2008, McGlowan announced on-air that she's going back to Mississippi to "beat" Rep. Travis W. Childers, stating:  "That's all right, sweetie, that's my district, and I'm going there soon to beat your Democrat colleague, honey. I'm going soon.  2010 is my year.  Announcing it right here."

Despite her announcement, Fox News still employed McGlowan until her contract reportedly expired this month and she "officially" announced her congressional bid.  McGlowan's first campaign release references her former Fox News employment in its first line. 

Since announcing her intentions in 2008, McGlowan used her Fox position as an opportunity to appeal to Mississippi voters, and curry favor among conservative activists.

McGlowan is a frequent speaker at tea parties in Mississippi and elsewhere, most recently appearing at last weekend's National Tea Party Convention, where she was identified as "ANGELA McGLOWAN, FOX NEWS CONTRIBUTOR."  During her speech, McGlowan bogusly claimed that the 9-12 march had "about two million" protestors -- a change from September when she baselessly claimed that there "was about 400,000 people."  McGlowan was apparently so impressive that birther advocate Joseph Farah endorsed her candidacy. 

Following her speech, McGlowan appeared on the February 6 edition of America's News HQ -- as a Fox News employee -- where she defended the tea party movement and fished for Mississippi voters, stating:  "What I'm doing in essence is I'm concerned about Mississippi and the issues." 

Looking for Mississippi votes while getting paid by Fox was nothing new for McGlowan:

• "I had four health care town hall meetings in the state of Mississippi, people are getting more educated now. And because of this tea party movement, people know what is going on and a lot of people don't want this health care bill. They want health care reform but they want the right type of reform and Obama did promise there would be transparency. So people are tired of this multi mirror moves."  [Cavuto, Fox Business Network, 1/15/10]
• From the November 24, 2009, edition of FBN's Cavuto:

MCGLOWAN: Charles, I've worked in Washington D.C. for over a decade. I've talked to veterans in Mississippi. I've talked to (INAUDIBLE) already parties where the American people are tired of being taxed.

[...]

PAYNE: Every American probably would agree on that but let's just talk now about people who were saying we have already spent so much on this war to begin with, over $230 billion. In Mississippi that money could have gone to pay for let's say head start for 150,000 kids, for health care for 200,000 people. The person in Mississippi who is struggling right now, wouldn't they say let the rich pay for this because we need to, we can't afford it?

MCGLOWAN: I'm from that state and I know that state. You have true patriots and true Americans there. In essence, you do have the rich and you have the poor, but you have people that want to see a country where we are not taxed. And once you start, where does it end?

• "Tucker, traveling the country and just getting back from Mississippi, where I'm from, people want to hear what's going on. They want to understand. And I think that it's good that he's getting on the road and explaining to people what's happening to our economy, what's happening dealing with the interest rates, why people are losing their jobs. I think it's good that he's out there. I think Obama gives great speeches, but he's not giving any solutions."  [Money for Breakfast, 7/28/09]

Rick Santorum, Mike Huckabee, Sarah Palin, and Newt Gingrich have also used their Fox News employment to stay in the public eye while contemplating bids for office.  Former Fox News host John Kasich is currently a candidate for Ohio governor.