On Big Story, Gibson touted 3-year-old Brock book, National Review article as new

On the October 4 edition of Fox News' The Big Story With Gibson and Nauert, co-host John Gibson, during his "My Word" segment, said, "In today's National Review, Byron York has some information on [David] Brock's new book, which has a subtitle that reads: 'How the right-wing media corrupts democracy.' " In fact, the "new book" to which Gibson referred is more than three years old. The Republican Noise Machine: Right-Wing Media and How It Corrupts Democracy, written by Media Matters for America president and CEO David Brock, was published by Crown in 2004. And the York article, while reprinted in the October 4, 2007, edition of the National Review, was originally published in that magazine in 2004.

On October 4, the National Review republished the article with the following editor's note:

The controversy over Rush Limbaugh's "phony soldiers" remark has brought new prominence to Media Matters for America, the left-wing media watchdog founded by former right-wing media star David Brock. Media Matters is an avowedly political institution, part of a group of institutions the Center for American Progress, MoveOn.org, and others ­ that have become increasingly important in Democratic politics. In 2004, Byron York revealed the origins of Media Matters and the big Democratic party donors who helped Brock bring it to life.

Media Matters is not, as the National Review claims, "an avowedly political institution," but a nonpartisan, progressive nonprofit that is unaffiliated with any political party or candidate.

Gibson also claimed Media Matters "get[s] Soros support." As Media Matters has repeatedly noted, it has received no money from philanthropist George Soros -- either directly or indirectly.

From the October 4 edition of Fox News' Big Story With Gibson and Nauert:

GIBSON: Now it's time for "My Word." More about Media Matters maestro David Brock and his co-conspirators in the vast, left-wing slime machine -- Hillary Clinton and George Soros, and their various minions around the country. First, even though we played you that tape a day or two ago of Hillary taking credit for starting Media Matters with Brock, Brock's people now say, "Oh, no, she didn't." Obviously, they can't both be right, and someone is lying in this case. My money is on Hillary as the truth-teller. It was an embarrassing revelation for Media Matters that she was in on starting this particular attack machine, but sometimes the truth just is embarrassing.

In today's National Review, Byron York has some information on Brock's new book, which has a subtitle that reads: "How the right-wing media corrupts democracy." Coming from people who make their living taking quotes out of context, misinterpreting, attacking the military, and lying, this book promises to be funnier than the Jon Stewart monologue on Bush.

I've talked about Brock and Media Matters getting Soros support, but York also exposes how Brock has managed to pile up millions talking anti-conservative trash to rich lefties. York also reveals that Brock's office in Washington is stocked with opposition research people from various Democratic campaigns, including people from the Edwards, Wes Clark, and Barney Frank campaigns, just to name the most prominent. They dig up stuff to make into Brock's attacks. They have a big file on me.

Is Hillary going to shut down the left-wing slime machine if she wins? She should. But the temptation to keep it cranking out hits on conservatives will probably be too great.

By the way, in yesterday's "My Word" about Brock, we ran the wrong picture. This is what we intended to run, a picture of Brock at a social gathering with Massachusetts congressman Barney Frank. I apologize for any confusion. That is "My Word."

—S.P.