Fox News on-screen graphic: "RUDY GIULIANI + 9/11 = THE WHITE HOUSE??"

On the October 17 edition of Fox News' Studio B with Shepard Smith, during a segment on Fox News host Sean Hannity's interview with Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani and his wife, Judith, an on-screen graphic read: "RUDY GIULIANI + 9/11 = THE WHITE HOUSE??" Smith prefaced his discussion with Republican strategist Margaret Hoover and Democratic strategist Malia Lazu by asserting, "Judy Giuliani has been very quiet for the past few months, maybe by campaign design, but last night she and her husband sat down with Sean Hannity -- in obviously very friendly territory -- and one of the first topics: 9-11, the day Rudy Giuliani became a worldwide, household name." After airing a video clip of the interview, Smith said: "Judy Giuliani, speaking out, and on the record with her husband, a place we've not seen her for a long time -- in the public eye. Why now? Why that venue? And why this topic?"

While the segment did not include any additional discussion of Giuliani's response to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the same on-screen graphic was shown repeatedly throughout the rest of the segment:

As Media Matters for America has repeatedly documented (here, here, here, here, and here), the media have frequently lauded Giuliani as a 9-11 hero while omitting criticisms of his performance as mayor before, during, and after September 11.

Further, at no point during the segment did Smith mention Hoover's reported ties to Giuliani's campaign. According to an April 9 New York magazine article, Hoover joined Giuliani's campaign in September 2006 "to help direct fund-raising operations." The article went on to report: "Hoover, 29, says she's departing to pursue the ever-popular 'other opportunities,' adding that she's 'still supporting Rudy for president.' "

From the October 17 edition of Fox News' Studio B with Shepard Smith:

SMITH: Presidential candidates drag their husbands and wives out on the campaign trail all the time. I don't know about "drag" -- a lot of spouses really like to do it and some spouses are more vocal than others. Judy Giuliani has been very quiet for the past few months, maybe by campaign design, but last night she and her husband sat down with Sean Hannity -- in obviously very friendly territory -- and one of the first topics: 9-11, the day Rudy Giuliani became a worldwide, household name.

[begin video clip]

JUDITH GIULIANI: Well, September 11th was the most horrific day of my entire life. One of the things that many people don't realize, Sean, is that Rudy was trapped in the basement of 75 Barclay Street for some time that morning. So I could have lost Rudy on that day.

[...]

JUDITH GIULIANI: We lost loved ones, we lost friends, and Rudy, of course, being Rudy, put me to work, and I was able --

[end video clip]

SMITH: Judy Giuliani, speaking out, and on the record, and with her husband, a place we've not seen her for a long time -- in the public eye. Why now? Why that venue? And why this topic? Margaret Hoover is with us, she's a Republican strategist. Malia Lazu is a Democratic strategist and joins us live now from California. I guess let's start with Republicans. And, Margaret, why now? Why not before? And why Sean Hannity?

—M.B.B.