Fox's Cameron reported that McCain called for "respectful campaign," not McCain's touting of endorsement from TN GOP chair

Summary: On Special Report, Carl Cameron reported: "At Republican headquarters, [Sen. John] McCain several times today reiterated his commitment to run what he calls a respectful campaign against Democrats. It seemed a pretty clear signal to his party not to be throwing any low blows on his behalf." However, Cameron did not report that McCain recently touted the endorsement of Tennessee Republican Party chairwoman Robin Smith even after the state party issued a press release titled "Anti-Semites for Obama."

On the March 5 edition of Fox News' Special Report, chief political correspondent Carl Cameron reported that "[a]t Republican headquarters, [Sen. John] McCain several times today reiterated his commitment to run what he calls a respectful campaign against Democrats. It seemed a pretty clear signal to his party not to be throwing any low blows on his behalf." However, McCain recently touted the endorsement of Tennessee Republican Party chairwoman Robin Smith even after the state party issued a February 25 press release titled "Anti-Semites for Obama" that stated in its original form: "The Tennessee Republican Party today joins a growing chorus of Americans concerned about the future of the nation of Israel, the only stable democracy in the Middle East, if Sen. Barack Hussein Obama is elected president of the United States." The press release added that "Robin Smith, chairman of the Tennessee Republican Party" said, "Voters need to know about two items that surfaced today which strongly suggest that an Obama presidency will view Israel as a problem rather than a partner for peace in the Middle East."

The party later added a "clarification" to the press release stating that "in order to diffuse attempts by Democrats and the Left to divert attention from the main point of this release ... we have deleted the use of Barack Obama's middle name." The press release retained the headline "Anti-Semites for Obama."

The day after the Tennessee Republican Party issued its press release, conservative radio talk-show host Bill Cunningham repeatedly referred to Obama as "Barack Hussein Obama" at a campaign event for McCain. In response, McCain said, "I never met Mr. Cunningham, but I will make sure nothing like that ever happens again."

Nevertheless, as blogger John Aravosis noted, a March 4 McCain press release titled "Additional RNC Members Endorse John McCain For President" included "Robin Smith, Tennessee" as one of McCain's endorsers. The press release stated: "John McCain thanked the RNC members, saying, 'I am grateful for these RNC delegates' support. Their service to our party has been admirable and I am proud to have them on my team.' "

From the March 5 edition of Fox News' Special Report with Brit Hume:

HUME: Welcome to Washington. I'm Brit Hume. The Republican National Committee says John McCain has indeed won enough delegates to be considered his party's nominee for president. Mike Huckabee has conceded, and at the White House, President Bush has affirmed that McCain is his party's standard bearer. Chief political correspondent Carl Cameron reports.

[...]

[begin video clip]

CAMERON: After the White House, McCain visited national Republican headquarters. The party has vast resources: money, voter lists and research on the opposition. McCain needs all the help he can get, calling the looming battle against Democrats exciting but difficult.

McCAIN: We'll carry our message. I believe that this election will be about very stark differences, as I said last night, between my and our Republican view and vision for the future of this country, and that of our opponents.

[end video clip]

CAMERON: At Republican headquarters, McCain several times today reiterated his commitment to run what he calls a respectful campaign against Democrats. It seemed a pretty clear signal to his party not to be throwing any low blows on his behalf. One of the first orders of business: building the bank account. And to that end, the RNC mentioned today to him that he had -- that they have $25 million in the bank, and they're ready to go to work -- Brit.

—A.J.W.