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Cavuto failed to challenge false claim that "we didn't have any spillage whatsoever ... during Katrina"

September 02, 2008 3:18 pm ET

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SUMMARY: On Your World, Neil Cavuto did not challenge Rep. Michelle Bachmann's false claim that "[w]e didn't have any spillage whatsoever from the oil rigs during Katrina." In fact, a report prepared for the federal government by an international consulting firm identified damage from Hurricane Katrina to 27 platforms and rigs that resulted in the spilling of approximately 2,843 barrels of petroleum products into the Gulf of Mexico.

16 Comments

During the September 1 edition of Fox News' Your World, host Neil Cavuto did not challenge Rep. Michelle Bachmann's (R-MN) false claim that "[w]e didn't have any spillage whatsoever from the oil rigs during [Hurricane] Katrina" in 2005. In fact, a 2007 report prepared for the U.S. Minerals Management Service by the international consulting firm Det Norske Veritas identified damage from Katrina to 27 platforms and rigs that resulted in the spilling of approximately 2,843 barrels of petroleum products into the Gulf of Mexico. The report further found that when also considering damage done to oil pipelines, a total of approximately 5,552 barrels of petroleum products spilled into the Gulf of Mexico as a result of Katrina.

In response to Bachmann's false claim, Cavuto asserted, "They're saying, 'We lucked out; a [Category] 4 or 5 storm -- Katie, bar the door.' " Bachmann responded, "Hey, isn't that great? Isn't that great that we did? I don't think it's luck. I think it's the fact of American ingenuity and technology. We know how to do things, and our companies have done a wonderful job making sure that we are both environmentally sound, but also able to produce the energy that America needs."

From the September 1 edition of Fox News Your World with Neil Cavuto:

CAVUTO: All right, so, you know what they're going to say, that a bad -- "We're one bad storm away from a lot of rigs getting knocked to smithereens and oil spilling all over the place, and now the Republicans want to push this too much. Bad, bad, bad."

BACHMANN: No, no, no. It's nonsense, because if you want to talk about a bad hurricane, it's Katrina. We didn't have any spillage whatsoever from the oil rigs during Katrina.

CAVUTO: They're saying, "We lucked out; a [Category] 4 or 5 storm -- Katie, bar the door."

BACHMANN: Hey, isn't that great? Isn't that great that we did? I don't think it's luck. I think it's the fact of American ingenuity and technology. We know how to do things, and our companies have done a wonderful job making sure that we are both environmentally sound, but also able to produce the energy that America needs.

CAVUTO: How do you think this is going, Congresswoman? You know, delayed --

BACHMANN: The convention?

CAVUTO: Yeah. The whole nine yards.

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    • Author by DAWUSS (September 02, 2008 3:26 pm ET)
         

      I was going to make a remark about "spillage", but that would have been A: off-topic and B: inappropriate for children.

       

      And while we're at it, how much oil are we losing thanks to Gusti, Hanna and Ike (I swear, hurricanes need last names as well)?

      Report Abuse
      • Author by worrierking (September 02, 2008 3:31 pm ET)
           
        Hannah Montana and Ike Turner?

        This is news to me.

        I thought Ike died?
        Report Abuse
      • Author by snoopy (September 02, 2008 9:23 pm ET)
           
        Don't know how much yet, but I'm quite surprised that we haven't heard a peep about drill here, drill now now that oil is about to drop under $100 a barrel. Amazing, it is still dropping even though 95% of our capacity was shut down. And we have yet to hear idiot #1 come out of the woodworks to claim it's because Palin is so pro oil she bathes in it and uses oil as lubrication.
        Report Abuse
    • Author by Sueelldd (September 02, 2008 3:49 pm ET)
         
      This is a lie that keeps gaining traction. Why? 
      Report Abuse
      • Author by Don Hussein Fabuloso (September 02, 2008 3:56 pm ET)
           
        So Neil Cavuto can rock his psychedelic hurricane wall art party zone.
        Report Abuse
        • Author by neon desert (September 02, 2008 5:24 pm ET)
             

          "Like a Hurricane" is not a good example of how Neil can really rock out, but it's still among my favorites.  I also like "Cinnamon Girl".  Now THERE'S a world-class rockin' guitar solo...

          Report Abuse
          • Author by Don Hussein Fabuloso (September 02, 2008 7:30 pm ET)
               
            I don't care what song's on, I could just watch Neils blacklight show for hours.
            Report Abuse
      • Author by nerzog (September 02, 2008 4:23 pm ET)
           
        Because the overpaid talking heads are either too lazy or too corrupt to correct it. For example: more potential lawbreaking by Alberto Gonzalez has just come to light, but I doubt it will survive one news cycle.
        Report Abuse
        • Author by Sueelldd (September 02, 2008 4:33 pm ET)
             

          True, but this is how lies keep rolling, like the Casey lie about 1992. 

          Report Abuse
        • Author by magnolialover (September 03, 2008 12:27 pm ET)
             
          Yeah, but for Gonzo, they determined that he didn't "mean" to do it, so apparently, that's OK! Once again, and we can repeat this often, IOKIYAR!
          Report Abuse
    • Author by shaggles (September 02, 2008 4:15 pm ET)
         
      Like Cavuto's going to challenge a right wing talking point.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by Imbecile (September 02, 2008 7:54 pm ET)
           
        Exactly. Asking Cavuto to challenge a right wing talking point is about as futile as resistance is.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by NiceguyEddie (September 03, 2008 8:47 am ET)
           
        So liberla guest ought to bring 17,000 barrels of [something less expensive, but just as messy as oil] to his studio and dump it all over the place, and THEN CLAIM that not a drop was spilled.  That would be 'must see TV'! LOL
        Report Abuse
    • Author by proudconservative (September 03, 2008 4:28 pm ET)
         

      Media Matters (for very little) is showing its masochistic tendency once again.  This is a looser fellas!

      Do the math, the amount of oil spilled is about .00000000006% of the volume of the Gulf.  That is statistically null.

      Bottom line, we need to drill like the dems vote, drill early and often!

      Report Abuse
    • Author by proudconservative (September 03, 2008 4:36 pm ET)
         

      And did anyone notice the difference in the response to Gustav from the governor's office.

      Compare the 'spillage' of tears and leaderless boo-hooing from the former gov Blanco with Katrina with the solid presence of Jindal.. 

      Report Abuse

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