Fox's Kilmeade follows AP in misrepresenting Obama's words on IL Senate seat
SUMMARY: Fox News' Brian Kilmeade echoed a false assertion made in a December 11 AP article by claiming that President-elect Barack Obama said, "I'm confident nobody on my staff talked on my behalf when it comes to filling my seat." The AP had reported falsely that "President-elect Barack Obama said Thursday he didn't discuss his vacant Senate seat with disgraced Gov. Rod Blagojevich and said he's confident nobody on his staff did either." In fact, during a December 11 press conference, Obama did not claim that nobody on his staff "talked on his behalf" to Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich; rather, he stated, "I'm confident that no representatives of mine would have any part of any deals related to this seat."
During the December 15 edition of Fox News' Fox & Friends First, while discussing President-elect Barack Obama's response to the criminal allegations against Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D), co-host Brian Kilmeade claimed that Obama said, "I'm confident nobody on my staff talked on my behalf when it comes to filling my seat." Kilmeade's assertion echoed a false claim made in a December 11 Associated Press article, which reported, "President-elect Barack Obama said Thursday he didn't discuss his vacant Senate seat with disgraced Gov. Rod Blagojevich and said he's confident nobody on his staff did either." In fact, during a December 11 press conference, Obama did not claim that nobody on his staff "talked on his behalf" to Blagojevich; rather, he stated, "I'm confident that no representatives of mine would have any part of any deals related to this seat," as Washington Monthly blogger Steve Benen noted.
Indeed, the AP reported in a subsequent version of the article, "President-elect Barack Obama declared Thursday he was 'absolutely certain' his staff members engaged in no dealmaking concerning the filling of his former Senate seat, and he announced an investigation into whether they had contacts with anyone on the subject."
From Obama's December 11 press conference:
Now, I'm also aware of your interest in the matter of the Illinois Senate appointment. Let me say that I was as appalled and disappointed as anybody by the revelations earlier this week.
I have never spoken to the governor on this subject. I'm confident that no representatives of mine would have any part of any deals related to this seat. I think the materials released by the U.S. attorney reflect that fact.
I've asked my team to gather the facts of any contacts with the governor's office about this vacancy so that we can share them with you over the next few days.
From the December 15 edition of Fox News' Fox & Friends First:
STEVE DOOCY (co-host): When it comes to Rahm Emanuel, he did talk to aides, apparently, according to this Wall Street Journal today -- item. He didn't talk directly to the governor. But, you know, Obama's got an interest in who takes his spot.
ANN COULTER (Fox News contributor): No, that's the strange thing. And that's what I mean about this be -- making -- being so difficult to talk about. I mean, I think most people --
DOOCY: There's some big gaps.
COULTER: -- would be surprised if he wasn't talking --
DOOCY: Yeah.
COULTER: -- to Blagojevich's people about this. But then why did they deny it? I mean, this --
KILMEADE: Right, he says I'm confident nobody on my --
COULTER: -- there's already so much more than Nixon did.
KILMEADE: Yeah -- yeah, "I'm confident nobody on my staff talked on my behalf when it comes to filling my seat."
COULTER: Right. And please note the difference in the standards for what's going on in this scandal and, "Oh, well, of course they said that," and, "Oh, he's just huffing and puffing -- no crime here." And -- and imagine it were Richard Nixon saying these things.
COULTER: Right. And please note the difference in the standards for what's going on in this scandal and, "Oh, well, of course they said that," and, "Oh, he's just huffing and puffing -- no crime here." And -- and imagine it were Richard Nixon saying these things.
Oh so now Ann Coulter is comparing Watergate which are crimes that occured when the Executive Branch was lead by a criminal to President Elect Obama and his "relationship" as Senator to a corrupt Governor.
Is that all these Repubs will do for the next 4 years is smear and insult?
FAUX needs a new line.
Interesting that Ann the Man had to go all the way back to Nixon to find an example of the Press holding a Republican President accountable.
"Is that all these Repubs will do for the next 4 years is smear and insult?"
I reckon so. I'd be surprised if they did anything else.
Is that all these Repubs will do for the next 4 years is smear and insult?
Does Dick Morris like toes?
Yuck ;-)
Obama is not even President yet.
If this is the path FoxNews/Republicans/Conservatives want to take, we all will suffer because there will be no effective opposition.
She's also hyperventilating about the minnissota recount, she claims it's being stolen from them in front of everyone's eyes and that the liberal press is aiding it by not reporting on the recount.
Keith Olbermann already destroyed the FOX and Friends claim of journalistic excellence.
That is not hard to do, considering that show was one of the leaders in GOP propaganda since Bush took office .
COULTER: -- there's already so much more than Nixon did.
Uhhh...what? Like authorizing break-ins and then covering it up? What exactly has Barack Obama done that's on par with Richard Nixon? Or George W. Bush? Is your audience that stupid? Wait...dumb question.
This is something to bear in mind throughout Obama's Presidency.
So often we would hear "Bush Derangement Syndrome" in response to any outrage over Bush's contemptible behavior. But today, we have this idiot proclaiming that Obama is worse than Nixon based on this? If that's not "ODS", I don't know what would be.
That only works when ann Coulter assumes the young and naive she finds strengt6h in continue to be young and naive. Jay leno tapped into this segment already with his Jaywalk segment. And so has Howard Stern, who is more obvious about his audience. There is a point of no return where the individuals become unable to be exorcised from this dumbness.
Let me "splain" it to ya, IRONY. According to Little Awful Annie, none of the things Nixon did were crimes. Breaking and entering, violating a psychiatrist's office, covering up the crimes, hiring criminals to do your dirty work, and lying to everybody about it are, in the minds of Republicans (Conservatives) NOT crimes at all. It is S.O.P. for their agenda. Winning an election by trouncing a GOP stooge in an honest campaign, becoming a "celebrity" by appealing to the higher instincts of Americans, and being fully prepared to assume responsibility for the highest office in the land ARE, according to said Rep-Coms, CRIMES.
I'm afraid this is a preview of what's to come. Obama isn't even in office yet... imagine the crap they'll make up once he takes the oath.
I actually heard Joe (dead girl in his office) Scarborough this morning speculate that Blagoyubitch "had something" on somebody on the Obama team, so that Obama couldn't come out forcefully for his removal.
Facts? They don't need no stinkin' facts!
Annie, Nixon is dead. I'd really be astounded if he would say these things. Annie, look over here. Take your head out of the dark place. It is Dec. 2008. You lost the election. This is a non-story. And Nixon is still dead
It appears Ms Coulter did not get the memo that not only is Nixon dead, but Obama is not President yet and he did nothing wrong, he is not in anyway a target of this investigation.
Hey there is always hope for the partisans like Coulter to wish this. Afterall she made her name with her vile attacks on Clinton during the Monica gate.
I had to read the transcript a few times over, and I'm still unable to decipher a point between Annie-Christ and Kilmeade. They know their audience, just babble on for a few minutes with some vague accusations and bad analogies, and the average Foxfan will believe they've listened to an actual discussion of issues.
I don't think their intent is actually to try make anything stick against Obama. It's to create a perpetual general sense that there's something sinister about the President-Elect...to undermine his popularity and effectiveness. All of these right wing talkies have something in common...they are constantly wrong, for one thing, but even when it's demonstrated that they are wrong they pretend that yesterday never happened, never admitting they were wrong, and quickly move on to yet another contrived "scandal". But yet they still go back from time to time and remind their listeners of all the other previous "scandals"...which they conveniently neglect to mention have been disproven.
That's summed up pretty well, Irony. The added effect of throwing all of the non-scandals out there is that even if none of them stick, Obama can be portrayed as "slick". I've heard a lot of the con pundits mention how "smart" or "politically savvy" Obama is, which serves two purposes; They can sound unbiased in complimenting Obama, and at the same time slip in an explanation for why they were unable to nail anything down.
Yea, exactly...they can say "Look how many times Obama has slipped out of a scandal and skated free. Now if it were a Republican the press would have convicted him right from the start."
This is why WE NEED MMFA! But please focus more on the MSM and source like the AP.
How did the AP became so terrible that they printed a misquote without check it 2, 3 times? Now it becomes fodder "fact" for those like FoxNews pushing their agendas.
They must be held to a standard. This is ridiculous.
Boy, did I HOWL when I saw who was on my screen! First, you've got the brains of the outfit, Brian Kilmeade, Steve Loosy-Doocy, and Faux's resident fox, Ann Coulter, always dependable for an intelligent insight. And speaking of jaws, mine doesn't drop anymore at what I see on this "news" show. Didn't you just love Li'l Annie's brilliant comparison of the Blagojevich mess with Watergate? That's what I have always loved about her: her fearlessness in the face of truth. Probably going to have a nightmare tonight about her. Don't ask me, please. I won't want to talk about it.
Of course Obama, his staff, and many others have "talked about" his replacement with many people. For Chrissake...it's his senate seat.
It would even have been natural and smart to talk with Blago...the man who was to make the appointment. There is no wrong doing in that...you'd be naive to think otherwise.
The only pertinent question is...was Obama or his staff aware of the scheme that that Blago was trying to cook up...and failed to report it.
There is no scandal in trying to influence Blago's decision...as long as it stopped short of payola.
Wes, that has got to be the most fair and balanced question I've ever seen here or elsewhere. Nicely done, my friend.
Thanks snoop.
-- Friends have all things in common -- Plato
The most important components of a liar's job are (1) be the first to speak, (2)get your lie out to as large an audience as quickly as possible, and (3) repeat that lie like machine gun fire until the listeners become numb. That will make the lie the "truth." Reporting the facts, the truth and the whole story, all require effort and time. Lies can be spewed faster than ad-libs. They take absolutely no effort, intelligence, context or conscience. Anne Coulter is one of my heros when it comes to the lying game, and she is evidence to my belief that, "The one who tells the lie first becomes the prophet of truth." Of course, her "truth" is not something I will course my future or opinion on, but it does make for a good laugh every once in a while. Stupidity accepted by media outlets as intelligence is sad, but if we commit ourselves to the real truth, are we not allowed to laugh at the side show that is Ann Coulter? If I was at the fair, I would have to pay a hawker money to go inside the tent to see the screaming lady. Here I get to see the circus freak for free.