Misstating BBC question to PM Brown, Fox News' Carlson continued media pattern of whitewashing Bush
SUMMARY: Gretchen Carlson falsely asserted that a BBC correspondent said in a question to British PM Gordon Brown that Brown "blamed" President Obama "for all of the [economic] problems over there." In fact, the BBC correspondent noted that Brown "has repeatedly blamed the United States of America for causing this crisis," and, indeed, Brown's criticism of U.S. policy in relation to the global financial crisis dates back to when President Bush was in office.
On the April 1 edition of Fox News' Fox & Friends, referring to a question asked at that morning's press conference with President Obama and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, co-host Gretchen Carlson asserted that the "question was so poignant from the BBC because it started out saying that Gordon Brown, who was standing right in front of him, has blamed you, President Obama, for all of the problems over there." In fact, in his question, BBC correspondent Nick Robinson* did not say that Brown had singled out Obama for blame. Rather, Robinson noted that "[t]he prime minister has repeatedly blamed the United States of America for causing this crisis" [emphasis added], and, indeed, Brown's criticism of U.S. policy in relation to the global financial crisis dates back to when President Bush was in office.
For instance, in an October 9, 2008, article, on who is to blame for the global financial crisis, ABCNews.com reported, "British Prime Minister Gordon Brown was quick to point the finger last week. 'This problem started in America. They have got to sort it out,' he said then."
Media Matters for America has documented numerous instances of media disappearing the Bush administration when discussing the global recession and recovery efforts.
From Fox News' coverage of Obama and Brown's April 1 press conference:
ROBINSON: The prime minister has repeatedly blamed the United States of America for causing this crisis. France and Germany blame both Britain and America for causing this crisis. Who is right, and isn't the debate about that at the heart of the debate about what to do now?
From the April 1 edition of Fox News' Fox & Friends:
CARLSON: Actually, that question was so poignant from the BBC because it started out saying that Gordon Brown, who was standing right in front of him, has blamed you, President Obama, for all of the problems over there. So it was a very poignant question.
i wonder what would happen to Carlson if it was pointed out to her that as a citizen of this country.....she shares a small part of the blame.....since the PM has been criticizing OUR COUNTRY. and not simply the president
Her pointed little head might explode....
At least it would act like a shape charge...
Quick correction: the BBC's chief political correspondent is Nick Robinson, not Nate. (I'm pretty sure no-one in Britain is called 'Nate'...)
You sure his name is not Nigel...? ;>)
Not too many "Nicks", either. Plenty of Ruperts, Ians, Colins, etc.
When all these issues are settled (we hope), some chickens are coming home to roost for the anti-American shill stations like Faux. I would love to see somebody, anybody called to account for their transparent betrayals of this country. Of course, it won't happen. The smear machine is being fired up to its highest speed, as witnessed by the recent increase of lies and, what MMFA so politely calls "misinformation".
I realize that the Bush backers and Republicans in general are trying to ease the legacy of Dubya, but come on guys - rethink your strategy.
Bush will never been historically notable for anything other than standing wide-eyed watching while the country crumbled around him like a child at the circus, if you take away his shot at being the worst president ever. Don't do that to him. He vacationed so hard, sacrificed his dignity, surrendered his office to Cheney, and fought off reality and science far too devotedly to be denied that distinction. Reserve your spot in history books yet to come, AND set the bar low for your future public servants to boot!
Faux misquotes the BBC to deflect away from BushCo & blame Obama, who's been in office 2 months. Faux, classy as always.
Perhaps Neon, they forsee a glorious new puppet emerging from the Republican party, even more vacationing, controlled by psychopathic tendencies and people, and in a fog of religiosity of the worst kind...thus, they must not give dubya the credit he's due...
neon, well put. BUSH was a disaster.
President Bush bookended his administration by being asleep at the switch before 9/11 and at the end the largest financial crisis ever. In between, you can throw in Katrina. Worst President is not in question whatsoever.
Fox news is simply a conduit for the republican party.
Ask the 26% that still think bush was a "great" president.
That 26% is what you get when cousins marry....
Now watch it. FDR married Eleanor, his second cousin.
26% think he was a good President? are you sure?
Today is April Fools Day. Today she looks competent. Tomorrow she will be back to normal, neither being nor looking competent.
but thats how she is on a daily basis......
That's actually almost funny. By the same logic Obama can also be blamed for the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
I don't even get upset anymore...I just laugh every time I witness something like this on "what the FOX" news. They've become the laughingstock of broadcast media.
Pres. Bush could have easily have stopped 9/11 if he had paid attention.
Saddam Hussein was no threat to the USA and the military action in Iraq has been and continues to be a failure due to the facts of our soldiers deaths and injuries; the money spent to rebuild Iraq; all the use of private forces which made our country a world joke.
I would agree that trying to spend our way out the economic crisis is the same in my mind as trying to fix ahole in a sock by cutting it out. Unfortunately, The Republican's alternatives are without any merit. Lower taxes for the rich and allowing whole sectors of our economy to fail(auto) are unacceptable.
Under the non regultion republicans and low tax republicans, we have hedge managers who make billions in a year paying a much lower rate of taxes than many in the middle class.(15% for capitaL gains)
Obama may be mistaken in his approcach but at least he is not limiting his scope in order to favor a limited few of our country. and is trying to address issues that will help the vast majority of citizens.
Notable accomplishments include 4,000 American soldiers dead, thousands more maimed in body and mind, hundreds of thousands of Iraqi dead & wounded, millions displaced.
Giving tax cuts to the wealthy creates deficits. Duh. The dotcom bubble did play a part, but bush made it much worse with his tax cuts and military spending. You can't deny that.
Give it a rest already. We know the record, and it stinks.
Yes it is a tragedy to lose one American soldier but unfortunatley we have to have soldiers and unfortunately they are put in harms way. In WW II 40,000 soldiers were lost in one day not to mention the D-Day invasion. We were attacked on 9/11 and lost 3000 civilians but I am not going to get in the old Iraq had nothing to do with it argument, I don't care. All Saddam had to do was openly comply with the UN resolultions and he played cat and mouse games and left everyone guessing. Saddam's actions caused his demise.
Giving tax cuts to the wealthy? IT IS THEIR MONEY, THEY EARNED IT AND I DON"T WANT IT. Income taxes are a violation of our individual, unalienable rights to Life Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. There are other ways of collecting taxes without coersively stealing peoples money. Where are the principles in that?
If you don't like it here, why don't you move to some third world country with lower taxes? I had a friend to just that - moved to Costa Rica. But now, even with a Land Rover, he can't go into town for a week when it rains due to the mud. So he lost freedom - freedom to travel when HE pleases. But, he's got those low taxes! Just can't get into town to spend all that money when he wants,
Bye now!
"9/11 was in planning long before the event took place under another Presidents watch. It is unfair to blame the Bush Administration totally for 9/11 and give Obama a pass on the continuing economic crisis."
NeoKKKon talking point #1427
9/11 occurred EIGHT MONTHS into Dumbya's admin - and more than a month AFTER he was warned . . . do you have PROOF that all the "planning" occurred while Clinton was in office?? {The WTC '93 attack occurred 30 DAYS into Clinton's admin - I don't EVER recall him blaming the previous admin for "planning".}
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Simpleton. Liar. Uninformed.