Fox News this afternoon ignored an opportunity to ask Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus about Mitt Romney's controversial descent into birtherism.

During a rally today Romney told a Michigan audience: “No one's ever asked to see my birth certificate. They know that this is the place that we were born and raised.” 

In response the Obama campaign criticized Romney's “decision to directly enlist himself in the birther movement” and pointed out that prominent Romney surrogates like Donald Trump are staunch supporters of that false conspiracy theory.  

The RNC was forced to weigh in on the story earlier today. Appearing on MSNBC, RNC communications director Sean Spicer was asked about Romney's comment and said, “He was stating a fact. He's proud of the fact he was born in Michigan, that Mrs. Romney was born in the area.” He also said Romney “made a light-hearted moment, nothing more than that.”

But on Fox, Priebus was not asked about the story:

Fox News has repeatedly touted conspiracy theories involving President Obama and his birth certificate. Fox News also teamed up with Trump to smear President Obama on the conspiracy theory.

Media Matters has noted that the Romney campaign has embraced Fox News talking points and the fringes of the right-wing media.