Misstating BBC question to PM Brown, Fox News' Carlson continued media pattern of whitewashing Bush

Written by Jeremy Holden

Published

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.

Name corrected. Media Matters regrets the error.