Fox News again aired “FOXfact[s]” about the House Republican budget that were nearly identical to portions of an op-ed Rep. Paul Ryan published in that day's Wall Street Journal.
While interviewing WH official, Fox News again aired “FOXfact[s]” nearly identical to GOP rep.'s op-ed
Published
During the noon ET hour of the April 1 edition of Fox News' Happening Now, as co-host Jon Scott was interviewing Rob Nabors, deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget, Fox News again aired “FOXfact[s]” that were nearly identical to portions of an op-ed Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) published in that day's Wall Street Journal. Media Matters for America noted that nearly identical “FOXfact[s]” aired during Scott's interview with Ryan during the 11 a.m. ET hour.
During that hour, using nearly identical language, both Fox News and Ryan's op-ed characterized President Obama's cap-and-trade proposal as a “scheme,” but Fox News changed the wording of the “FOXfact” during the Nabors interview to remove the word “scheme.” Ryan wrote, “We do these things by rejecting the president's cap-and-trade scheme,” and during the 11 a.m. hour, the “FOXfact” stated that the “GOP budget rejects the president's cap-and-trade scheme.” During the noon hour, this “FOXfact” was revised to state: “GOP budget rejects the president's cap-and-trade plan” [emphasis added].
Below are the relevant portions of Ryan's Wall Street Journal op-ed, followed by screen captures of the five “FOXfact[s]” that aired during Fox News' noon hour interview with Nabors:
1. From Ryan's op-ed:
“The Republican budget achieves lower deficits than the Democratic plan in every year.”
2. From Ryan's op-ed:
“Under our plan, debt held by the public is $3.6 trillion less during the budget period.”
3. From Ryan's op-ed:
“Our budget gives priority to national defense and veterans' health care.”
4. From Ryan's op-ed:
“We do these things by rejecting the president's cap-and-trade scheme.”
However, during the 11 a.m. hour of Happening Now, the “FOXfact” described the president's cap-and-trade plan as the “President's cap-and-trade scheme” [emphasis added]. From the 11 a.m. hour with Ryan:
5. From Ryan's op-ed:
“Our budget does not raise taxes, and makes permanent the 2001 and 2003 tax laws.”
After airing the fifth “FOXfact,” Fox News left its “FOXFact” box empty for approximately 16 seconds before removing it entirely:
