by Daniel T. Zanoza, Executive Director
From the beginning of this year's presidential primary season, the FOX News Channel (FNC) has hardly kept its preference as far as Republican candidates go a secret. In fact, FOX has alienated many of its viewers when on air-personalities, like Sean Hannity, openly stumped for former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. Indeed, many blame Rupert Murdoch's network for tampering with the election which led to the primary victory of Sen. John McCain.
It was obvious who FOX News personalities didn't like. At every opportunity, they downplayed the success of former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee and dismissed the extraordinary showing of U.S. Rep. Ron Paul. In the mean time, apparent losers, including former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson, were propped up by the network when it was plain as day Thompson had no chance for victory.
Well, the people over at FOX are at it again with presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain apparently just days away from choosing his running mate. The self-proclaimed "fair and balanced" network is trying to tip the scales in favor of one particular candidate. The same network, which criticizes the mainstream media for being in the tank for Barack Obama, seems to be a bit wet itself. "I think Mitt Romney would serve the McCain campaign very well," says Sean Hannity. Bill O'Reilly, host of the O'Reilly Factor, also touts Romney at every opportunity. And let's not forget those sixty-something year old Beltway Boys, Fred Barnes and Mort Kondracke. You would think these two "youngsters" were on Romney's payroll or at least were promised a job if Romney received the V-P nod from McCain. Brit Hume, the big boss at FOX News, has even jumped on the Romney bandwagon at times. However, it is apparent Brit and his "boys" aren't listening to the Republican electorate.
The only individual less popular than Mitt Romney in the current election season among Republicans may be Barack Obama and that race is close. Romney has been called everything from a flip-flopper to a ... flip-flopper. Romney's plan which gave medical insurance to everyone in the state of Massachusetts is now in deep trouble. How deep? To begin, try $150 million worth in the red. Then, there's Romney suddenly deciding he held unborn life precious and he favored traditional marriage. Both positions are 180 degree turnarounds from what he believed when Romney was Governor of Massachusetts. There is one more fact that no one should be proud of. Polling indicates nearly 40% of Americans will not vote for a Mormon. Right or wrong, these are the facts.
Therefore, the question still needs to be asked regarding why FOX News is locked in to a Republican who will hurt the chances of a GOP victory in November. Perhaps the answer is Roger Ailes, the President of the FOX News Channel, wants to look like a king-maker. Unfortunately, Ailes isn't looking at the political realities of the situation and he has under-estimated just how unpopular Romney is in some quarters.
Possibly, FOX should stick to its motto of "fair and balanced" and stop trying to influence McCain and let him make his own choice for Vice-President. That would be a novel idea wouldn't it?
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Your facts are wrong.
Romney has always been opposed to gay marriage. It was an issue in his 2002 campaign for governor, when his Democratic opponent said she would sign a gay marriage bill if the Legislature passed it. Romney said he would veto. As governor, he's testified before Congress in favor of the federal marriage amendment, he's gone to court to force the Legislature to allow a vote on a state constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, and he's been an effective and articulate champion of "one man, one woman" marriage.
It's true that Romney was not always prolife, but his change of heart did not occur "suddenly," as you allege. It took place in 2005, three years ago, after Romney stood up to the cloners at Harvard and vetoed a stem cell cloning bill. Examining the issue more closely, he came down on the side of protecting the sanctity of life. This is no different than the road traveled by other well-known prolifers, like Henry Hyde, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. Unless we encourage more such conversions, we will never win on this issue.
Posted by: kathy | July 31, 2008 at 03:25 PM