That's twice, Fox News (Update: Fox apologies... again)


Twice that we know of, anyway. According to the Swamp (via Memeorandum):

Today, FOX News host Gregg Jarrett was talking about Republican Sarah Palin's book tour and the crowd she is drawing at the start of it -- no small turnout, with some 1,500 people lining up early this morning for a chance to get into this evening's premier book-signing for Going Rogue in Grand Rapids.

"Sarah Palin continuing to draw huge crowds while she's promoting her brand new book,'' FOX's Jarrett told his viewers. "Take a look at -- these are some of the pictures just coming into us... The lines earlier had formed this morning.''

But it turns out that Happening Now had pulled some video of something that happened last year: Displaying video today from Palin's campaign for the vice presidency, on the ticket with the GOP's Sen. John McCain -- which also drew considerable crowds, as shown today in video of a smiling Palin before an adoring campaign crowd.

Recall that last week, as Joel noted here, The Daily Show pointed out how Sean Hannity's program used old B-roll to apparently distort the crowd size of the Nov. 5 "Kill the Bill" tea party event on the Washington Mall. Hannity apologized (more or less). I didn't quite believe Fox's excuses, but I didn't quite see malice aforethought, either.

This, however, is embarrassing and beyond sloppy, even if sloppiness turns out to be the root cause. Shenanigans of this sort lend credence to Fox News' conspiracy-minded critics, of course. It also further validates the Bradbury Rule.

Update: Fox News explains the different footage was a control room gaffe. As much as it pains me to link to Think Progress, you can watch the video of the on-air apology there.

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In Other News, Take A Look at This Comment...

... Just coming in, as I type it!

As in the years 2000-2008, I fear reports of the imminent demise of the GOP (of course, back then it was the Democratic Party) are premature. "Fear," because I would be very interested to see two solidified, more unified parties arise from the GOP, of which one might absorb meaningful bits of the Libertarian base. Come to think of it, I'd like to see the Democratic Party spin off the insaner (everything to the left of and including Howards Dean and Zinn, e.g.) elements and reform, taking the Clintonian (Bill) centrist-left region. Hillary can lead up the new, "Soros" party.

Palin, in the meantime, can lead the "New Bullmoose" Party, whose animal icon would naturally be -- the fox.

.
"Don't confuse political savvy with competence or principles." -- RobbL, 2009

R vs D

There's a sort of fun game to play the next time a Republican is in a sex or other scandal, or is simply disliked by conservatives. See how long it takes before Fox News identifies the R as a D:

http://crooksandliars.com/logan-murphy/shocking-fox-news-labels-disgrace...

http://trueslant.com/christopherthomas/2009/06/25/fox-news-identifies-sa...

http://mediamatters.org/research/200610130010

Once or twice it's a simple mistake, but it keeps happening over and over again, and not in the opposite direction.

Memo to Zaius

Can I assume they're lying now?

RE: Memo to Zaius

Sure. Go ahead. I still think it's more to do with a bungle. No person in his right mind would think crowds like that would show up for a freakin' book signing. It is so obviously a political rally.

Re: Re: Memo to Zaius

Well, that's the thing, isn't it? Fox doesn't get to make mistakes. About 1,500 people showed up. Impressive. Why exaggerate the scene? Maybe they didn't actually have live footage, technical difficulties or something, I don't know. As I say, embarrassing and sloppy. Played right into the hands of their enemies. Dumb, dumb, dumb.

Ah-hahahahaha


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