Fox news reported a false story repeatedly for hours after they knew it was false

[SoFlaJDM]

Fox News: We Report -- Even if We Know It's False
By Paul Begala

I've been dealing with the media and politics for 25 years, but I've never had a more surrealistic day than January 8. Several times that day Fox News reported that I was joining Sen. Hillary Clinton's campaign. It was a big story - at least until the stunning election returns.
The only problem was, it wasn't true.
Fox News never even tried to contact me to verify their story, and when I contacted Fox, I felt like a character in a Kafka novel -- or at least Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Fox's Major Garrett -- a good guy whom I've known for years -- broke the story. My phone started ringing off the hook, and my email box bulged. There are still, thank goodness, a lot of real journalists out there. Tim Russert was first. I assured him it wasn't true, he thanked me for waving him off a false story, and that was that. Then my own network, CNN, called. I told them if I were quitting CNN that CNN would know before Fox News. Soon after, others called or emailed: Jonathan Alter of Newsweek, George Stephanopoulos and Teddy Davis of ABC, Beth Fouhy of AP, Mark Halperin of Time, John Harris of the Politico, Jill Lawrence of USA Today, Peter Baker of the Washington Post, Patrick Healy of the New York Times, David Gregory of NBC and Bill Sammon of the Examiner. There were probably more. I list the names only to give credit to journalists who behaved like reporters, not repeaters.
After I told Fox it wasn't true -- and this is the surreal part -- they kept reporting it anyway. In fact, Fox's Garrett told me he'd "take it under advisement." Take it under advisement? I realize I'm generally seen as just another liberal with an opinion, but this was not a matter of opinion, it was a matter of fact. Fox now knew their story was flatly, factually wrong, and they took it "under advisement."
Apparently that meant repeating the falsehood with added detail: the "fact" that I had been on a conference call the previous day with the Hillary high command. Again, false. My worry is that if this is what one of Fox's best and most respected reporters is doing, what are the hacks up to?
I exchanged several civil emails with Garrett -- and append them to this post. They are not nuanced. Read them for yourself. I report, you decide.

----- Original Message -----
From: Begala, Paul
To: Garrett, Major
Sent: Tue Jan 08 14:18:37 2008
Subject: N.H.D.
Major,
I know you're swamped, and I hate to bother you on such a busy news day, but whoever told you I am joining Hillary's campaign fed you some bum info. It's just not true. Or as I say to my boys, N.H.D. Not. Happening. Dude.
I'm not coming in as a volunteer, or as an adviser, or as a strategist or anything else. I have contributed to her campaign, and am convinced she would be a great President. But I am not joining the campaign in any form or fashion.
Again, I know how busy you are, but I'd sure appreciate you checking with me before you go with a story about me. This email is always a good way to reach me.
Thanks a lot.
All best,
Paul Begala

________________________________


From: Garrett, Major
Sent: Tuesday, January 08, 2008 2:31 PM
To: Begala, Paul
Subject: Re: N.H.D.


Paul:
I genuinely appreciate the e-mail.
I will take it under advisement.
And I look forward to discussing all aspects of the campaign with you in the future.
All best,
Major

Major Garrett, Congressional Correspondent, Fox News


----- Original Message -----
From: Begala, Paul
To: Garrett, Major
Sent: Tue Jan 08 15:18:16 2008
Subject: RE: N.H.D.

Major,

Just heard you say I was on a conference call with Hillary's campaign yesterday. That's not true. I was not on any conference call with Hillary's campaign - and have had no contact with her campaign for months. No one from her campaign has contacted me -- nor have I contacted them -- and I am not joining in any capacity, paid or unpaid, official or unofficial. I feel like that old Lorrie Morgan song, "What part of 'no' don't you understand?"

I have a lot of respect for you, and I like you, but I've got to ask you again to check with me before you go with a story about me. Someone is misleading you, and it is not me.

Again, I know the challenges of 24-hour news, and this is a crazy environment, but you can almost always reach me at this email address.

All best,

Paul

From: Garrett, Major
Sent: Tuesday, January 08, 2008 3:32 PM
To: Begala, Paul
Subject: Re: N.H.D.
Paul:
You know me well enough to know I am not trying to screw you.
You also know, or should know, that I'm careful and don't have a reputation for pulling stories out of my ass.
I'm not now. The sourcing is strong, very strong, or I wouldn't go with it.
I appreciate your e-mails and I redouble my efforts with each one I receive.
Please feel free to call me at any hour of any day.

Best,
Major

Major Garrett, Congressional Correspondent, Fox News


----- Original Message -----
From: Begala, Paul
To: Garrett, Major
Sent: Tue Jan 08 15:41 2008
Subject: RE: N.H.D.

Major,

Thanks so much for getting back to me. I do know you, and I like and respect you. You know me as well, and I would not lie to you, would not mislead you. And I am telling you that whoever told you I was on a conference call with Hillary's campaign was wrong. I'm quite sure that you're not making this up, so please don't misunderstand me. No doubt someone is telling you this stuff about me. It's just not true.

If my wife hears one more report that I'm joining Hillary's campaign I'm going to have to go in the Pundit Protection Program.

Thanks,
Paul

ouch. although reporting false stories is nothing new for fox news, this surely can't help their already slipping ratings

i'm also curious to see how this is defended

oh, and fox obviously had an angle for defiantly reporting that over and over again...makes me think what other false hillary stories they've reported

[Thorgrim]

Fox News has horrible reporters...see the Obama madrassa story...they get one person saying something, call them a well placed source, and run with whatever story sounds the most interesting

it's tabloid journalism...

CNN to Fox News is like comparing the Chicago Tribune to the Sun

[RMNIXON]

I actually saw some of the reporting on this story yesterday. As best as I can recall it involved a possible shakeup in the Clinton Capaign Staff and that a number of people might join, including James Carville, as possible paid or unpaid consultants. I don't even recall Begala as one of the names? It could have been, but it was certainly not a story about him! As I recall they made it clear the Clinton Camp denigned the story and in a later report none other than Terry McAuliffe was on Fox saying they would welcome anyone on board but denied a shakeup.

In short this sound like Begala making himself self-important in order to take a swipe ay Fox News.



But knowing how the mere mention of Fox drives people into a frenzy on the board I am sure this "much ado about nothing" will go on for many pages........

[Ardentfrost]

holy crap! lol, he believed his source more than he believed Begala. That is fucking nuts

[6SpeedTA95]

Holy shit a democrat doesn't like fox! Needless to say he didn't criticize the other news outlets that reported the EXACT same thing yesterday

[SoFlaJDM]

Originally Posted by RMNIXON

I actually saw some of the reporting on this story yesterday. As best as I can recall it involved a possible shakeup in the Clinton Capaign Staff and that a number of people might join, including James Carville, as possible paid or unpaid consultants. I don't even recall Begala as one of the names? It could have been, but it was certainly not a story about him! As I recall they made it clear the Clinton Camp denigned the story and in a later report none other than Terry McAuliffe was on Fox saying they would welcome anyone on board but denied a shakeup.

In short this sound like Begala making himself self-important in order to take a swipe ay Fox News.



But knowing how the mere mention of Fox drives people into a frenzy on the board I am sure this "much ado about nothing" will go on for many pages........

i saw the story live... they specifically mentioned both carville and begala

show me the "swipe"

the story was about him, and he was just saying what happened. i love it how you wrote this off... it's freaking hilarious

[SoFlaJDM]

Originally Posted by 6SpeedTA95

Holy shit a democrat doesn't like fox! Needless to say he didn't criticize the other news outlets that reported the EXACT same thing yesterday

show me 1 clip and i'll drop it

you can't because fox was the only channel reporting it... if you somehow do find a clip, the reporter will say "there are reports, but also denials" or something along those lines

[SoFlaJDM]

seriously, it doesn't strike you at all, that begala (the subject of their story) was contacting them and saying it wasn't true, yet they kept airing it? that doesn't seem odd... at all?

[6SpeedTA95]

Originally Posted by SoFlaJDM

show me 1 clip and i'll drop it

you can't because fox was the only channel reporting it... if you somehow do find a clip, the reporter will say "there are reports, but also denials" or something along those lines

Uhh dude it was on Good Morning America. I watch ABC each morning and they reported it yesterday, I was laying on the couch, half a asleep and they said something about Hillary hiring Begala and Carville so I got up to watch it They went on to say that there were rumors that Hillary was going to shake things up and hire her husbands former advisors.

[SoFlaJDM]

Originally Posted by 6SpeedTA95

Uhh dude it was on Good Morning America. I watch ABC each morning and they reported it yesterday, I was laying on the couch, half a asleep and they said something about Hillary hiring Begala and Carville so I got up to watch it They went on to say that there were rumors that Hillary was going to shake things up and hire her husbands former advisors.

great

also, this was good morning america... fred barnes was still talking about the staff shakeup after 8pm when the precincts were reporting. still not odd?

did you miss the timestamps on the email exchanges with major garrett?

[6SpeedTA95]

Originally Posted by SoFlaJDM

seriously, it doesn't strike you at all, that begala (the subject of their story) was contacting them and saying it wasn't true, yet they kept airing it? that doesn't seem odd... at all?

Oh yeah that definately seems odd. And his story is entirely plausible. What I find odd is that people have been floating this rumor for over a month and for some reason I guess yesterday the shit hit the fan and someone really cranked up the rumor mill. Begala goes on a witch hunt against Fox...despite others saying and hinting at the same thing.

If fox intentionally aired bad information that pretty much sucks ass but I also find it pretty odd the way this whole ordeal is unfolding especially on the far left websites/message boards.

[SoFlaJDM]

Originally Posted by 6SpeedTA95

Begala goes on a witch hunt

WHAT?!?! did you see the tone of the emails? i don't really see how anyone can be nicer given the situation begala was in

expecting a different outcome last night?

[motivez]

And how is it unfolding there exactly?

I don't see how he's going on a "witch hunt" to set the story straight -- a story about him, no less. He was cordial in the emails, where's the witchhunt?

[SoFlaJDM]

Originally Posted by 6SpeedTA95

this whole ordeal is unfolding especially on the far left websites/message boards.

LL is liberal

[6SpeedTA95]

Originally Posted by SoFlaJDM

LL is liberal

yes very

[SoFlaJDM]

Originally Posted by 6SpeedTA95

yes very

i'll take that as you can't really defend it much anymore

[JaJae]

Major's side of the story:

Begala Writes The Bourbon Room « Major Garrett’s Bourbon Room « FOXNews.com
aul Begala sent the following e-mail to The Bourbon Room moments ago.

Major:

I know you’re swamped and I hate to bother you on such a busy news day, but whoever told you I am joining Hillary’s campaign fed you some bum info. It’s just not true. Or as I say to my boys, N.H.D. Not. Happening. Dude.

I am not coming in as a volunteer, or as an adviser or as a strategist or anything else. I have contributed to her campaign, and am convinced she would be a great President. But I am not joining the campaign in any form or fashion.

Thanks a lot.

All best,

Paul Begala

The sourcing on the story is impeccable and its been confirmed through other, external sources very close to the Clinton campaign. The story has always said this is a matter that has to be finalized in a shake-down meeting tomorrow after what is expected to be a bruising Clinton loss here in New Hampshire.

The final decision is due tomorrow but the current intention, as The Bourbon Room first reported, is to bring Begala and Clinton on board as day-to-day strategists on a volunteer basis.

One of the realities of political coverage, is denials fly until the press release is out. There’s no press release on this. It is in development and that’s always the way The Bourbon Room has reported it.

The topic of bringing Carville and Begala on board was first raised in a Clinton conference call yesterday, a call in which two very credible sources tell me Begala and Carville participated.

Other big names from Bill’s era of politics are also under consideration, including Doug Sosnick and former Clinton pollster Stan Greenberg. Everything in a campaign is fluid, especially in one where so much has gone so wrong so quickly.

More to come

Take it as you will I suppose.

[JaJae]

YouTube Video

Interestingly enough

[JaJae]

Despite Hillary's press reports saying Carville and Begala aren't joining the campaign Carville admitted he is...

LARRY KING: What is your role, Jim? Are you involved in this campaign?

JAMES CARVILLE: I am friendly with the campaign. I give them advice, like today, I'd be glad to share the advice I gave. I said look, Senator Obama is coming after y'all, he was bragging today he comes from the rough and tumble of Chicago politics. And I said: "be ready, he put you on notice. This hope stuff, forget about that, he's coming after it. I understand he's been hit. And he's like any politician that's been hit, you know, it's a hit dog that barks, and we're going to see a lot of barking from Senator Obama."

And the Clinton people better batten down, because David [Axelrod, chief Obama strategist] and people like that who grew up in Chicago politics, they know the rough and tumble of politics, and they know how to do this, and Senator Obama today put them on notice and I hope they take that notice seriously.

KING: Are you therefore a non-paid consultant?

CARVILLE: Yes, I don't make it. I haven't taken a nickel in any domestic political consulting since 1994. But I'm friendly with them, but I'm friendly with David too, but -

It appears Fox's source wasn't too far off the target...

Video here:
http://newsbusters.org/static/2008/0...01-09CNNLK.wmv

[Thorgrim]

carville gave calls to Gore, Kerry, and ofcourse, there's no reason he wouldn't stop with Hillary...that doesn't make him an advisor...or part of some new team