Fox News' Major Garrett Defends Obama Against "Fox & Friends" In Leaked E-Mail

Fox News correspondent Major Garrett shot back in defense of Barack Obama against the network's morning show's effort to suggest that he has ignored Fox News throughout the campaign. In an internal email obtained by the Huffington Post, Garrett — who has been Fox News' correspondent following the Obama campaign — took issue with a planned "Fox & Friends" segment about whether Obama will try to control the media, using "KICKED REPORTERS OFF PLANE, IGNORE FNC, BIDEN FL AV INTVIEW" as "examples he's already done."

"May I point out Obama has done 5 interviews with me and one with Chris Wallace, one with Brit Hume and one with Bill O'Reilly," Garrett replied-all to a "Fox & Friends" producer's email. "That's 8 interviews. Would I like more? Yes. Would Chris Wallace? Yes. Would Brit and O'Reilly like more? Of course."

The e-mail, which went to a significant portion of Fox News staff, continued, comparing Obama's eight interviews with Fox News to the five Hillary Clinton gave the network.

"Just a note to add some real numbers and a grain of context," Garrett said. "Apologies if I left out any other big interview of Obama [or] Clinton on our network."

The planned guest, Media Research Center president Brent Bozell, did appear but the segment was retooled to discuss the media coverage of Obama's remarks on the coal industry.

Read the full e-mail below:

-----Original Message-----
From: Garrett, Major
Sent: Sunday, November 02, 2008 9:23 PM
To: [redacted]
Subject: Re: F & F Guests, November 3, 2008

In the context of the 6:15 am B Block "IGNORE FNC" segment, may I point out Obama has done 5 interviews with me and one with Chris Wallace, one with Brit Hume and one with Bill O'Reilly. That's 8 interviews. Would I like more? Yes. Would Chris Wallace? Yes. Would Brit and O'Reilly like more? Of course.

Story continues below

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But it's still 8 interviews with FNC in this campaign. By comparison, my count is the Hillary Clinton did 5 FNC interviews with FNC during the campaign: 3 with me, one with Chris Wallace and one with O'Reilly. This does not count morning round-robins done during the primaries as those tend not to have any selectivity to them.

Just a note to add some real numbers and a grain of context. Apologies if I left out any other big interview of Obama of Clinton on our network.

MG
Major Garrett
Fox News

----- Original Message -----
From: [redacted]
To: [redacted]
Sent: Sun Nov 02 19:59:31 2008
Subject: F & F Guests, November 3, 2008

FOX & FRIENDS GUESTS FOR MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2008 - 1 DAY UNTIL THE
ELECTION!
*** 5AM START!!!! ***

5:00 (A-BLOCK) COLD OPEN // QUICK TEASE

// News HEADLINES // TALKING POINTS

----------------------
5:15 (B-BLOCK) - 2 STORIES ((ANCHOR))
&
JUAN WILLIAMS, POLITICAL ANALYST & FOX NEWS CONTRIBUTOR & JAMES T.
HARRIS, CONSERVATIVE RADIO TALK SHOW HOST ((BOTH GUESTS ON SET))
TOPIC: OBAMA'S NEW ATTACK ON THOSE WHO DON'T WANT HIGHER TAXES,
"SELFISHNESS"
----------------------
5:22 (C-BLOCK) - 2 STORIES ((ANCHOR))

& CARRYOVER W/ JUAN & JAMES - TOPIC 2 - THE ABILITY TO LOWER TAXES
WORKED FOR IRELAND, WHY WOULDN'T IT WORK FOR US? ((BOTH GUESTS ON SET))
(
----------------------
5:29 (D-BLOCK) - BUMP-IN - TBD

// News HEADLINES - INCLUDE WX // TALKING POINTS // SPORTS

PKG HOW WE GOT HERE: OBAMA ((PKG TRT: 3:22 OC: (music sting)))
----------------------
5:45 (E-BLOCK) - MINI NEWS ((ANCHOR))

&
PKG HOW WE GOT HERE: MCCAIN ((PKG 3:20: , OC: (music sting)))
----------------------
5:52 (F-BLOCK) - JOHN FUND - TOPIC - VOTING ISSUES - EARLY VOTING - IS
IT A GOOD THING? OR IS IT CREATING MORE PROBLEMS? ((NY STUDIO))
====================================================================
5:59 (A-BLOCK) COLD OPEN // QUICK TEASE

// News HEADLINES // TALKING POINTS

----------------------
6:15 (B-BLOCK) - 2 STORIES ((ANCHOR))

& BRENT BOZELL- WILL OBAMA TRY TO CONTROL THE MEDIA? EXAMPLES HE'S
ALREADY DONE- KICKED REPORTERS OFF PLANE, IGNORE FNC, BIDEN FL AV
INTVIEW, ((DC BUREAU))
----------------------
6:22 (C-BLOCK) - POP UP POLITICS ((ANCHOR))

& CARRYOVER (MUST CARRY OVER BRENT BOZELL) ((DC BUREAU))
>> BDAY IN TEASE

----------------------
6:29 (D-BLOCK) - BUMP-IN - TBD

// News HEADLINES - INCLUDE WX // TALKING POINTS // SPORTS

6D - RICK BURGESS & BUBBA BUSSEY: RADIO HOSTS "RICK & BUBBA SHOW" LIVE
FROM THEIR STUDIO-- WHAT ARE THEY HEARING? - INCL OBAMA'S "SELFISHNESS"
SOT ((BIRMINGHAM))

----------------------
6:45 (E-BLOCK) - MINI NEWS ((ANCHOR))
&
DAVID FREDOSSO - TOPIC: THE CHICAGO MACHINE - POLITICS OBAMA IS USED TO
VS POLITICS OF WASHINGTON
((DC BUREAU))
----------------------
6:52 (F-BLOCK) - PETER JOHNSON JR - TOPIC - THE CANDIDATES ON HEALTH
CARE ((ON SET))

====================================================================
6:59 (A-BLOCK) COLD OPEN // QUICK TEASE

// News HEADLINES - INCLUDE WX // TALKING POINTS

----------------------
7:15 (B-BLOCK) - MITT ROMNEY - TOPIC - NEWS OF THE DAY ((TOLEDO))
POOL SCHEDULE
6:30 NBC pretape
6:40 ABC pretape
6:54 CNN live
7:05 CBS live
7:15 Fox live
7:35 MSNBC live

----------------------
7:22 (C-BLOCK) - GERALDINE FERRARO, FORMER DEMOCRATIC VICE PRESIDENTIAL
NOMINEE & & RICH LOWRY EDITOR, NATIONAL REVIEW TOPIC -

----------------------
7:29 (D-BLOCK) BUMP IN - TBD

// News HEADLINES - INCLUDE WX & SPORTS // TALKING POINTS

7D - SEN. CLAIRE MCCASKILL, (D-MO) NATIONAL CO-CHAIR, OBAMA CAMPAIGN
TOPIC - NEWS OF THE DAY ((KANSAS CITY, MO))

----------------------
7:45 (E-BLOCK) - THIS DAY IN HISTORY ((ANCHOR))

& STEPHEN MOORE, WSJ -SENIOR ECONOMIC WRITER - TOPIC: HOW IRELAND'S TAX
CUTS HELPED THEIR ECONOMY ((DC BUREAU))
----------------------
7:52 (F-BLOCK) - PETER JOHNSON JR - VOTER FRAUD - THINGS THAT CAN GO
WRONG DURING VOTING, OR ON ELEX DAY (BASED ON TIME MAG ARTICLE) ((ON
SET))

====================================================================
7:59 (A-BLOCK) // COLD OPEN // QUICK TEASE

// News HEADLINES - INCLUDE WX // TALKING POINTS
8A - KARL ROVE, FORMER CHIEF POLITICAL STRATEGIST TO PRESIDENT BUSH -
TOPIC PRE-ELECTION POLLS - IS THE RACE TIGHTENING? ((IN STUDIO))
----------------------

8:15 (B-BLOCK) - JOHN BOLTON, FORMER US AMBASSADOR TO THE UN - THE EARLY
TESTS FROM ABROAD ((DALLAS BUREAU))
----------------------
8:22 (C-BLOCK) - MINI NEWS

& - JOE THE PLUMBER - TOPIC -PLUNDERING THE PLUMBER'S RECORDS (HER
COLUMN FROM 10/31) - WASH POST ARTICLE TODAY "The Wurzelbacher Effect" -
ANOTHER MEDIA ATTACK ON JOE. ((ON SET))

----------------------
8:29 (D-BLOCK) - BUMP IN - TBD

// News HEADLINES - INCLUDE WX // TALKING POINTS // SPORTS
>> PULL SOT FROM JOE'S 8C INTV?
MICHELLE MALKIN - MICHELLEMALKIN.COM - TOPIC -PLUNDERING THE PLUMBER'S
RECORDS (HER COLUMN FROM 10/31) - WASH POST ARTICLE SUNDAY "THE
WURZELBACHER EFFECT" - ANOTHER MEDIA ATTACK ON JOE. ((DENVER BUREAU))

& ----------------------

8:45 (E-BLOCK) - LAWRENCE EAGLEBURGER - FMR SECY OF STATE UNDER GEORGE
H.W. BUSH, ALSO SERVED UNDER NIXON, REAGAN & CARTER ADMINISTRATIONS AND
IS A MCCAIN SUPPORTER ((CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA)) - WHICH CANDIDATE HAS
BETTER FOREIGN POLICY EXPERIENCE?

----------------------
8:52 (F-BLOCK) - DAN GAINOR, BUSINESS & MEDIA INSTITUTE. TOPIC: AMERICA
2012: FACTS ABOUT WHAT THE NEXT PRESIDENT'S FIRST TERM WILL DO TO
ENERGY, HEALTH CARE AND YOUR WALLET VS WHAT THE MEDIA HAS TOLD YOU
((DC BUREAU))

----------------------
8:58 (G-BLOCK) - GOODBYE

**POST TAPE**
MOTHER OF ANCHORMAN ANNE PRESSLY ((ON SET))
========================================================================
====
REMOTES:

JIM ANGLE, UNSURE ABOUT STARTING TIME

STEVE BROWN FROM OHIO, STARTING AT 7AM

PETER BARNES ON THE ELECTION

Related:
New York Times Editorial Praises Shep Smith For Joe The Plumber Smackdown
Fox's Shepard Smith Forced To Offer Disclaimer After Joe The Plumber Interview
Mayhem At Fox News: Anchor Walks Off Set, Wallace Rails Network For "Obama-Bashing"

Comments

[piul05]

You know there's something very momentous happening in the world when Fox News employees start standing up to it - it's a kind of twilight zone....

[QueenofSheba]

I've always liked Major Garrett- he's a good interviewer. But I was very disappointed when he went to Fox News. Glad to see after the brainwashing at that network he still has part of his brain working and can see - and stand up to - at least some of the unfairness of Fox coverage.

[SEQUOIABISON]

I believe I detected a soft spot for Obama in Major Garrett last night when he was describing the emotional upheaval Obama must be experiencing over the lose of his grandmother, I said to myself, Obama has befriended this guy, you could tell, and Major has developed a respect and even an affection for the man he was sent to cover and smear for Fox. Apparently to know him is to love him and Mr Garrett was no longer willing to spread lies about his new found friend.

Tomorrow America and the World begins anew.

Obama/Biden

[Butch864]

LMAO!!!

So are you sleeping with Obama? I bet you have Obama bedsheets and pillow cases as well, huh?

[UsofA]

Which would leave you sleeping with John McCain and Joe the Plumber. Freaky.

[jackthecommentor]

What a typical conservative response! Just shows why you guys are all behind in the polls. Most of the outspoken homophobes in your party have been outed ,and I think you may have just done the same for yourself.

[SeriousBlack]

Try not to be QUITE so cynical, eh?

Oh - sorry. Forgot the type of person I was talking to.

[CitizenoftheRepublic]

Is your throat and butt connected by a straight pipe? It stinks when you speak... just wondering.

[escobar]

Fox has discredited itself over and over again.
I don't think Oabam owes any of them anything, least od all respect.
tWhy would he? Because they finally learned how to spell his name correctly?
Fox is a nest of lairs and bums.

[Paula1953]

Fox knows who's going to win this election and it's my guess they don't want to be the ONLY news network to be left out of the interviews with President Obama. Just like the republicans, they'll do anything to get ahead.

[aspertame2]

First Sheppard Smith & Chris Wallace, and now Garrett.. Hmm. I don't think this email was really leaked
'accidentally'. I think FOX is concerned about their post election access to players and, for the first time in awhile, the possible preferential treatment of their rival networks by the White House. We'll have several more at Fox jump on the "I am chafed by this mindless right wing extremism" bandwagon - it's a business/bet hedging thing. Maybe they can fire O'Reilly spectacularly and he can become a regular contributer to "Countdown"

[QueenofSheba]

Fox concerned about post-election access. And can you blame them? What network wants to be stuck with interviewing only the whack-job wingnuts that will be left on Capitol Hill?

But I don't think Fox News has to worry about being denied access to the White House after the election. I think Obama is going to do his best to include everyone, even the right wing, in the dialogue that will be going on between his administration and the American people. That's what he's been doing during the primaries and the general election, and I have no doubt he will continue doing so as president. He told Rachel Maddow in his recent interview with her than the reason he didn't blast the Republican philosophy is that he wants everyone to feel free to talk to each other and didn't want to demonize anyone, thereby shutting them out of the conversation.

This is one smart man.

[MarkBoston]

I think the VERY best thing that SHOULD happen is that NO DEM ever and I mean EVER go on FAUX news as a guest. Don't give them the kindling for Christ sakes... If you got a phone call from the "Jerry Springer show" Telling you that your mate contacted them because they has a confession to tell you .... would you be stupid enough to accept the invitation ???? NO !

[GSPLBASSDC]

You're probably right, Queen., but I'll bet that the new White House Press Secretary will have the Fox reporter in rows 5-10 and nowhere up front near the microphones....

[jwb]

"Maybe they can fire O'Reilly spectacularly and he can become a regular contributer to 'Countdown'"

Considering the number of times Olberman has called him "Bill-O the Clown," this would only work if O'Reilly agreed to work in white face with a big red nose. If he were to be fired, and he won't be, he would get a better offer.

On the other hand, I've read that Murdoch is more of a windsock than a committed ideologue. I haven't read anything conclusive to back that claim up, so who knows.

[emmalee]

Fox news is a joke! They have a one track mind, no common sense and no intelligence!

[secondbanana]

Blast FOX News all you wish, but independent news media watchdogs state clearly and emphatically, there's been an equal percentage of pro/con stories on both presidential candidates on only one network, and that's FOX. The rest of the networks are in the can, far and away, for Obama (71% to 29%, on average) and are, thus, (my commentary) UNFAIR AND UNBALANCED.

[Indedave]

John McCain has run the filthiest and most dysfunctional campaign in 50 years. Obama has run the best organized and postitive campaign in that same time frame. For Fox to cheerlead for McCain and call it "fair and balanced" does not change the fact that they are in the tank for the GOP hate machine. For the other networks to report that the McCain campaign has been an odious debacle and the Obama effort sterling does not change those facts, either.

[karmagirl1061]

"Independent news media watchdogs" That's funny.

[alembic54]

Fixed Noise Fair and balanced? I think not.

[BustinUp]

Do you not understand the absurdity of saying everyone should have the same coverage?

They say other networks cover Obama more...maybe he does more. They say 70% of the Obama coverage is posistive ... maybe 70% of what he does is positive. The "liberal media" doesn't tell McCain and Palin to blatantly lie about ... well everything. It's not the media making them look bad, it's them making themselves look bad.

To say some station leans towards one candidate seems perfectly viable if that person is being honest and real as opposed to the other candidate being a blatant liar and fake. Would you say it's unfair for them to call someone a liar who's lying? It just so happens McCain gets busted for it a lot more because he does it a lot more. I mean, they show you a video of the guy and damn near everything that comes out of his mouth is just plain false. Then you get Palin in there were everything she says is completely unintelligible or just flat out wrong.

True media gravitates towards discovering the truth. Fox news gravitates towards ratings off shocking headlines.

[Newkophile]

Admittledly, my evidence is anecdotal, but I cannot recall one moment in these past few months when I didn't turn on Fox, and if politics was being discussed, then Obama was either being knocked or McCain was being promoted extensively. You can include O'Reilly, Hannity, Van Sustern, Brit Hume, Charles Krauthammer, Fred Barnes, etc., in that group of Repub acolytes. And I just don't see where CNN and even MSNBC (with the obvious exceptions of Olbermann and Maddow) are "in the tank" for Obama. MSNBC has Scarborough, Norah O'Donnell and David Gregory, all of whom report with either an explicit or implicit Republican agenda in mind.

[24hourrifle]

of all the disgraceful,fraudulent, obama smearing,john mccain infommercials on fox news "fox and friends" is the clear cut winner.their hatred for obama and democrats in general is so very transparent.the idea that a weatherman,a pageant contestant,and a super douchebaggy know nothing like brian kilmeade can sit there day after day criticizing the journalistic credibility of other networks and newspapers is astounding to me.how can they breathe buried beneath all of that hypocrisy and jealousy???!!!???

[Lib2daBone]

We must use RICO Statutes to break up the media cartel. Only 7 AM and 7FM stations per company. Bring back the Fairness Doctrine. Rush Limbaugh and Faux News would never have been possible if Ronnie Raygun had not de-regulated the media.

[roxn]

In defense of Major Garrett - if you listen to his commentary on the Barack Obama campaign - he is always fair - and super thorough. He really is good.

I would turn the sound up for him.

Honestly I think he is a good man and think his response here - speaks to his character - that I have seen in his coverage of the Obama campaign.

Usually he is dead on - Fox and Friends starts out early - and can be very malicious when it comes to Obama.

That Major Garrett put them is their place -- though at one point Chris Wallace also put them in their place - for ignoring their scheduled talking points and focusing entirely on Wright or some other anti-Obama issue.

Just to think all that negative and spiteful commentary and Obama is still ahead in the polls. What will they do if Obama wins?

[roch20]

Well, in all fairness to Major Garrett, he needs to get the f*** out of FOX if he intend to have any career in journalism, because there is no such thing as journalism in "FIX" (FOX) News...!!!

[Mavericks]

Wonder how much Fox lost on the World Series too. Just keep making bad bets there Fox. If there's any justice, they will go out of business.

[NamelessGenXer]

"Just a note to add... a grain of context. " Who would have thunk it from FAUX?
What's next? A grain of TRUTH?

[grf67]

Is it possible that there is one reasonable man at fox? Time for him to get a job at a real news network.

[milman1]

Let Fox watchers sit in their sweat stained wife beater T-shirt watching out the trailer window for Muslims in Black UN helicopters trying to take their guns. There is no reasoning with someone who lives with everyone else who look and think a like, it is really more sad than anything else.

Enjoy America, it is all colors and types, what a blast.

It sure is nice watching the red states receed like a bad plague.

[jetgirl]

Major it sounds like you have a soul. That means you should leave Faux News and get a new job.