Fox News Exec On Attempted Feinberg Interview Snub: We Requested Feinberg Interview, Gibbs Acknowledged Mistake

A Fox News executive told the Huffington Post Saturday that the network "absolutely" did request an interview with Obama administration "pay czar" Kenneth Feinberg and that the White House acknowledged a mistake on the part of a Treasury department staffer in failing to initially include Fox News in the round of interviews Feinberg conducted Thursday.

"Of course we requested an interview," Fox News Senior Vice President Michael Clemente told the Huffington Post.

This directly contradicts reports by the Associated Press and Talking Points Memo, both of which reported that the White House had excluded Fox News because it did not request an interview.

Whether Fox News requested an interview was irrelevant in this case, however, as the interview was conducted a pool including ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, and Fox News.

Clemente said that CBS News Washington Bureau Chief and current pool chairman Chris Isham — who did not respond to phone or e-mail requests for comment Saturday — received a call from the Treasury Department Thursday saying that Feinberg would be available to speak to all of the networks in the pool except for Fox News, and that Bloomberg would be included instead.

Clemente said that when Isham presented that scenario on a conference call with the other pool members — including Fox News — "they unanimously said, instantly, no, that's not gonna fly. Either Fox is in or none of us is doing it."

Once Isham relayed that message to Treasury, Treasury cleared it with White House Communications Director Anita Dunn, who approved Feinberg's interview with Fox News' Major Garrett.

Clemente said, however, that there was now a catch: every network would get two minutes with Feinberg instead of the previously planned five.

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"That's not very normal," he said. "I'm told that whoever was there was absolutely militaristic about the time limit. Usually two or four or five minutes means, 'Ask your last question,' with a little flexibility. But there was none."

Clemente added that White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs acknowledged to Fox News' White House Correspondent Major Garrett that a low level Treasury staffer made a mistake in attempting to exclude Fox from the pool interviews.

The pool is designed to save both time and money by using one camera and crew for interviews to air across all pool member networks.

"If any member had been excluded it would have been the same thing, it has nothing to do with Fox or the White House or the substance of the issues," one pool network bureau chief told TPM Friday. "It's all for one and one for all."

CBS News' Chip Reid described the situation Friday on the "CBS Evening News."

"All the networks said, that's it, you've crossed the line," Reid said.

These accounts contradict a Treasury Department statement to Mediaite Friday, which said, "There was no plot to exclude Fox News."

Comments

[Amalek]

I have no idea what the truth is here, and I don't care. If the White House did it and got caught, so what? They hate Fox, for good reason.

[meldah]

I knew it, anything FOX News says or reports is not to be believed. I posted on October 23 that I didn’t believe FOX News was ever shut out, and I don’t believe them now. If they had requested an interview the application would have been granted, I’d like to see their out-going call records. Time, date and length, And then I would still be suspicious . FOX News went to Court, to Sue for the Right to lie to their viewers. Why does anybody believe a word they say, write or record? Remember what my kind old Grandpa always said: Fool me once, shame on you, Fool me twice, Shame on Me.

[BlackThought]

HAVING TO FACT CHECK YOUR ARTICLES AT MEDIA MATTERS.

PLEASE STICK W/ FACTS. IT IS BAD ENOUGH TO HAVE THE MAINSTREAMING OF EXTREME CONSERVATISM ON CHANNELS LIKE CNN AND MSNBC.

THE SLANT THAT YOU STARTING TO GIVE TO YOUR STORIES GOES AGAINST THE PERSONALITY THAT MS. HUFFINGTON PRESENTS WHEN SHE IS ON TV.

YOU ARE CONFUSING ME.

[MaeScott]

Since this is coming from Faux Noise Exec Clemente...(and we know Faux lies)

move along...nothing to see here. Just the same old BS.

[keepemhonest]

The AP reports Fox did NOT request an interview ... but Fox Execs said they did ... hmmm .... Fox L I E S so much ... I do not believe them.

[keepemhonest]

Oh, and don't forget the lawsuit in Florida between Jane Akre/Steve Wilson v. Fox

A court in Florida (when "W's brother was gov) ruled that Fox was allowed to spread false propaganda on their Fox channels.

the Ruling: the court declared that the FCC policy against falsification that Fox violated was just a policy and not a "law, rule, or regulation", and so the whistle-blower law did not apply.

[Guitanguran]

This from the Saint Petersburg Times published August 19, 2000

"The couple sued for breach of contract and retaliation."

"...the jury did not believe the couple's claim that the station bowed to pressure from Monsanto to alter the news report", although they found "...that Fox affiliate Channel 13 had retaliated against Jane Akre for a story about a controversial hormone manufactured by the Monsanto Corp. "

From what I gather, the ruling was a technical one as to whether there was a basis for for Ms. Akre's contention that the Fox Station lied or was forcing the reporters to as a 'qualification for a whistle blower' suit. There was no mention of lies actually being told by the Fox affiliate.

Speaking of which, it was a local affiliate station, and not the network. It certainly isn't being portrayed that way

Sure would like to get the court documents.

Otherwise, red herring.

[uvymopka]

Have you ever considered going to work fro Adolf Obama?

[patches36]

They stood up for what is right. I'm sure they held their nose but unlike you, a free press, regardless if the President is annoited and sent from the Gods must be checked. You of course would have howeled to the high heavens if the Bush administration did that to your pals at NBC,

[keepemhonest]

Patches

Wow you are eaten up with jealous of Obama... ouch.

[fisher65]

you bethya because it wouldnt be lies like the bushes do!

[clarryr]

So the next time someone says the MSM is in the tank for Obama, have them explain why all of the MSM stood up for Fox. If nothing else, this should debunk that myth.

[THE JEDI 69]

Yeah well say what ya want you won't eat dinner with some one who keeps spitting in ya food either..frack fox

[SimianNation]

Fox can pretend to be a legitimate news source, but as we all know, they are an opinion news dispenser.

They can, like the GOP/Obstructionist always do, to be victims of the left-wing media. That is, for those that think about what they allow to be put into their minds, nothing more than the typical whining nature of the modern day GOP. The GOP looks to play the victim, far more then trying to make a case...make a point...bring a new perspective to a social question.

Fox began the attacks on the White House even before Obama took office, and now they cry that the White House has declared war on them. This what the GOP always does. They attack attack attack, and then when they are rebuffed, they claim weakness and unjustified offence upon them.

I don't know if anyone else sees this the same way, but it seems so clear to me. Fox is just doing what the GOP always does. Claim to be the victim, and whine about their circumstance. And when you, as a so called news organisation, organize anti-government protests (Beck and the 9-12), how can you call yourself an impartial news dispenser?

You cannot.

[Talmageb]

Fox news lies. They admitted so in court. I am amazed at how many people will come on line to defend a fake news program which openly admits to lying and manipulating it's journalists as a matter of course. This is crazy to me. I am also disappointed that Obama would not grant an interview to a fake news company comes off as scared. Of what I can't be sure. Fox is so intellectually dishonest that they actually disprove themselves constantly. Their partisanship and clear right wing neo-conservatism should be enough to completely discredit them. However, Obama should be big enough to send people into the liars den and speak the truth if he can not do that he does not deserve to be in the office.

[MaryanneAZ]

It is entirely too easy to put the name "Obama" in general statements. [I am disappointed in ...] [Obama shoud be big enough ...] The article said a low level staffer made the decision to rebuff Fox for this single interview. President Obama was NOT involved in this interview decision. Not at all. No disappointment is warranted. President Obama is plenty big enough to do his job.

[Talmageb]

I am constantly amazed at how many people come out to support a multi billion dollar fake news network. Fox news is on record in court stating that they lie in their content. Their chief counsel admits this and says so what. It doesn't matter that we lie and obfuscate as a matter of course in our fake news company.. The judge in Florida of course agreed this was fine and here we are today. With a "news" network which openly lies and admits it in court, yet still people try to defend them as if they were a legitimate journalistic enterprise. They are not. That being said Obama should go on fox news and talk to them. Daily. Twice a day. Refute them on their network. If they want access send Gibbs on Fox News every night. He skewered Hannity quite nicely during the election. Force Fox viewers to see Obama as reasonable and intelligent and not some fascist thug. Also, Bush was a horrible manipulator of the Media. He never had press conferences, was cloaked in secrecy, and his example of going exclusively on Fox was wrong. Obama not going on Fox is wrong. He should not be scared of a bunch of intellectually dishonest ideologues i.e. Fox News.

[PitBull6]

As long as you believe that, you will continue to be amazed.

[keepemhonest]

PB6

um.... actually Talmegab is SPOT ON!

[ohiomark]

Admitting their "mistake" in excluding Fox News from the interview pool is just an act of "a$$ covering" by the White House who didn't expect the rest of the media to come to Fox News' defense.

That "snubbing" was done on purpose to punish Fox News for daring to be critical of the President.

[MaryanneAZ]

Were you there? Do you have video of the discussions? We go to the Fox opinion level when we make statements such as yours.

[bcarb]

WOW the professional GOP bloggers are really out tonight, tag teaming. True healthcare reform must be really freaking out donors. It's a good sign. Say hi to Limbo for us, guys.

[ParisBeret45]

I think this story is more important to the snooty inside-the-beltway press than the public at large.

[JePense]

They've spent more time on this story than on anything we really want to know about.