Rick Santorum: Fox News Suspension Came Without Network Asking About My 2012 Plans

After news broke on Wednesday that Fox News was suspending former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum as a contributor to the network, it didn't take long before the potential presidential contender spoke out on the matter.

Appearing on CNN's "John King USA" the same day, Santorum said the decision to sever ties came after never being asked by anyone at Fox News about his plans for 2012.

According to the network, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee and former Alaska governor Sarah Palin, who both contribute to the network and are believed to be mulling presidential campaigns, have not been suspended in their roles.

"I don't know why Fox differentiated, whether there's been conversations," he said. "They didn't talk to me and ask me whether I'm running or not. It wasn't something that we had a conversation about. I don't know whether other people have had conversations."

Santorum signaled that his split with Fox News would have no impact on the speed at which he makes a decision on whether or not to run.

"It doesn't really affect my decision process at all," he explained. "All the things that when you test the waters you have to test to see how you're doing really are quite separate than media appearances on Fox."

At the beginning of the exchange, host John King said to the former Fox News contributor, "Welcome to the land of freedom and, we'd like to think, objectivity."

Along with Santorum, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich was also suspended as a contributor to Fox News on Wednesday. Network anchor Bret Baier announced the split on air.

Fox News has suspended its contributor arrangements with former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum, both of who have signaled possible runs for the [presidency]. The suspension is effective for 60 days. Then, on May 1st, their contracts will be terminated unless they notify Fox that they are not running for president. Now, this has been contemplated from the start, from the very beginning, but it is effective today...this is Fox policy. This is the announcement being made today. It does not preclude other announcements that may be made in the future.

Santorum issued a statement on the matter shortly after the announcement was made.

"I share in their commitment to ensure news organizations provide balanced coverage of the issues of the day," he said, according to GOP12. "I intend to use the months ahead to continue my evaluation of a potential presidential run, and I will make an announcement on my final decision sometime in the coming months."

Comments

[maxom]

02:53 AM on 04/16/2011

The real reason for the suspension was that Fox didn't want to hire extra janitorial staff to keep things cleaned up after TrickyRicky walked thru the halls dripping froth all over the floors.

[ZeraLee]

10:31 PM on 03/05/2011

Maybe they are trying to avoid the appearance of partisanship, or conflict of interest, or something?
Maybe they are trying to pick winners and losers.
Maybe it's about money and ratings.
Maybe they *have* no rational reason.

Maybe Rupert's lunch didn't agree with him.

I can hardly wait for WikiLeaks to hit FOX News and Murdoch.

[SocratesSiddhartha]

05:39 PM on 03/05/2011

LOL, Ya know things are looking down when you get "suspended" without notice from the lamest Newsiness org. in the world, most people would call this what it is...fired!

[Gottlieb]

04:38 PM on 03/05/2011

I think Fox News used 2012 as an excuse to get rid of Rick for the sin of low ratings at too much cost. Also using Rick is running for President just filled up another news cycle with cheap content. Rick was not adding to the bottom line of Fox News. I don't think Rick has a clue to how business works but as an unemployed worker now he is going to find it hard to get real job. I predict he will become a lobbyist or a drone at a think tank.

[Tryandkeepupwillyou]

11:13 AM on 03/04/2011

Kudos Faux New!! I'm really impressed by their claims of objectivity.
I'm going to watch and listen as it gets echoed repeatedly.
Then (for some inexplicable reason) I think I'll buy a bunch of gold. Or maybe I'll just be angry and whine about multinational companies only showing a 30% profit because taxes are too high!!
Poor people better start working harder or else...

[SocratesSiddhartha]

05:31 PM on 03/05/2011

LOL, subtle sarcasm, lovit!

[tangelan]

06:23 PM on 03/03/2011

No worries, Rick. You'll still have your own cable news sounding board. You're just mad because you won't get paid for it. The Presidency doesn't pay that much either. You may want to think about that.

[AslanRules]

05:44 PM on 03/03/2011

Don't Cry, Rick...

Maybe Fox will at least pay for your childrens' cyber school as you made Pennsylvanians do.

http://www.santorumexposed.com/pages/issues/issues-tax.php

[Gibbler]

05:14 PM on 03/03/2011

Nice one John King!

[Alonzo]

05:06 PM on 03/03/2011

Palin and Huckebee are not running. She, because she knows she can't win and is simply out for all the money she can grab. He because he said he doesn't bellieve Obama can be beat in 1212. Fox asked them if they would be running and Pallin and Huckebee said "No."

[PICJEFF]

05:00 PM on 03/03/2011

I use to think that Rick may have a chance to run in 2012, that he could actually appeal to the MIDDLE and possibly even disenfranchised MODERATE DEMS and Independents. Now it would appear that his true colors are coming out, he is a bigger cry baby then Boehner is. PASS!

[Majorbob53]

05:36 PM on 03/03/2011

Actually, his problem began when he equated being gay with pedophelia and bestiality. Not good for a President wanna-be.

[fullproof]

07:27 PM on 03/03/2011

Absolutely - it made me sick.

[PICJEFF]

05:57 PM on 03/03/2011

Correct on all accounts

[John C Osborn]

04:55 PM on 03/03/2011

"Where's my propaganda campaign!!" whines Santorum.

[unionave]

04:48 PM on 03/03/2011

Santorum should be proud Fox rhetoric is suspending him . Fox suspended the President of the United State of America also . So he is in good company .

[realpolitic]

04:36 PM on 03/03/2011

Fox is the lowest common denominator in news.

[John C Osborn]

04:55 PM on 03/03/2011

Calling it news is a disgrace to journalists worldwide.

[barryr20]

03:34 AM on 03/04/2011

What journalists are doing a good job on either side? I'm a conservative but only really like Taibbi, who else is doing great research and journalism?

[friendjudy]

04:30 PM on 03/03/2011

DUH!!!!!!!!!

[Sane Centrist]

04:20 PM on 03/03/2011

Fox released him and Gingrich due to any legal complications down the road in case they decide to run for president.

I think Fox is tired of being nailed for blatantly contributing to republican candidates when all the other networks don’t allow it because of ethics. Something Fox may slowly be warming up too.

They didn’t release Palin for the obvious, and if I were this guy I definitely wouldn’t be offended by it. Sarah Palin wouldn’t win the nomination to clean the bathrooms in the Whitehouse let alone run the country as the commander in chief. – so there’s never any worries there.

Fox knows what she is, what she’s all about, and how infinitesimally low her IQ count is – so why release her.

I don’t believe the right has any really strong candidates that stand a chance at this point unless this is an unknown none of us knows anything about who’s waiting in the wings.

Personally I’m not worried about Gingrich, Palin, Santorum, Perry, Trump, Bachman, Angle, Rand or any of the other “escapees”.

The more these folks pander to “Club Crazy” the more they distance themselves from the center………………… and that’s where you win, not the fringes.