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

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

Comments

[Iownpeterbilt]

I just read over on Propeller that Faux is now more trusted than CNN.
Figures don't lie, but liars do figure!!!!!!!!

[CAPTAINSKIPPY]

"under advisement" defined by Faux: we may not be able to spin true facts our way, but until we can, only then will we issue a correction, if we feel like it.

[Arsenic]

So Paul, why is Garrett a "good guy" again? Oh, he's a pundit, like you.
Are all your BFF "good guys" liars too?
What does your friendship say about your veracity? A.Lot.

[ginnypoo]

I found it very telling that in his second email to you he pretty much pats you on the head, says you are wrong and he knows better than you do what you did yesterday. That was insulting, and you were nicer than I would have been. I would have mentioned giving my exclusive to another station...then gone on another channel with the emails. The idea you started with that he wasn't a hack is where you first went wrong. I found long ago FOX News is all opinion, all the time. This campaign is showing the media to be a joke. They embarass themselves daily misreporting events we can quickly check on youtube. When will reporters develop the self-respect needed to actually report the news with ethics and facts.Do their bosses not demand accuracy in their stories? A few well-placed firings would snap them out of it.

[graffen48]

Here's an excellent video about what fox news is all about. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6737097743434902428

[BoulderSue]

So what else is new? I am amazed that one of the supposedly most educated countries in the world hasn't realized by now that you really can get more real news from Jon Stewart or Stephen Colbert, than Fox. One of them (might have been Jon Stewart) said that with some decent writers they'd make a pretty good comedy show over at Fox "News".

[tdterry1999]

So when are you going to join Hillary's campaign .Because i beleive every thing Fox and CNN say.And the rest of the news network's.They never lie.

[EmilyMP]

I am really not a great fan of FOX news. Thanks for letting us know, Mr. Begala.

[Tom95134]

New organizations (not sure is this describes FOX) are not required to report the truth. Only to e able to point to a source. They are also not required to pull a story just because the subject of the story complains. Absence of Malice covers it.

[ProfessorDuh]

Fox News not does not practice journalism at all. It SUBVERTS journalism. It is the Fourth Estate's Fifth Column, the American Pravda.

[ChristianEcon.com]

RE Fox News: this kind of thing surprises you? Where have you been?

[23000Days]

As Iundestand it, Faux Noise is not allowed to report their sloped "news" in europe at all!

[LawrenceL]

True story: I'm considering "blocking" Fox News channel on my cable set-top box, because my 86 year old mother occasionally watches it, and becomes angry/upset over the content.

I tell her that there is *always* unfortunately a murder, rape, or scandal happening somewhere in the world, there always *has* been at any given time, and THOSE "events" is what Fox makes a steady diet of reporting. That, or creating spin, or "just plain making crap up."

P.S. I say "events," because if something did NOT happen, can it be said to be an event?

[bija]

Because Fox "News" is so biased and inaccurate, I have eliminated it from my cable TV Guide--so when I am clicking through channels, it isn't even an option. I don't miss it at all and wouldn't know anything that goes on there except I keep hearing about it here and other sources of news.

[ahornick]

We're all tired of the national pastime of no one being accountable for their actions lead by our government in all quarters. This is how it breaks down our society.

You could offer this to Keith Olbermann to fire another shot across the bow of FOX "news" or do it yourself on TV. Might start a trend for integrity in journalism.