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12 for 2012: The Fox News Primary Begins

1 year ago
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Matt Lewis
Matt Lewis
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With the 2010 midterm elections in the rear view, those of us who love politics are already thinking about 2012. At a certain well-known conservative broadcasting outpost, the first unofficial beauty contest is already under way in the form of a recently launched series called "12 in 2012." Let's call it the "Fox News primary."
The Fox series includes 12 profiles of likely GOP presidential candidates, as well as a 13th segment on several dark horse candidates. The segments feature interviews with potential hopefuls, as well as Bret Baier's narration and commentary by observers such as Fox News contributor Mara Liasson and political scientist Larry Sabato. The series will culminate in an hour-long special.
We're about two-thirds of the way through the series and some trends are apparent. One of them is that former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney seems to have come in for harsh treatment. Each candidate profile includes both positive and negative information. But based on the power Fox News will likely have in deciding the 2012 GOP nominee, Team Romney might wonder if this is a harbinger.
Conspiracy-minded skeptics might speculate that Romney's comparatively less-than-flattering portrayal is because he is one of the only top-tier candidates not on the Fox payroll (Sarah Palin, Mike Huckabee, Newt Gingrich, and former Sen. Rick Santorum are all paid Fox News contributors).
A more likely reason is that Romney was the only candidate (at least, so far) not willing to be interviewed. Fox News, of course, would hardly be the first news entity accused of favoring subjects who cooperate at the expense of those who don't -- this is a perennial charge leveled at Bob Woodward -- but it seems to have been on the producers' minds. "Romney refused to sit down with me," Baier said during the segment, the operative word perhaps being "refused." (Although Romney was not interviewed, the profile did include past clips of him with other Fox hosts, such as Sean Hannity).
Another way of looking at it is that Romney has more than the other Republican candidates to answer for, at least to conservatives' way of thinking. He has joined other Republicans in denouncing "Obamacare" (and, during the 2008 campaign, "Hillarycare"). But critics on Romney's right note Massachussetts' foray into government-mandated health insurance, calling it "Romneycare." In addition, although Romney is pro-life now, he seems to have embraced that position only when he began contemplating running as a national candidate. Fox News did not skim lightly over these issues. The segment also noted pointedly that Romney failed to endorse tea party candidates such as Sharron Angle and Christine O'Donnell.
As for some of the others, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich's "personal baggage" came up. Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour was praised for having balanced the budget and handled the Hurricane Katrina disaster well, but his background as a lobbyist and a Washington, D.C., "insider" was also discussed -- and not as flattering biographical material.
The series kicked off with Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels. Daniels was lucky enough to have pictures of him riding a Harley-Davidson included in the profile -- and it was mentioned that he turned around Indiana's financial situation (prior to his tenure, the state hadn't balanced a budget in a dozen years). But the profile also noted that he raised taxes during his first year in office, that he famously called for a "truce" in the culture wars, and that as budget director for President George W. Bush, he inherited a surplus and left the position with the U.S. having a deficit.
The profile on South Carolina's Sen. Jim DeMint was flattering, but lacked an overwhelming rationale for his candidacy, perhaps because he is unlikely to run. DeMint's primary qualification, at least according to the Fox segment, is that he endorsed a slew of tea party candidates in 2010.
If Mitt Romney's profile was the most negative, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty's profile was probably the most positive. That might be partly due to a great answer to criticism that he lacks the requisite charisma needed to be elected president. When Bret Baier asked him if he had enough "sizzle," Pawlenty responded, "Well, we've seen sizzle in the current president," and then went on to argue that getting things done is more important. The profile also noted that Pawlenty recently earned an "A" grade from the libertarian Cato Institute for keeping his state's spending under control.
There are still a few more candidates to be profiled. Tuesday night, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin was featured. Palin's life is, by now, an open book, so there were no surprises. Everyone knows Bristol Palin is on "Dancing With the Stars."
Filed Under: Mitt Romney, Sarah Palin, 2012 President
Tagged: bret baier, fox news, Haley Barbour, Jim DeMint, Mitch Daniels, newt gingrich, Sarah Palin, Tim Pawlenty
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19 Comments

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itchydemps

These Guys better not underestimate Sarah Palin. I'm an Alaskan, Sarah did not get the nick name, BARACUDA in High School & College, because she looked like a fish. Ask some of the people that have crossed her. 1. Her brother-in law, she tried having him fired because of domestic issues with her Sister. 2. The Police Commissioner that found Sarah's accusations against her brother-in law were false. So she tried to have him fired. 3. Her Press Secretary during the 2008 campaign, she demonized her in her book. 4. Lisa Murkowski, Sarah, stab her in the back, by supporting Joe Miller, because Murkowski was appointed to the Senate over Sarah, and Sarah has held a grudge since. The two Anchorwoman on FOX caught laughing at Sarah during a commercial brake, have not found out yet, but they will soon. Sarah Palin does not get MAD she gets EVEN....I can't wait for 2012...Most Alaskans do not like Palin, for good reasons...

November 19 2010 at 3:04 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
macsportsvt

All that speaks very well for Romney and poorly for Fox News and their profile author.

November 19 2010 at 1:31 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
chadiar

I hope when time comes that Mike Huckabee runs again. After the four years of President Obama we need to get back to normal. We need someone that we know will Pray everyday and hold the good ole USA up. Mr. Huckabee will do that. I have followed him really close for a long time and he is exactly what we need.

November 18 2010 at 10:57 PM Report abuse -2 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to chadiar's comment
WD Simmons

Obama is the only normal politician out there. Huckabbe is not normal by no means.

November 19 2010 at 9:06 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
mibllmaguire@aol

Mit Romney is the best Candidate the Republicans have, I think the best both parties had in 08. Bit of a flip flopper hard for many to relate to but smart experienced, sane, rational pragmatic, not too polarizing. .

November 18 2010 at 9:58 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
ddrinsp

Romney has a tendency to "reverse" his position on issues depending on who he is trying to influence. That said, given our country's continuing economical problems Romney just might be the best man for the job on that issue alone. By-the-way, instead of constantly hammering Fox for being "so-far-right", how about taking on the "so-far-left" media who make absolutely no pretense at being "fair and balanced".

November 18 2010 at 6:02 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
landslowrance

If The only way to get a "Fair and Balanced" endorsement from FOX is to be on the payroll, then it appears they are buying their canidates.

November 18 2010 at 5:29 PM Report abuse +5 rate up rate down Reply
ajcook111

FOX NEWS needs to drop their 'fair and balanced' mantra if they are going to do nothing but shill for the republican party 24/7.

November 18 2010 at 3:33 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
PoliticalPost

Why spend billions of dollars on elections- Just let Fox News choose our President.

November 18 2010 at 3:23 PM Report abuse -3 rate up rate down Reply
movieloader

ROMNEY/RUBIO 2012

November 18 2010 at 3:21 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Elaine

Palin/Snookie 2010...oh, wait...Sorry Snookie

November 18 2010 at 3:17 PM Report abuse -5 rate up rate down Reply

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