Interviewing Coleman, Fox & Friends repeatedly misinforms on Coleman-Franken race (Media Matters)

[struggle4progress]

By Chris Steller 4/3/09 4:27 PM

... On the April 3 edition of Fox News' Fox & Friends, co-host Brian Kilmeade teased an interview with former Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN) by claiming that Coleman is "not close to giving up, even though some Democrats are vowing to make it impossible for him to win." During the segment with Coleman, co-host Gretchen Carlson claimed, "he last time I checked, Norm Coleman won the election after election night." However, while Coleman was ahead in the vote count after election night, he was not certified the winner; his opponent, Al Franken (D), now leads by 225 votes after the results of a recount mandated by state law because of the closeness of the results.

Carlson further suggested that the Minnesota Senate election should be redone, stating: "Senator, call me crazy, but with all the money that's being spent to fight this, why not just have a new election?" Kilmeade responded, "Like Georgia." However, unlike in Minnesota, Georgia election law requires that "n instances where no candidate receives a majority of the votes cast, a run-off primary, special primary runoff, run-off election, or special election runoff between the candidates receiving the two highest numbers of votes shall be held."

Kilmeade also referred to Coleman having filed a "defamation suit" against Franken and said to Coleman, "this guy has gone after you personally." However, Kilmeade did not note that an administrative law judge dismissed the Coleman campaign's complaint alleging that Franken violated a Minnesota statute by knowingly authorizing false political advertising attacking Coleman. The administrative law judge held that the ad in question was "substantially accurate, if not literally true in every detail." ... http://mediamatters.org/items/200904030024?f=h_latest

Coleman joins ‘Fox & Friends’ for a factually wobbly Senate election update
By Chris Steller 4/3/09 4:27 PM
... Co-host and Minnesota native Gretchen Carlson, who has shown a less-than-firm grip on legal basics like the First Amendment, opened by offering that “the last time I checked, Norm Coleman won the election after election night.” (Apparently Carlson is one newswoman who doesn’t pay attention to her home state news for months at a time.) ... http://minnesotaindependent.com/31131/fox-friends-coleman

[tularetom]

1. Maybe they should have a new election - it would shut these douchebags up fast

The way Coleman has acted since the election would pretty much guarantee he couldn't be elected dogcatcher in Minnesota. He'd get his ass kicked.

WTF would they say then?

[GoesTo11]

2. How about conceding to avoid wasting all this money on the recount.

I think that was the original proposal, not holding another election. My memory is a little hazy on exactly who said this and exactly what was said.

[Tanuki]

3. Carlson is the one who called Ted Kennedy a "hostile enemy" of our country:

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/10/kennedy-fox-hostile-enemy/

"call me crazy"? No, Gretchen, but I can think of a few other things to call you...