Fox News' latest election "controversy" falls apart

[and-justice-for-all]

(edited for copyright purposes-proud patriot Moderator Democratic Underground)



http://mediamatters.org/research/201008300069

Fox News baselessly suggested that Democrats would attempt to "skew" the fall elections by exempting "battleground" states from a requirement that they ship ballots to overseas military personnel at least 45 days before the election. This manufactured controversy has completely fallen apart: The only "battleground" state (as defined by Fox News) that received an exemption has a Republican official overseeing its elections. Moreover, the waiver process is part of the law and was mentioned during the debate over the legislation, which was co-sponsored by 26 Senate Republicans.
Fox suggests Dems will abuse voting rights law to swing close elections in "battlegrounds"
Fox suggests waivers are a "political move" by Democrats "fretting" over November elections. On the August 27 edition of Fox News' Fox & Friends, co-host Steve Doocy said, "There are 10 states out there that are trying to get an exemption from the MOVE Act law, and four of them are expected to have hotly contested races in November -- races that could come down to just a few votes." Introducing a report from correspondent James Rosen, guest co-host Alisyn Camerota then asked, "So are the waiver requests a political move?" Rosen then claimed:

"You know, with some Democratic strategists and pollsters privately fretting about their party losing maybe 40 seats in the House and six or seven in the Senate, the votes of those overseas military personnel -- who register to vote in higher numbers than the general population -- could indeed prove decisive.

Later in his report, Rosen said, "Among the 10 states are some real battlegrounds with races shaping up as photo finishes, including Wisconsin and Colorado, where incumbent Senators Russ Feingold and Michael Bennet, respectively -- both Democrats -- are locked in races that RealClearPolitics.com rates as tossups." As he spoke, this graphic aired:


Fox: States with tight races seek waivers as Democrats are "fretting" over elections. On the August 26 edition of Fox News' America Live, host Megyn Kelly introduced a report from Rosen on "whether our troops overseas will get the chance to vote in coming weeks as we lead up to the midterm elections." Kelly continued: "Ten states now say it might not happen. And four of those states have races so tight that a couple thousand votes could very well swing the election results." As Kelly spoke, a graphic appeared on-screen identifying Washington, Colorado, Wisconsin, and Maryland as four states where "military voters could decide races":


Rosen then claimed, "Some of the Democratic strategists and pollsters in this town are privately fretting about their party losing 40 seats in the House, maybe six or seven in the Senate. Therefore, the votes of these overseas military personnel -- who register to vote in higher numbers than the general population does -- could indeed, as you say, prove decisive."

Fox: The "perception" is that "these voters are gonna vote Republican" and that "states" "want to skew the results." On the August 25 edition of Fox & Friends, Camerota discussed the states' waiver requests with Fox News legal analyst Peter Johnson Jr. During the segment, Johnson said, "There's a perception -- and it's not true -- in American political history that somehow, voters are going to be Republican -- military voters are going to be Republican. That goes back to the Civil War. Since then, there's been no discernible pattern. ... But there is a perception, based on the historiography, that somehow these voters are gonna vote Republican." Camerota responded, "So, then it sounds like some people are suggesting that states would withhold their right, or mess it up somehow, because they want to skew the results."

(snip)

[lazarus]

1. Hi there

Could you please edit this down to the four paragraphs or fewer required by DU rules?

For the DU moderators

Thank you,

lazarus

[and-justice-for-all]

2. No I will not....

These are received via email...thanks.

[applegrove]

3. Saying 'fretting' paints dems as weak and annoying.

Fretting: to torment; irritate, annoy, or vex: You mustn't fret yourself about that.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/fretting