Norm Coleman made his umpteenth recent press appearance on Fox News’ “Fox & Friends” today, pressing his case in the media in advance of an imminent appeal to the state Supreme Court. The show’s trio of co-hosts and the former senator were like four legs of a very shaky table when it came to presenting facts about the Minnesota election contest. Media Matters points out where it went all wobbly (with full transcript). Video and summary after the jump.
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.)
She goes on to say, ”Senator, call me crazy, but with all the money that’s being spent to fight this, why not just have a new election?” No one points out that re-votes aren’t in state law. Instead, Coleman responds, “It’s not crazy. In fact, that would have been the best way. I think folks on all sides agree with that.”
A strange detour into Coleman’s trademark late-campaign lawsuit against an Al Franken ad ensues. Media Matters quotes at length from the ruling that found Franken’s ad “substantially accurate.”
The segment wraps up, I think, with Carlson and Coleman agreeing that every Minnesota snowflake must be counted … but don’t quote me on that. I was feeling a little wobbly myself by the end.













4 Comments »
Comment posted April 5, 2009 @ 12:47 pm
I’m surprised that Media Matters does not address the statement, made twice by the “Fox Friends” that Al Franken “attacked” COleman’s wife. They are referring to the October lawsuit that accused Coleman friend and benefactor Nasser Kazeminy of funneling $75,000 to Coleman via his wife’s employer. Franken repeatedly denied that his campaign was behind the lawsuit, and there has been nothing to implicate him or his campaign in the months since.
Yet Coleman put out an ad that made him, and especially his wife, Laurie, look like martyrs. That ad was complete bunk, and yet he has never had to answer to his bogus accusation.
Comment posted April 5, 2009 @ 1:28 pm
Just curious, but is there a listing of Coleman “interviews” with the press ?
It seems that only “FoX” and its “Friends” get interviews ?
Comment posted April 5, 2009 @ 8:35 pm
Faux News distorting the story…I just can’t believe that!
Comment posted April 7, 2009 @ 2:44 pm
Were I a resident of Minnesota, I would be contacting the Republican Party in that State and pointing out that Mr. Coleman is making a laughing stock of himself, the State, and the people of the State. The pressure they can apply to the Republican Party and Mr. Coleman are what is needed to bring this to an end.
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