Andrew Napolitano, Fox's "Senior Judicial Analyst," is A Decades-Long Friend of Samuel Alito
Reported by Melanie - January 9, 2006
Your World w/Neil Cavuto wasn't on today (January 9, 2006). A "Special Edition" of Fox News Live w/Bill Hemmer aired in its place. The show essentially consisted of a rotating series of reports - Dow 11,000, Alito, Sharon, Alito, Andrea Yates, Alito, Cheney, Dow 11,000, Alito, DeLay, Alito.
During the second Alito segment, Hemmer hosted Tim O'Brien who was identified as an "FNC Supreme Court Analyst." (I have never seen O'Brien on Fox before today. He's apparently so new that he isn't yet listed in the Fox News bios blurb.) Joining O'Brien was Fox's "Senior Judicial Analyst," Andrew Napolitano. O'Brien spoke first. When Hemmer turned to Napolitano, he said, "You've known this man since you were 18 years young?" Napolitano: "Right." Hemmer: "In the state of New Jersey?" Napolitano: "Right. That was so long ago." Napolitano then proceeded to say he thought Alito's opening statement was "modest," "unassuming," and "nicely done."
Comment: WHAT? Since when is it OK for a "news" organization to advertise its connection to a government official in an effort to boast that it's part of the "in crowd"? There was a time, not long ago, when that would have been shameful, and someone like Napolitano ("an Alito supporter") would have been prohibited from commenting on the confirmation hearings of a friend.
If Andrew Napolitano has known Samuel Alito since he was "18 years young," he should immediately recuse himself from all future coverage of the Alito hearings and from coverage of the Surpeme Court should Alito be confirmed.
