You can hardly watch a Fox News segment on energy without hearing a knock on the Chevy Volt, an electric vehicle, as some kind of example of the Obama administration run amok. But suddenly – and without explanation – Fox & Friends Steve Doocy couldn’t say enough good things about the car, now that a conservative PR guy was there talking it up.
The flak, Lee Spieckerman, wasted little time in letting the viewers know that he’s a good ol’ Fox boy who's no Obama supporter either. But, he said, Fox “seem(s) to have kind of a fetish” about the Volt. He’s right about that – including Doocy, himself, calling Obama’s remarks on fuel efficient cars “re-VOLTing.”
Spieckerman now told Doocy that it’s a “myth” that the Obama administration “forced” the Volt on GM, that there was a tax break implemented by the Bush administration.
To listen to Doocy, you’d think he was a Volt supporter all along. He didn’t mention a change of heart or acknowledge that any of those misperceptions had been advanced by his own network. “I’m glad you brought up the myth that so many people think that (Obama) shoved this down GM’s throat. It had been in development for at least two years,” Doocy said. He went on to show “a big graphic” about “how much energy we could actually save” if Volt were used widely.
A banner on the screen read: “A look at the benefits behind the Chevy Volt”
Doocy said he test drove one on Saturday. “You’re right. It’s a cool car and it’s smooth as glass.”
(h/t Dean B.)
UPDATE: Apparently Fox Nation didn't get the memo yet.