Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS) visited Fox’s America’s Newsroom today where the show did its part to promote a Republican rally around the endangered incumbent.
As host Bill Hemmer mentioned, Roberts is “in a fierce battle” with independent candidate Greg Orman. But if he does lose, Roberts can’t blame Fox.
In case you missed what seemed to be Roberts’ main selling point, FoxNews.com called its video: “Sen. Roberts: A vote for me is a vote for a GOP majority.” Also, while noting that Roberts is currently a little behind in the polls, Fox producers posted the irrelevant but image-boosting factoid that he was last re-elected to the Senate with 60% of the vote.
Orman is a former moderate Democrat who has promised to caucus with whichever party wins the Senate majority. Yet Roberts called Orman a “liberal Democrat” – and Hemmer did not challenge the description.
Hemmer made a disingenuous stab at balance when he said, “The knock on you is that you forgot about the folks back in Kansas.” But rather than provide information or details for the "we report, you decide" network's viewers, Hemmer immediately gave Roberts the opportunity to promote his talking points: “What would you say to them?”
Roberts replied that he’s a fourth generation Kansan whose home is in Dodge City “and I’m damn proud of it. …This has been a myth… I haven’t forgotten anybody.”
Hemmer accepted this at face value. In fact, Hemmer responded, “Mmm,” in a tone conveying that he was positively impressed.
Then Hemmer handed Roberts the opportunity to boast of a Tea Party endorsement. Again, it was done under a cloak of phony independence. Hemmer said, “You’ve had a hard time convincing conservatives, like the Tea Party factions of Kansas, to get behind you. Do you expect a Tea Party endorsement today, Senator?”
Why, yes he does! It just so happens that the Tea Party Express is about to announce an endorsement. Roberts also had time to run through other Tea Party endorsements from Ted Cruz, the Tea Party Express, Rand Paul and Laura Ingraham.
Hemmer made a point of noting that Orman had declined “our interview.” Somehow, I doubt it would have been anything nearly as comfy and cozy as this designed-to-be-helpful Roberts interview.
Watch it below.