Sarah K. Burris
October 15, 2023
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
As news spread that Sean Hannity was attempting to overthrow the House of Representatives with his own hand-picked man, the repetition was obvious to some and a campaign violation to others.
"So at the lowbrow entertainment network that paid a $787.5 million settlement for parroting lies crafted to overturn the Constitution, producers openly campaign in support of a coup-plotting legislator’s bid for the insurrectionist party’s leadership," said Washington lawyer George Conway of Fox's efforts to get Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) to the Speaker's office. "How deeply runs the rot."
NBC News congressional correspondent Sahil Kapur explained, "This is where the rubber meets the road. Jim Jordan’s allies are betting his opponents buckle when he puts them on record and conservative media lights them up. Trump is with Jordan, creating an added specter of retribution. Will come down to whether 5+ 'Never Jim' Rs hold firm."
Washington Post Live anchor Leigh Ann Caldwell confirmed the reporting, revealing "One member said Hannity reached out directly with this same message - that the war in Israel is a reason to get behind Jordan. Member told me it's not going to persuade them. Read more in the Early 202 in the morning."
She isn't the only one. Reporters are not only beginning to hear from the members, but Politico's Olivia Beavers reported "anger" among part of the GOP.
"Been hearing this frustration quite a bit as well. In addition to anger about the changed position Jordan and his allies had about not going to the floor without 218 votes when Scalise was running, but now doing the opposite," she said.
Washington Post columnist, Karen Tumulty, posted, "This is … not smooth."
Former White House counsel to Richard Nixon, John Dean said, "Fox News should be [required] to register as a lobbyist for Jim Jordan! The First Amendment does not exempt lobbyists, and this is blatant, conspicuously blatant!"
Mark Jacob, a former editor of the Chicago Tribune and Sun-Times, agreed that the network was continuing to reveal itself as a political operation.
"Fox News is not journalism," he posted on the social media site previously known as Twitter. "It’s a right-wing political operation disguised as journalism, as this example demonstrates. Hannity is pressuring Republican members of Congress to knuckle under to Jim Jordan."
"The next time Fox or Republicans clutch their pearls about the LiBeRaL MeDiA, show them this email and ask which media is actually an extension of a political party," attacked MSNBC contributor Brian Tyler Cohen.
The Lincoln Project's Rick Wilson pointed out that moderates have "all got the number for Rep. Jeffries." He was referring to Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY). There are several moderate holdouts miffed at the GOP being taken over by the few fringe elements of the party, but they've been unwilling to play hardball and make a deal with Jeffries. Instead, they've allowed themselves to be tied to the most unpopular piece of their party.
Brett Meiselas, a co-founder of the progressive group Meidas Touch asked, "So is it normal for a major political party to use a cable “news” host to extort party members into voting for their Speaker pick?"
"More evidence Fox is a political/propaganda operation, not a journalistic entity. In case you needed more evidence the sun rises in the East," Mother Jones DC bureau chief David Corn wrote.
But ultimately, "democracy defender," and elections lawyer Marc Elias pointed out, "Reminder: There are no moderate House Republicans. There are proud MAGA and scared MAGA. This is aimed at scared MAGA."
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