Dems Accuse Fox News of Illegal Campaign Contribution

John Kasich, Republican candidate for governor in Ohio.

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The Democratic Governors Association is accusing Fox News of making an illegal campaign contribution to a Republican gubernatorial candidate, the Huffington Post reports.

The DGA reportedly filed a complaint with the Ohio Elections Commission accusing Fox of giving Ohio candidate John Kasich free political advertising.

When Kasich appeared on Fox News earlier this month, the complaint reportedly lays out, he solicited donations on air while Fox added the graphics "John Kasich (R), KasichforOhio.com" under Mr. Kasich's image. The complaint says Kasich raised more than $21,000 from the solicitation.

Promoting Kasich's website while he was on air amounted to free political advertising, the DGA is arguing, which would be a violation of election laws. Fox also violated the rules by failing to provide a "paid for" disclaimer on its political advertisement, the DGA is charging.

"We talked to other networks and other networks told us they have policies against putting up campaign websites like Fox did," DGA's executive director Nathan Daschle told the Huffington Post. "This isn't accidental. It is part of a pattern of activities Fox has taken to elect Republicans."

While Fox is known largely for its conservative commentators, the network maintains its news is nonpartisan. However, its parent company News Corp. came under fire for giving $1 million to the Republican Governors Association. The DGA was able to exploit that incident to raise over $1 million of its own.

Daschle said its complaint to the Ohio Elections Commission is legitimate, but he acknowledged to the Huffington Post the financial benefit to portraying Fox as an adversary

"When Fox does this, our donors and a lot of new donors come to the DGA as a way to say, 'Keep fighting Fox'."

[hhandyman]

Fox should be required to register as a Republican based and bias to the Right (not necc correct or accurate) views with an extreamly liberal entertainment section. that is the ONLY way they could call that network balanced both ends of the balance scale loaded and almost nothing moderate.
its too bad they inflate both ends its breaking the nation in the Pivot the true balance point where our nation once was calm it finds places to cause inflameation via their bias commentators (true news is balanced not slanted spin pushing an agenda. CBS/ NBC / ABC are closer to news reporters with less personal opinion and more plain facts than FOX.
The lead commentator on Fox sunday even looks like Mitch McConnel the great NAY er just say NO to anything brought up for vote, Republican Minority Leader.

[payback108]

Ha what about all the foreign money obozo grabed.

[payback108]

Ha what about all the foreign money obozo grabed.

[RobAla]

Well, then the republicans should blast CNN, MSNBC, and CBS for giving Democrats free air time. All media outlets are bias, I just want them to be honest in their bias.

[tsigili]

The Dems can't stand the fact that Fox is owned by a business person, who favors the GOP.

Too bad Dems.....you can't control ALL of the media, all of the time, with your lies.

[RobAla]

Fox provides a balance for conservatives, because most of the other news outlets provide free airtime to liberals. All reporting contains bias, I just want them to be honest in their bias.

[mgeg1]

The difference is the bias with other journalists is subtle and usually unintended. They try to remain unbiased. Fox does not attempt to be unbiased. Worse, they will report things that they out-right know are not true. F@ck News Corp, they are ruining our national integrity.

[lucifersshadow]

It is suppose to be a privilege for news organizations to publicly broadcast on the air, and the news organizations should be required to provide equal opposing views, not support the views of the rich and famous. We the citizens deserve better then to be pumped full of BS by news organizations out of control.

[Smokey75]

How come none of liberals attack NBC as being biased? Oh thats right with likes of Bathtub Boy (Olberman), Madcow, Tingly Leg Matthews and Loud mouth Shultz they are democrat talking point central.

Liberals are for biased news media as long as the bias spouts their lies and propaganda. But I guess it is a good thing that only about 15% of the population is liberal. Other wise NBC might have better ratings then being dead last where as Fox is number one in the ratings. That?s what drives liberals nuts is the majority of America aren?t buying their garbage.

[mgeg1]

The difference is NBC pundits don't spread lies like little school girls. Fox News, to this day, claims Obama is a Muslim born outside of America, something they know for a fact to be untrue. Stupid people in our country buy that bs. Fox News is contributing to the dumbing of our nation.

[Myopinion046]

Who does that Democrat think he's fooling? Everyone knows that FOX is less conservative and more moderate nowadays.

[mgeg1]

Less conservative than what? Fascism?

[mcgerm1]

Oh and the other networks are squeaky clean Neutrals in their political support...

"Television networks? employees reward Democratic candidates
By: Mark Tapscott
August 31, 2010 Senior executives, on-air personalities, producers, reporters, editors, writers and other self-identifying employees of ABC, CBS and NBC contributed more than $1 million to Democratic candidates and campaign committees in 2008.

The $1,020,816 was given by 1,160 employees of the three major broadcast television networks, with an average contribution of $880.

By contrast, only 193 of the employees contributed to Republican candidates and campaign committees, for a total of $142,863. The average Republican contribution was $744."



Read more at the San Francisco Examiner: http://www.sfexaminer.com/opinion/columns/mark_tapscott/Television-networks-employees-reward-Democratic-candidates-101856978.html#ixzz0yPBnAJuc

[jimbom121]

Big difference between the employees working at the networks abiding by the campaign finance laws and the network itself donating time or money.

[hhandyman]

the difference is the corp donations plus the pundits of Fox employees vs only employees of the other news groups when the CEO and Chairman of the board talk at FOX its with pocket book theyre trying the Republican version of the Golden rules.. " Him With the Gold Rules" twisting truth 360? from reality changing lies to truth with twists.