Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX) believes Fox News was getting a bad rap during an immigration hearing on Capitol Hill Thursday. So he did his best to counteract that by taking time out to reveal some favorable study results to the network's owner, and hearing witness, Rupert Murdoch.
Murdoch appeared on Capitol Hill Thursday to speak about immigration reform alongside New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. During Murdoch's testimony, embattled Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) began scolding Fox News and Murdoch for an anti-immigration stance, to which Murdoch replied, "We do not take any consistent anti-immigrant line," and added that, "We are not anti-immigrant on Fox News."
"I don’t see that promoted on Fox News -- talking about anchor babies and all that," Waters said shot back.*
Smith then stepped in with some statistics, which he wanted to be part of the record, that shows Fox has balanced coverage and that America trusts it as a news source:
According to the New York Daily News, earlier in the day Murdoch joined Bloomberg in calling for more immigration, pointing out that he himself is an immigrant from Australia.
"As an immigrant, I chose to live in America because it is one of the freest and most vibrant nations in the world. And as an immigrant, I feel an obligation to speak up for immigration policies that will keep America the most economically robust, creative and freedom-loving nation in the world," he said according to CBS.
UPDATE:
Below is Murdoch's opening statement:
*UPDATE II:
Mediate has a more complete account of Waters's statement than the one originally quoted:
“Why are you here with a basically a decent proposal taking about the advantage immigrants to our economy but I don’t see that being promoted on Fox. As a matter of fact, I’m often times stunned by what I hear on Fox, particularly when you have hosts talking about “Anchor Babies” and all of that. Explain to me, whats the difference in your being here and and what you do not do with your media networks?”
Jonathon M. Seidl
