Four Mitt Romney workers outed as Fox News contributors
Four Fox News contributors are serving as surrogates or advisers for Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign.
In many instances, Fox News has failed to disclose its employees’ ties to the Romney campaign while hosting them.
Another contributor, Karl Rove, is a co-founder and adviser for the super PAC American Crossroads, which is spending millions to defeat President Obama. Jay Sekulow frequently appears on Fox News to discuss legal issues and attack the Obama administration without being identified as a Romney legal adviser.
The following are the Fox News contributors who are also members of the Romney campaign.
John Bolton
Role with Romney campaign: Foreign policy adviser. [MittRomney.com, 3/27/12; The New York Times,6/27/12]; Campaign surrogate. [MittRomney.com, 8/11/12; 8/23/12; Palm Beach Post, 9/9/12]
A spokesperson for Bolton, Christine Samuelian, emailed Media Matters in May that Bolton “is not paid by the campaign and gives foreign policy advice to lots of people.”
Role on Fox: Fox News contributor.
Bolton frequently appears on Fox News to criticize President Obama and boost Mitt Romney. Bolton’s ties to the Romney campaign regularly go undisclosed.
Elaine Chao
Role with Romney campaign: National chair, Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders for Romney. [MittRomney.com, 8/2/12]
Role on Fox. Fox News contributor.
On September 4, News Corporation, Fox News’ parent company, nominated Chao to its Board of Directors.
Fox Business has hosted Chao to analyze the Obama administration without disclosing her Romney campaign affiliation.
Walid Phares
Role with Romney campaign: Special adviser, Foreign Policy and National Security Advisory Team; Co-chair, Middle East & North Africa working group. [MittRomney.com, 10/6/11]
Role on Fox. Fox News Middle East and terrorism analyst.
Phares has been critical of the Obama administration’s handling of foreign policy issues during appearances on Fox News and Fox Business. Phares’ ties to the Romney campaign have repeatedly not been disclosed.
Pete Snyder
Role with Romney campaign: Snyder has appeared as a Romney surrogate at several campaign events. [MittRomney.com, 7/25/12; CSPAN.org, 8/15/12; YouTube.com, 9/3/12]
Snyder is the chairman of Virginia Victory 2012, the Republican Party of Virginia’s 2012 coordinated committee in charge of defeating “President Obama, Tim Kaine, and congressional Democrats” in Virginia. During a recent event, Snyder identified himself as the “Virginia Victory chairman for the Romney/Ryan campaign.”
Role on Fox. Fox News contributor.
During his first appearance as a Fox News contributor on August 8, Snyder was introduced as a “Republican strategist and the newest Fox News contributor.”
