Senator Ted Cruz complained this morning about Fox News Channel being unfair to him. He took a few swipes at Fox News Channel CEO Roger Ailes and 21st Century Fox Chairman Rupert Murdoch for turning Fox News into the “Donald Trump Network.” In taking those swipes, he also took swipes at my show and my staff on ON THE RECORD at 7p since we have worked hard to give Cruz equal opportunity and we have.
Hence I respond with the whole story.
If Senator Ted Cruz told the whole story this is what he would have to tell you:
Almost every single day (including weekends) since at least last December when he last appeared on ON THE RECORD at 7p, the staff of ON THE RECORD at 7p has contacted the Cruz campaign offering Senator Ted Cruz live interviews, taped interviews or town halls. We even told his campaign on dozens occasions that they could pick the date and location for the town halls. He did not take us up on our offers. The staff claimed he was unavailable.
But it wasn’t just my staff making those offers to the Cruz campaign, so did I and many, many, many times. Even as recently as yesterday, I was back and forth with his campaign.
We bent over backwards trying to give him the opportunity for interviews. He elected not to – which is his right – but now he is crying boo-hoo and claiming we are unfair.
To the extent Senator Cruz complains that Fox News carried Trump speeches, so did the other networks, CNN and MS/NBC. Is he complaining about them?
That’s the whole story – Senator Cruz has had equal opportunity to appear at 7pm ON THE RECORD but has declined. Period.
That’s the whole story.
PS. My invitations for interviews to Senator Cruz remain open and I will be fair and respectful as I am in all my interviews of Presidential candidates.
