Health care reform special “deals” smears continue on Fox

On yesterday's broadcast of Fox Business Network's Cavuto, Fox Business VP and host Neil Cavuto hosted “advertising legend” Jerry Della Femina, who complained that our “slick,” “socialist” president got health care passed because he “made some great deals with” members of Congress:

FEMINA: I think he is a leftist. I think he's a socialist. I think he wants to change our world. And he's, and he's very slick and he has got -- let's face it, he got - he made some great deals with these people, who is getting an airport, who is getting this, who's -- a sister is now going to be a judge. Whatever he's done, he has got a weak Congress. And, also, I think Republicans are foolish for rejoicing and saying we're going to get him. We're -- November 2nd, we'll take over. What do they gain? The horse is out of the barn.

CAVUTO: Well, it's very hard to put back. You're very right about that. Jerry Della Femina, I'm going to watch this very, very closely. [Video in extended post]

I'm going to assume that when Femina is talking about someone's “sister” getting a judgeship, he's referring to the smear that Rep. Jim Matheson's (D-UT) brother got a judicial appointment in exchange for the congressman's health care vote. In reality, both Democrats and Republicans have debunked the smear; indeed, former Bush-appointed Judge Michael McConnell definitively debunked it. And Matheson has consistently voted “No” on health care, both before and after his brother's nomination was announced.

Femina's purported airport payoff is also baseless. He's referring to the smear that Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI) traded his vote for airport funding in his district; however, the grants in question were part of an FAA program that approved grants in 47 states -- not just Stupak's district.

Neil Cavuto, of course, did nothing to correct his guest's misinformation. And why would he? Fox Business Network and the Fox News Channel regularly push these smears. Indeed, Femina probably picked them up from watching Fox.