Fox News Orders Sean Hannity to Cancel Tea Party Appearance

There are, apparently, some lines Fox News will not cross.  According to the LA Times Show Tracker blog, the network -  accused of aggressively promoting the Tea Party movement - has ordered Sean Hannity to cancel plans to broadcast his show from a Cincinnati Tea Party rally.

Per the LA Times, “senior Fox News executives said they were not aware Hannity was being billed as the centerpiece of the event or that Tea Party organizers were charging for admission to Hannity’s show as part of the rally.  Furious, top officials recalled Hannity back to New York to do his show in his regular studio.”

Earlier this month, News Corporation chairman and chief executive Rupert Murdoch seemed to voice some discomfort over his network’s close association with the Tea Party.  “I don’t think we should be supporting the Tea Party or any other party. But I’d like to investigate what you are saying before I condemn anyone,” Murdoch said, responding to a Media Matters question at a National Press Club event.

Media Matters followed-up a few days later on April 8, by sending Murdock a letter citing more than a dozen examples of Fox News promotion of the Tea Party movement.

In the last year, Fox News fair and balanced has tipped dangerously into wild conspiracy theories and brazen promotion.  Fox News executives should be commended for taking action to right their ship.