MISLEADING OR NOT?
by Sharon Rondeau
(Feb. 11, 2016) — An email issued on Thursday by a political action committee supportive of Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz states that “Ted Cruz is the Real Winner of New Hampshire!”
Cruz placed third in the New Hampshire primary held on Tuesday.
Fellow Republicans Donald Trump and John Kasich claimed first and second places, respectively, after polls closed at 8:00 p.m. EST. Trump was reported by WMUR to have received 35% of the vote, Kasich 16%, and Cruz 12%.
The “Restore the Constitution Coalition” lifted wording from what it claimed was a “Fox News” article, although The Post & Email found the piece published only at Fox News Latino, dated February 10, 2016.
The article was reposted at Free Republic and on at least one message board.
The promotional email solicits financial support for Cruz but states at the bottom, “Paid for by Restore the Constitution Coalition, 1624 Market Street, Suite 202, Denver, CO 80202. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate committee. Contributions to Restore the Constitution Coalition are not tax deductible. www. restoretheconstitutioncoalition.org.”
Just under Cruz’s photo in the email is the sentence, “Ted Cruz is considered by many to be the true winner for what it implies to the party and those still trying to decide whom in the party to support,” which appears to be lifted from the Fox News Latino story, whose second paragraph states, “Ted Cruz came in third in the first-in-the-nation presidential primary there, but is considered by many to be the true winner for what it implies to the party and those still trying to decide whom in the party to support.”
The PAC ad later quotes exactly from the article, citing “Fox News Latino,” not “Fox News:”
At the bottom of the Fox News Latino web page is the statement “This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2016 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved.”
Clicking on the “Terms of Use” link on the Fox News Latino website leads to a page which states, in part:
Description of FOX News Services and Acceptance of Terms of Use
Welcome to this Fox News Network, L.L.C. Site, which is owned and operated by Fox News Network, L.L.C. (“FOX News” or “we”). The services offered by FOX News include foxnews.com, foxbusiness.com, foxnation.com, foxnews.mobi, m.foxbusiness.com, the FOX News iPhone application, the FOX Business iPhone application, and any FOX News – branded URL, WAP site and mobile application (collectively, the “Site”), FOX News messaging services, video services, RSS feeds, podcasting services, mobile services, and any other feature, content, or applications offered from time to time by FOX News in connection with FOX News and FOX Business (collectively, the “FOX News Services”). FOX News is based in the United States and the FOX News Services are hosted in the United States.
Voter fraud is under investigation following the release of video footage taken by James O’Keefe’s Project Veritas alleging that New Hampshire poll workers told non-residents of the Granite State that they could vote in the primary.