KCOL's James asserted, despite ample contrary evidence, that media were not identifying Spitzer as a Democrat

Summary: Referring to Democratic New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer's alleged involvement in a prostitution scandal, Scott James of Fox News Radio 600 KCOL falsely claimed that media reports did not state Spitzer's party affiliation. He asked listeners, "[W]hen they talk about Eliot Spitzer, will they say 'Democratic Governor Eliot Spitzer,' " then answered, "Absolutely not." In fact, reports on Colorado's three largest television network affiliates all did so, as did national and cable news programs.

On his March 11 broadcast, Fox News Radio 600 KCOL host Scott James claimed that media reports of a prostitution scandal involving Democratic New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer were not mentioning Spitzer's party affiliation, asking his audience to "notice when they talk about Eliot Spitzer, will they say 'Democratic Governor Eliot Spitzer'?" He then answered his own question, "Absolutely not." In fact, in March 10 and March 11 news reports preceding James' show, Front Range network television news affiliates KUSA 9News, KCNC CBS4, and KMGH 7News all had identified Spitzer as a Democrat. Similarly, national broadcast and cable news shows also had provided Spitzer's Democratic Party affiliation.

From the March 11 broadcast of Fox News Radio 600 KCOL's Ride Home with The James Gang:

JAMES: I'm trying to think under what instance my lovely wife would stand on a stage beside me at a podium after I have admitted to having an affair. What? Happened again yesterday, didn't it, with Larry -- with Eliot Spitzer. And can I just clear something up? Remember when Larry Craig got in trouble? "Republican Senator Larry Craig. Republican Senator, Republican, Republican, Republican!" Can we just -- and notice, when they talk about Eliot Spitzer, will they say "Democrat Governor Eliot Spitzer"? Absolutely not. You watch -- for you own edification, when you go home this evening and watch the news, see if they refer to him as "Democrat Governor Eliot Spitzer." They won't. It was "Republican Senator Larry Craig. Republican, Republican, Republican, Republican." Notice if they refer to him as "Democrat" -- as "superdelegate supporting Hillary Clinton," as "superdelegate Eliot Spitzer." Will they? Absolutely not.

The New York Times reported online March 10 that "Mr. Spitzer, a first term Democrat, today made a brief public appearance" in connection with an allegation that he had "been caught on a federal wiretap arranging to meet with a high-priced prostitute at a Washington hotel last month." Local news broadcasts similarly identified Spitzer as a Democrat in their reports on the story.

From the March 10 broadcast of KUSA's 9News at 5 p.m.:

BOB KENDRICK (anchor): New York Governor Eliot Spitzer is apologizing but not elaborating on alleged involvement in a prostitution ring. And that tops our look at "America Today." This afternoon Mr. Spitzer apologized to his family, and, according to The New York Times, told senior advisers about his involvement today. The Associated Press, quoting a top law official, report Spitzer's involvement was caught on a wiretap during an investigation into a high-end prostitution ring. Spitzer is New York's former attorney general and ran for governor on a pledge of ethics reform. He is a first-term Democrat, married, and has three children.

From the March 10 broadcast of KCNC's CBS4 News at 6:30 p.m.:

[Voiceover] According to the law enforcement officials, the investigation began as a money-laundering probe. The IRS watched as money was taken from Spitzer's account, bounced around a bit, and eventually was transferred to an escort service without the governor's name attached to it.

CARTER EVANS (CBS News reporter): The first-term Democratic governor pledged to bring ethics and reform to government in New York. And he built his earlier career as attorney general battling corruption.

[Voiceover] But his early days as governor had been rocked by scandal when members of his staff were caught plotting to spear one of Spitzer's main rivals, Senate Republican leader Joseph Bruno.

From the March 11 broadcast of KMGH's 7News at 6 a.m.:

MITCH JELNIKER (anchor): The Democratic governor of New York faces political peril this morning over a sex scandal. Eliot Spitzer is accused of paying for a high-priced call girl. 7News anchor Bertha Lynn joins us in the newsroom with more. Bertha, he issued an apology and admitted to some sort of wrongdoing, but never really did say what it was exactly.

National news programs similarly identified Spitzer as a Democrat.

From the March 10 broadcast of PBS's The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer:

LEHRER: New York Governor Eliot Spitzer became the center of a prostitution scandal today. The news first came to light in a report on the New York Times Web site.

The newspaper said Spitzer was caught on a federal wiretap arranging to meet a high-priced prostitute in Washington. The report said the first-term Democrat admitted to close advisers he had links to a prostitution ring.

From the March 10 edition of Fox News' The Big Story with John Gibson (transcript accessed via Nexis):

BILL HEMMER, CO-HOST: It is Monday and welcome to AMERICA'S ELECTION HEADQUARTERS. I'm Bill Hemmer. Good afternoon.

MARTHA MACCALLUM, CO-HOST: Hello, everybody. I'm Martha MacCallum: This is the only place for all things politically -- your official news show of the 2008 election.

So, let's get right to the breaking news tonight, and there is the big story, folks, from AMERICA'S ELECTION HEADQUARTERS.

Stunning news tonight out of New York: Democratic Governor Eliot Spitzer linked to a prostitution ring. Questions now about whether he will resign. Spitzer is a former New York attorney general. He built his reputation as a crusader against corruption and wrongdoing on Wall Street. He is married with three young daughters.

From the March 10 edition of Fox News' Special Report with Brit Hume (transcript accessed via Nexis):

ANCHOR: Next on SPECIAL REPORT, New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, Governor Eliot Spitzer, the one-time take no prisoner's prosecutor and scourge of Wall Street, publicly apologized after being implicated in a prostitution case. He is reported on the verge of resigning. Barack Obama, meanwhile, ridicules suggestions from the Clinton camp that he would make a nice choice for her running mate. We'll also have the latest on the Democrats' pickle over Florida and Michigan. And we'll have more on the special interest uproar over that air force tanker contract. All that plus our all-star panel right here, right now.

Welcome to Washington. I'm Brit Hume. A stunning development in New York today. Democratic Governor Eliot Spitzer reportedly has admitted to his advisers that he was involved with a prostitution ring. Spitzer briefly apologized to his family and the public but did not elaborate on the scandal. For details, we turn to correspondent Eric Shawn.

From the March 10 edition of CNN's Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees:

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Tonight, breaking news: new details and new angles in the story you have been talking about and it seems like everyone else is, too. Eliot Spitzer, New York's Democratic governor, formerly a crusading attorney general, once a rising political star, even mentioned as presidential material. Now his stunning fall from grace linked to an alleged prostitution ring.

From the March 10 edition of CNN's The Situation Room:

I'm Wolf Blitzer. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.

He's one of the country's best known governors -- a rising star in the Democratic Party. Now a senior source close to the investigation tells CNN the New York governor, Eliot Spitzer, is under investigation for allegedly meeting with a prostitute at a Washington, D.C. hotel. It's a bombshell with national implications. This is breaking news we're following from all angles.

From the March 10 edition of The CBS Evening News:

KATIE COURIC (anchor): In the turbulent world of politics, this could be a Category 5 storm. Today New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, a Democrat who built a national reputation as a crusader and reformer, and built his political career fighting corruption, became entangled in a prostitution scandal. Law enforcement officials say Spitzer was caught last month on a federal wiretap arranging to meet with a high-priced prostitute in Washington, DC. This afternoon, with his wife, Silda, at his side, Spitzer made a brief statement to the press.

—E.B. & J.F.B.