We told you last week that John Stossel of Fox News is participating in rallies against health-care reform organized by a conservative activist group.
But now it looks like Stossel's decision to get involved with the effort ties him in not just with the conservative anti-reform movement, but with the Republican Party itself. That's because former Arkansas GOP congressman Asa Hutchinson has recorded robocalls promoting the upcoming rallies in his state.
A spokeswoman for Hutchinson's consulting firm confirmed the robocalls to TPMmuckraker, but declined to offer further specifics about Hutchinson's work with the rallies' organizer, Americans For Prosperity.
Hutchinson is a Republican heavy hitter. He was a member of Congress from 1997 to 2001, when he was appointed to lead the Drug Enforcement Agency. He later was a top official in the Dpartment of Homeland Security. And he was the GOP nominee for governor of Arkansas in 2006, losing to Democrat Mike Beebe.
Given the White House's recent decision to call out Fox News for its partisanship, it's significant that Stossel has now effectively been working as a political activist not just with an anti-reform group, but with an actual Republican politician.
Fox News still has not publicly commented on Stossel's participation in the rallies.

TPM Stories Now Surging on Digg.com

pmukh
October 26, 2009 6:53 PM
Stossel just joined Fox very recently, right? Wonder if they could try weaseling out of it saying he's just completing obligations made prior to his capitulation to reality.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
rbeats
October 26, 2009 7:12 PM
"Anti-Reform Rallies"
You mean pro-death and pro-bankruptcy rallies.
Lets call pro-death advocates what they are please.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
truthspeaker
October 26, 2009 8:14 PM in reply to rbeats
First time I heard it put this way, but you're absolutely correct. I second this, and will begin as of today using this designation.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
BeeClone
October 26, 2009 10:04 PM in reply to rbeats
Your right, I also will call them what they are.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
Cal Damage
October 26, 2009 7:32 PM
1) Wasn't this Hutchinson one of the 'managers' of the GOP's Clinton Impeachment Fiasco?
2) When did anyone at CBS/NBC/ABC/CNN do robo-calls FOR health insurance reform? Yet ABC's WH flack calls FOX a "sister" company because..."Bueller? Bueller?"
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
tiowally
October 26, 2009 7:33 PM
Best John Stossel video of all time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-k2uJ3AmVE
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
Beagle
October 26, 2009 7:41 PM in reply to tiowally
Man, this is gold!! I tweeted it. Still laughing....
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
BeeClone
October 26, 2009 10:10 PM in reply to tiowally
OMG, I forgot that was Stossel.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
henk
October 26, 2009 11:06 PM in reply to tiowally
That's the only real thing Stossel's ever done. Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
truthspeaker
October 26, 2009 8:09 PM
I told you, Faux is not really a news organization.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
mac2151
October 26, 2009 8:44 PM
First off, is SureScripts CEO Kevin Hutchinson connected to Asa? If so, would SureScripts be negatively effected by the reform?
Also at SureScripts was Ed Langston, head of the AMA.
Asa hooked his Homeland Security wagon to Tom McMillen's Secure America. McMillen's previous endeavor was Global Secure with Craig Bandies.
Laurence Langston is with Craig Bandes at Focus Tech.
Also connected to Global Secure was Ross Mandell's boiler room operation. Oh yeah, and one Dick Armey.
Armey is in New York campaigning for Hoffman, while Jeffrey Hoffman is Ross Mandell's lawyer.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
henk
October 26, 2009 11:03 PM
Jack + Ass = Fair + Balanced
"News" guy and politician teaming up to make political calls. Nothing wrong with that,eh?
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
ceeusbeeus
October 27, 2009 1:03 AM
Waiting for Tapper to publicly support Stossel, his former ABC colleague, and tell Gibbs Obama should give Fox an interview.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
Johann
October 27, 2009 10:23 AM in reply to ceeusbeeus
Also waiting for the "Obama" FCC to cancel Fox News' license to call themselves a "News" organization.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?