TV & Showbiz

SC Governor Attacks Local Fox Station

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Last Updated on February 13, 2022

South Carolina’s new governor, Nikki Haley, is taking on Columbia Fox affiliate WACH-TV after the station’s news ran a story about an alleged affair she had during the governor’s race.

WACH-TV ran a story on a political blogger who claimed months ago that he and Haley had had an “inappropriate physical relationship” while Haley was married. Haley has denied those accusations ever since they were made public, I am sure the station mentioned, but apparently their reporting earned them scorn from the governor on her Facebook page:

“WACH FOX 57 is a tabloid news station and has no concept of journalism.”

Haley, a tea party favorite, is emulating Sarah Palin, who constantly badmouths the media at every possible opportunity. The irony is that Haley, who was actually endorsed by Palin, would attack a Fox affiliate.

There are two problems I have with this situation: first, the blogger who has made the allegations has just published a book in which the claim is detailed. (You can read the excerpt, if you care, here. The fact that a blogger has written a book about a sitting governor that accuses her of inappropriate conduct — no matter whether you believe his story — is news.

There are unquestionably things that are more important than this, but that’s the whole point: people like Palin and Haley constantly complain that stories like this are a waste of everyone’s time and that they intend to focus on more important business.

Yet in making her post on her Facebook page, Haley guaranteed continued coverage of a story that would have eventually gone away and made it a bigger story than it otherwise would have been.

There’s no way a reasonably intelligent politician could have missed that obvious point.

A poll over at Fitsnews, by the way, indicates that 79% of that site’s readers found Haley’s response against WACH-TV “immature.” Only 15% considered her post “appropriate.” Six percent decided to waste everyone’s time by voting “unsure.”

Of course, that site is edited by the man who claims he had that relationship with her, so there is clearly an anti-Haley bias there anyway.

But the greatest response of all came from the news director over at WACH-TV:

As busy as the governor must be addressing the important issues facing our state, I am humbled to learn Governor Haley deems WACH Fox News important enough to follow our reporting. To be singled out for comment by the governor is a clear signal of how significant our news content is viewed throughout the Midlands, and I invite fellow South Carolinians to join our governor in relying on WACH Fox News as your local source for information.

Please follow our governor’s example and join WACH Fox News in the important discussion about issues facing our state. All the reporting posted to our website, midlandsconnect.com, is open for public comment; you can also give feedback on our Facebook and Twitter accounts. We exist to serve the public and deeply value your feedback. On behalf of all the journalists at WACH Fox News, thank you to Governor Haley for helping us share this important information.

This is a story that isn’t likely to go away any time soon.

Thanks, governor.

the authorPatrick
Patrick is a Christian with more than 30 years experience in professional writing, producing and marketing. His professional background also includes social media, reporting for broadcast television and the web, directing, videography and photography. He enjoys getting to know people over coffee and spending time with his dog.

1 Comment

  • 1) there was a decent response from WACH last night on their evening news. Balanced, had the PUB POLITICS guys on and the station manager. Not sure if it's on their site or not for review.
    2) My guess is that this wasn't Haley herself posting, but a staffer. It may or may not have been straight from the Governor. But it wasn't removed – so it's at least still her responsibility.

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