Appearing on Fox Business Network’s Varney & Co. Thursday morning, Media Research Center President Brent Bozell previewed an upcoming MRC study showing that the leftist media are trying to blame everyone and anything else for high gas prices except the “incompetent” energy policies of President Biden. Bozell went on to call out the environmental “zealotry” within the administration.
“Look at this tweet, it’s from President Biden, he’s blaming high gas prices on Putin and also the oil companies,” host Stuart Varney noted at the top of the segment. He then turned to Bozell and wondered: “Brent, is the media buying the President’s story that it’s the oil companies and price gouging and Putin that’s screwing around with gas prices?”
After pointing out how the leftist media “have bought the gas company, the oil company story for 50 years,” Bozell highlighted the latest numbers from the MRC on coverage of the topic:
...who are the media blaming? We’re crunching the numbers right now, Stuart, but I’ll give you a flavor of what we’re finding. Since the war began, we’ve looked at NBC so far, trying to see who they blame for skyrocketing gas. Since the war began, they’ve blamed the Russians 16 times, the pandemic seven times, and Joe Biden once.
He then highlighted how the press coverage was following Biden’s false spin: “Joe Biden is blaming everyone. He’s blaming the Russians, he’s blaming the Saudi’s, he’s blaming the oil companies, he’s blaming the pandemic, he’s blaming everybody but his own policies.”
Varney called out those who were actually responsible for surging fuel costs:
You have to say that John Kerry, the climate czar, a couple of senators, AOC, the Greens essentially, the global warmers, the global climate warriors, these are the people who are really responsible for the rising price of gas because they cut production of fossil fuels. It’s their fault to some degree – a large degree.
Bozell replied: “Stuart, top to bottom, this administration is being run by incompetent zealots. Their incompetency is everywhere to see, but there zealotry is one that doesn’t recognize their incompetency.”
Here is a full transcript of the March 17 appearance:
10:52 AM ET
STUART VARNEY: Look at this tweet, it’s from President Biden, he’s blaming high gas prices on Putin and also the oil companies. I can’t quite read it, but that’s what he’s saying, watch out, no price gouging. Let’s bring in Brent Bozell, he’s our media watcher of the day. Brent, is the media buying the President’s story that it’s the oil companies and price gouging and Putin that’s screwing around with gas prices?
BRENT BOZELL: Well, they have bought the gas company, the oil company story for 50 years.
VARNEY: Yes, that’s true.
BOZELL: This is an old shibboleth that the left has used. Every time this happens they blame the oil companies and they happen to get away with it. And the data are out and this is nonsense.
Putting that aside, who are the media blaming? We’re crunching the numbers right now, Stuart, but I’ll give you a flavor of what we’re finding. Since the war began, we’ve looked at NBC so far, trying to see who they blame for skyrocketing gas. Since the war began, they’ve blamed the Russians 16 times, the pandemic seven times, and Joe Biden once.
We need to remember this. How soon we forget that one year ago we were energy independent as a nation. One year ago, we didn’t need to worry about this type of thing. One year ago, we had almost record low gasoline prices because we were energy independent. Joe Biden is blaming everyone. He’s blaming the Russians, he’s blaming the Saudi’s, he’s blaming the oil companies, he’s blaming the pandemic, he’s blaming everybody but his own policies. And his policies shut down Keystone, they shut down offshore drilling, they’ve gone after the fracking industry, they’ve got massive regulations, massive new taxes, and his whole administration is saying every other day, we want to put an end to fossil fuels. And so he turns around and he blames the gas companies.
VARNEY: Yeah, right. You have to say that John Kerry, the climate czar, a couple of senators, AOC, the Greens essentially, the global warmers, the global climate warriors, these are the people who are really responsible for the rising price of gas because they cut production of fossil fuels. It’s their fault to some degree – a large degree.
BOZELL: Stuart, top to bottom, this administration is being run by incompetent zealots. Their incompetency is everywhere to see, but there zealotry is one that doesn’t recognize their incompetency. Look what happened the moment Russia declared war on Ukraine and the world is pivoted on that, what does John Kerry say? “Oh, my gosh, what’s this going to do to climate change?”
VARNEY: Right, right.
BOZELL: You want to hit yourself against the wall, but this is their worldview.
VARNEY: He actually said, John Kerry actually – he told the BBC he hopes that Mr. Putin understands his climate responsibilities. That was his expression, right there. Priceless, isn’t it?
BOZELL: Yeah, yeah. He probably was on his super-yacht while he was saying that.
VARNEY: I don’t think he’s got a super-yacht, it’s not 500 feet long, I think it’s a mere 100. But what do I know? I mean, I’ve not been on his yacht, period.
Brent, you’re alright. I’m glad you’re pointing this stuff out for us.
BOZELL: Thank you, sir.
VARNEY: When you’ve done your review of other networks, other than NBC, come back and tell us what’s going on, will you please?
BOZELL: Absolutely. You’ll be the first to know. Absolutely will.
VARNEY: Because they’re not telling us the truth.
Thanks, Brent, we’ll see you again soon. Thanks a lot.
