The headline on Fox News Channel's online report on President Obama's announcement on Good Morning America that he now supports same-sex marriage read, "Obama Flip Flops, Declares War on Marriage." However, it appeared later that Fox News anchor Shepard Smith was not in lock-step with the headline writer. Reporting on the president's remark, Smith first commented that Obama was "now in the 21st century." Later, he asked reporter Bret Baier whether he believes "Republicans would go out on a limb and try to make this a campaign issue while sitting very firmly ... on the wrong side of history on it." The Fox Nation website later dropped the words "Declares War on Marriage" from its headline. But the channel's commentators pounced on the president's announcement. A segment on Sean Hannity's show was titled "Flip-Flopper." During it Michelle Malkin remarked, "This is about Barack Obama trying to pander to wealthy, gay donors -- period."

10/05/2012