Skeptic Project

Fox News' Shep Smith is continuing to hammer Republican senators who wouldn't pass the 9/11 first responders bill, this time calling out by name those who wouldn't appear on his show to discuss the issue.

"We called a lot of Republicans today who are in office at the moment," he said Monday afternoon. "These are the ones who told us 'no': Senators Alexander, Barrasso, Cornyn, Crapo, DeMint, Enzi, Grassley, Kyl, McConnell, Sessions, Baucus, Gregg, and Inhofe. No response from Bunning, Coburn, Ensign, Graham, Hatch, and McCain."

"Why does no one want to talk about this?" Smith asked.

Instead, Smith had former New York Gov. George Pataki on, whom he asked: "Republicans wanted to get this tax thing done first, they wanted pressure on the White House. This was an issue they were using toward that end, without question. Was that too far?"

Pataki demurred a little, arguing for the importance of passing the tax cuts before they expire on January 1, but added that now is the "right time" to pass the 9/11 first responders bill.

Shep agreed, but added that though the Democrats and Republicans seem to be in agreement now, "both sides didn't come to the same page after the tax deal went through. Both sides came to the same page when Jon Stewart did an entire hour, his last hour of the year, on this, and brought on people who were dying. And it took that to get this done."

http://tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/shep-smith-names-every-goper-who-wouldnt-come-on-his-show-to-talk-911-first-responders-bill.php?ref=fpb