SANTORUM ACCUSES FOX NEWS OF “SHILLING” FOR ROMNEY

When Rick Santorum was suspended as a regular contributor to Fox News a year ago as it became apparent that he would become a presidential candidate, he issued a statement praising the network for its “commitment to ensure news organizations provide balanced coverage of the issues of the day.” However, on Fox News commentator Brian Kilmeade’s radio show in Tuesday, Santorum remarked that his opponent, Mitt Romney, “has Fox News shilling for him every day.” The remark appeared to irk Kilmeade, who told Santorum, “I totally disagree with that. … You can feel he way you want, but there is no way I agree with that.” Santorum’s remark also drew an angry response from Greta Van Susteren, who told him that her staff had been trying without success to land Romney for an interview, “They don’t feel like they’re shilling,” she said. “He won’t even do our show.” Santorum backtracked a bit, saying that he had received a fair shake from Van Susteren, “but I’m talking about your news shows. … We’re calling it like we see ’em, because that’s what I do. I call ’em like I see ’em.”