Fox News’ Dana Perino advised Democrats who appear on Fox News to “pull your punches” and refrain from attacking the network or its hosts.
“If you plan to come on Fox News just to take a shot at the network or the host, you’ll lose,” Perino, who was White House press secretary during the Bush administration, wrote in an op-ed for Fox News Thursday. “Taking shots at Fox News while on our air on [sic] makes you look small and is disrespectful to the audience that is tuned in and loyal to the channel.”
“If you decide to come on a show, take on the issue, not the personality,” Perino wrote. “Demonstrate your gravitas and your confidence and ignore the trolls who complain that you had the nerve to go on Fox.”
[Related: House Democrats plan to appear on Fox News to expand their messaging]
Perino offered other tips for Democrats as well, including knowing the host’s interview style and to be themselves during interviews.
The op-ed was published in response to the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee holding a training session with lawmakers to teach them how to “effectively engage anchors, answer tough questions, and develop your own formula for success” during appearances on Fox, according to an invitation for the session obtained by CNN.
“Members want to go on Fox, and we encourage them to do so,” Democratic Policy and Communications Committee communications director Michael LaRosa told CNN. “There are three big cable news networks, and one of the three happens to be Fox. So, our view is, why alienate or ignore all of those viewers?”
[Also read: Marie Harf leaving Fox News to join 2020 Democratic campaign]
