Hume joins other media in ignoring McCain's failure to commit to tax return release

Summary: On Special Report, Molly Henneberg reported that Sen. John McCain's "full medical records will be released around April 15th." Host Brit Hume then asked, "Along with Hillary [Clinton]'s tax records, right?" Henneberg responded: "Right." But neither Henneberg nor Hume noted that McCain reportedly "hasn't released his tax returns either. His campaign has said it won't decide whether to release the returns until after he is officially the nominee."

On the March 10 edition of Fox News' Special Report, correspondent Molly Henneberg reported that presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain's "full medical records will be released around April 15th." Host Brit Hume then asked, "Along with Hillary [Clinton]'s tax records, right?" Henneberg responded: "Right." But neither Henneberg nor Hume noted -- as Fox News' corporate sibling The Wall Street Journal reported on February 23 -- that McCain "hasn't released his tax returns either. His campaign has said it won't decide whether to release the returns until after he is officially the nominee."

According to a March 4 MSNBC.com report, primary victories that evening gave McCain "a total of 1,205 delegates, 14 more than the 1,191 required to secure the Republican nomination." However, McCain will not "officially" receive his party's nomination until the GOP's national convention, scheduled for September 1-4.

Media Matters for America has documented several other examples of media outlets noting that Clinton has not released her tax returns without mentioning that McCain also has not done so. During his March 5 washingtonpost.com Post Politics discussion, Washington Post congressional reporter Jonathan Weisman wrongly asserted that "I think McCain has" released his tax records.

From the March 10 edition of Fox News' Special Report with Brit Hume:

HENNEBERG: One other note: McCain, who had been treated previously for skin cancer, said he had a regular medical checkup this morning and a full cancer check with a dermatologist a couple of weeks ago. He said, quote, "Everything is fine," and that his full medical records will be released around April 15th -- Brit.

HUME: Along with Hillary's tax records, right?

HENNEBERG: Right.

HUME: All right, Molly, thank you.

—R.S.K.