Fox Newsman to Speak at Events of Group Opposed to Health Care Plan

John Stossel, the newest star of the Fox Business Network, is also starring this week at a series of events orchestrated by opponents of health care reform. He expected to speak at three forums hosted by Americans for Prosperity, a conservative advocacy group, in three Arkansas cities. The group's Web site says Stossel and others will "debate solutions and discuss the dangers of government-forced health care" at the forums. The unusual appearances come at a time when the sister network to Fox Business, the Fox News Channel, is facing fierce criticism from the White House and its allies. In recent days critics have leaped on Stossel's speaking engagements as the latest evidence of conservative bias on the part of Fox, a unit of the News Corporation. The Obama administration has cast the network as a part of the political opposition. Most news organizations discourage participation at partisan political events. In its publicity material for the forums, Americans for Prosperity identifies Mr. Stossel a "veteran journalist." But Fox says Stossel is not a part of its hard news division; rather, he is an analyst and host.