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Fox Posts Reporter’s Kerry Spoof on Website

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From a Times Staff Writer

The chief political correspondent for “Fox News” wrote a fictitious story Friday referring to Sen. John F. Kerry as a “metrosexual” who does manicures that was temporarily posted on the network’s website.

In a piece titled “The Metrosexual and the Cowboy,” correspondent Carl Cameron quoted Kerry as telling supporters at a rally in Tampa, Fla., “Didn’t my nails and cuticles look great? What a good debate!”

At another point, Cameron quoted Kerry as saying, “I’m metrosexual -- he’s a cowboy.” Metrosexual refers to young fashion-savvy urban men.

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“Fox News” said the piece was a joke that accidentally ended up on the website for a period of time Friday. Later in the day, the website posted an editor’s note apologizing for the piece.

“The item was based on a reporter’s partial script that had been written in jest and should not have been posted or broadcast,” the note read. “We regret the error, which occurred because of fatigue and bad judgment, not malice.”

Fox spokesman Paul Schur said Cameron was “reprimanded,” but would not say what discipline he faced.

“Carl Cameron made a stupid mistake and he has been reprimanded for his lapse in judgment,” Schur said. “It was a poor attempt at humor and he regrets it.”

The Kerry campaign declined to comment on the incident.

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