Live on Fox: Well, at least I held my ownPosted on 04/28/2004 5:43:35 AM PDT by mhking
Live on Fox: Well, at least I held my own
Last night, I appeared on Fox News Channel's Hannity & Colmes in a "debate" (and I use the term loosely, it was more like an ambush than anything else) with New York City Councilman Charles "I Wanna Slap The Nearest White Person For My Mental Health" Barron.
Project 21 put out a press release Monday, which strongly criticized a Jesse Jackson's earlier this month in Boston. In the speech, Jackson accused the US Military of "murder," called for the impeachment of the President, and called for both UN sanctions and military action by the United Nations against the United States.
Last I checked, openly supporting military action against the US is grounds for treason, isn't it? Am I missing something?
Well, in any event, Project 21's release was very critical of Jackson, and I was quoted prominently in the release.
"Jesse Jackson's motives have never been as transparent as they were with these statements. If anyone needs to apologize, it's him. He indulges his fantasies and delusions of grandeur by calling for Bush's impeachment and calling for United Nations action against us. But blacks are beginning to see the truth -- that Jackson's bluster is exactly that: all smoke and no substance."FNC's Atlanta studio is in a new facility in Midtown, where Georgia Public Broadcasting has it's headquarters.
The bureau is fairly small, but the facilities modern.
The producer (I'm sorry, I can't remember his name -- I so bad with names; I generally don't forget a face, but I'm horrible with names) ushered me into the studio. The room was comfortable, nowhere near as tiny as the veritable closet that NBC uses for it's Atlanta studio. A chair and low table sat in front of a "Fox Atlanta" backdrop.
The producer explained that the camera was controlled from New York. It was a fancy robotic affair, not overly large at all. A small monitor sat nearby.
They set me up, and I waited a short while, making small talk with the producer, and with the people in New York. The producer turned the monitor away from me -- "So I wouldn't be tempted to look at it," he claimed.
Bottom of the hour, and they came up live. NYC Councilman Charles Barron, along with Sean Hannity and Alan Colmes. I have spoken to Sean a couple of times in the past -- he and I were on competing talk radio stations in the same time slot when I first came to Atlanta nearly 10 years ago. I'm not sure if he remembers me though.
Sean did the intro, then tossed out a question. Barron immediately jumped on it, trying to marginalize me. "Nobody knows who you people are. Yet you are trying to speak for black people."
"No, I'm not trying to speak for everyone. However, I never stopped to elect Jesse Jackson to speak for me," I retorted.
Barron was on a roll. He had the advantage of being in the studio with Sean and Alan -- he could read body language and facial expressions, where I couldn't see a thing (save the unblinking eye of the camera).
He began yelling, and when I didn't shut up right off, he began screeching.
Alan jumped in, grabbed the conversation, and yanked it -- hard -- into the deep water of Iraq, where I was not prepared to go.
Barron was in his element. I thought he sensed my unease, but everyone I've spoken to said that I was pretty cool throughout the whole thing. They said that if anything, Barron was unhinged by my not getting upset and flying off the handle.
I have a strong commanding voice and presence. I am certainly aware of that, and use it pretty much unconsciously.
I spoke over Barron, in an attempt to get my point across. I'm not sure if I did -- the segment was over so quickly.
I kicked myself on the drive home, for allowing Alan to grab the subject from me and head off in another direction.
My wife (She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed) insisted that I did just fine, and reminded me that Alan was one of the hosts -- he had the right and perogative to shift gears if he wanted to.
Oh, well. Come to find out that Mitchell (my 10 year old) yelled at Barron to shut up and let me talk; Lynese just wandered up to the TV, pointed, and said, "There's Daddy."
Then she waved. "Hi, Daddy!"
After I got home, I talked to my folks. I could hear my mom beaming through the phone. My dad? Well, my very liberal dad finally surprised me. "Well, boy, I don't agree with your politics, but you did good. You were polished and authoritative. I'm proud of you."
I guess the "idiot son" has finally come home and shed the "idiot" label.
Unfortunately Barron was on H&C a couple of times before. I guess they couldn't find anybody interesting to defend Jackson so they had to use him. Except for a couple of minor changes, they could have just ran the tape of one of his last visits and it would have been exactly the same, spin to no end. If it weren't for liberal talking points, Barron would have had nothing to say during the show.
mhking did great and I'm glad he's here with us.
The majority of people who watched it won't remember what was said, but they will remember the impressions made by the speakers. Dignity and decorum trump classless displays like his every time.
We don't have cable, so I didn't get to see it, but I can tell you from what has been posted here that my reaction would have been similar to Mitchell's. I just want that type to "shut up" and let someone talk who has some sense.
p.s. Thanks for being there. Sounds like you may bring your " very liberal" dad around before it's over and done. :-)
Long live the King!
To the point: she found you completely logical, likeable, and confident. Not only was your input and presentation enough to easily "win" the debate, but the conduct of the other seditious "gentleman" flat out repulsed her. It wasn't difficult explaining to her that that is how almost all liberals "debate". As for me, you did fantastically (when I could hear you over that pathetic excuse for an "official"). Even Hannity had a hard time talking with that putz. Thanks for your efforts Michael. I am confident you have alot more limelight in your future. Make the most of it!
P.S. It must be very disconcerting engaging in a conversation an empty room with a camera lens!
Ah, that's too bad.
I re-checked out your blog. I remember reading your entry about being an "idiot son". Reading your more recent entries, I couldn't help but think about a friend (also named Michael) who was down-sized about two years ago. He started his own business, web designing, and now can't believe he didn't do it sooner. I was touched, too, by your teenaged daughters remarks about going to church. Your life certainly has had a lot of changes recently. Methinks I see the Hand of God.
Barron jumped right out trying to get the offense, but all he did was expose himself for the loudmouth he is. You were cool and collected.
The trouble with having someone on live in the studio, is that you can't shut off their mike. I wish they would have you back with Barron --- with YOU in the studio.
There's a few lefty females who mouth away. They aren't helping themselves. (good!!!)
There are multitudes out here. Unfortunately they get the same treatment from the liberal press that mhking got last night..They shut down and categorize people to keep them down. They have stolen many peoples voice and spoken their agenda and lies as if it were the way and the truth. And, that is the world of the liberal elite media.
IMHO, NYC Councilman Charles Barron is a jerk, and typical democrat that speaks incoherently and just spouts the party line. He wouldn't listen to anything you said because everything you said made sense..... Alan Colmes isn't much better, IMHO. He tried to cut you off every time he asked you a question. I can't figure out how Hannity sits there and listens to Colmes BS... It must simply pay well.....
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