Live on H&C: Well, I guess I held my own (mhking on FNC last night)

Ramblings' Journal | 4.28.04 | Michael King

[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.

[hannityforpres08]

Excellent job Sean... I mean Michael.

[ShakeNJake]

You came off very well. The more Barron belched out his invective, the nuttier he sounded. The more and louder he talked, the better you came off with the audience. Maybe you weren't prepared to talk about Iraq, but you did fine under the circumstances. You do need to keep your eyes trained to the camera. It appeared you were looking at something else at times (flicking your eyes left), maybe trying to see the monitor? When you looked steady into the camera and made your points calmly and on point, you were great. I can't believe Barron actually said that Bush had killed more Iraqis than Saddam Hussein and that Saddam Hussein was our friend.

They don't let you completely answer (Barron and Colmes) because they know you have the goods and the facts and don't want to have to deal with it. Just because we haven't stumbled across large stockpiles of stuff labeled "WND" doesn't mean that we haven't found some of them.

Great point about not having chosen the Rev JJ as your spokesperson countering Barron's attack on you about "our people" not having picked you to speak for them. Or did he say "my people"? I still have the mpg file. I may have to play that back.

Too bad they didn't really want to talk about the subject of the piece, the Rev JJ and his latest foot in mouth quip.

Oh, and I wanted to slap that hysterical Barron hard enough to make him SHUT UP!

You looked marvelous. Some people look horrible on camera but I think the camera likes you. I wanted to hear more of what you had to say, but you weren't allowed to talk much. That was great when you did raise your voice and continue making your point, and you seemed to understand just how far to take that tone and when to back off.

Overall, great job!

[Tamzee]

I was terribly sad to have to miss it... I've seen battle in the past and was greatly looking forward to watching you last night. I'm sure you were every bit as tremendous as you always are :-)

[hannityforpres08]

**You were polished and authoritative. I'm proud of you."**





You were and I am proud of you also!!!!

[prairiebreeze]

Michael, I have to wonder if your dad had his eyes opened a bit by the thug tactics and goon behavior of Barron.

What sticks in my mind today is that the true topic of the interview, Jesse Jackson, was so quickly put aside and kept aside by Alan and the Thugster.

I believe this reinforces to the public that the Dims are constantly forced to circle the wagons, resorting to bait and switch in order to deflect attention away from their traitorous members antics.

You did fine and next time just throw in the name of the interview subject every 3 seconds and it'll be perfect. :^P

Prairie

[bigeasy_70118]

I saw the segment and thought you kicked Barron's ass. Now that I know you had some handicaps, I think you doubly kicked his ass.

[mhking]

It appeared you were looking at something else at times (flicking your eyes left), maybe trying to see the monitor?

Yeah - the monitor was on the floor to my left. If I looked at it, I could see it at an angle. It was unconcious on my part.

[Annie03]

I stayed up to watch it again on the replay. You stayed so cool, and reasonable. I had missed your comment about JJackson not representing you the first time. That Barron tried to "marginalize" you is putting it rather gently-you must be a better person than I.

[Don Carlos]

I watched the interview last night, and thoroughly enjoyed watching Barron look like a frothing at the mouth idiot!

Reminded me of the saying, "when your opponent insists on making a fool of himself, dont interrupt"! Your demeanor seemed to bring out the worst in the frothing lib! Too cool! Way to go, Michael!

[WVNan]

BTW, I sent Sean an e-mail praising you and asking him to have you back and let you talk without the screeming idiot.

[dirtboy]

I saw this, you did well. Realize that the swarmy, smug liberals will not be swayed by reason, and Barron came across as a jackass and you can across as a person of sound mind. Barron managed to turn the segment into a circus, limiting your ability to make your points - which was his entire objective - but in the end, that reflected badly on him. You only had to fight to a draw as a result, and you did better than that.

[cyborg]

agreed! too fast and Mugabe wannabe was allowed to monopolize the segment

[AnnaZ]

I saw the thread last night and was able to catch the replay here on the Left coast.

 

That Barron was a thoroughly repugnant guest -- "You don't speak for our people." -- ??!! What a despicable individual. I liked your comeback on that one. He then attempted to denigrate every black conservative. Ugh.

 

That he has a salaried position as an "official government representative" is a travesty.

[not-alone]

I watched last night , good job

[KC Burke]

You came across as distinguished, articulate and sensible. Just making an appearance, over and over, will do wonders to stop the hijacking of the broad breadth of thought that is out there -- let alone, an appearance of such refinement.

[NYC Republican]

GREAT JOB!!! Awesome

[I_be_tc]

Hi Mike,

I watched it and was stunned when barron said "nobody knows who you are", as if that was to dismiss you and all of your beliefs. I thought the libs speak for the minority! You certainly are a very slight minority when you go against old jesse.

I was glad to hear your dad gave you a small pat. I know you really are strong to have to face a steady stream from your folks. It is tough. THANKS! for speaking up for the "unknowns"!!

TC

[Montfort]

I agree with you, and I love your Just Dam* ping list. And I am proud of you.

[Gracey]

It's pretty damn painful. It makes me wonder if it's all worth it.

Interesting comment. Of course I know your answer. Are you adoptable? I'd love to be your surrogate mom to support you, your ideas and especially your political views. I'll boost your ego at every opportunity. :-)

Please remember, there are many of us with parents, relatives and close friends that don't agree with us politically - hence abuse us for our views. Interesting that we don't do the reverse to "D" relatives. I merely ask them "why they chose to be Democrats, and find they can't articulate WHY except to say why they're not "R"s.

I had Black "R" friends at work (NASA) who had similar problems. You make us VERY proud - and it seems your wife is very proud of you too. ((((Hugs)))