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.

[vin-one]

congrats, even though I did not see the segment, having seen you here for years,
I am sure you did better than you think
As always, we are our own worst critics....

By the way keep up the good work.....

[mhking]

Question: At some point I think Barron started rambling about WMD and you started repeating "buried in the Iraqi desert," or something like that. With Barron's trap unhinged I couldn't understand what you were talking about....what was that?

I asked him about the military jets buried in the desert. He REALLY became unglued at that point.

[Diva Betsy Ross]

Interesting story FV....I don't understand why anyone would be surprised that Conservatives have varied amounts of skin pigment.

If "those people" care to count- Some of us even have double x chromosomes....

[Cate]

You made us very proud!!!!! A reliable gauge for when you're on target for the truth is when Colmes volume level shoots up. That always gets my attention and the guest is usually right on the money.

[TheStickman]

We listened to you via Fox News on Sirius Radio. You rocked! Colmes just made himself look small and petty while you remained cool and factual. Wonderful job!

[TejasRose]

You did great!! Barron was/is an idiot. I actually didn't know you were *our own* Michael King, although the thought crossed my mind when I was watching H&C last night. You looked and spoke like a professional....Barron looked like he was in his pajamas!!

[mhking]

Barron looked like he was in his pajamas!!

Everyone talked about Barron's nehru jacket - I missed it! I wish I could have seen it!

[Vigilantcitizen]

Lynese just wandered up to the TV, pointed, and said, "There's Daddy."

Then she waved. "Hi, Daddy!"

Awwwwww...too cool.

[wjcsux]

Damn! I usually watch H&C but missed it last night. Would have enjoyed seeing you shread the libs.

[DallasMike]

You did a great job, Michael. You do our first name proud.

[floriduh voter]

My point is that mhking's ping list is a true colorless society that exists right here. I think that's great.

[Diva Betsy Ross]

Oh I am sorry I got your point! I agree with you!

[FeliciaCat]

I didnt get a chance to see it, but I'm sure you were miles better then Barron! The man is out of his mind.

For those of you not familiar with "Slappy", here is a taste:

http://www.bushcountry.org/news/columnists/jreynalds/c_082102_jreynalds_indian-givers-john-rocker-nyc-councilman-charles-barron.htm


http://www.edu-cyberpg.com/Linguistics/Ebonics_Article__Charles_B.html

http://www.globalblacknews.com/CBarron.html

[jmstein7]

Good job, BUMP!

[VaBthang4]

Haha...congrats on a good job.

[uglybiker]

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)

I'm sure you two can share some stories.

[Timeout]

You were maahhhhh-va-lous, darling!

I loved the part where he told you "You don't represent 'our people'."

You were great!

[Delta 21]

This review matters the most.

"Well, boy, I don't agree with your politics, but you did good. You were polished and authoritative. I'm proud of you."

[Fedora]

You definitely held your own :) You scored several good points--when you countered Barron's "you don't speak for our people" comment with a riposte at Jackson; when you got Colmes to concede Jackson's comment was over the top; when you countered the "no WMD" charge by bringing up the planes buried in the desert; and when you drew the Japan analogy ("Hiroshima" notwithstanding, LOL!--I blanked like that once during a dissertation rehearsal, so I know how that feels :) The biggest challenge I thought you faced was being attacked by a hostile cohost and guest who tried to pre-empt genuine discussion by talking over you and changing the subject from Jackson to Iraq/Bush. Unfortunately most talk shows are run that way and they bring on flamboyant guests who talk over people and dodge issues like that. IMO some keys to counter that are to remain calm under fire, as you did; to rehearse putting your key points into soundbytes to make sure they get heard and not drowned out; to go on the offensive when an opportunity to make your key points presents itself (as you did when you drove the Japan analogy into Barron's court--I think this was perhaps the strongest point of your presentation); and to rehearse your counterattacks for the types of ambushes Colmes and Barron aimed at you. Colmes came across as a tougher debating opponent than Barron, I thought, because Barron was so obviously obnoxious and rude, whereas Colmes was able to maintain a facade of civility by distancing himself from Jackson's comments before attacking you; however you were able to capitalize on that by getting him to concede Jackson's comments were over the line, so you countered that effectively. In that exchange you scored a point on Colmes himself, so I'd definitely say you held your own, IMO.

[antivenom]

I was PROUD of YOU!

My boyfriend and I saw you...I mentioned to him you are a FREEPER...he and I shook our heads when we saw that other loud mouth just run rough shod all over that segment...personally I thought you did fine considering the rabid panic that is streaming (screaming) out of the left right now...you should appeal to Sean to visit the studio and appear LIVE...

You are no longer a "studio rookie" and I BEG you to go back and DEMAND more interviews and debates!