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.
Your guess is as good as mine -- I didn't get a good look at him.
I know that he started shreiking in my ear when my cage didn't get too rattled...
By Alan switching the subject, you can bet that liberals are embarassed of Jesse.
They should be.
You held your own though, and it was obvious that you were the straight-talker in the group.
If I can kid you a little here, I would say the word, "Hiroshima." :)
Good on you Mike, you represented us well.
I echo your dad's comments.
Barron made a fool out of himself. You conducted yourself with intelligence, dignity and class. Great job!
Would you believe I blanked at that point!?
Just damn! (and no, I'm sure I couldn't get away with that invective on the air, though FReepers would have loved it if I did)
You did great not to respond on his hateful level.
Well,I know who you are and I am glad you are around. I highly doubt that Barron speaks for any rational person, with any amount of pigment in their skin.
I am still proud of your work.
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