Chris Wallace: "I felt as if a mountain was coming down in front of me. "

Media Bistro ^ | 09.24.06 | Patrick W. Gavin

[rface]

Following today's buzz generating conversation with Bill Clinton, Chris Wallace shared some of his post-interview thoughts with FishbowlDC:

I was delighted to get the chance to interview former President Clinton. This was the first one-on-one sitdown he's ever given "Fox News Sunday" during our 10 years on the air.

The groundrules were simple--15 minutes--to be divided evenly between questions about the Clinton Global Initiative and anything else I wanted to ask.

I intended to keep to the groundrules. In fact--I prepared 10 questions--5 on the CGI and 5 on other issues.

I began the interview with 2 questions about Mr. Clinton's commitment to humanitarian causes. His answers were cogent and good-humored.

Then--I asked him about his Administration's record in fighting terror--fully intending to come back to CGI later (as indeed I did).

I asked what I thought was a non-confrontational question about whether he could have done more to "connect the dots and really go after al Qaeda."

I was utterly surprised by the tidal wave of details--emotion--and political attacks that followed.

The President was clearly stung by any suggestion that he had not done everything he could to get bin Laden. He attacked right-wingers--accused me of a "conservative hit job"--and even spun a theory I still don't understand that somehow Fox was trying to cover up the fact that NewsCorp. chief Rupert Murdoch was supporting his Global Initiative. I still have no idea what set him off. Former President Clinton is a very big man. As he leaned forward--wagging his finger in my face--and then poking the notes I was holding--I felt as if a mountain was coming down in front of me.

The President said I had a smirk. Actually--it was sheer wonder at what I was witnessing.

I tried repeatedly to adhere to the ground rules--to move the President along--and back to the CGI. But he wanted to keep talking about his record fighting terror.

When it became clear he wanted to throw out the ground rules--then I just went with the flow of the interview.

[nevergore]

If you think this was spontaneous on Clinton's response I believe everyone on this thread is mistaken....

I'm sure this response was rehearsed, vetted and staged numerous times prior to the interview.....

He was "cocked and loaded" waiting for the "trigger" question.....

Chris just walked into exactly what Clinton wanted.... the MSM is very predictable....

I'm sure that the response on DU is something to the effect that "Clinton was forceful, showed leadership etc."

Gag me....

[bmwcyle]

I'm showing my age.

[ballplayer]

You know Bush Has been the object of more Hateful Rhetoric than I have ever seen and when ever he has an interview he does not act like a psychopath

[GreyFriar]

I saw part of it and Clintoon was in a 'madder than hell' mood. He doesn't like to be criticized and kept repeating "right wing" and "right wing neocons" as if it were a mantra.

[native texan]

Clinton points that finger everytime he lies.

[brwnsuga]

Gosh I forgot my password over there.

[bmwcyle]

It does mean they won't call and make fools of themselves.

[EnquiringMind]

Thought I missed it again. Whew.....thanks.

[Uncle Meat]

How dare Wallace ask Clinton a question that Clinton doesn't want to answer?

Some little MTV bimbo asked the ridiculous "Boxers or briefs" question that would have embarrassed most normal people and he yuks it up,but he gets asked a serious question by a professionel media personality and he throws a fit.

[Eagles Talon IV]

If it was planned it was exactly the wrong thing to do. As they say in Hollywood, "Never let them see you sweat". And as they say in politics, "Never lose your temper" He did both in his red faced tirade and except for the brainless foaming at the mouth tinfoil types, he wound up looking very, very un presidential.

[ops33]

Hey Bill, better put some ice on that!

[SubMareener]

I sent Chris an e-mail saying: "The acorn doesn't fall very far from the tree, but sometimes it grows taller!"

[Williams]

Clinton is one of the best BS artists ever.

He said he would have more troops in Afghanistan trying to kill Bin Laden (of course Bin Laden isn't in Afghanistan) ....

But in the same diatribe, Clinton gave excuses for his NOT going into Afghanistan, saying the special forces were against it because of the need to refuel the helicopters.

So he would do more but he did less.

[brwnsuga]

this was all a calculated plan.

I don't know, he pretty much made a fool of himself with the same "I did not have sexual relations with that woman" act. We all remember that he lied then. If it was planned, they did not think of how this performance was reminiscent of that one and it will backfire.

[brwnsuga]

I would have kicked his a$$ if he tried anything with me.

[ItsForTheChildren]

He can't resist lying. It's in his DNA.

[alnick]

Between this and the Gorelick assertion that "there was no wall" of separation, this is turning out to be the weekend from hell for the Dems.

Yes, and right after Gorelick, they trotted out demo strategist Rich Masters, who apparently hadn't coordinated his answers with Gorelick, who stated that yes indeed there was a wall. LOL.

[Song of the South]

I'm showing my age.

Aren't we all ... ?!   L O L

[Eagles Talon IV]

You are assuming he knew the question before hand. Many are so ready to believe the "brilliant pol" label the lamestream media has laid on him, that they cannot see him for what he is.

[bmwcyle]

52 years of life and counting.