GOA’s Pratt talks ‘Project Gunwalker’ over Fox host Megyn Kelly’s objections

Gun Rights Examiner ^ | 22 February, 2011 | David Codrea

[marktwain]

As discussed in an earlier Gun Rights Examiner report today, Larry Pratt, the Executive Director of Gun Owners of America, appeared on the Fox News’ “America Live” program with Megyn Kelly today to discuss the nomination of Andrew Traver for Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

Believing it relevant to the discussion, Pratt introduced key points involving “Project Gunwalker,” allegations about gun monitoring operations by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) gone awry. Host Kelly quickly tried to steer away from that, claiming it unfair to talk about because ATF was not there to defend themselves. Pratt replied they will not talk about it with Sen. Grassley, so they will not talk about it with her.

Kelly tried to present Traver as a bipartisan choice, citing support from Illinois Republican Senator Mark Kirk, either unaware or uncaring that Kirk is as committed a gungrabber as anyone on either side of the aisle.

Additionally, Pratt informed Kelly that Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy had pulled the Traver nomination from the hearing schedule, and offered the opinion that it was because they did not wish to face the allegations being raised by whistleblowers about ATF-monitored guns turning up at Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry’s murder scene.

[marktwain]

More news is breaking out about the gunwalker scandal.

[Michael Barnes]

I don’t care what anyone says, this chick is on the plantation..

[muawiyah]

CBS finally started reporting on the case ~ but it sounded more like an apologia than an explanation of the facts.

I'm convinced somebody in CBS is involved ~ kind of like the "newsies" who were invited out to the Waco Branch Davidian church at suspicious times.

[muawiyah]

I've seen this happen before. She was vaguely aware of the then breaking CBS story but wasn't prepared to discuss it ~ Pratt persisted ~ for Pratt's own purposes of course ~ but she is an EMPLOYEE and simply will not do news commentaries in any form (not even in an interview) until FOX editors have given her "talking points" and appoval to move ahead.

Pratt knew that. He's not a good interview ~

[Michael Barnes]

Hence my point...

[LibLieSlayer]

Pratt came off to me in this narrative as being on top of things and it made fox look complicit... big government state run media. How the mighty have fallen.

LLS

[Blood of Tyrants]

claiming it unfair to talk about because ATF was not there to defend themselves.

Hell, all they would say is that they cannot comment on an ongoing investigation.

[muawiyah]

It's not new that Kelly is an employee.

It's also not new that Pratt is not very good at interviews.

He provided no new information, but he did sound like he was baiting Kelly to say something that would touch directly on the "as not yet then digested CBS story".

I think if you walk this back and check out the timelines on these two stories ~ the CBS thing, and Kelly's interview with Pratt (whenever it really occurred) ~ it's entirely possible she had not yet had a chance to review it or see what her fact-checkers had to say about it.

What you, and I think Pratt, are trying to suggest is that FOX is standing on the story as well.

Look, this is not the age of the big print media where they could spike a story for months. In the internet age you can't spike anything ~ everybody that matters already knows about it. They may not know what part of it is "true" or what might be "copyrighted" material exclusive to some "newsie" but they have some awareness. At the same time those folks you see on TV spend a great deal of time preparing for their segments.

I'm supposed to like Pratt, but he's not working out as well as I think he ought to. If he wasn't baiting her why didn't he say CBS?

Or, let me put it in Namspeak ~ Pratt hasn't got a hair if he doesn't say CBS on his next interview with FOX ~ if he gets one.

[SaraJohnson]

More elitist cover up of crimes. I am really sick of people in power comitting crimes and getting away with it. I am tired of our “media” sticking their heads in the sand instead of ferreting out the truth and holding people in power accountable.

When an issue is big and of substance to the Republic, the media does not want it discussed in public. They keep their “challenge” in small meaningless party politics to push divisive things. There is only one party and that party is corrupt and international socialist.

[FlyVet]

bookmark

[Husker24]

She is a Lawyer, so she can never be totally trusted.

[Tigen]

I am with Megan! BATF should be there and explain themselves but they too are UNION workers whom dont have any oversight by WE THE PEOPLE.

[Chiltepe]

Much like Obama on foreign policy, Megyn doesn’t have her heart in those kind of stories anyway, and it shows. She gets really animated when she’s talking about young children, pregnancy, divorce, puppy abuse, how pretty women are treated, and “female empowerment.” In other words, what she personally relates to is what she cares about. She exists in a gray zone between news anchor and The View host.