Fox Chief: Clinton Response an 'Assault'

AP ^ | 9/27/6 | DAVID BAUDER

[SmithL]

Fox News chief Roger Ailes says former President Clinton's response to Chris Wallace's question about going after Osama bin Laden represents "an assault on all journalists."

Ailes said Clinton had a "wild overreaction" in the interview, broadcast on "Fox News Sunday." Hundreds of thousands of people subsequently watched clips over the Internet, with Fox foes rallying behind Clinton.

"If you can't sit there and answer a question from a professional, mild-mannered, respectful reporter like Chris Wallace, then the hatred for journalists is showing," Ailes said in an interview with The Associated Press on Wednesday. "All journalists need to raise their eyebrows and say, `hold on a second.'"

Wallace has said he asked Clinton about bin Laden partly because of ABC's recent docudrama "The Path to 9/11," widely criticized as full of falsehoods by former Clinton administration officials for depicting a bungling effort at going after the terrorist leader.

Wallace asked: "I understand that hindsight is always 20/20, but the question is, why didn't you connect the dots and put him out of business?"

Clinton said his administration did more than President Bush to go after bin Laden before the terrorist attacks. While Clinton said Wallace's question was legitimate, he called it a "conservative hit job" and accused Fox of not being similarly tough on Bush.

Clinton aides later said they considered the question an attack.

[graf008]

I don't think the woirds "mild-mannered" and "journalist" go in the same sentence, but its a good point. It wasn't some raving lunatic blogger or exteremist radio host that posed the question.

[neocon1984]

I guess Chris just better put some ice on it.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

This Clinton/Wallace interview has traction. Why, I don't know but it has traction.

[CFC__VRWC]

"If you can't sit there and answer a question from a professional, mild-mannered, respectful reporter like Chris Wallace, then the hatred for journalists is showing," Ailes said in an interview with The Associated Press on Wednesday. "All journalists need to raise their eyebrows and say, `hold on a second.'"

Sorry, Mr. Ailes, but the bathhouse boys and girls who make up the Drive-By Media don't consider the people at Fox to be real "journalists." You should actually take that as a compliment, considering the sorry state of what they call "journalism."

[MaineVoter2002]

I agree. Imagine how he must have acted during the rapes. Gives me the willies just thinking of it. He has a problem. Dick Morris was right.

http://www.cafenetamerica.com

[Dems_R_Losers]

Only in ClintonWorld is a simple question from a journalist considered an attack. They are above such questions, don't you know? The only reason they go on TV is to have their asses kissed and be told how wonderful they are.

Chris Wallace wouldn't kiss Bill's ass so he showed it.

[Ikemeister]

Both of the Clintons are accustomed to being sheltered and coddled by the press. That's why Bubba reacted so violently to the questions from Wallace. It's very typical of liberals, who see themselves as "above suspicion" in all things.

[martin_fierro]

Clinton aides later said they considered the question an attack.

No...

THIS is an attack.

And THIS is an attack.

And THIS is an attack.

[BigSkyFreeper]

This Clinton/Wallace interview has traction. Why, I don't know but it has traction.

It has traction because everyone saw the real Bill Clinton, and not some phony cover through some Larry King-like softball interview, with questions like "You golf much?"

I've always said that when Bill Clinton is wagging his finger, he's lying to your face. Doesn't matter if his face is purple with rage. If the finger is wagging, he's flat-out lying.

[Unicorn]

BTTT

[graf008]

Here's the one time I agree with Clinton. The same thing happens when slanted questions are asked to the Bush Administration (such as "Why didn't you do more in Katrina?"). These are slanted questions and are being asked by individuals with a vendetta. Real journalists (I can't think of anyone who is a real journalist anymore) don't ask these questions. Journalism is dead and has been replaced by editorialism.

[CFC__VRWC]

It's not every day that you get to see an ex-POTUS have a full-out, finger-wagging, purple-faced meltdown right there on national television.

[msnimje]

Chris Wallace should sue BJ for assault. When he jabbed his disgusting fingers into Wallace's legs I cringed.

[isom35]

what about mild mannered reporter Clark Kent?

[colorado tanker]

The drive-by media won't support Fox on this, just like they didn't give a crap that Fox reporters in Gaza were kidnapped by terrorists. The MSM these days are real scum, and they don't care what damage they do to their own profession, so long as they advance the liberal agenda.

[BigSkyFreeper]

It's a thing of beauty when someone the left idolizes implodes in front of your eyes.

[relictele]

David Gregory was mincing around his apartment yelling "HIT HIM BILL!"

[spectre]

Does anyone know if Mike Wallace has weighed in on this yet? OR will Chris's 87 year-old Dad give Clinton a "follow-up" interview??

sw

[graf008]

I stand corrected - journalists still exist in modern day comic books. Just not in real life.