Ingraham Decimates Juan Williams on Trump 'Team of Radicals' Charge

NewsBusters.org ^ | November 20, 2016 | Tim Graham

[Kaslin]

Author and talk-show host Laura Ingraham is being considered for White House press secretary. On Fox News Sunday, Ingraham demonstrated she was more than ready to come to the emerging administration's defense. After Fox analyst Juan Williams claimed Trump was nominating a "team of radicals," singling out Sen. Jeff Sessions and Gen. Mike Flynn -- something no liberal journalist said about Obama's Cabinet picks like Eric "Nation of Cowards" Holder and HHS secretary Kathleen Sebelius -- Ingraham took out a rhetorical hammer:

Ingraham Decimates Juan Williams on 'Team of Radicals' Charge

INGRAHAM: Well, there was a lot said by Juan. But you said 'team of radicals.' This is the kind of stuff that has turned people against Washington, D.C. And these type -- this -- these types of lines against true patriots, who sacrificed for their country, who are beloved among the men and women in the military, who actually do the heavy lifting for all of us. Mattis, General Mattis, is one of the most beloved Marines of the last 50 years. General Flynn is considered one of the pre-eminent intelligence experts of our age. So to throw out these lines, a team of radicals, that serves nobody's interest. If you have a substantive disagreement with their approach to fighting terror or their approach to intelligence, that's fine. But these blithe comments, I think, have poisoned political discussion in this country, and I think it's exactly why people despise this city.

Williams argued “So you have people who I would say don't fit into exactly a team of rivals, but to many people a team of radicals. A team of radicals in terms of, what are these people representing? Flynn, Mike Flynn, I don't think he could be confirmed, but so he's getting the -- the national security advisor job.”

Why? He said Flynn spurred “questions about his management style and about sharing information and what some in the intelligence community call "Flynn facts," which is facts that don't comport with what others in the intelligence community believe to be true. Colin Powell writing in the WikiLeaks leak that he thought he was unhinged. I think this tells you this -- it would be very difficult.”

He also suggested Jeff Sessions shouldn’t be confirmed because he opposed Elena Kagan’s appointment to the Supreme Court. He added “ I wrote a biography of [Thurgood] Marshall. Sessions said, well, you're associated with these kind of activist judges who are more after their own political ends than justice. Well, if you apply that to Jeff Sessions and the fact that he was rejected for a federal judgeship 30 years ago. We didn't have very sensitive race relations 30 years ago as compared to today, and he was rejected then.”

Bob Woodward sounded more pragmatic: “ They are hard liners. But I think, as Laura was suggesting, in presenting -- in talking about these people, when you dig into who they are and they have controversial pasts, presenting them is one dimensional, is a giant mistake. These are complex people.”

Fox host Chris Wallace asked Ingraham if the President-Elect understands "the role the media plays" at the White House. Ingraham said unnamed "network chiefs" admitted they were "inside their own bubbles" in this campaign:

INGRAHAM I think what a lot of folks after this election cycle ended believe is that the press really was stacking the deck in their own way against Trump. Every public opinion survey reveals that. I've had conversations with network chiefs over the last week who themselves have admitted that they missed the boat on this and they were operating inside their own bubbles and not talking to enough Americans.

So I think, you know, without pointing fingers, I think there's a lot to be learned from this election. I think the press needs to learn more. I think some of us in the commentator class need to keep our eyes and ears open. Respect, I think, is really important. And I think there are reporters who do great work out there. And sometimes they're not from the traditional networks. Sometimes they're from new media. But I think it's -- it’s important that we have a vigorous press and a fair press. And I think that's all people really should expect.

[TigerClaws]

Absolutely destroyed him.

Hope Trump sees that and makes her the Press Secretary.

[laplata]

Juan Williams is a real idiot.

[Romans Nine]

She couldn’t be more correct but I hope idiots like Jaun keep it up!!

Watching the progressive liberal pinko commies melt down has been more satisfying than I realized it was going to be.

MAGA!!!!!

[rockinqsranch]

The only reason Williams is worthy of keeping is he shows just how stupid the left is, and can be.

[headstamp 2]

BOOM!

Juan’s son may have had to slap him around when he came home too. LOL

[Paladin2]

Jawhwan and Kagan are political hacks. Fake news.

[Eddie01]

The PC lie is dead.

Juan is a black liar. A negro lie factory.

There exist the best of what the black community have to offer. Great men and women. Supreme Court Justices.

...and then there is Juan Williams.

[Vendome]

Actually thought I saw him blush with embarrassment.

Frickin Tard...

[Pilgrim's Progress]

but he comes across as such a wise latino . . . in his own eyes. He don’t even know how nekkid he really is.

[burghguy]

It’s not hard to destroy Juan. He consistently stakes out the far-left position. Bret Hume, before he went full GOPe, used to take Juan apart on a regular basis. Nevertheless, I love Laura.

[teletech]

Laura is honing her skills to transport the Washington Press to a place they never thought they would go.

[pa_dweller]

But these blithe comments, I think, have poisoned political discussion in this country, and I think it's exactly why people despise this city.

I think she's on to something here.

[thinden]

I agree in most respects, but have to ask if she would be more valuable to trump in her current role.

Like today. She was on offense.

As press sec she would be on defense more oftem??

[Alberta's Child]

Much as I get all worked up seeing him spout nonsense on Fox, I always have a bit of a soft spot in my heart for him -- for one reason: In Clarence Thomas' autobiography, My Grandfather's Son, he says Juan Williams was the only Washington media figure who treated him fairly during that whole disastrous nomination/confirmation process.

[Hugin]

“We didn’t have very sensitive race relations 30 years ago as compared to today, and he was rejected then.”

So Juan admits race relations were better under Reagan than Obama.

[Eddie01]

A presidential spokesperson that A) never had to tell a lie. and B) had to be restrained from telling the whole truth.

crazy times. beautiful times. perfect times.

[Freedom'sWorthIt]

Yes he is. He is totally disgusting.

[Mercat]

Awesome

[stockpirate]

Juan Williams, a professional liar.