Live on H&C: Well, I guess I held my own (mhking on FNC last night)

Ramblings' Journal | 4.28.04 | Michael King

[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.

[mhking]

Self-indulgent mega-ping.

[AnAmericanMother]

Good for you!

Sorry I missed it . . . I'm not much of a TV watcher.

But if your daddy disagrees with your politics and still says you did good . . . you did good.

[lysie]

Barron was frothing at the mouth.

Nice job.

The libs have got rudeness downpat! Don't they?

[ConservativeMan55]

I watched the replay!

You were awesome!

You should try and get a job with Fox!

[Constitution Day]

BTTT!

Thanks for posting the recap; I didn't get to watch it since my meeting ran late.

[Lucky2]

I saw you last night and thought you might be a freeper! You did a good job. That New York commie was trying hard to take over the show but you did what you had to do.
I'll never forget about 3 years ago, Walter Williams was on with a very loud, obnoxious alder woman from Chicago. She did the same thing to Walter but he was finally able to come back and say "Lady your not only rude, you're ignorant as well." It was a fine moment. The black community and the country as a whole needs more people like you and Walter Williams speaking out against these loonies. You are a good example of someone who should keep speaking out!

[sauropod]

You did good.

I thought it was telling when Barron looked down his very long Marxist patrician nose at you and said that you weren't known in his community.

AFA WMD goes, you shoulda nailed Barron w/ the chemical bomb that was discovered in Jordan the other day coming from Syria that came from Iraq...

Next time. Barron is slime. 'Pod.

[BigSkyFreeper]

That was you?!? Damn! Cool! Watched it. You were great, eevn if you were cut off or stepped on by the NYC Councilman you were debating, when you were talking. :)

[Born Conservative]

You did great despite the "ambush"; I was impressed that you didn't lose your "cool". And Barron just reinforced the fact that he is a 1st class Clymer...

[Jaxter]

I couldn't see much of what was going on because there was a birthday party going on in my living room, but from what I did see you did fine. Charles Barron came out looking like a loud mouthed jerk. Your family's right to be proud.

[4everontheRight]

Michael

I think you did GREAT!!! You got across the great things our troops are doing in Iraq, despite that big mouth lib....and I don't mean Colmes!!!

Congratulations!!!! I think you were outstanding!

[Gabz]

You did a great job, Michael.

My husband was screaming invectives at Barron and Colmes. After your remark about not electing JJ he hollered to me from the other room......That guy sounds like a FReeper!!! I had forgotten to tell him ahead of time that you were.

Barron made a total fool of himself and you did a superb job.

I have been in a similar situation of being in a remote location and unable to see those you are speaking with......it can be very disconcerting.

[Zeppo]

I'm sorry I missed it... Interesting to hear the insider's experience. To have Barron complain about you "trying to speak for black people" is laughable - when, as you pointed out, nobody elected Jackson (or Sharpton, or whoever) to do the same either.

[dpa5923]

I did not see you, but a co-worker who, although conservative, is not yet a freeper did. He didn't know you were a freeper, but he said you did awesome. Sorry I missed it, but great job!

[Skooz]

I channel surfed right past FoxNews last night. I stopped for about 30 seconds and saw that maniac drooling his spew, so I just kept going to the next channel.

If I had known you were on, I would have stopped to watch. Dadgummit, tell somebody!

Congrats. I have no doubt you held your own against the deranged sociopath.

[Tijeras_Slim]

No cable in the Slim house. :(

But I knew you'd do great.

[Old Sarge]

Well, Mr. K., having missed the broadcast, I have to rely on what you (and others) have mentioned.

Seems to me that you were up against the proverbial "stacked deck". Which surprises me; I would've thought Hannity might've risen to your off-screen defense more.

This was obviously a platform for Barron - free air time for the Civil Rights Industry. The best you could hope for, in such a situation, is a draw.

Looks like you drew. Nicely done.

[hellinahandcart]

We were watching & commenting in the Yahoo chat room, Michael (FR crashed about five minutes before H & C). You did JUST FINE but we were all infuriated at the lack of moderation. You were there to talk about Jesse Jackson and suddenly Barron is shrieking about Iraq and Colmes is saying you sound like a Bush apologist. And then the segment was over in maybe four minutes!

I want them to invite you BACK, you got screwed.

Anyway, it was so brief I think the audience was left mainly with visual impressions (I'm sure they tuned out the unpleasant screaming from Barron). And Barron chose his wardrobe very badly for that. What the hell was he wearing, a Nehru jacket?

[Constitution Day]

After reading your account, it sounds as though you did very well!
I am glad your dad was proud of you.

I don't know how you could keep your cool with such an arrogant a** as Barron trying to shout you down.
As to his comment: "Nobody knows who you people are."

I would have lost it right there.
Damn, I hate that "you people" crap. It's so condescending.

Good job, Michael!

CD