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.

[reformedliberal]

Michael, you were great! Your wife is right (of course....grin).

My husband had no idea you were a FReeper until I told him. He wanted to know why they even invited Barron on the show since he is a racist.

You didn't lose your temper and you were supremely rational. I was proud!!! Barron's screeching just made you even more appealing.


Alan is hijacking every interview into Iraq issues and trying to put in a slam on W whenever possible, as well. We mostly spend that show doing something else and I try to hit the mute when it is Alan and his pet loon of the evening.

I saw your face before they put your name up and I recognized you as mhking. So I didn't hit the mute and watched the segment.

[hoosiermama]

Morning bump.....for a full time job with FOX!

[Remember Ruby Ridge]

Saw you last night and thought you did an excellent job! You held your own and didn't get your feathers ruffled -- kept cool, calm, and collected...From my perspective it appeared that you got to Barron and he came unhinged!

WAY TO GO!

[floriduh voter]

You held your own compared to what's his name in the Nehru jacket. I can't even remember his remarks. Something was said about "what people may think" and mhking said "I don't care." Good for you. How many people stand up for their beliefs these days like you did without doing a poll first?

[DollyCali]

Outstanding Mike !!!!

[Rokke]

I watched it. Barron was such an ass you would have done well if you'd just sat there and smiled at the camera. But your comments were spot on and only drove the nails home in the coffin he put himself in. You came out a definite winner. Coherent, classy and mature. Congratulations.

[Capitalism2003]

It's the first time I've seen that guy on TV...he's the type of person NOBODY likes...I have a feeling that more moderate were cringing at what Barron was saying...he certainly made the left look foolish.

[LauraJean]

You were great. Thanks for your insight. I'm sorry you weren't able to speak longer.

[Capitalism2003]

It's the first time I've seen that guy on TV...he's the type of person NOBODY likes...I have a feeling that more moderate libs were cringing at what Barron was saying...he certainly made the left look foolish.

[PISANO]

Keep up the GOOD Fight!

[gracex7]

Barron shot himself in the foot by acting like a jerk.

He wasn't acting.

I don't watch t.v. anymore, but sounds like you did a great job mh!

[Redbob]

Hope someone at least taped it for you!

[ErnBatavia]

You did just fine. Barron, looking and acting like a raving lunatic in a Nehru jacket....while Michael King maintained his cool.

He even tried to "Uncle Tom" you, and was inferring that he's blacker, bla-bla-bla, which I found interesting since he looks to have blue eyes!

It's really too bad this pairing wasn't on one of the other channels, where the left could see what an idiot Barron is.

[FourPeas]

Thank you for the self-indulgent informative mega-ping. Double drat that I didn't check the alternate FR site or I would have recorded it and had the opportunity to scream all the things at the lib that decorum prevented you from saying. Next time, I'll be there.

You obviously show your good taste and vast intelligence in choosing She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed as your helpmate. (Can you tell we belong to the same union?)

So, I *must* ask: did/does Sean know your a FReeper -- one of a group that he apparently believes dislikes him? Did you get any take on whether he was serious about that?

[freedomson]

That was you !?!

Nice job representing our side!

It especially sounded good when juxtaposed against that spittle flecked nut-job.

Bravo!

[mhking]

You did just fine. Barron, looking and acting like a raving lunatic in a Nehru jacket....while Michael King maintained his cool.

[LOL] Everyone keeps talking about his jacket - I wish I could have seen it!

I also missed the bit about Barron slapping Sean at the end.

Ah, well. Such as life. I'm just hoping that FNC decides to have me back at some point.

[JimSEA]

Alan jumped in, grabbed the conversation, and yanked it -- hard -- into the deep water of Iraq, where I was not prepared to go.

You can wear that as a badge of honor. He only jumps in when he sees that his "opponent" is making a point. You were well spoken in difficult circumstances indeed!

[Fiddlstix]

FReep
Bump

[Eaker]

Come to find out that Mitchell (my 10 year old) yelled at Barron to shut up and let me talk;

So did my wife and I!!!

You did just fine!

[AppyPappy]

I cannot stand Liberals that just talk a bunch of BS over their debate counterparts.

The producers encourage it.