Chris Wallace: "I felt as if a mountain was coming down in front of me. "

Media Bistro ^ | 09.24.06 | Patrick W. Gavin

[rface]

Following today's buzz generating conversation with Bill Clinton, Chris Wallace shared some of his post-interview thoughts with FishbowlDC:

I was delighted to get the chance to interview former President Clinton. This was the first one-on-one sitdown he's ever given "Fox News Sunday" during our 10 years on the air.

The groundrules were simple--15 minutes--to be divided evenly between questions about the Clinton Global Initiative and anything else I wanted to ask.

I intended to keep to the groundrules. In fact--I prepared 10 questions--5 on the CGI and 5 on other issues.

I began the interview with 2 questions about Mr. Clinton's commitment to humanitarian causes. His answers were cogent and good-humored.

Then--I asked him about his Administration's record in fighting terror--fully intending to come back to CGI later (as indeed I did).

I asked what I thought was a non-confrontational question about whether he could have done more to "connect the dots and really go after al Qaeda."

I was utterly surprised by the tidal wave of details--emotion--and political attacks that followed.

The President was clearly stung by any suggestion that he had not done everything he could to get bin Laden. He attacked right-wingers--accused me of a "conservative hit job"--and even spun a theory I still don't understand that somehow Fox was trying to cover up the fact that NewsCorp. chief Rupert Murdoch was supporting his Global Initiative. I still have no idea what set him off. Former President Clinton is a very big man. As he leaned forward--wagging his finger in my face--and then poking the notes I was holding--I felt as if a mountain was coming down in front of me.

The President said I had a smirk. Actually--it was sheer wonder at what I was witnessing.

I tried repeatedly to adhere to the ground rules--to move the President along--and back to the CGI. But he wanted to keep talking about his record fighting terror.

When it became clear he wanted to throw out the ground rules--then I just went with the flow of the interview.

[clintonh8r]

Bill Clinton is a steaming turd...an inpeached steaming turd, at that. A perfect hero for the deviants at DUmbasses......

[sam_paine]

but richard clarke said but richard clarke said but richard clarke said

Clinton almost sounded as bad with Clarke's book as Sean Hannity does hawking a book!

[citizencon]

Clinton can not handle the truth...and real interviews. He's been used to on-air 'blow-jobs' from the MSM.

[HawaiianGecko]

This was all a setup by the Clintonistas. I thought so before the segment ran today. I asked my son on Friday why would a man that never gives interviews to FoxNews suddenly decide to do so? And why would he explode with phony indignation on the first question? One that was about as innocuous as a Larry King question.

Someone needs to get on the talk circuit and start asking how many terrorists Clinton killed or captured and then ask them if they can state as Clinton did that he did more against terrorism than anyone since and keep a straight face while saying that.

[altura]

I think you're giving him too much credit. His rage got away with him. He's not the genius DU and U seem to think he is.

[surrey]

I've got to find my copy of Louis Freeh's book(I think I gave it to someone). He pretty much dismissed Clarke as out of the loop.

I'm hoping that everyone and anyone who wrote a book about Clinton's mishandling the war on terror steps up to the plate tomorrow to dispute his lies.

[flyingtabby]

I will say that I think Chris Wallace did a fabulous job. What would have been superlative would have been if Brit Hume had done the interview instead of Wallace.......... Brit is probably the best reporter ever..........at least, IMHO.......

[altura]

I think you are right about this. A politician cannot loose his temper with a reporter in this way and maintain any respect with journalists. Clinton simply did what feels good--go into a rage. And once he exploded, he saw no reason to correct himself and just continued>>>>>

Yes, quite a contrast from President Bush dealing with all the (much worse) smarmy questions from the press and genially answering without losing his temper at all.

[sam_paine]

Poor Chris Wallace...

I've been skeptical on Chris, too. But he's "got core."

He's not overcompensating to "not be" his dad, but he is not his dad (even with that soupy show he did with his dad.)

He's not trying to one up Hume or Snow, he's doing the show that he thinks should be done.

I can't stand his silly "power player" segment, and you can tell Hume thinks it's dumb, too. But it's his element that he added, he believes it's good, and he keeps at it. I guess I respect that!

[gotribe]

clinton's a friggin' ayatolah.

[Verginius Rufus]

The interview was taped a couple of days ago, since they've been showing a clip from it on FNC...Clinton's behavior had nothing to do with how he partied Saturday night.

[Galactica]

This was not Clinton blowing up and losing his cool. Clinton plans and plots everything. Why do you think this was his first interview with Fox in 10 years. He planned this outbirst, his fake rage. He is trying to energize their base I believe and try to act like the victim because he says it was a hit job by mean old Fox News.

[SuzyQue]

If you think this was spontaneous on Clinton's response I believe everyone on this thread is mistaken....

I think you are correct. He probably was angry, because as a malignant narcissist he becomes angry when others don't do what he wants them to do, but I'm willing to bet the farm that he had anticipated that question, or a variant thereof, and rehearsed his version of righteous anger and outrage. If Wallace hadn't asked that question, clintoon would have managed to turn the conversation in that direction.

[Irene Adler]

Wallace had no right to characterize Clinton as "the president". Former presidents are indeed addressed with the courtesy title of "President _____" and spoken of as "President ____", but Clinton is not "the president" and should not have been mentioned as such. Wallace has to know better; I do not believe this was a mistake. Such sneaky, petty wordplay seems not to matter, but compounded thousands of times by thousands of leftist journalists, it does, subtly but significantly, influence the non-critical thinkers among us. Lefty FUN with LANGUAGE!

[ReleaseTheHounds]

Wallace personally witnessed the rage of a rapist and a psychopath.

You got that right... As a matter of fact, at the beginning of the interview, you could see Slick Willie do his "bite the lower lip" deal, acting all humble about his Clintoon Global Initiative, but when that question was posed, the rage insued. I hope the American public got a good glimpse of what another 4 or 8 years of a Clinton presidency might look like.

[nevergore]

He isn't brilliant but he's damn smart and cunning.....

This question has been blasted over the media for the past several month's climaxing in the ABC 9/11 movie which raised this very question....

You really believe that he didn't anticipate the question and have a rehearsed response?

If so, I've got a bridge I can sell you.....

[ReleaseTheHounds]

Reporters are only allowed to ask Clinton softball questions like the ones that Dan Ratherbiased used to ask.

Or like the ones Tim Russert asked Bubba on Meet the Press today. What a lame effort on Russert's part.

[elcid1970]

Thanks for the heads up. I just got back from a trip.

DON'T MISS IT, FOLKS!! CLINTON MELTDOWN RE-AIRS ON EVIL RIGHTWING NEOCON FOXNEWS AT 10 P.M. EASTERN!!

(Heh, heh! Bringing popcorn this time.)

;^)

[MOgirl]

Hello,

I wish I could have seen that, it's hell when there is no time to coordinate the lies...(aka "talking points.)


Glad to be here, MOgirl

[hsalaw]

I think Fox is replaying it at 10pm (Pacific) tonight. I read that on another thread - don't know when it will be in your time zone.