A Kenyan Activist v. Stuart Varney
Reported by Melanie - April 15, 2005
Stuart Varney substituted for Neil Cavuto today (April 15, 2005) on Your World. In one of the show's last segments, Varney introduced Njoke Njehu, a Kenyan activist from 50 Years is Enough. She and members of her organization are in Washington, D.C. to protest during the World Bank and IMF meetings to be held there this weekend.
After an introduction, Varney made this comment: "Ma'am, I've gotta put it to you. Unless you bring out tens of thousands of people and it turns violent, you're not going to get much ink, you're not going to get much broadcast value. You're gonna have no impact." Without hesitation, Njehu replied: "Well, I tend to disagree. Here I am talking to you."
Though Varney was fairly polite as the interview proceeded and Njehu spoke about canceling debt to Third World nations, he did try to interrupt her two times. In both instances, Njehu continued to talk until she finished her thought.
Comment: My guess is that Varney thought his opening comment would jar Njehu so much that she would be putty in his hands for the entire interview. Good for Njoke Njehu for not letting that happen and good for her for not letting Varney cut her off.
I've seen countless guests - savvy, seasoned pundits and politicians who spend their lives in front of a television camera - crumble during Fox interviews. It was a delight to end the week watching a black female activist from Kenya remain clam, stay on point, and do such a fantastic job.
