Today, Fox News’ first comments after President Obama’s substantive and wide-ranging year-end press conference were not about North Korea, Sony, Cuba, Keystone XL, the economy or race relations with the police. No, host Gretchen Carlson “just asked” whether Obama had not called on any of the major networks as payback for their decision not to air his immigration reform remarks.
“Could that be a snub for the networks not showing the immigration address?” Carlson asked.
Guest Mike Gallagher quickly said he thought that was indeed why Obama did not call on anyone in the front row. That’s the most coveted row and it’s where the major news outlets sit, including Fox News.
“I think it was payback,” Gallagher said. “It was reported that President Obama and the administration was furious that the major networks did not give prime time and air time to his immigration reform address. So it may be… today was payback. …It seems very peculiar that he wouldn’t call on any of the major networks or any men.”
The other guest, Alan Colmes, jokingly asked if that meant Obama was meting out “payback to men.”
Carlson broke in to say she didn’t know if there was “anything gender related.” But she harped again on the so-called snub. “But it’s interesting that he didn’t call on the front row, is it not?” she asked.
Colmes said that maybe Obama wanted to give an opportunity to those who don’t normally get a chance to ask questions.
“For an end of the year press conference?” Carlson asked skeptically. Apparently, she was determined to keep suggesting that Obama had engaged in some kind of petty politics.
“All year, they call on the same people,” Colmes replied. “Maybe he (Obama) wanted to give an opportunity to those who don’t normally get an opportunity in the press conference.”
“Maybe that’s the case,” Carlson finally conceded. Then she got down to attacking, I mean discussing the substance. Now Carlson suggested that Obama was disingenuous as well as petty in the press confrence: “In his opening statement, he talked about the fact that he wants to work with Congress upcoming, that he does believe that there will be areas of agreement. And he used the word ‘compromise.’ Some people might find that ironic, Mike, because lately, he’s been doing a lot of things on his own.”
Gallagher agreed but pointed out that with regard to Cuba, Obama “needs Congress because Congress has to change the law in order for the United States to embark on any kind of economic agreement with Cuba and they’re not gonna do that." He said the Republicans would not “cave” and lift the embargo. “So, frankly, his announcement (of restoring diplomatic relations with Cuba) is largely meaningless.”
That’s when Colmes jumped in and began pointing out the areas that Obama has “already compromised on the CRominibus bill.”
You know Colmes did a good job because Carlson piled on to make it two on one.
And Carlson must have really come unglued because she lost her War on Christmas mojo and closed the segment by wishing her guests a “Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas.”
By the way, The Washington Post called Obama’s press conference a “tour-de-force” and his best press conference of the year.
But you know there’s no such thing on Fox News.
Watch the discussion below, from today’s The Real Story with Gretchen Carlson. Underneath that is the full press conference so you can judge for yourself.
“BEWARE OF GAY LIMBO DANCERS”
;^)
Further, as President, running for re-election, I would NEVER agree to any debate being moderated by any agent of FoxNoise.
And when the inevitable question would come up about my treatment of FoxNoise, I’d simply grin and say “That network is not a legitimate news organization. It’s part of a propaganda machine designed to provide only one side of any story and to lie and deflect and ignore when called on their blatant bias. Presidential news conferences and briefings are a result of the President’s generosity and good will towards news organizations as a recognition of the people’s right to know. FoxNoise is not deserving of anyone’s generosity or good will—not yours and certainly not mine.”