Ken Berwitz
A good lawyer should never ask a question he or she does not already know the answer to.
Cable News show hosts, by the nature of their medium, can\’t orchestrate their questioning that way. They can only hope their questions get the answers they are looking for.
But sometimes they get answers which force them to admonish the questioner on-air…..and get the answerer a two-week suspension from the network.
Case in point: this exchange, earlier today, on Fox Business Network, between host Stuart Varney and former Lt. Col. Ralph Peters, about President Obama\’s speech:
Stuart Varney: Ralph,I have a question for you. I know youwatched last night. I want to know whatyou were saying to the TV as the President was speaking. What was your commentary as the President\’sspeech unfolded?
Ralph Peters: Well,first of all, he keeps speaking about we can\’t give into our fears. You know, don\’t be afraid. Look, Mr. President, we\’re not afraid, we\’reangry, we\’re pissed off, we\’re furious. We want you to react, we want you to dosomething. You\’re afraid. I mean, this guy is such a total pussy it\’sstunning…
Well, he asked, didn\’t he?
Peters continued his attack on President Obama\’s performance – not just militarily but domestically – and made several strong, heartfelt points, though with less colorful language. Varney then called him out and told him he could not use language like that on the show. Peters apologized.
I assume Varney referenced Peters calling the President “such a total pussy it\’s stunning”, as opposed to noting that people are “pissed off”. Actualy, I suppose it could have been both.
FYI: hours later, on Fox News Channel\’s “Outnumbered”, Stacey Dash, said this:
“I did not feel better. Ididn\’t feel any passion from him…I felt like he could give a shit – excuse me,like he could care less…”
Dash also got a two week suspension.
What the Fox is going on over there?
