While network evening news broadcasts were covering for Joe Biden's swine flu gaffe, Fox News's Chris Wallace called the Vice President's advise that folks avoid getting on airplanes or riding subways "a serious mistake" and "reckless" leading the "Fox News Sunday" host to ask, "Is he nuts?"
Appearing on WOR radio's "Steve Malzberg Show" Thursday, Wallace also discussed how "exquisitely sensitive to anything that's negative, any criticism" President Obama is, adding how the recent attacks of Tea Party attendees and Fox News commentators "doesn't strike me as very presidential."
Wallace also said Obama's press conference Wednesday night wasn't "very newsy" lacking both good questions and good answers, and later took the President to task for claiming the information we received from interrogated terrorists that led us to thwart a string of second attacks on our nation could have been gotten other ways.
Highlights below the fold (14-minute audio available here):
CHRIS WALLACE (on Biden's swine flu gaffe): I don't know, but I think it was a serious mistake. And actually, of all the things, all the gaffes, all the feet in the mouth that he has committed in recent days, I think probably the worst. The last thing you need is loose talk or careless talk in the middle of -- I agree with you, I don't think it's a public health crisis, but certainly, you know, a public health alert. And this just is very reckless, and, and, it just makes you wonder what's the matter with this guy that he can't. I mean, I don't know, I'm able to get on and off the air without saying, I hope, most times without saying something stupid. He doesn't seem to be able to do that...I just think this is really a bad thing, and, you know, I mean on a variety of levels. First of all, if people who were legitimately concerned if not scared it certainly only adds to that. In addition to which we're in an economic situation, and you're saying to people, "Don't get on airplanes and don't get on subways?" I mean, is he nuts?
WALLACE (on Obama's comments concerning the Tea Parties and Fox News): He's definitely thin-skinned, there's no question about it. That was exactly the metaphor I was going to use. And I've seen this myself, you know with the "Obama Watch" that we did a couple of years ago to try to get him on. For a guy who's got 65, 67 percent approval ratings, he is exquisitely sensitive to anything that's negative, any criticism. And he likes to always say, "Well, you know, that's a democracy, and that's the way it's supposed to work." But he really does seem to feel any shot that somebody takes at him, and, you know the Tea Parties certainly are a legitimate and form of peaceful, first amendment, you know, right of assembly, in people not happy with the direction of the government. And for him to belittle it the way he did, and to belittle the commentators who pay attention to it, it doesn't strike me as very presidential.
WALLACE (on Wednesday's press conference): I didn't think it was a very interesting news conference. I didn't think the questions were very good. I find it astonishing that the economy contracted we found out in the first quarter by 6.1 percent, much higher than the administration forecast. That his budget that, you know, would increase the national debt by 2019 to 80 percent of GDP, and none of that was asked about...I didn't think the questions were very newsy. I didn't think the answers were very newsy. And one thing if I may, just one thing that bothered me was when the interrogation thing, when he said, "Look, you know, we got this information, but, you know, we could have gotten it other ways." I just have one question: how does he know that? How does he know, because I had Michael Hayden, the former CIA director on "Fox News Sunday" two Sundays ago, and I asked him about Abu Zubaydah, and he said to me -- now either he's lying, or he doesn't know, and I don't believe either -- he said, "Abu Zubaydah shut up, and it was only after we started the enhanced interrogation that we got the information that led to the capture of Ramzi Binalshibh, which led to the capture of KSM, which led to information about the second wave of terrorist attacks. You know, he can say we could have gotten it other ways, I don't know how he knows that.
Wouldn't it be nice if other media representatives asked such questions Wednesday night rather than how enchanted Obama is to be president?
—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters. Follow him at Facebook and Twitter.






















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I'm thoroughly convinced
Thu, 04/30/2009 - 22:28 ET by mattmI'm thoroughly convinced that Michael Savage is right, that "Liberalism" is a mental disorder. So, yes, Chris, he is nuts.
The answer to Chris's
Thu, 04/30/2009 - 22:29 ET by d1carterThe answer to Chris's question is yes! No, really, I think Biden is nuts. Seriously.
I agree...completly mental.
Fri, 05/01/2009 - 13:24 ET by jiffypopI agree...completly mental. I think he forgets that he is the Vice
President and therefor should stick to the same story Obama is going
with...http://www.newsy.com/videos/swine_flu_precaution_or_paranoia/
here is a link that has Biden making an ass of himself (i know this
footage isn't really rare at all) Its really interesting though because
in the coverage they talk about what some countries are doing to
prevent this flu. Egypt killed every pig in their country.
Let's just hope and pray
Sat, 05/02/2009 - 08:31 ET by DMartyrObama stays healthy throughout his term as President.
Amen Chris
Thu, 04/30/2009 - 22:36 ET by jondelwicheNuts? No, but....
Biden is a guy who nearly died of a hemorrhagic stroke.
His cognitive functioning is repeatedly an issue.
How this is NOT an issue is simply amazing!
How about some media guy asking for "lovable Joe" to pass
some psychometric testing from a neurologist at Bethesda?
Is that too much too ask for a guy a heartbeat away from the nuclear codes?
I thoroughly agree with
Fri, 05/01/2009 - 06:53 ET by motherbeltI thoroughly agree with you!
I didn't know that Biden had had a stroke.
My husband has brain damage from a ruptured aneurysm, and most of the time when you talk to him he makes perfect sense, and then suddenly something comes out that is completely wack!
So I find that very intersting about Biden!
They might say "Wow, that sucks!" But at least they'll say "Wow!" -Duff Goldman, the Ace of Cakes
It isnt even personal, because he is a likable
Fri, 05/01/2009 - 07:41 ET by jondelwicheguy. Good sport too, as I have only sympathy for him.
But THE double standard.....
Cheney's heart problems were always media fodder, as it rightly
should have been. Who would disagree with that?
Yet, Cheney has heart problem and his various chest pain episodes are front page news time and again.
Biden had a near death experience from a stroke, and is gaffing all over the place, and no media guy is even slightly curious.....?
Perhaps, he has passed a neuropsychometric battery in recent years but they should say so and reassure Americans.
Stand Up Chuck!
Thu, 04/30/2009 - 23:01 ET by RousseJoe "Stand Up Chuck" Biden is clearly suffering from some damage to his frontal lobe. That's where "reasoning" takes place.
Good advice
Thu, 04/30/2009 - 23:03 ET by owlpelletsWhenever on gets near someone that brags about their high IQ (Biden, Pop Tech) the best plan is to run like hell and keep your hand on your wallet while running.
Don't blame me....I voted for Palin...
You forgot about "Keith".
Thu, 04/30/2009 - 23:07 ET by JerYou forgot about "Keith". [NB's Keith...not MSNBC's]
Jer
Jer,
Thu, 04/30/2009 - 23:13 ET by R D Helm"[NB's Keith...not MSNBC's]"
LOL-Ain't that the truth. :-)
-Dave
This coup has gone on long enough. The time to put it down is NOW.
Joe slipped and was honest
Thu, 04/30/2009 - 23:08 ET by bigtimerJoe slipped and was honest for once.
I've had a blast listening to all of this political brouhaha since early this morning, leave it to Joe...he can't help himself.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
Re Mr. Thin Skin
Thu, 04/30/2009 - 23:42 ET by slickwillie2001The Bamster's skin thickness is measured in angstroms, and it shows. His smartass comments on the tea parties during his speech in St. Louis were likely because he saw several hundred tea party protesters there to greet him. Maybe he is just not used to seeing protesters that aren't paid for through ACORN.
If we are getting to him at 100 days, how will he be handling dissent from his messiahship after a year?
Somebody should have asked
Fri, 05/01/2009 - 00:50 ET by KevpotSomebody should have asked the Bamster why on earth Gibbs said that the prez was 'unaware' of the tea parties. He is either a liar or doesnt have a clue as to what is going on in the real world.
Just doing what he was taught
Thu, 04/30/2009 - 23:51 ET by SeftonAnd for him to belittle [the Tea Parties] the way he did, and to belittle the
commentators who pay attention to it, it doesn't strike me as very
presidential.
"Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it."
"Ridicule is man’s most potent weapon."
From marxist Saul Alinsky. Obama was an apt pupil.
actually
Thu, 04/30/2009 - 23:54 ET by RowaneActually, if this flu is as bad as they seem to be hinting, this is the best advice I've seen from DC.
LOL Rowane.. I'm with
Fri, 05/01/2009 - 00:02 ET by bigtimerLOL Rowane..
I'm with ya...that is what I meant when I said Ol' Joe slipped up and told the truth for once.
We can't have that...now can we.
Plus common sense doesn't matter to us peons out here..like we can't figure that out for ourselves to begin with if we can avoid these situations to begin with....
All of this is too rich really...
Enchanting...eh?
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
I agree with both of
Fri, 05/01/2009 - 07:01 ET by motherbeltI agree with both of you.
I wouldn't stay home and hide, but I would think twice about going getting on subways and buses if I didn't need to, to get to work etc.
And I certainly wouldn't take babies and small kids to the mall or the movies...as far as I'm concerned, that makes sense in any flu outbreak!
Don't forget that Obama's people ridiculed President Bush for using hand sanitizer! That's one of the best things to do if you can't wash your hands.
They might say "Wow, that sucks!" But at least they'll say "Wow!" -Duff Goldman, the Ace of Cakes
flu avoidance is expensive for me
Fri, 05/01/2009 - 07:34 ET by DeskpilotIn that I regularly ride a coach bus for 1:20 to commute to work, I am choosing to drive (45 mi O/W) and pay $4 toll in order to avoid an enclosed public space. My office exists in cude world, but we all have tissues and a nearby restroom and handwashing sink in the immediate area to maintain high levels of sanitation.
A price I'm willing to pay for short term protection. I can't afford to be off the clock sick.
If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you can read it in English, You're welcome - Deskpilot, AM(H)1 (AW), USN (Ret)
It is a little over blown
Fri, 05/01/2009 - 10:19 ET by expatriotGENEVA (Reuters) - The World Health Organization said on Friday that as of 0600 GMT the number of officially confirmed cases of a new flu sweeping around the world was 331 in 11 countries, including 10 deaths.
The figures for what the WHO calls influenza A (H1N1), widely known as swine flu, include 109 confirmed cases with one death in the United States and 156 confirmed cases with nine deaths in Mexico, it said in a statement on its website.
Other countries with laboratory-confirmed cases are Austria (1), Canada (34), Germany (3), Israel (2), Netherlands (1), New Zealand (3), Spain (13), Switzerland (1) and United Kingdom (8).
In the United States we lose 36,000 people to influenza annually. Think of this as a liberal smoke screen distracting you from the really important stuff. The one death in the US was a mexican national child who unfortunately we could not save. Mexico's problem is that of all third world nations, lack of proper and complete care.
"doesn't strike me as very
Fri, 05/01/2009 - 04:32 ET by DoktorFranken"doesn't strike me as very presidential."
Name any Demorcrat president that has in the past few decades.
How dare you challenge me!
Fri, 05/01/2009 - 06:50 ET by DontFeedTheTrollsHe's definitely thin-skinned, there's no question about it. That was
exactly the metaphor I was going to use. And I've seen this myself, you
know with the "Obama Watch" that we did a couple of years ago to try to
get him on. For a guy who's got 65, 67 percent approval ratings, he is
exquisitely sensitive to anything that's negative, any criticism.
I think this is why we see things like the NY City fly by. Obama thinks it's a good idea, no, a GREAT idea, 'Don't you all agree?', his handlers know if they say 'no' he will throw them an icy stare and put them on his 's*** list' so they bite their tongues and aquiesce. You CANNOT tell Obama 'That's not a good idea, sir.', he can't handle being told he is wrong. After all, he won, didn't he?
D
Keep the ILLEGALS out, join NumbersUSA to send free faxes to your reps.
Agreed. GW Bush would
Fri, 05/01/2009 - 07:04 ET by motherbeltAgreed. GW Bush would have responded to the TEA parties with something like "That's the great thing about America...people can go out and protest and make their opinions known."
They might say "Wow, that sucks!" But at least they'll say "Wow!" -Duff Goldman, the Ace of Cakes
We're definitely of one
Fri, 05/01/2009 - 08:31 ET by QueenMumWe're definitely of one mind on this, motherbelt. Obama "says" he's the president of "all the people". What he means is "all the people who agree with him". His dismissive attitude toward the Tea Parties was childish and gives a clear insight into how he sees himself.
Civilization is the progress toward a society of privacy. The savage's whole existence is public, ruled by the laws of the tribe. Civilization is the process of setting man free from men. - Ayn Rand
When The Obama says he is
Fri, 05/01/2009 - 08:45 ET by motherbeltWhen The Obama says he is the President of "all the people" he means that everyone must bow down to him. We are ALL his subjects.
They might say "Wow, that sucks!" But at least they'll say "Wow!" -Duff Goldman, the Ace of Cakes
Is he nuts? No, Joe had a verbal throw-up.
Fri, 05/01/2009 - 07:06 ET by Red JeepGood old Joe has never been challenged on any of his lies over the years so he seems to throw-up whatever comes to Joe’s mind. When I first heard his statement I knew he was lying about his advice to his family and had not thought about the damage such unfounded advice could do to the airline and train industry. Joe just threw-up whatever came to his mind at the moment.
Joe should be kept to saying only what a teleprompter tells him, too, like BO. Maybe someone should invent teleprompter eyeglasses or contact lens for those two.
Sorry. Nothing to see here.
Fri, 05/01/2009 - 08:56 ET by QueenMumTopic moved by author to Open Thread.
Civilization is the progress toward a society of privacy. The savage's whole existence is public, ruled by the laws of the tribe. Civilization is the process of setting man free from men. - Ayn Rand
Best Post of the Day
Fri, 05/01/2009 - 09:01 ET by Ruths husband BenFrom Michelle Malkin's site:
On April 30th, 2009 at 10:27 am, JDinTX said:
Years ago many people said that when the U.S. got a black president that pigs would fly.
After just 100 days, swine flu.
Obama: "The Fresh Prince of Bill Ayers." -Ed Mahmoud
Is he nuts?
Fri, 05/01/2009 - 11:39 ET by BlondeVery possibly. TOTUS is becoming annoyed, too.
On a scale of one to ten, I wonder just where Obama's regret lies for offering the Vice Presidency to a man without the blurting skills of a three year old.
I hope he fails, too.
I agree...completly mental.
Fri, 05/01/2009 - 13:23 ET by jiffypop-