Posted by
Jay Noble on Monday, September 25, 2006 12:14:21 PM
The media is making much of former President Clinton's outburst against correspondent Chris Wallace during an interview on Fox News. Mr. Clinton took umbrage at being questioned concerning his efforts to capture Osama Bin Laden, and reacted by launching into a tirade against Wallace, Fox News, and Clinton's bete noir, the Republican "Right Wing."
No doubt the former president was feeling a bit defensive on the question of his efforts to fight the terrorist threat to the United States. After all,a little more than two weeks ago, on the evenings of September 10th and 11th, and over the vociferous objections of Mr. Clinton and his minions, the ABC network broadcast the made for television drama, "The Path to 911," which demonstrated, pretty much beyond a reasonable doubt, just how half-hearted, freckless, and superficial were the Clinton administration's efforts against the international terrorist threat and al-Qaida. It was predictable that Clinton would seize the first convenient opportunity to counterattack on television, which Chris Wallace and Fox News offered.
Perhaps his outburst was a genuine expression of indignation. However, as always with Clinton, there lingers the suspicion that the episode was, for the most part, an act, the anger and indignation feigned. After all, this is a man who famously wagged his finger and furiously denied having sex with "that woman," and who instantly changed from laughter to tears at Commerce Secretary Ron Brown's funeral when he realized he was being videoed. The former president needed a broadcast forum to pretend outrage, and what better one than Fox News, the favorite network of conservatives. Mr. Wallace offered a convenient foil, being much too much the gentlemen to respond to Mr. Clinton's outburst. Perhaps after suffering the former president's rants that his administration's efforts to combat terrorism have been unfairly ignored, Mr. Wallace might have asked Mr. Clinton why, in light of the former president's well known propensity to falsify facts and lie when convenient, should any thinking person believe for a second the self-serving hornswoggle escaping Mr. Clinton's mouth? Of course, Mr. Wallace would never have done so, for unlike the liberal press, conservatives still have a respect and veneration for the office of the president, even when occupied by the likes of Bill Clinton, and Mr. Clinton was well aware that this respect permitted him his tirade without fear of a response in kind. Hence the venue was perfect for the former president to unencumber himself.
No hissy fit on national television can change facts or permanently hide the truth. At best, Clinton's public tantrum serves as a distraction from those facts, just another slight of hand from a master practitioner, always trying to keep the public attention focused away from his own failure and abdication of responsbilty. The
act is not aging well, however, and the audience grows less appreciative each day.