Red-Faced And Angry
That's how Ann Althouse describes Bill Clinton's appearance in the section of interview with Fox News Sunday which has already aired. She also has an update where Chris Wallace appears to have been completely taken aback by Clinton's behavior.
Actually, I don't mind seeing him angry. He should be angry about this. I'd like to think that when he was in office he had this kind of edge and was not good-natured and relaxed. Of course, he's pissed at his critics, and it's fine for him to be the kind of guy who gets pissed. That doesn't mean his critics aren't right about a lot of things, but there's nothing really wrong with him getting angry like this. I assume a good part of it is that he's angry at himself for the opportunities he can now see he missed.
It's just unusual, as Chris Wallace says at the end of the interview, for anyone — anyone important — to act like that on TV.
UPDATE: I'm just watching Chris Wallace on FoxNews talking about the interview. He says, "I've been in the business a long time, and I've never seen anything quite like this, certainly not involving a President or former President." He notes that this is the first time Clinton has given FoxNews a one-on-one interview and that it was subject to the requirement that half of it be about the CGI. After talking about the CGI, Wallace introduced the subject of going after bin Laden, which, Wallace says, you'd think he'd be prepared to talk about, but: "He went off." Wallace, "mindful of the 15 minute rule," tried to bring him back to the subject of the CGI, but he wanted to go into Somalia and the USS Cole…..
Wow. I'm actually going to have to watch this whole thing. I simply cannot recall a former president getting this angry or worked up in public before this. I'm sure that if someone knows of a similar occurrence, they'll let me know. I've never seen it before, though.
By Tony B, Saturday, 23 September , 2006 @ 3:25 pm
What springs to mind was GHWB in that Dan Rather interview. From what I’ve seen it’s not quite the same, but same ballpark.
By Black Jack, Saturday, 23 September , 2006 @ 3:27 pm
The only thing unusual about Clinton’s outburst was that it occurred on TV. During his presidency it was often reported Clinton would yell and scream at employees in the White House.
Recall stories of loud fights between Bill and Hill, and lamps thrown in anger. Verbal assaults on Secret Service guards, repeated insults to uniformed servicemen, and a general high handed approach to White House staff.
No, the finger wagging and threatening demeanor is nothing new for Bill Clinton and represents one facet of the very flawed individual hidden behind the carefully crafted image of “The Man from Hope” who went to Yale, married the smartest woman in America, and became our first black president.
Who, by the way, tried to get Osama bin Ladin, but failed because the vast right-wing conspiracy just wouldn’t look the other way while Bill played pattycake with Monica Lewinsky in the oval office. Yep, if it hadn’t been for those awful Republicans hounding him over his private sex life, why ol’ Bill would have run Osama to ground in no time at all.
Surely, you can see It’s all George Bush’s fault.
By Gaius, Saturday, 23 September , 2006 @ 6:07 pm
I did not see that interview, but I had not heard it described in the way this one is. I have seen the video clip that has been released of this interview. Frankly, Clinton does not come off well here at all, I think.
By A Blue Star Mom, Saturday, 23 September , 2006 @ 9:06 pm
I remembered an interview that Clinton did for ABC’s “Prime Time” in November 2004. After a quick search in Google, I found this link: http://dir.salon.com/story/news/feature/2004/11/23/jennings_clinton/index.html
I wish I knew how to come up with the video - but I can say that Clinton snapped in this interview, just like he did in the one with Chris Wallace.