Charles Krauthammer On Bachmann/Wallace: ‘I Would Ask Ron Paul’ If He Was A Flake

video

by Frances Martel | 8:07 pm, June 27th, 2011

» 24 comments

After a heated debate with Jon Stewart, it appeared Fox News Sunday host Chris Wallace fell out of the frying pan and into the fire by asking Rep. Michele Bachmann if she is a “flake.” Host Bret Baier announced today Wallace apologized privately and the Congresswoman accepted, though the debate over whether such a question was appropriate continues. To that, Charles Krauthammer had a simple answer: yes, and Rep. Ron Paul deserves to hear it.

“We are told Chris has reached out to Rep. Bachmann and apologized in person, and she has accepted,” Baier announced– this after Wallace’s video apology garnered a rather chilly reception. That said, the question– and Rep. Bachmann’s subsequent indignation– did raise several issues regarding how to address said candidates, and whether she was particularly insulted because such a question would be unheard of for a male candidate. The Special Report had to make due without their female panelist A.B. Stoddard due to an ill-timed coughing fit, but Krauthammer and Bill Kristol took a stab at in anyway.

Kristol noted that such a question would not have been unheard of to a male Republican candidate from more liberal commentators like Dan Rather– “not to compare Chris with Dan Rather”– but that ideological spin did little to explain the gender angle. To this, Krauthammer had a more concrete answer, after giving his review of Rep. Bachmann’s campaign speech today (“not a very strong speech”): “I would ask it about Ron Paul.” He went on to explain that “I think it’s a legitimate question that you could ask of a legitimate candidate,” and that, with candidates that have serious policy question pitched to them, it deserves to be asked.

The segment via Fox News below:

2012 elections, Bill Kristol, Bret Baier, charles krauthammer, Chris Wallace, fox news, Michele Bachmann, Republicans, Ron Paul, Special Report

Nationman

why ron paul?
Bill Huggins

YEP YEP

HOW MANY COMMENTS UNTIL THE RINO ALERT?

Hahahahaha!!!
Nacho

Not surprising when Bret Baier pointed out the majority of angry emails came from the angry hate filled thin skinned FoxNews viewing women.

Their presence on Mediaite is well noted.
Nacho

“The Victims”
GuessWhoSuka

This guy could totally play the Devil on TV man…he’s got the looks of a guy who likes to rape Angels..
jim bronson 990cc

Is Charles a flake? Only his hair dresser knows for sure!
AmericaSucks

Wallace’s question was 100% legit. His real sin was offering an apology.
seek

GuessWhoSuka said:
This guy could totally play the Devil on TV man…he’s got the looks of a guy who likes to rape Angels..

He might have great difficulty – he’s a quadriplegic. Now – do you feel like dirt?
seek

Bill Huggins said:
YEP YEP

HOW MANY COMMENTS UNTIL THE RINO ALERT?

Hahahahaha!!!

How many years before you learn it’s rude to yell. Also a lol will suffice instead of wearing out the ha keys.
All in all, you’re not too impressive.
seek

AmericaSucks said:
Wallace’s question was 100% legit. His real sin was offering an apology.

I don’t agree. I’m glad he apologized. We’d expect that stupid question from Chris Matthews but not Chris Wallace. I think he had a senior moment, but at least he’s man enough to own it and apologize for it.
seek

Nacho said:
Not surprising when Bret Baier pointed out the majority of angry emails came from the angry hate filled thin skinned FoxNews viewing women.

Their presence on Mediaite is well noted.

You had to lie. It’s just part of your make up. You’re also getting on my 1 short nerve cause the banality is old and freaking lame.
carlinist

seek said:
I don’t agree. I’m glad he apologized. We’d expect that stupid question from Chris Matthews but not Chris Wallace. I think he had a senior moment, but at least he’s man enough to own it and apologize for it.

well his wording was a bit off, but yes he still has that right to ask a candidate whether they are reliable or whether they have a reliable or legitimate agenda.
As a viewer, a direct question like that shows me the integrity of the Candidate. I did see this interview as i was browsing channels the other day and for the most part, Bachmann looked like she wasn’t answering them directly
http://www.facebook.com/people/Ward-Ciac/1214716012 Ward Ciac

Krauthammer is an Israeli Neocon. Israeli Neocons don’t like Ron Paul. It’s that simple.
seek

carlinist said:
well his wording was a bit off, but yes he still has that right to ask a candidate whether they are reliable or whether they have a reliable or legitimate agenda.
As a viewer, a direct question like that shows me the integrity of the Candidate. I did see this interview as i was browsing channels the other day and for the most part, Bachmann looked like she wasn’t answering them directly

there are a # of ways he could have gotten a good answer out of her. By saying it the way he did was just silly and not how a first class interviewer would broach the subject. If he would have said “a # of media outlets have branded you “a flake” – what is your response to them?

It was a “gotcha” question – much like Couric with Palin. Bachmann’s back goes up immediately and you might as well end the interview because she’s no longer connecting with you or engaged with you in any way. Human nature is still human nature and when you are made uncomfortable you’re not going to give that person your best effort or even much of an effort. She did remarkably well – most of us would have told him what to do with himself at that point! (no wonder I’m not in politics lol)
seek

Ward Ciac said:
Krauthammer is an Israeli Neocon. Israeli Neocons don’t like Ron Paul. It’s that simple.

A # of people think Paul is a wee bit out there – are they all Israeli Neocons?

What the hell is an Israeli Neocon btw?

No, that is not true about Kraut – Paul is a libertarian and Kraut isn’t – that’s it – end of story.
LOGICandREASON

Ron Paul is the most mentally and constitutionally sound individual among all the candidates, and even against all of them combined.

The US has drifted so far away from the Constitution and common sense, that some people take Paul’s ideas as out of touch, when actually it is the entire establishment and particularly the corrupt Corporate-Military industrial complex that is insane and has been for decades, that’s why you have a national debt of nearly 15 trillion dollars with the US technically engaged in 4 wars ongoing.

Has anyone ever wondered why the progressives and secretive corrupt establishment intentionally tied the global economy together in such a way that American citizens have to worry about Greece’s economy falling apart? Of what significance was the economy of Greece or any other European country to the US citizen by 1900? Why is the Federal Reserve run in secrecy?
Skippy

I cannot wait for you wingnutz to hand the nomination to fruit cake Ron Paul.

- How do you suppose we pay down the debt to China?

- We have to go back to the gold standard.

- So, are you ready to ship gold to China?

- No. We are going to give them paper dollars.

- Oh, you are saying the USA can’t keep a promise.
Watch the USA dollar becoming a third world currency.
Yoda002

Just look at that graphic!! What a very misleading title. This why FOX viewers are the most misinformed viewers!!
btimsah

Ward Ciac said:
Krauthammer is an Israeli Neocon. Israeli Neocons don’t like Ron Paul. It’s that simple.

Yep..

Might also be noted that Krauthammer (after the HIV/AIDS outbreak started) predicted it would not amount to much. What a freakin’ flake.
Hugo Daun

seek said:
It was a “gotcha” question – much like Couric with Palin.

Yeah, “What do you read?” is a REAL gotcha question…
justanotherconservative

GuessWhoSuka said:
This guy could totally play the Devil on TV man…he’s got the looks of a guy who likes to rape Angels..

you should only have half his brains, moron. then you could call others names…. what a POS you are.
Just4thefax

Yoda002 said:
Just look at that graphic!! What a very misleading title. This why FOX viewers are the most misinformed viewers!!

Fact: Reagan again was correct. Reagan stated that liberals know so much that isn’t so!
Nationman

seek said:
I don’t agree. I’m glad he apologized. We’d expect that stupid question from Chris Matthews but not Chris Wallace. I think he had a senior moment, but at least he’s man enough to own it and apologize for it.

it’s funny that conservatives will defend him on the stewart interview but not here.
X-3

Apparently, a good many of you did not listen to the segment. Frances tried to spin the remark into something it was not. Nice try Frannie but the facts are not on your side…they so very seldom are.