Fox’s James Rosen Smacks Down Right-Wing Host Who Accuses Him of ‘Schoolboy Crush’ on Marie Harf
As we reported on Wednesday evening, Fox News reporter James Rosen came to defense of State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf, who has been attacked by conservatives for her various statements about administration policy. Her most infamous moment came when she told MSNBC that the White House believes there are many factors to why young people would join up with jihadist forces, including economic recession and lack of job opportunities.
Despite her point being one previously echoed by President George W. Bush, much of the resultant “abuse” aimed at Harf, Rosen told Fox colleague Megyn Kelly, “has been sexist in nature, juvenile in nature.”
Apparently, that opinion strayed too far off the reservation for conservative Newsmax TV host Steve Malzberg, who heard Rosen’s words and proceeded to level this charge:
Does @JamesRosenFNC have a schoolboy crush on #MarieHarf ? #tcot https://t.co/nbDVENYTmZ
— Steve Malzberg Show (@SteveMTalk) April 23, 2015
Rosen, a seasoned reporter, didn’t entirely take the bait:
@SteveMTalk Very elevated commentary, Steve.
— James Rosen (@JamesRosenFNC) April 23, 2015
But Malzberg pressed on:
@JamesRosenFNC Very rose colored view of #MarieHarf , James
— Steve Malzberg Show (@SteveMTalk) April 23, 2015
And so Rosen tried to address the attack in under 140 characters:
@SteveMTalk Not really; I showed how some of her wounds were self-inflicted. But at least you're eschewing "schoolboy crush"-level analysis.
— James Rosen (@JamesRosenFNC) April 23, 2015
Malzberg then backed off, claiming he was just razzing the Fox reporter, trying to create a “lighter momment” [sic]:
@JamesRosenFNC James, I have always had the greatest respect for your work and still do. It was intended as a "lighter momment"
— Steve Malzberg Show (@SteveMTalk) April 23, 2015
In a related Twitter thread, Rosen also fended off charges that Fox News is somehow to the left of MSNBC because of Rosen’s supportive words for Harf:
@laurarubin7 @SteveMTalk Yes, Laura, what I have to say, on just about anything, is indistinguishable from what Al Sharpton has to say.
— James Rosen (@JamesRosenFNC) April 23, 2015
Ah, yes, Twitter. Always a place for productive conversation.
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