Chris Wallace Describes the Clinton Interview

The Clinton interview on Fox News Sunday has now been described by Drudge as "purple faced rage", and if you saw the clip you'd tend to agree. Chris Wallace was asked his impressions of the interview (which he conducted) and here's his report (from FishBowlDC):

I began the interview with 2 questions about Mr. Clinton's commitment to humanitarian causes. His answers were cogent and good-humored.

Then--I asked him about his Administration's record in fighting terror--fully intending to come back to CGI later (as indeed I did).

I asked what I thought was a non-confrontational question about whether he could have done more to "connect the dots and really go after al Qaeda."

I was utterly surprised by the tidal wave of details--emotion--and political attacks that followed.

The President was clearly stung by any suggestion that he had not done everything he could to get bin Laden. He attacked right-wingers--accused me of a "conservative hit job"--and even spun a theory I still don't understand that somehow Fox was trying to cover up the fact that NewsCorp. chief Rupert Murdoch was supporting his Global Initiative. I still have no idea what set him off.
Former President Clinton is a very big man. As he leaned forward--wagging his finger in my face--and then poking the notes I was holding--I felt as if a mountain was coming down in front of me.

The President said I had a smirk. Actually--it was sheer wonder at what I was witnessing.

Either Clinton, at 60 years of age, is still basically an immature third grader with delusions of vast right wing conspiracies dancing through his head, or he had an agenda of his own with this interview on Fox. He clearly is agitated by the attention his efforts or lack thereof in fighting terrorism have gotten lately, and he's also hoping to paint his critics as either members of the right wing, or members of Fox News, which to most Dems is the same thing.

Clinton didn't do his legacy any good with this interview, and probably didn't do Hillary any favors either.

Howard the Donkey's DNC, probably sensing the damage that Clinton did to Democrats everywhere, felt compelled to issue a statement full of the same old "right-wing" rantings:

In an interview with Fox News televised this morning, President Bill Clinton fought back against the right-wing misinformation and smear campaign and stood up for the truth. President Clinton set the facts straight on his administration's record fighting the war on terror. He also stood up against the Fox News' right-wing bullying and propaganda machine, pointing out the lack of tough questions being posed to the current administration. Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean issued the following statement thanking President Clinton for standing up to right-wing propaganda and the need for all Democrats to stand up and tell the truth:

"President Clinton did exactly what Democrats need to do in this election. Democrats need to stand up to the right-wing propaganda machine and tell the truth. Washington Republicans' attempts to twist history and recast the truth do not help us win the war on terror or bring us closer to capturing Osama bin Laden, the mastermind of the September 11th attacks. President Clinton stood up to the misleading tactics of the right-wing propaganda machine. As the National Intelligence Estimate that was reported on today showed, the Iraq War and the Bush Administration's failed policies have hurt our ability to win the war on terror. As President Clinton said, Democrats stand for policies that are both tough and smart and we remain committed to winning the war on terror."

Howard was probably jealous. He's usually the one doing the purple-faced rant.