Chris Wallace Apologizes to Michele Bachmann for Asking if She’s a ‘Flake’
**Written by Doug Powers
When I heard Wallace ask Michele Bachmann if she’s a flake I cringed a little, and I’m not surprised Wallace ended up apologizing. (Update: Apology not accepted?)
You know, when I think of political figures who have made questionable statements and embarrassing gaffes in the past few days, Michele Bachmann isn’t the name that springs to mind, but she’s obviously the candidate in this race so far who is going to be unfairly tagged as the gaffey one.
Are Chris Wallace and Chris Matthews swapping gigs this month or something?
Here’s how it played out:
*****
My “wishful thinking” response was something like, “I’m the least flaky person in all 58 states, Chris.”
If Bachmann’s a flake, then flake-on:
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Minnesota congresswoman Michele Bachmann sit atop the standings in the year’s first Des Moines Register Iowa Poll on the Republican presidential field.
Romney, the national front-runner and a familiar face in Iowa after his 2008 presidential run, attracts support from 23 percent of likely Republican caucus-goers. Bachmann, who will officially kick off her campaign in Iowa on Monday, nearly matches him, with 22 percent.
**Written by Doug Powers
Twitter @ThePowersThatBe
See what others have said
Note from Michelle: This section is for comments from michellemalkin.com's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that I agree with or endorse any particular comment just because I let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with my terms of use may lose his or her posting privilege.
Comments
You must be logged in to post a comment.
 |
Elizabeth Warren touted Cherokee heritage in 1984 collection of recipes
May 17, 2012 10:26 AM by Doug Powers
124 Comments
Palin-endorsed Deb Fischer wins Nebraska Senate primary; will face Bob Kerrey in November
May 16, 2012 11:02 AM by Doug Powers
46 Comments
NY Senator: Honor Mother’s Day by supporting pro-abortion group
May 12, 2012 10:44 AM by Doug Powers
86 Comments
Legislation introduced to remove references to word ‘lunatic’ from federal law
April 26, 2012 06:56 PM by Doug Powers
83 Comments
The end of Obama’s rainbow: This is a Photoshop contest waiting to happen
April 25, 2012 12:21 AM by Michelle Malkin
39 Comments
ALEC-bashing NPR reporter fails to disclose ties to lead anti-ALEC group
April 23, 2012 10:54 PM by Michelle Malkin
75 Comments
Categories: Media,Politicians
Babalu Blog
» U.S. Manned Space Flight in The 21st CenturyVillainous Company
» Must Read Post of the Day. Possibly, the YearRedstate
» Kimberlin’s Associates Caught on Tape?
“To anyone who was really listening.”
The problem is not in the stars, but in the listeners.
See, I just screwed up – I meant to say Chris Wallace.
Could have done it w/o using the word ‘flake’.
Anyway in the end, look who backed down.
I respected Chris Wallace as one of the few fair journalists left in America.
This has significantly tarnished my opinion of him.
He can make it up by asking Joe Biden if he’s an Idiot.
Exactly. If Wallace had cited Chris Matthews when he threw out the ‘flake’ accusation, then there would have been a target for Bachmann to hit back at, someone other people could easily see was not just a flake himself, but a nut.
The ‘flake’ label would be easily disregarded by even casual listeners as just more Matthews drivel.
But when such an accusation is thrown out with the “that’s what the rap on you is” garbage, the victim of the attack is left having to defend against the smear instead of being able to go on a counterattack.
Thus the smear sticks, to some degree, simply by having been said.
“Gee, that Bachmann lady seems nice enough, but Wallace said she was a flake, and she couldn’t prove she wasn’t.”
Most voters really are that stupid.
And Wallace knows it. What he did was first year “The Art of the Smear 101.”
That would be the real way to apologize. Level the playing field.
Ask Obama if he really believes that Black Liberation Theology craziness he listened to for 20 years, and, if not, why was he allowing his impressionable children to be indoctrinated with that kind of anti-American claptrap?
On second thought, that wouldn’t level the playing field at all. Unlike the “flake” question launched at Bachmann, questioning Obama like that would not just have been legitimate journalism, it was required journalism of any legitimate journalist with any integrity at all.
I actually don’t mind if the media goes after candidates. I want a President willing to stick a thumb in the MSM’s eyes. Bachmann was fine. I think every time the MSM tries to “Palin” her, she’ll show her mettle. Eventually they’ll be sorry they made her so well known….
I also watched this interview. I thought it was a bit over the top for Wallace to use the “flake” word too. He really is a good interviewer and commentator, so he caught me off guard when he said it. I was alone and spit out an expletive out loud. I’m glad he apologized. He has redeemed himself.
Is anyone really surprised here? Since the beginning of the candidates announcing their intentions, Fox has taken a stand to support any RINO candidate and to trash any candidate with more conservate values. All you have to do is listen to O’Reilly, Hannity, Wallace and several others. The promote Rommney and the like, but play down Bachmann, Palin, Cain, Paul as well as others with more conservative values.
O’Reilly is the worst of the bunch. His opinion of conservative candidates and the Tea Party people is insulting.
^^^Nice, glad everyone here understands the “Fox” role in the media. They are a psuedo con establishment doing nothing but the bidding of the Rino elites. You should hear their radio news briefs sometime. The snottiest liberal blowhards you can imagine spinning news to the left of CBS. Sure, highly paid monkeys like O’reilly they talk a good game once in a while to keep their legions of idiot followers fooled, but they are just as much part of the establishment as the rest of the lame stream. Conservatives who don’t understand this yet need to get a clue.
As far as the apology, no, he hasn’t redeemed himself, it was a drive by hit and run and the damage is already done, as intended. End of Story, Chris Wallace was the hit man for his establishment buddies.
Just Remeber, what is the business of Republicans? It’s government, fools, they don’t want to roll it back any more than the dems. They just want it to be their big government now.
Be intelligent and support the canditates like Palin, Bachman, and Cain. There is a reason they are attacked and marginalized by both sides of the establishment as soon as people start finding out about them.
They are the real Americans in this race, the rest of them are men without a country. Please for the love of god conservatives figure it out that these phony pasty white men are not your friends, each one of them is another McSame.
I cannot agree at all. I do not consider that Wallace has actually apologized, nor do I think Bachmann should accept it.
Wallace asked Bachman a oneo-on-one question that was insulting. He insulted her, not his viewers. He apologized to his viewers on his online blog. Did he contact Bachmann and personally apologize? I sure did not see that.
IMO with his online blog “apology,” he hit rock bottom and started to dig. Man up Chrissy or submit your resignation.
She likes them gubberment checks, 23 foster kids, farm subsidies and an IRS job, guess you gotta make cash one way or the other and why not from taxpayers.
Liberals think Fox is 100% conservative as indicated by Stewart’s questions to Wallace. They will view this in the light of “See, even the conservatives think Bachmann is a flake.” Whether that was Wallace’s intention or not is beyond me, but at the very least he should apologize directly to Bachmann.
One thing – we need to all learn to spell her name. (Same here.)
One L in Michele (unlike our hostess who has two) and two Ns in Bachmann. Not pointing fingers…
Good news for you – she has compassion for those who can’t help themselves.
Is it just me or does it seem like the quality of the leftist posts on this site has has been dropping exponentially?
That or ILMC has a multiple personality disorder……
Wallace achieved what he set out to achieve, sticking Ms. Bachman with the “flaky” label. Wallace can apologize all day long, but like many have said here on this comment board, the damage has been done. This is so typical of how the left operates. Wallace will say how sorry he is with words like, “I misspoke, or she took it out of context”, but the damage remains. It is the arrogance of lefty journalists and people like O’Reilly that really get me steamed. I won’t watch Wallace again….no second chances, bub.
Well, not really. The smear, inlike the apology, will stick and be repeated to be firmly embedded in the mushfilled minds of many voters.
Sorta like a lawyer’s question or statement directed at a witness or the acussed on the stand that is objected to, objection sustained by the judge and stricken from the record, yet still the dubious remark is implanted in the minds of the jurors, just as intended.
Not good news for him at all. The Loons of the Left don’t really want to help anyone but themselves.
Someone who uses a program to combine with their own energy and sacrifice and love to actually help those who really are helpless must be some kind of flake who just doesn’t get it.
To be fair, they don’t really have a lot to work with.
They can’t exactly criticize based on the success of the Obama administration.
I just love Mrs. Bachmann – she’s so tough and a tireless worker for what’s right.
If she wins the Presidency she’ll show that guy in North Korea who’s boss!
Yeah, that’s right,ILoveMyAcne…your tough guy, Obeyme, sure has shown that little Korean dictator how tough he is (and helping him starve his own people). Right after bowing to every two bit dictator during his I Hate America Tour, and turning a blind eye to his Muslim brethren in Iran for building their nuclear war machine. You either need to get a brain and do your research, or you need to leave this blog.
John,
I rest my case and your opinion is confirmed.
Wow, even Fox News is too liberal for you? I guess you want talking points to be completely digested for you.
In North Korea, the Inmin Gun, the Army always gets first priority for everything. Even their Army is now starving.
If their whole society is out scrounging for food, you can imagine what the combat readiness of their equipment is, especially the high end things. You can also imagine what they are selling off to buy food.
Anyone need a slightly used AKM? Comes with magazines and cleaning kit! Will sell for six potatos or best offer.
The situation in North Korea is being largely ignored by this president. It saddens me that millions are being starved by this madman dictator while the media and this horrible administration turn a blind eye. I saw that article, Flyoverman, about even the military starving–it’s disgusting.
Strange, but retardedtoto spelled backwards is ilovemypeekerboo.
Please do not take this wrong FirstSkirt, but when we send aid to these marxists thugs all we do is deplete our own resources and simply delay the inevitable.
North Korea is just another Socialist regime on steroids. They all eventually collapse. The only variance is how long it takes and how bad it is when it happens.
The rulers and party faithful don’t care. They have theirs and in terms of the people, the rulers would prefer if half of them are dead anyway. The weak, the unwanted, the lame and the unproductive old die first.
Look at Obama’s policies toward the unborn of the poor, the medically expensive, and the unproductive old. See any paralells? It would not suprise me if Kim Jong-il has managed to get in 73 rounds of golf in the last two years.
I’m so sick of the derisive comments about Mrs Bachmann and Mrs Palin. They are willing to serve and all I hear from anyone I talk to is that are idiots and mistake prone. Oh, and Obama and Biden weren’t?. The lack of cajones from so called conservatives is evident.
I thought the “flake” question was sexist.
But what the heck was up with Bachmann’s John Wayne/John Wayne Gacy gaffe? I just thought, well, she needs better staff…until I realized Waterloo was her hometown.
How do you not know that a serial killer came from your small hometown? And that a super famous movie star did not? That was so weird.
I do admire that about her, a lot!
as I said in # 41-
FOX is losing my respect-
Hannity had Newt on tonight-N was there to pitch his book-my take—he knows he is not a runner in this one!
BTW- Chris – your apology is not accepted by me–you meant what you said -you are a closet liberal…
C-CS
This was not a followup question or part of a dialog. It was a premeditated assault. It was only after Fox viewers exploded in anger that Wallace issued an “apology.” The “applogy” was not a call to Ms. Bachmann, but an apology to the viewers via his video blog. It was disingenuous and disgusting.
He needs to be fired.
She was on Levin tonight at the bottom of the all important 3rd hour.
She said, Chris called her personally at 5:30pm and personally apologized and she said she accepted.
Not sure about firing him, but at least on double secret probation.
Bachmann’s John Wayne Flub Won’t Harm Her Quest to Live in the White House
This won’t do any long term damage to Bachmann. History proves that an unintentional brush with John Wayne Gacy doesn’t preclude you from living in the White House:
http://dougpowers.com/2011/06/27/bachmanns-john-wayne/
John Wayne’s parents once lived in Waterloo, so maybe Bachmann assumed that John Wayne was also born there, but he wasn’t until his parents moved elsewhere in the state.
Update II: Funny how the left can take what was a research error or slip of the tongue at worst or an understandable honest mistake at best and turn it into serial killer worship. If the left wants a death cult all they need to do is spend a few hours with their pro-abortion zealots.
The point is that Bachmann is in Palin territory now — it doesn’t really matter what she says because the left will demonize it anyway. It was an interesting day, but move on and let them keep chattering about GOPers worshiping serial killers or whatever.
The ABC’s of Barack Obama’s Complete and Utter Stupidity (Part II)
http://vocalminority.typepad.com/blog/2011/06/the-abcs-of-barack-obamas-complete-and-utter-stupidity-part-ii.html
and – as a woman – I am insulted that the likes of wallace does not extol the great prospect of a FIRST WOMAN PRESIDENT!!! and a solid CONSTITUTIONALIST at that!
FOX – get your act together-
C-CS
Christian Soldier – you should calm down.
Looks like Chris Wallace is ready to get off the crazy bus.
You know you’re a redneck when someone on a silly station like Fox asks if you’re flake.
Apologized, as well he should have. That would be like someone asking him “Mr. Wallace, is it fair to say that if not for your daddy Mike Wallace and your step-daddy,Bill Leonard, a former CBS News president, you would be selling used cars in Podunk?”
Who gives a hoot in hell where John Wayne was born? He was a legend in his own mind…not mine. Gaffe? Please, Biden and Obeyme are WALKING GAFFES….
FLYOVERMAN #129: I understand and agree with your comments. I am saddened that these Communist lovers in our country show these brutal dictators any respect at all. All those innocent men, women and children will die of starvation in North Korea…all because these Maoists, Marxists, Stalinsts, and Communists still believe in their failed doctrines.
ILOATHEMYFACE: Geez, you are one stubborn goat. Calm down coming from you is hilarious. I’ve got a vision of you running around the room with your hair on fire, in your filthy drawers, panting and ranting while screaming at your mother to bring you some Cheetos. Please.
Looks like I got a twofer on this thread!
Ilovemycountry # 134-
from # 133-
I am calm-I just like to give it back to the -always insulted left- even using emphasized lettering….
On second thought – I should have used the word–”OUTRAGED”-
next time I’ll do that …(-:
C-CS
Did he ever ask Ted Kennedy if he was a drunk and a murderer?
Thank you, ChapBix, for enhancing my comment….of course, the dope would be eating Fire Habanero Cheetos…why didn’t I think of it?
Liberals, particularly conservative women and minorities who seek public office are going to be crucified by this unrelenting love for obeyme riddled media. They’re ganging up on Bachman big time.