This is one of the most openly hostile interviews I have seen on network TV. It is jaw-dropping.
You all might remember the Minnesota Secretary of State, Mark Ritchie from the 2008 Minnesota Franken-Coleman recount extravaganza. Ritchie is classic Minnesota - pragmatic and down-to-earth, almost folksy. He was meticulous in his attention to detail, fairness and transparency in the 2008 recount, but he gets no credit for this. On the contrary,the interview by FOX anchor Heidi Collins regarding the possible recount in the governor's race leads with a quote from the state Republican chair that they "won't get rolled this time," and moves on to footage of the chair calling Ritchie an "ACORN-activist." Then she proceeds to hound him, interrupt him and snap at him "I ask the questions. You answer. Yes?"
You have to see it to believe it:
http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/...
More after the jump...
Following the repeated (unfounded) accusations, Ritchie points out these are partisan attacks and the Minnesota electorate was clearly OK with how he was doing his job, because he was re-elected. (This, despite a pretty broad "Republican wave" - taking over both the MN state house and senate.)
Ritchie answers the ACORN question, stating they were a previous supporter, like many others. But apparently this is not good enough, because she then proceeds to a nasty little interchange where she interrupts him to ask the same question and then accuses him of not answering the question. Mmmkay. Ironically, what she is interrupting is Ritchie's comment that this issue underlines a disturbing lack of respect for people in office and the many people involved in the recount. Classic.
Then Ritchie makes the mistake of stating that the SOS office is "prepared" for a recount.
Prepared you say? How sinister! Could it be that there is some PLOT! Why does this keep happening in Minnesota!? Hmmm? Coincidence? You knew this would happen? Collins has a knowing smirk. To make matters worse - and you have to stay with me to figure out the "logic" to this - Hennepin county had initially mis-reported some additional 60,000 votes to Democratic candidate Mark Dayton because of someone pressing the wrong button during transmission of votes. This was quickly cleared up, but Hennepin County will be forever suspect in the minds of the righteous right. Then, to top it off, ONE of the judges on the canvassing panel, is, oh horrors!, from Hennepin County!!! It defies comprehension how such an injustice could come to pass. Nevermind that the judge in question was appointed by current Republican governor Pawlenty. Clearly, it is an ACORN plot. The final sin? Minnesota keeps making headlines with recounts. Why does this keep happening?
This is the worst piece of rude, innuendo-laden interviewing I have seen in a long time.
I expect there is more to come, as an article in the City Pages points out:
Turns out Fox9 is currently running a promo taking credit for breaking the "scoop" that there were vote reporting problems in Hennepin, so obviously they're going to be riding the "Democrats stole the election" meme for all its worth in the coming weeks.
One of the Star Tribune Staff Bloggers also points out:
But let's just not trash Collins (a veteran CNN anchor who should know better).
Let's also lay some blame on the entire station for an interview approach that I've never liked. Despite the fact that Ritchie is obviously in studio, he's shuttled off to a side room so that he's only talking to Collins through a camera lens rather than being face to face. This offers the prosecutor - er, I mean, the interviewer - a huge advantage. Collins is a veteran of talking into a camera. Most interviewees are not. It's an awkward way to talk to someone. Fox isn't the only station to do this. Ted Koppel more or less invented the form and Bill O'Reilly has mastered it. It's an awful tradition and one that should be reconsidered, along with the idea that Collins should be allowed to do anymore political interviews.
So, I have to feel sorry for Mark Ritchie - decent guy, doing a conscientious job. What does he get for it? "Gotcha" journalism, rudeness and tricky interviewing techniques. For all of that, he comes across as the calm and reasonable one. We all know how well calm and reasonable plays with the American public, but still at least some of us appreciate it. I think overall, Mark Ritchie gets the best last zinger:
Q: "Mr. Secretary, one final question. When we will we have a new governor?"
A: "We will have a new governor when the next governor is sworn into office."
Booyah! She loved that one, you can tell.....Blink, blink. blink-blink-blink.
Sorry I don't know how to embed the video, but hopefully the link will work.