Ramblings' Journal

"Eeeevil" Fox News reporter dares to question Howard "YAAARGH!" Dean's motives

Fox News Channel reporter Brian Wilson opened his mouth and boomed out a question to DNC Chair (and shoe leather taster) Howard Dean during a press conference with he and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid yesterday that has the Washington press corps all in a huff.

Amid all the other questions, Wilson had the "audacity" to bellow out a question asking Dean to expound on his "white, Christian party" remark of the other day, and linking it with Dean's well-known "hatred" of Republicans.

Let's join the presser in progress.

"You know," Dean interjected, "I think a lot of this is exactly what Republicans want, and that's a diversion." He bemoaned the "media circus" of the last two weeks and said that he and Reid were not concerning themselves with that -- only with vital things like Social Security, national defense and jobs.

"And all this other stuff is all fine and good, and we understand how exciting it all is to you," Dean said, shaking his head.

The press chorus then devolved into a cacophony of competing screams. (And Dean knows screams!) After several seconds, a booming voice cut through the noise. It belonged to Brian Wilson, a Fox News correspondent who was standing in the middle of the crowd. He asked Dean "if people are focused on the other things that you've said about hating Republicans, about Republicans being dishonest and then this latest comment about the Republican Party is full of white Christians. You say you hate Republicans -- does that mean you also'' hate white Christians?

Dean didn't respond and Reid talked about having a "positive agenda." Wilson was so insistent that at one point, Durbin asked, "Does he run the press conference?" After Reid took the one question of the morning that was not about Dean (it was about Iraq) there were a host of disjointed and semi-decipherable follow-ups (none of which was about Iraq).

Someone asked whether Dean would "change his ways," or if he planned to be "less confrontational in the future" or whether he "regrets" anything he has said. An aide to Reid announced that the photo op was over.

"We'll decide when we're ready," Wilson said. Later, Durbin would recount the scene with some exasperation. He chided the media for avoiding important issues in favor of trivial matters. "Please, for a minute, get to the substance," he said to a group of reporters. "You guys should be ashamed of yourselves."

Hey Howard! If it'll make you feel better, I can send you a fruit basket! I'll even include a pair of Odor Eaters to make that shoe leather at least smell a bit more palatable!