A Breath Of Fresh Air
This undated file image provided Friday, May 28, 2010 by Stanley K. Patz shows a flyer distributed by the New York Police Department of Patz's son Etan who vanished in New York on May 25, 1979. / AP Photo/Courtesy NYPD/Getty Images
This column was written by CBS News Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith.
I enjoyed watching President Clinton come out of his seat during his interview with Chris Wallace over the weekend.
Everyone is talking about the former president's tirade against Fox News and the right wingers. And yes, he did make a mistake by throwing Wallace, a uniquely tough interviewer of all subjects, in with the right-wing crowd. But, no matter.
What we got a chance to see was the real man: Clinton in full defense of his record.
There are plenty of folks ready to blame him for not being more vigilant in his pursuit of Osama bin Laden. But Clinton made a pretty good case Sunday for doing what he could under the circumstances. CIA types will dispute his assertion that they and the FBI were the ones who ultimately prevented him from pulling the trigger on bin Laden when he had the chance. But, as the President said on Fox, he will take the blame.
So much of what we hear from politicians is couched, calculated. The President's tirade was like a breath of fresh air.
Harry's daily commentary can be heard on many CBS Radio News affiliates across the country.
By Harry Smith
Copyright 2009 CBS. All rights reserved. I enjoyed watching President Clinton come out of his seat during his interview with Chris Wallace over the weekend.
Everyone is talking about the former president's tirade against Fox News and the right wingers. And yes, he did make a mistake by throwing Wallace, a uniquely tough interviewer of all subjects, in with the right-wing crowd. But, no matter.
What we got a chance to see was the real man: Clinton in full defense of his record.
There are plenty of folks ready to blame him for not being more vigilant in his pursuit of Osama bin Laden. But Clinton made a pretty good case Sunday for doing what he could under the circumstances. CIA types will dispute his assertion that they and the FBI were the ones who ultimately prevented him from pulling the trigger on bin Laden when he had the chance. But, as the President said on Fox, he will take the blame.
So much of what we hear from politicians is couched, calculated. The President's tirade was like a breath of fresh air.
Harry's daily commentary can be heard on many CBS Radio News affiliates across the country.
By Harry Smith
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- Its the usual tactics of the right, dwelling on a few keywords like "combative" and "tirade" and then saying them over and over while ignoring the facts. Dont forget, Clinton was the first to put an anti-terror director (Richard Clark) in as a cabinet position. The Bush administration then demoted Clark and put terrorism on the back burner for 9 months. Someday soon, after Bush has bankrupted our country with insane deficits, the right will still probably be talking about the earth shattering Monica affair.
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- A breath of fresh air ? What a joke !! It was a tirade from a spoiled brat who is NEVER wrong, and is NOT allowed to be questioned !! As for seeing the real man, you haven't seen the REAL man until you've been in Monica Lewinsky's dress. By the way, nice partisanship. Shouldn't reporters be objective ?
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