Chris Wallace Regrets Speaking Out On Obama Bashing: "I'm Not Sure I'd Do It Again"

Last Friday, "Fox News Sunday" host Chris Wallace appeared on "Fox & Friends" and railed against the show for what he called "two hours of Obama-bashing." Almost immediately, he knew his position was unpopular, calling into host Brian Kilmeade's radio show to discuss how mad the other hosts — and Fox executives — were towards him.

In an interview with the New York Observer's Felix Gillette, Wallace goes further, admitting,

"I didn't have any second thoughts about the substance because I still believe what I said was right," said Mr. Wallace. "But after the fact, you do think to yourself--on a professional level with colleagues I very much like and respect--should I have done that off camera?"

"It's a close call," said Mr. Wallace. "I'm not sure I'd do it again."

"I know a lot of liberal critics like to snicker at the slogan 'fair and balanced,' but, in fact, we take it very seriously," he added. "My feeling is that a lot of time 'fair and balanced' means giving the conservative point of view because that doesn't get reflected in the mainstream media. In this particular case, I thought 'fair and balanced' meant giving more of an explanation of Obama's point of view."

Wallace also admitted that an unnamed Fox News executive sent him an email after the "Fox & Friends" appearance to say, "isn't this the kind of thing we should be talking about off camera, not on camera?"

Friday's episode of "Fox & Friends" was a chaotic one, with co-host Brian Kilmeade also walking off set after a frustrating conversation with his fellow hosts over Obama's grandmother's "typical white person" remarks. The hosts later claimed the walk-off stunt was a joke.

Comments

[nolalily]

Never do it again? Geez. It's the only thing he's done that I respect.

[Melissa]

For the first time I respected Chris Wallace and saw shades of his father. He reminded me of Tom Brokaw when he admonished Chris Matthews and that gang for the bashing they were doing against Hillary. He sure disappointed when he changed his mind and went along with the three stooges.

[Knowledgeseeker]

Wallace and Fox News are a fraud....
I'm my opinion they are garbage

[sedonakaren]

Until I read this article, I had begun to have a certain respect for Mr. Wallace. Now he's practically negating the most unbiased thing he's done. Things carry many times the weight when you do them in public.

Loved his dad. "Sonny" has big shoes to fill. He'd better start soon.

[realpolitic]

How can Mike Wallace have so much character and his son be such a twit?

[JonStewart4President]

Phew! I was worried I would have to admire Chris for having actual backbone and principles. Luckily he and that other Faux guy went back to being the lying weasels they have time and again, proven themselves to be. So I no longer have to think that anyone at Faux has any shred of decency, moral rectitude or spine. Crisis averted.

[conscioushope]

Well, Chris Wallace, I thought the BEST in you just somehow blurted out.
Perhaps your unconscious is nudging you toward a better self. But, it might lead to a divorce~ from Fox.

Don't second guess yourself

OBAMA08

[lisakaz]

He musta gotta fined for speaking his mind.

[observing]

Just when you had earned a smattering of respect from me, Chris..or is it Christ... ya blew it. How does it feel to be Murdoch's lap dog?

[AntonioMaceo]

I didn't realize Wallace had experimental surgery to have his balls removed.

[DownwithFearMongers]

I actually thought Chris Wallace had a soul for a second.Wel­l maybe he does but he's missing a backbone.

[Arguman]

lol. Sounds like the Fox News offices are like high school. "hey! he voiced an opinion contrary to the uni-mind's! purple nurple time!"

[Roose]

Gosh, just when I was starting to respect one of the talking head on Faux News, he ruins it. Too bad.

[Boboday555]

Is Wallace cereal?
Bottom line; Rupert 'The Immigrant' Murdoch threatened to fire Mr. Wallace if he ever tried to be 'Fair and Balanced" again.

FOX-NEWS: TV For Stupid People!

[whatsmyname]

Chris Wallace your stock is now back up (it was down from letting Bill Clinton, and his asleep at the wheel on security lies & smugness push you around, awhile ago) but that THAT Executive from Fox, is the s-o-b, who needs to be fired immediately. Rupert, you and Jamie, worked very hard to get up and running against all odds so now it is time to dump these bottom fish that wear suits, sit in Ivory towers, smellin their fingers and want to be called "executives" and Chris Wallace, remember that by itself it is BULLYING. And, bullying is against the law, so if nothing else go file a grievance against the loser -with AFTRA. YOUR FATHER WOULD HAVE OR MAYBE MIKE, WOULDA JUST KICKED HIS PINK ASS. Those ego-addicted bosses need to be fired but can you imagine having to have to grow up around them? OMG P.S. WE SALUTE YOU CHRIS WALLACE.

[Boboday555]

Who's WE?

Face it non-enlisting BUSHY, Chris Wallace and his pals at FOX-KIDS are global laughingstocks.
FOX-KIDS reporters are to TV journalism what George W. AWOL and Dick "WAR DEFERMENTS" Cheney are to War Heroes!

[AC500]

Why on earth wouldn't you speak out like you did? You certainly gained my respect ... not so much that you supported Obama ... but that you spoke the TRUTH from your gut. Now, you're going to hate this next part, Chris, but I'm going to say it anyway ... It is OBVIOUS that many conservatives, republicans ... whatever ... are as excited and inspired by Barack Obama as are the people who are outright supporting him. THAT in and of itself is something I thought I'd never see. The gut and the heart DON'T lie.

[silverball]

omg...chri­s...you are too smart to be on fox....hmm­mm...or maybe not...i mean, really....­"fair and balanced"?­??.....go with your gut......

[LivingStardust]

"Ve have vays of making you comply, Herr Wallace!", he said in a German accent badly tainted by Australian twang.

"No! No! Not the rubber hoses, Rupert!"
___

The moral of this story is that's what you get when you go to work for fascists.

[blackwell98]

True, but dont forget they are mainly Neoconservatives. Hard to tell the difference sometimes.

[jotunloki]

There is no difference. Neocons are corporate statists which is the definition of fascist.

[Donnat]

Look at the picture of Wallace below the link. He even looks weak and goofy. Two major qualifications for working on FOX for sure.

[johnsnakecusak]

Chris Wallace always looks weak and goofy.

[p2p2008]

I thought it was too good to be true. I think Olber-man has to retract his praise that he gave on Kilmeade and Wallace on his show .