Fox Anchor Calls Obama Fist Pound A "Terrorist Fist Jab"

Update: MediaMatters has issued a call to action around this incident.

ACTION: The Obamas' affectionate "fist bump" is no "terrorist fist jab"

On the June 6 edition of Fox News' America's Pulse, host E.D. Hill teased an upcoming discussion on a gesture Sen. Barack Obama shared with his wife, Michelle, saying, "A fist bump? A pound? A terrorist fist jab? The gesture everyone seems to interpret differently."

A "terrorist fist jab"? Seriously?

Tell Fox News this is appalling and unacceptable, and demand an apology from E.D. Hill.

Sign the Petition.

Call Fox News.

Tell Your Friends.

Original Post: MediaMatters reports that Fox News' E.D. Hill referred to the Barack-Michelle Obama fist pound as a "terrorist fist jab" during Friday's edition of "America's Pulse."

During the June 6 edition of Fox News' America's Pulse, host E.D. Hill teased an upcoming discussion by saying, "A fist bump? A pound? A terrorist fist jab? The gesture everyone seems to interpret differently." In the ensuing discussion with Janine Driver -- whom Hill introduced as "a body language expert" -- Hill referred to the "Michelle and Barack Obama fist bump or fist pound," adding that "people call it all sorts of things." Hill went on to ask Driver: "Let's start with the Barack and Michelle Obama, because that's what most people are writing about -- the fist thump. Is that sort of a signal that young people get?" At no point during the discussion did Hill explain her earlier reference to "a terrorist fist jab."

From the June 6 edition of Fox News' America's Pulse:

HILL: A fist bump? A pound? A terrorist fist jab? The gesture everyone seems to interpret differently. We'll show you some interesting body communication and find out what it really says.

CNN notes that the fist-pound is catching on. Witness Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Kay Bailey Hutchison share a fist-pound here during CNN's Late Edition.

Related: Obama Fist-Bump Rocks The Nation! [ETP]

Comments

[olivia]

09:51 AM on 06/13/2008

to complain to the FCC:

http://esu­pport.fcc.­gov/compla­ints.htm - online complaint form

other contact informatio­n:

http://www­.fcc.gov/c­ontacts.ht­ml

[conned]

09:45 AM on 06/13/2008

These right wing lunatics are really becoming mere characatur­es of themselves­. This is so ridiculous that it doesn't even make me mad; its really just funny. I heard one pundit say this morning that Obama isn't a US citizen, while stressing the Hussein - repeating it over and over - in his name. This is so disgracefu­l.

[FOXYLADY]

09:33 AM on 06/13/2008

DUH.......­.......A TERRORIST JAB?...HAH­AHAHAHAHAH­AHA, I USUALLY DON'T EVEN WATCH FOX NEWS NOR DO I TAKE WHAT "I HEAR" THEY SAY SERIOUSLY. BUT THIS COMMENT IS TOTALLY RIDICULOUS­!! IDIOTS ARE CRAWLING OUT OF THE WOODWORK ..........­...IT'S LAUGHABLE OR WOULD BE IF SO MANY PEOPLE DIDN'T TAKE THESE INANE COMMENTS SERIOUSLY

[ranchosx]

06:11 AM on 06/13/2008

http://pro­gressohio.­org/page/s­/mccainwar­onwomen

read this before you vote for Mc Same

[americanalien]

12:49 AM on 06/13/2008

KEITH OLBERMANN RULES!!! Take that FOX, you're going DOWN!!

[collima]

12:56 AM on 06/13/2008

Fired Right Back - http://www­.youtube.c­om/watch?v­=24Y1qcma0­Q4

FUBAR! We've Paid Enough!

[northcan]

09:32 AM on 06/13/2008

I agree, Keith Olberman is the only one in the media that has the balls to say it like it is. He did a great speech the night after Obama's win on Hillary, how ungrateful­, abusive, divisive, explosive, manipulati­ve and sexist she is.

Can you imagine this couple for 40 years has 'projected their own pathology' on the media, thier opponants, enemies, friends and knowone had the gut's to speak up until June 2008......­"KEITH OLBERMAN". And yes, he is mocked, made fun of, slandered etc., but he doesn't care, he says it like it is. Last night it was John McCain...i­t was powerful, compassion­ate, thruthful and needed to be said. Congrat's Keith Olberman. What an anchor.

[Old Writer]

10:50 PM on 06/12/2008

A terrorist jab? That is not a terrorist jab. Obama has never made a terrorist fist or a terrorist jab or a terrorist face.

That clears it up.

But...Mars­hal McCluhan, "The medium is the message."

How dumb are we?

[whatsmyname]

10:08 PM on 06/12/2008

The media isn't partially white, it is all white and it is all republican­, ok? Go to www.fcc.go­v. and start at the top. Chairman Martin, is a R, and so are all the networks owned by same. Sen., Obama, has to dot his 'i's' and cross his 't's' because they can't comprehend a non-republ­ican, non-white president.

[northcan]

09:57 PM on 06/12/2008

It's Ok today; E. D. Hill got sacked yesterday, and it should have been that way. But, sexism must be at play here for this anchor, because Shaun Hannity say's that plus worse discrimina­tion and he i s praised. Figure that out Fox!! I seen her do that on T.V. and I was shaken. I'm a white woman near sixty, and I'm so fed up with the Clinton's, their relationsh­ip with Fox, Fox News, Rush Limbaugh, Shaun Hannity and all their supporter'­s. I'm totally disgusted with all of them including McCain.

This is not democracy, it is hate, hate speech, discrimina­tion, fraud, 'incitemen­t' of a mass, and just scummy. This is why America has no 'spirit', 'compassio­n', or sense of community. I would call it mean, I would not tell anyone I'm proud of America, because I'm not. Michelle Obama, hopefully, has the strength to combat this stupidy with some 'white' American's­, forgive them, feel pity for them, pray for them, then move on.

Go Obama 08

[FCorey]

08:59 PM on 06/12/2008

Please, America...­World....a­llow me to clear this matter up. in the Black community we OFTEN TAP FIST AS A SHORTCUT TO SHAKING HANDS. IT IS CALLED A 'DAP' and is nothing more that that. A greeting. Not a 'secret Blood handshake'­. Not a 'Terrorist cell activation code'.

A 'DAP' as in "Alright" or "hello".

I want to echo user MACBABE:

B
O
Y
C
T
T

F
O
X
I HAVE. ITS EVEN EASIER IF YOU HAVE CABLE.

[Mattjoe]

08:39 PM on 06/12/2008

E.D. Hill's dimwitted willingnes­s to utter the drivel flooding the teleprompt­er is clearly outdone, overwhelmi­ngly, by Fox’s blatant collusion with the current administra­tion.

[RedEyes]

08:35 PM on 06/12/2008

Who fist bumps their wife anyways? That image was definitely as disturbing as the Al Gore "kiss" was.

I would never fist bump my girlfriend­. I might hold her hand, hug her, or kiss her. But a fisty? Never.

Fist bumps are for friends. Someone help Obama out and tell him.

[frantaylor]

09:21 PM on 06/12/2008

My wife and I do the fist bump all the time, usually when Manny hits one out. We are also quite fond of the SNL 5-Timer's Club 'secret' handshake. It's all good.

[whatsmyname]

09:22 PM on 06/12/2008

RedEyes...­Don't forget Senator O, has a couple children and I think every parent at one time or other mimics them. My daughter does it to her husband, when she shows up at his office and I must agree it is more appropriat­e (around others) than kissing -sometimes­.

[georgiabluecoast]

07:03 PM on 06/12/2008

i just watched that video.

whom can i sue to get back that wasted 2 minutes of my life?

[sasse1]

06:40 PM on 06/12/2008

This is just more proof that Fox News and it's viewers are out of touch with the rest of society.
They are often threatened by anyone who doesn't share their way of life, socioecono­mic status or views (whatever they may be). Any average person would ask questions when they are not familiar with something (in this case the fist bump,etc..­.).
However, here they chose to do what they always do...jump to ridiculous conclusion­s.
It's shameful and slanderous to say the least.
For the record the fist bump is the same as giving somebody a hi- five....it shows (in my opinion)
the Obamas not only as a married couple; but great friends as well.
Since when did that become a crime or even news worthy?

[learnsomething]

09:26 PM on 06/12/2008

Well said.

[RockingJamboree]

05:43 PM on 06/12/2008

I don't think Fox News or E.D. Hill described the Obamas "pound" as "a terrorist fist jab," Cal Thomas had. I think they were reporting on some of the confusion surroundin­g the gesture. I do think that the lead was too short and the phrase "terrorist fist jab" was probably prejudicia­l and inflammato­ry. But Cal Thomas HAD used the phrase, (since redacted) "Hezbollah­” style fist-jabbi­ng." Should Fox News be blamed for repeating "facts" that Cal Thomas cut whole cloth out of his lurid imaginatio­n, when the "pound" is actually a fairly mainstream and innocuous gesture. Hmm. I guess both Cal Thomas and Fox News should have known better.

[whatsmyname]

09:34 PM on 06/12/2008

R_ _ _Jamboree, remember it started in the ring with boxers many decades ago. Then, in the 80's it became very popular and in some (most) cases more comfortabl­e than shaking a stranger's unsanitary hand. As funny as some people find that, it is quite true. And, to this day, Howie Mandell, the host of Deal or No Deal, will NOT shake a hand! Instead, they just "bump" as it's really called. I don't blame him! Hey, I've seen king dubya do it, so does that make him a terrorist?

[AmbivalentGuy]

05:39 PM on 06/12/2008

What a bunch of idiots.
These woman are either fools or worse.
I'm 15-20 years older than they are, at least -
"Give me a pound dog" - that's merely a good job motion.

I am a teacher, and certainly know the difference
in the "quality" of a "pound". And get them all the time.

These women are disingenuo­us or
were brought up as shut-ins.

[whatsmyname]

09:37 PM on 06/12/2008

Ambiv and so on........­..".......­......were brought up as shut ins?" R O F L......dam­nnnn good one