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?

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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

[Merrellt]

What is unfortunate is that people actually believe this. I continue to be amazed by the e-mails I receive claiming Senator Obama to be the Antichrist, a terrorist, anti-christian. The dumbing down of America. I have spoken with college educated people who BELIEVE this stuff. I guess the lack of funding for education driven by the Republicans is having the desired effect...many Americans have become illogical and lack critical thinking skills. What is even more disturbing is the wedding of conservative Catholics with Right Wing Evangelicals whose leaders have brain washed their constituents into believing anything they are told, and if they ask questions, the are in danger of Satan's ploys and eternal damnation. It blows my mind. The Jesus of the Christians would be lost in the midst of his so called followers....they certainly are....will the real Christians stand up and take back their faith!!! And the next time I tap my fist against another's, I will do it in celebration of all that is America!!!

[HARMONIAMUNDI]

I WOULD LIKE TO GET AN EDUCATION TOO, THOUGH IT MAY BE TOO LATE- I ALREADY HAVE A PhD...

[CyrusBeaucephus]

Do you know how to turn off the caps lock key? Perhaps you need to take a class

[macbabe]

B
O
Y
C
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T
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F
O
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how tough is that?????

[nonconformist2]

I think the people who watch Fox, don't frequent the Huffy Post. The rest of us never watch it. We only hear about it when they do something particularly stupid and only to mock and disdain them.

[Gorestro]

I never watch Fox so I did not know who E.D. Hill is until today.

[AtiasMom]

Will someone grow up? Turn about is fair play. How many things was done to Hillary by the media during the campaign? Throw dirt and not expect the dust to come back and bite you. I didn't like the dirty trash raising by the media when it was done to Hillary and I don't like it now.

If you can't report on anything of meaning get out of the business. Our country is falling apart, our debt for an unwanted war climbs daily, we can't afford gas, food, utilities, or mortages. Do some of us a favor and become reporters again. You know the kind who do investigative and objective reporting without your or the media bosses bias's included in the report.

Or is this another way to take down the last super power?

[nonconformist2]

I think you are talking this WAY to seriously. This was simply a humorous story about how stupid Fox is. Has nothing to do with substance. People have to have the opportunity to mock idiocy once in a whole to releave the tension.

[delysia]

Amen to that! If you know anything at all about what really goes on in the world, particularly in the world of black Americans, you'd know that the gesture is one commonly used by all. However, if you consider the source of this so-called "terrorist threat fist jab," you expect nothing less. Fox TV and the majority of its reporters/commentators is the biggest bunch of bigots on the air and media waves. So, I'm not surprised this idiotic rumor comes from them. You get slime from slime; and Fox is definitely slimy.

[nonconformist2]

They are also mind-numbingly stupid. How can anybody be that stupid? It boggles the mind!

[earthwealth]

Until Obama has not convinced the pro Israeli Lobbies that he is totally dedicated to Israel more than his own country America, there would be many of such attacks.

[ProudNeoCon]

I am a life long republican. I do not agree with Se. Obama on 80% of his political views. That said, I think calling his gesture "A terrorist fist jab" is one of the stupidest thing I have seen or heard on TV. Obama has enought questionable issues which are real and should be talked about (and so does McCain).

[nonconformist2]

Are you really a "neo-conservative"? Do you also believe in "Coercive Democracy"? or the coming "Rapture"?

[thesimulacra]

How stupid. I think she was most likely referring to Human Events' Cal Thomas, who referred to it as a "Palestinian fist-pump" or somesuch nonsense. Outrageously, Thomas has since actually deleted the reference from his original article, with no explanation at all, as if it had never been printed. Time.com makes reference to his comment in an article on the "history of the fist bump", which is one of the few reasons anyone outside of Cal Thomas knows about his original outrageously stupid comment.

But why didn't she explain the comment? Probably because Cal had "retracted" it, and Fox News, not wanting to upset their buddies at the repugnant "Human Events" journal, chose to honor his revisionist version of his article and let us pretend nothing happened.

[IndependentInquiry]

She was quoting some stupid blogger on Human Events Online. The comment was deleted.

"Michelle is not as “refined” as Obama at hiding her TRUE feelings about America—etc. Her “Hezbollah” style fist-jabbing—mouth-twisted anti-American speeches is STRAIGHT from ISLAM!"

All she did was alter and repeat, without citation or context, a ridiculous deleted comment from some anonymous psycho and present it as but one reasonable interpretation of a fist-bump.

[earthwealth]

It is actually a victory gesture that is used by Israeli Army every time their tank shell blows some Palestinian child’s head off his or her body!

[Macaniff]

I am sure that anything that I would say here has already been said by others, but what the hell. How stupid does Fox News think we actually are?

Stupid enough to have a second thought about Obama because of the terrorist quip?
Stupid enough to think that a fist bump means anything or carries some secret symbolism?
Stupid enough to believe propaganda because it comes out of the mouth of a sexy blond?

or stupid enough to watch Fox News for any length of time in the first place?

Fox cannot go on insulting the intelligence of people and expect to be relevant much longer

[provgrays]

Fox, the GOP's official propaganda arm, will say anything to trash it's oppenents. This really is propaganda. Fox's FCC liscense should be revoked.

[SeanOcali]

Aren't they a cable channel? Can the FCC revoke licenses for cable television?

[WildFancyLady]

Just ridiculous! E.D. Hill needs to be fired... Everyone knows the fist bump is like a pat on the back or a High Five. So is he a Nazi if he gives her a High Fives. Or A Rapist if he pats her back? Lord only knows what they would say if he kissed her hand. Fox News what a joke of a News channel you are, Comedy Central has more informative news shows.

[StarkRavingNakedEmperor]

I think you are really on to something on all counts! I think this is precisely why Michelle and Barack did a dap--if they had given each other a big juicy kiss like Al & Tipper did during their campaign, I'm sure they would have been demonized even worse for it than the Gore's were!

[evahartselftlanguages]

TO: Senator Barack Obama June 11, 2008


Well, if his Father and family and relatives on his Father's side were Moslem naturally Senator Barack Obama , a stated Christian, would learn of these customs. There is nothing wrong with that! The circle your in is the behaviiour and customs you learn. Senator Barack Obama also has taken steps to being a Christian as marriage and baptism.

Eva Hart A Christian 670 Eddy St. Sfc 94109

[akkadian]

The real terrorists are these filthy fear mongering traitors at Fux...
Rev Wright didn't work, Ayers didn't work, flag pins didn't work, Rezko didn't work, Pfleger didn't work, Operation Chaos didn't work, Florida & Michigan didn't work.
But Fux carries on regardless...
They supported and still support Bush and Rove in all of their Middle Eastern iniquity.
Rove even has a job at Fox now, as fair and balanced as he is known to be.
Now they are pushing the 'drill everywhere for oil' agenda.
As if this will curb the current oil futures speculation which has caused the oil price spiral.
Blame the price of oil on rich international speculators?
Blame it on Middle Eastern instability and the Iranian 'problem' caused by Bushrovian idiocy?
Not on your life!
We just need more oil

[zull2]

Apparently, this anchor also believes that 99% of Major League Baseball players are also terrorists.

[Speakchic]

Or any athlete or black person for that matter.

[hmb]

Fear! fear! and more fear! This seems to be the pulse of the nation - This is why Bush was able to take us to war without protest! Stop the madness!