Republican guest tells off liberal host

I saw something very rare and encouraging on TV this evening: a guest criticizing his host’s program. (Here’s the YouTube.) About 40 minutes into the outrageously partisan, pro-Democratic, contemptuously-mocking-of-all-Republicans CNBC program hosted by Keith Olbermann’s female clone Rachel Maddow, David Frum came on as the guest, and he let her have it, telling her that programs like hers are a part of what is dragging down American politics. Maddow seemed a bit taken aback at first, and had obviously never had a guest speak to her this way before, but she quickly recovered and came right back with her own specious points. Frum was less than effective in responding to all her points (he could have routed her with the right answers), but he stuck to his guns and deserves credit for taking a stand. At the end of the segment, she pointedly said to him, “I hope you enjoyed your appearance on the show,” meaning that she didn’t enjoy it and was unlikely to have him on again. I wished he had replied, “I did enjoy it, and I think you ought to have me on again, because you need someone to challenge you.”

Frum’s demeanor was different than I had ever seen it before, and rather odd—at times forceful and effective, at other times nerdishly clowny, with a big, inappropriate smile on his face. He seemed unsettled. But the main thing was, he was alive, speaking with almost a tragic sense of what the coming Democratic government will mean for this country.

The incident supports my hopeful idea that an Obama victory will shake Republicans out of their deadly complacency and make them start to fight the left.

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Dan G. writes:

I also saw the Frum interview last night and was struck by it. I had never watched MSNBC before and just happened on this interview at the right time. While I too was impressed by Frum’s guts and seriousness in confronting Maddow, I was also reminded of a similar interview I saw a few years ago in which Jon Stewart told off Tucker Carlson, who was interviewing him, saying his polarizing, combative program was “hurting the country.” I guess whichever political side is down for the count has a tendency to call for civility and co-operation.

Still, it was fun and encouraging to watch that interview. You’re right to characterize Maddow’s points as “specious,” though she delivers them with a verbal agility that almost manages to covers this up.

One other thing that struck me: Compared to the stridently partisan MSNBC, Fox News actually appears “fair and balanced,” not to mention civilized.

October 15

Peter H. writes:

You write: “He seemed unsettled. But the main thing was, he was alive, speaking with almost a tragic sense of what the coming Democratic government will mean for this country.”

Thank you for this. It coincides with my uneasiness with so many of the “conservative” cable hosts who nightly pretend to confront the most vile representatives of liberalism, but with a wink and a smirk, as if to say “But after the show, when the “folks” aren’t watching, we can laugh at their provincialism over cocktails,” rather than “I’m saddened and afraid of the consequences of your ideas for the country.”

I guess I’m tired of all of the apparent back slapping, grinning, and sickening camaraderie among the pundit class regardless of political stripe.

Posted by Lawrence Auster at October 14, 2008 01:21 AM | Send