[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0x5PMIqqyU]Are bloggers journalists? Apparently Fox News’s Juan Williams think the answer is no.
Williams’ comments spurred a shouting match
with conservative blogger Michelle Malkin during an appearance on Hannity Wednesday night.
Malkin called articles in the New York Times about President Obama’s kill list and the cyber attacks against Iran “a strategic leak” aimed to “fluff” President Obama’s feathers.
The two focused on Attorney General Eric Holder’s controversial decision to appoint U.S. Attorney Ronald Machen, an Obama campaign donor, to lead the investigation into the leaks.
When Sean Hannity agreed with Republican critics that Machen was too partisan to take the case, Williams said, “There is no conflict of interest” and maintained that anyone can donate to candidates. He also added that the U.S. Attorney Rod Rosenstein, also leading the case, is a Republican.
The angry debate quickly became personal. Williams targeted Malkin, saying: “I’ll tell you what Michelle, I’m a real reporter. I’m not a blogger out in the blogosphere somewhere.”
Malkin replied sarcastically, “Right, cause I’m not a real reporter and you are.” she said, “The American people are sick of the kind of snotty condescension from liberal elite journalists like Juan Williams who tell us that the rest of us are not doing our jobs.
“Only in Obama world do people like Juan Williams not see the gobsmackingly naked and clear conflict of interest.”she continued, “Ronald Machen was not merely someone who had given thousands of dollars to Barack Obama, he owes his career, his very first job as a federal prosecutor to whom? Eric Holder.”
In light of Malkin’s claim, Matt Lewis of The Daily Caller commented, “while it’s impossible to know for sure where the leaks came from, the circumstantial evidence
seems to point to the Obama administration.” He added, “They would seem to enhance Obama’s image as a tough leader, which, of course, is helpful in his re-election
campaign.”
