“Conservative” Carlson: Pro-choice?

Fox & Friends co-host Gretchen Carlson is Bill O’Reilly’s “Culture Warrior.” But, is she really FNC’s social conservative? Six days ago on the O’Reilly Factor, the 1989 Miss America, Presbyterian (PCUS) Sunday school teacher, and granddaughter of a prominent long-time Evangelical Lutheran pastor refused to divulge her abortion view (even though she revealed that she did believe that same-relations were “morally acceptable” and opined on other issues such as adultery, out-of-wedlock children, and the death penalty). However, today she seemed to flash her “Souter” slip to her F&F viewers.

This morning, when Gretchen introduced a headline news story entitled, “Speaker’s Religious Rant,” she exclaimed, “Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the House, did you hear her religious rant recently? She said the word ‘Word’ about thirty times in fifteen seconds.”* After the May 6 clip of Pelosi ran, co-anchor Brian Kilmeade jested, “Do we have a bell for the ‘Word’? I thought ‘Grease’ was the word up until now.” After Gretchen bowled over in laughter, her smiling co-host and a proud Catholic, Steve Doocy turned serious. “But, what’s extraordinary about that…it’s great that she feels comfortable talking about her religiousness in public. But…if she’s saying that the ‘Word’ should influence public policy and they should follow the Gospel, well, why is she for abortion? News flash: The Bible does not like abortion.”

Somewhat surprisingly, Gretchen decided to qualify Steve’s assertion: she declared, “At least, Catholicism does not.” Steve replied, “The Bible’s talking about, I’d like to see where it says, the Bible does not like abortion.” Changing the topic, Gretch answered, “But, the more important thing to me in this whole discussion is that this signals that people on the far left can’t say the word “God.” You see, she had to say the “Word,” she was just sort of stumbling like “Word, Word, Word, Word. Why? Because people on the far left don’t want to say the word ‘God’ anymore. It’s a bad word! It’s a bad word out there. That’s what I got from that little rant.” “Hmm,” responded Steve succintly.

Since Gretchen seemed to skirt the issue last week on O’Reilly but appeared to address it more today, the author checked the current teachings of her church‘s denomination for some possible illumination. They are certainly well within the “mainstream denominations” vis-a-vis evangelical ones: According to the PCUS 2003 amended “Statement on Post-Viability and Late-Term Abortion,” abortion after viability should occur only “in the rarest of circumstances” e.g., to save a mother’s life, preserve her health (when seriously at risk), or in case of rape or incest. N.B. Like many church members, Gretchen may not subscribe to the teachings of her church or denomination, esp., in this controversial issue, but they may suggest her general inclinations.

Perhaps, Gretchen is wading into the abortion debate. Whether she reveals her position fully is her choice. Until then, her audience may now have an educated guess.

*Fox & Friends - 06/03/10 (@7:10 a.m. ET)

Christine’s Countdown

21: Romans’ Nebulous Numeral. Is it American Morning biz beauty Christine Romans’ July due date or drink date? I.e., is Christine counting down the days until her third child is born or until she can have that first post-pregnancy potation? Last Friday, TVNewser reported that a gravid Christine Romans’ due date is July 17. However, today Christine seemed to tell co-anchor John Roberts a slightly later date, i.e., July 21.

Before introducing Christine’s segment, John scoffed at Sarah Ferguson’s seemingly contradictory statements about whether she was  drunk (when she agreed to sell access to her former husband Prince Edward). As he turned to Christine, she jested “Also, not drinking.”* Co-host Kiran Chetry chuckled, “She’s dead sober.” Then, eyeing Christine’s baby bump, John queried, “Dead sober. You’ve been dead sober for how many months now?” Looking down at her watch, Christine replied, “I can count down the days actually if you’d like.” John responded, “And, when can you crack your first bottle of [sic]?” Christine answered, “I got seven weeks to the day, John.”

If one does the math or consults a calendar, one will see that “seven weeks to the day” hence is July 21. Clearly, Christine seemed to suggest her baby is due that day. However, if one were to parse her exact reply a la Clinton, one could make the case that July 21 is actually the day that she can have her first adult beverage post pregnancy.

But, is Christine that thirsty? Probably not.

*American Morning – 06/02/10 (6:20 a.m. ET)

Nick Jonas: Brian, “Very Funny” (NOT!)

A Miley Cyrus question? Two! Fox & Fans co-anchor and former stand-up comic Brian Kilmeade did not fully amuse Nick Jonas this morning. In an interview of the Jonas Brothers (Nick, Joe, and Kevin) before their appearance at the White House tonight in a tribute to Paul McCartney, Brian served up mainly softballs to the boys. However, toward the end of the discussion, Brian got a bit personal with Nick.

After questioning all three brothers about their performance in front of the President and Sir Paul, Brian remarked, “Nick…what is your take on your ex-girlfriend Miley Cyrus writing a song and using your relationship as inspiration.”* (Miley recently revealed that her new song “Full Circle” was based on her relationship with her former flame Nick.) Taking his left hand out of his pants pocket and wiping his brow, Nick coolly responded, “Miley is a good friend and has been now for a long time so I think that our relationship now is friends and that’s what’s important. And, it’s good to see that we both can express ourselves through music.”

Ever the wicked wit, Brian persisted, “Right. Do you think she should cut you in on the profits?” After a pregnant pause, Nick, with almost clenched teeth hidden in a smile, retorted, “Very funny!” With co-host Steve Doocy laughing in the background, a grinning Brian riposted, “I guess I’ll take that as a ‘no.’ So, fine.”

Nick should count himself lucky, though: he got off relatively easy. As long-time Fox & Friends fans know, Brian has a knack for getting under the skin of certain celebs. Examples include such notables as KISS’ Gene Simmons (“Make Out with Clarinet Players”), country star Trace Adkins (“Such an Idiot”), and comedienne Janeane Garofalo (“Saddam Must Love You”). Even if Brian was not “very funny” to Nick, he was rather entertaining to his audience.

*Fox & Friends – 06/02/10 (@8:11 a.m. ET)

Clayton: A Ham with Broken Eggs?

Clayton Morris: “I’m Steve Doocy.” For media news junkies who may have missed it over an extended Memorial Day weekend, Fox & Friends guest co-host Clayton Morris called himself “Steve Doocy” [for whom he was subbing] twice during a “Fox Flash” segment. [Vid via HuffPo.] His “faux pas” was seen in different lights by the various cable news coverers: The Huffington Post reported the story straight; Breitbart.tv asked, “Was he joking?”; Mediaite wondered whether it was a “teleprompter mistake” or a “weird inside joke”; and TVNewser concluded sarcastically in an update that it was a “‘hilarious’ joke.”

In the author’s opinion, Clayton seemed to be simply clowning as he has been wont since he was first introduced to Fox & Friends fans over two years ago. In the past, when one of Clayton’s attempts at humor fell painfully flat, he quoted funnyman Conan O’Brien who had purportedly said, “To make an omelet, you have to break a few eggs.”* I.e., if one is to be successful, one should not fear to fail.

With all of the flak that Clayton has received since his “joke” last Friday, it appears that he must have broken, at least, a “baker’s dozen” or two. Clayton, time to go back to the farmer’s market?

*[Aside: Apparently, a variant of Lenin's quote, "If you want to make an omelet, you have to be willing to break a few eggs."]