Sexist slam or merely bad joke? You decide. After an especially contentious interview between America’s Newsroom co-anchor Megyn Kelly and White House deputy press secretary Bill Burton (over the “chilling effect” of the WH’s solicitation of “fishy” healthcare e-mails), co-host Bill Hemmer seemed somewhat dismissive. Addressing Megyn, he declared, “The sexual tension between the two of you is so real and vivid.”
Megyn demanded, “Did you say, ‘Sexual tension?'” Digging himself in deeper, Hemmer replied, “It was a joke: I’m only kidding. I love when the two of you flirt.” With her hands and legs crossed and her eyes downward cast, an incredulous Megyn animatedly asked, “Flirt?” Defensively, Bill asserted, “Yeah. Well, [that] was a joke, too.” Aptly, Megyn responded, “Alright, I’m not going to touch that one with a ten-foot pole.” Trying to laugh it off, Bill replied, “Please, don’t!”
Perhaps, Bill did not intend to belittle her tough questioning of Burton but he did in the author’s opinion. Megyn is a talented and tenacious interviewer who deserves to be respected, not demeaned. Of course, she does not need to be defended by the author or anyone else: She is more than capable of running with–and ahead of–the big boys.
AN – 08/12/09 – @10:23 a.m. ET