FNC’s Smith addresses Press Club…
The Atlanta Journal Constitution’s Jill Vejnoska writes about Shepard Smiths appearance at the Atlanta Press Club yesterday…
“I’m sort of in enemy territory here,” Smith drawled to a lunchtime audience at the Commerce Club downtown. “People are wearing red, but it’s the wrong red. I’m terrified of Saturday. Please be nice and clean up after yourselves in The Grove. Unlike LSU fans.”
Yep, he was talking football. Specifically, Saturday’s faceoff in Oxford between the undefeated University of Georgia bulldogs and the — well, let’s just say, the NOT undefeated University of Mississippi Rebels (A Holly Springs, Mississippi, native, Smith went to Ole Miss and is still a season ticket holder for football there). He was NOT referencing the fact that he was making this appearance just a couple of blocks from rival CNN’s world headquarter, and that Fox has set up shop today right under CNN’s noses. Smith and Greta Van Susteren are broadcasting three shows live at 3 p.m., 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. from the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce overlooking Centennial Olympic Park.
It’s part of Fox News’ 10th anniversary “Thank You America” tour. And, according to Smith, the occasionally overheated rivalry’s all pretty much in good fun.
I like the fact that Shep’s never been afraid to take on the neocons of his own network. He’s lit into Bill Kristol and Hannity on more than one occasion, calling them out for their preposterous statements at the time.
Comment by Bill Davis — September 29, 2006 @ 3:32 pm
Bill, that’w not what we know Shepard Smith by. Unlike O’Reilly and Hannity, he mostly reports the news in that bright and sparkling way, spiced by bits of humor. I have not seen that internecine sniping you are talking about.
Comment by RGL — September 30, 2006 @ 8:02 am
#2 RGL- Ditto
Could not have said it better. I like Shep a lot. He comes across as really caring about the news he reports.
I have seen him challenge others on FN C, but not to demeaner them in any way. He challenges their opinion against his. Just a matter of wanting to know why they think they way they do. A comparsion of thoughts on some subjects. I wouldn’t say he lit into them. It did not come across that way to me.
Comment by Barb — September 30, 2006 @ 10:02 am
I stand corrected…..’challenging’ their opinion would indeed be a better way to put it. I was just trying to say that he’s one of the few on FNC that thinks with his own brain and seems to refuse to carry water for this administration. Very impressive.
Comment by Bill Davis — September 30, 2006 @ 11:18 am
I have seen Shep lose his cool with three whom he was interviewing. In fact, we had a heated exchange of email over it.
But as I reflect on it, three out of hundreds is not bad. How do these anchors stay so cool under the pressure of their jobs? These young journalists are fantastic.
Comment by cella — September 30, 2006 @ 3:03 pm
Mr. Davis,
What are these preposterous statements? And who are these people you say carry water for this administration?
Comment by erljr — October 3, 2006 @ 11:00 pm