I’m sure some of you remember the frenzy surrounding Chris Wallace’s interview of former President Bill Clinton on FOX News last month. During the interview, Wallace asked Clinton why he didn’t attack Al Qaeda after the bombing of the U.S.S. Cole.
Clinton was angry that, by implication, he was being blamed for 9-11. Clinton accused Wallace of carrying out a “conservative hit job” and asked Wallace if he had asked any Bush administration officials similar questions about their actions before 9-11. Of course, Wallace had not, despite conducting more than 30 interviews with high level officials, including almost 25 with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice alone . By comparison, this was Clinton’s first solo interview with Wallace.
In response to charges of bias, Wallace responded that he had asked the question because of viewer emails.
This Sunday, Wallace had the chance to make amends and ask Rice a similar question about the U.S.S. Cole. More than 20,000 people emailed Wallace and insisted he ask:
Prior to 9/11, you had eight months to respond to the al-Qaeda attack on the U.S.S. Cole. Why didn’t the Bush administration take action and put al-Qaeda out of business?
Wallace did not ask Rice. (Source: Think Progress)
Other View: The Moderate Voice