About us Login Get email updates
Quick Clip
Print

Fox News' E.D. Hill teased discussion of Obama dap: "A fist bump? A pound? A terrorist fist jab?"

June 06, 2008 6:24 pm ET

Teasing a segment on the "gesture everyone seems to interpret differently," Fox News' E.D. Hill said: "A fist bump? A pound? A terrorist fist jab? ... We'll show you some interesting body communication and find out what it really says." In the ensuing discussion with a "body language expert," Hill referred to the "Michelle and Barack Obama fist bump or fist pound," but at no point did she explain her earlier reference to "a terrorist fist jab."

Please upgrade your flash player. The video for this item requires a newer version of Flash Player. If you are unable to install flash you can download a QuickTime version of the video.

EMBED

During the June 6 edition of Fox News' America's Pulse, host E.D. Hill teased an upcoming discussion by saying, "A fist bump? A pound? A terrorist fist jab? The gesture everyone seems to interpret differently." In the ensuing discussion with Janine Driver -- whom Hill introduced as "a body language expert" -- Hill referred to the "Michelle and Barack Obama fist bump or fist pound," adding that "people call it all sorts of things." Hill went on to ask Driver: "Let's start with the Barack and Michelle Obama, because that's what most people are writing about -- the fist thump. Is that sort of a signal that young people get?" At no point during the discussion did Hill explain her earlier reference to "a terrorist fist jab."

From the June 6 edition of Fox News' America's Pulse:

HILL: A fist bump? A pound? A terrorist fist jab? The gesture everyone seems to interpret differently. We'll show you some interesting body communication and find out what it really says.

[...]

HILL: First, the president of America chest bumps an Air Force graduate. Next, Michelle and Barack Obama fist bump or fist pound -- people call it all sorts of things -- but what happened to the old pat on the back? A handshake? A hug? Today's body language and what we can glean from it. Janine Driver is a body language expert and joins us now. Janine, thanks for being back with us.

DRIVER: Hi, E.D. Nice to be here.

HILL: OK, tell me about this whole thing. Let's start with the Barack and Michelle Obama, because that's what most people are writing about -- this fist thump. Is that sort of a signal that young people get?

DRIVER: I'm sure it is, without a doubt. And it's a connection that they have together. It's something just personal between the two of them, like "I'm proud of you." You know, my husband and I, if we're walking down the street and he's proud of me, we have our own little method. He squeezes my hand three times, which means, "I love you," and I squeeze his four times, saying, "I love you, too." It's something intimate between them, but I'm sure young people in this country are going to kind of like them kind of representing a little bit.

HILL: Uh-huh. Has our communication style changed as a culture in America?

DRIVER: Oh --

HILL: Will we have more of this nonverbal communication?

DRIVER: Absolutely, E.D. I mean, just even look in business women -- we're wearing suits today, pants suits. The generation from my mother's mother's era versus today -- it's always evolving and always changing, and that's just part of what we see. Obama -- it is kind of a hip gesture that they're making there with that little fist bump, and it's just a connection. It's something personal between them. You know, the mistake that a lot of body language experts make, E.D., is they say, "OK, arms are crossed, so it means you're bored and disinterested."

HILL: Uh-huh.

DRIVER: They pigeonhole one gesture into a certain meaning. That's not -- that's not -- that's unscientific. It's unscientific. The best thing to say is, "Obama, is there any reason why you guys did that? What did it mean?" And he'll tell you --

HILL: Uh-huh.

DRIVER: -- because we know what we're doing and what it means to others.

HILL: OK, let me ask you about this then, because I -- you know, George Bush is a little older than Barack Obama, and he did one of these -- look at that. Look at that, folks. Stop. Turn around. Look at your TV screen. He's doing that chest bump. Now I see that in the end zone in NFL games after somebody scores a major touchdown. I don't normally expect to see the president of the United States doing it. What does that mean?

DRIVER: E.D., you know, it's funny. When I saw these pictures, and your producers sent them to me today, I really cracked up laughing. You know, I -- these pictures with George Bush are being taken -- the president, George Bush -- are being taken out of context. He was there at the Air Force Academy. These people were graduating, these cadets, and he said, "What can I do? How can I represent you, and acknowledge your amazing effort, and what you're doing for this country?" So, sometimes -- one person said, "Call my mom and say, you know, you're proud of me to your mom." Someone -- another picture he's doing the Heisman with someone. Another one he's making a muscle with this woman.

HILL: You know what?

DRIVER: This cadet wanted that. This cadet said, "This is what I want." And the president did it.

HILL: If you can survive those presidential races, I guess you deserve to do whatever you feel like doing. Janine Driver --

DRIVER: E.D., it establishes rapport. That's the bottom line. The president's establishing rapport. He's becoming more like them. I give him a thumbs up for these gestures.

HILL: OK. Janine Driver, thank you very much.

Expand All Expand 1st Level Collapse All Add Comment
    • Author by friedbergboy1422 (June 06, 2008 6:28 pm ET)
         

      This is a joke, right?  How can anyone take FOX "News" seriously anymore?

      Report Abuse
      • Author by heru (June 06, 2008 7:14 pm ET)
           
        Hey Hill, I'm giving you my middle finger. Ask your body language expert what that means.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by wesley (June 06, 2008 7:39 pm ET)
           

        berg

        Unfortunately for the viewing public it's not a joke...it's a travesty that reveals the intellect of the mental midgets running the cable shows.

        That's one reason why I think that the cable "news" shows have peaked in ratings. Their appeal...show by show...is limited to a very narrow band of supporters because they offer little of value to the general public.

        Just raw meat to their supporters who rose in righteous indignation to Hill slipping in her comment about the Obama's terrorist fist pump...not good. 

        Report Abuse
        • Author by roundhouse (June 09, 2008 10:46 am ET)
             
          Mental midgets running the cable news shows?

          I think it's more indicative of the eliminationist rhetoric that has captured the hearts and minds of the modern day conservative.
          Report Abuse
        • Author by friedbergboy1422 (June 09, 2008 10:49 am ET)
             

          Wesley,

          I think this is the one of the worst, if not THE worst comment from a news/anchor person I can remember.  Can you, or anyone else, find others at this level?

          Report Abuse
          • Author by roundhouse (June 09, 2008 10:59 am ET)
               
            Liz Trotta fantasizing about the assassination of Osama and Obama on Fox is right up there too.

            http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeffrey-feldman/fox-pundit-wishes-for-oba_b_103500.html
            Report Abuse
            • Author by friedbergboy1422 (June 09, 2008 4:20 pm ET)
                 

              Round,

              She isn't an anchor person though.  I guess I was thinking I expect that drivel from Fox commentators.

              Report Abuse
            • Author by see it real (June 09, 2008 5:35 pm ET)
                 

              Roundhouse, Trotta wasn't fantasizing in my opinion.  Trotta was SERIOUS in her attempt to incite some racist white supremacist conservative sociopathic killer to try to kill Obama.

              Next, I will talk about the little ball of Republican Hate Hag, Hate Hag Republican Liar E.D. Hill, using the phrase coined by CNN's and WVON-AM 1690's Roland S. Martin http://www.rolandsmartin.com http://www.wvon.com

              Report Abuse
      • Author by BottleBlonde (June 07, 2008 11:52 am ET)
           

        It's a smear against Obama. That's why they did it.

        All he and his wife are doing is a modified high five. It's a "go get-em" kinda touch showing solidarity between the spouses.

        Why would we need a body language expert to explain this to us? And the funny thing is, the 'expert' says that all we should do is ask Obama why he's doing this, and we'll know why he's doing this. She gives no malavolent meaning to this move whatsoever.

        The only reason to suggest that it might be a "terrorist fist jab" is as a smear. Note that the Fox host ended that suggestion with a question mark. That's the ever-present excuse that Fox News uses to try to evade responsibility for smears like this. They plant the seed with their viewers and that's all they're trying to do. Even though there's no reason to suggest it's anything like what terrorists do, let's do it anyway.

        How many times have YOU seen two terrorists touching their knuckles together like this? It happens so often that Fox News didn't have a single example captured on tape to show us! (Sarcasm off)

        Report Abuse
        • Author by BottleBlonde (June 07, 2008 12:01 pm ET)
             

          Oh, and I forgot about the Bush chest bump that the body language expert also covered. He was at the Air Force Academy graduation ceremony and he bumped chests with a cadet who apparently asked him to do it. In order to make him look good, build him up for the Fox News rightwing audience, keep them believing in George Bush for another day, she says

          "E.D., it establishes rapport. That's the bottom line. The president's establishing rapport. He's becoming more like them. I give him a thumbs up for these gestures."

          So, we need a body language expert to give us her opinion on how we should feel about the President "becoming more like them"? Since when do body language experts have the right to tell us how to feel about the President acting fake, acting like us, pretending to care about us? This kind of fake "I am one of you" stuff makes me ill.

          Report Abuse
          • Author by dbeden4153 (June 07, 2008 1:19 pm ET)
               

            The chest bump is definitely terrorist-related.  I see terrorists doing that all the time.

            Oh, wait...that was actually them firing their AK's in the air.  nevermind. 

            Report Abuse
            • Author by foghornleghorn (June 07, 2008 3:21 pm ET)
                 
              The only terrorist footage I remember seeing is bearded men doing poorly on the monkey bars.
              Report Abuse
              • Author by jawill11 (June 07, 2008 7:50 pm ET)
                   
                No, you're thinking of guys in colored ninja suits doing poorly on monkey bars.  Wait.. that was American Ninja 3, nevermind. 
                Report Abuse
        • Author by gg (June 09, 2008 3:28 pm ET)
             
          Maybe they haul her butt down to FBI headquarters to answer some questions since she seems to know firsthand how the terrorist greet each other.
          Report Abuse
          • Author by see it real (June 09, 2008 5:39 pm ET)
               

            Better yet, maybe the little ball of Republican Hate Hag E.D. Hill can ask THE BUSH CABAL how terrorists greet each other, since THE BUSH CABAL and the Bin Ladens have been both friends and business associates for 36 years.

            Since Bush and Osama are allegedly best buds, maybe W. can tell her personally!

            What a miserable stupid ignorant hate hag E.D. Hill continues to be!

            Report Abuse
      • Author by harley (June 07, 2008 1:56 pm ET)
           
        Apparently a comment on Human Event.com in a blog entry by <a href="http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:N9K2ClJ3zKoJ:www.humanevents.com/article.php%3Fid%3D26692%26page%3D1+Her+%22Hezbollah%22+style+fist-jabbing--mouth-twisted+anti-American&amp;hl=en&amp;ct=clnk&amp;cd=1&amp;gl=us&amp;client=firefox-a" >Cal Thomas </a> is responsible for putting this reich-wing BS out on the internet(s).  

        <blockquote>
        Michelle is not as "refined" as Obama at hiding her TRUE feelings about America--etc. Her "Hezbollah" style fist-jabbing--mouth-twisted anti-American speeches is STRAIGHT from ISLAM! </blockquote>

        This is the same blog that freely and willing allows Mann Coulter to publish "her" rants.   Here is the <a href="http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=26692&amp;page=1" >cached entry</a> that contains the vile smear.    It's pretty fing sad that faux broadcasts a vile reich-wing comment as a some sort of "valid" criticism.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by see it real (June 09, 2008 5:44 pm ET)
           
        Fried, speaking for myself and likely many other THINKING people, I never started taking GOP-Fox Lies Channel seriously in the first place.
        Report Abuse
    • Author by tommy (June 06, 2008 6:28 pm ET)
         

      The closer we get to the election, and especially should Obama look as though he will be elected, these Fox people will become even more shameless than one can imagine.

      Pathetic. 

      Report Abuse
      • Author by WildcatProgressive (June 06, 2008 6:32 pm ET)
           
        I give Tommy a terrorist fist jab in agreement.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by Limit Corp. Ownership (June 06, 2008 9:21 pm ET)
           

        Tommy,

        This could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship. 

        Report Abuse
    • Author by noconspiracy (June 06, 2008 6:49 pm ET)
         
      When Obama puts his hand on the Bible to take the oath of office, I guess Hill will call it a "terrorist low-five".
      Report Abuse
      • Author by Science101 (June 06, 2008 7:19 pm ET)
           

        Or called Clintons a "Perjury Low Five" when he swore on the bible in a court of law.

        Report Abuse
        • Author by noconspiracy (June 06, 2008 7:59 pm ET)
             
          Always with the Clintons, sigh. I guess it's pretty useful for us on the left, though: it lets us know more effectively than any hand signal would that you righties have been had.
          Report Abuse
          • Author by Science101 (June 06, 2008 9:37 pm ET)
               

            Fool me once....fool me twice....nope. 

            Report Abuse
            • Author by friedbergboy1422 (June 06, 2008 10:05 pm ET)
                 
              Weren't you the one saying that Fox wasn't a partisan news organization, Columbus?
              Report Abuse
            • Author by DeminTX (June 06, 2008 10:42 pm ET)
                 
              Bush took the same oath I believe.  His lies have cost thousands of lives,  maimed tens of thousands and cost this country a half trillion dollars.  Clinton's didn't cost any lives and only created another tax-payer expense over a useless witch-hunt.  Who is the real fool Columbus? 
              Report Abuse
              • Author by foghornleghorn (June 07, 2008 12:15 pm ET)
                   
                Columbo never lets facts get in the way of a juicy talking point.
                Report Abuse
            • Author by dbeden4153 (June 07, 2008 1:26 pm ET)
                 

              I don't think you got the quote quite right.

              wait for it...wait for it...ahhh, so satisfying. 

              Report Abuse
            • Author by Easy to refute wingnuts (June 08, 2008 6:02 pm ET)
                 

              Fool me once....fool me twice....nope.

              Don't be ridiculous. Bush has fooled you thousands of times. 

              Report Abuse
        • Author by Easy to refute wingnuts (June 08, 2008 6:01 pm ET)
             

          Or called Clintons a "Perjury Low Five" when he swore on the bible in a court of law.

          What "court of law" was Clinton in? The Paula Jones case was thrown out of court, and he was found not guilty on all counts during the Impeachment, which did not take place in a court of law. 

          Report Abuse
      • Author by SFnomad (June 06, 2008 7:58 pm ET)
           
        Faux Noise will debate why he didn't use the Koran instead.
        Report Abuse
    • Author by pete592 (June 06, 2008 6:49 pm ET)
         
      I'd rather go on a date with my terrorist fist than watch this.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by marco21 (June 06, 2008 7:27 pm ET)
         

      I can't stop laughing. Terrorist Fist Jab?  Insane.

       

       I am so naming my new band Terrorist Fist Jab, though.  Or maybe just the first album.

      Report Abuse
    • Author by eweston8542983 (June 06, 2008 8:01 pm ET)
         

      Symbolicly I'm practicing my Terrorist Clown Instep Kick.

      Ass over teakettle here I come!

      Report Abuse
    • Author by truthseeker77 (June 06, 2008 9:30 pm ET)
         

      Jessee Jackson wants a chapter to be added to the Bible dedicated solely to the Obama nomination (not a joke):

       

      “I cried all night. I’m going to be crying for the next four years,” he said. “What Barack Obama has accomplished is the single most extraordinary event that has occurred in the 232 years of the nation’s political history. ... The event itself is so extraordinary that another chapter could be added to the Bible to chronicle its significance.”

       

      link 

      Report Abuse
      • Author by truthseeker77 (June 06, 2008 9:31 pm ET)
           
        Correction. It was Jesse Jackson Jr., not Jesse Jackson Sr., who is actually, or was till recently, a Clinton supporter. But read that bible part. It's priceless.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by Science101 (June 06, 2008 9:42 pm ET)
           

        the single most extraordinary event that has occurred in the 232 years of the nation’s political history

        A black man being a presidential nominee as significant?  Sure, I'll agree with that.

        More extraordinary than the Declaration of Independence? more important than winning the Cold War? more than winning WWII?  More important than the end of the Civil War?

        Where do people come up with this crap

        Report Abuse
        • Author by heru (June 07, 2008 9:53 am ET)
             
          more extraordinary than the devil's invasion of America in 1492
          Report Abuse
        • Author by pbg (June 09, 2008 10:17 am ET)
             
          The Declaration of Independence proclaimed that All Men Are Created Equal.

          For nearly a hundred years the actual nation made it a lie. For another hundred years it was a joke.

          We're finally beginning to walk the walk.
          Report Abuse
    • Author by Mr Blifil (June 06, 2008 10:34 pm ET)
         
      That's comedy gold right there. I'm surprised they didn't attempt to link the "fist pump" to the popular series "My Daughter's F#$%@ing Blackzilla!"
      Report Abuse
      • Author by Col. Harlan Sanders (June 06, 2008 11:13 pm ET)
           

        You know if McCain managed to give a gnarled old fist bump to somebody, the imagery from the Fox pinheads would be of an athlete and a real man who can bowl and order coffee in a dinette.

        Terrorist? Does anybody see terrorists giving high fives or forearm bumps?

         

        Report Abuse
        • Author by wolf kotenberg (June 06, 2008 11:29 pm ET)
             
          McCain gives a preety good impression of the Energiser bunny.
          Report Abuse
    • Author by August Heat (June 07, 2008 12:08 am ET)
         

      Terrorist fist jab?  Sounds like a new kung-fu style. 

      Fox is lame.  It's unfortunate too, because if they had any savy they'd move their programming slightly to the left to reflect the mood of the country.  I know there is still a large population of ignorant folks that eat this garbage up, but that number is declining.  Fox is about to be TKO'ed by the terrorist fist jab.

      Report Abuse
      • Author by wolf kotenberg (June 07, 2008 12:35 am ET)
           
        I am amazed at the lack of basic skills, like critical thinking, that these FOX analysts exhibit on a daily basis. Every morning they get a sheet of paper and get told to read it to a lens pointed at them.
        Report Abuse
    • Author by marco21 (June 07, 2008 1:17 am ET)
         
      E.D. Hill and crew are the tools. FNC is the shed. 
      Report Abuse
    • Author by Buzzramjet (June 07, 2008 1:23 am ET)
         
      The people at The FoxNewsWhorehouse are beyond any redemption and their slimemachine is the dirtiest in U.S.History.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by johnt51 (June 07, 2008 4:59 am ET)
         
      well  I  guess  that  makes  Tiger  Wood a  terrorist, because he  and  his  caddy  Stevie started  that  hold  fist  bump, now  everyone on  the  PGA,LPGA,baseball, basketball  and  just  everyday  people  does  it, FAUX is  just  shameless.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by shadow1100 (June 07, 2008 9:25 am ET)
         
      The 'terrorist fist jab' reference is from a something posted on Human Events web site. 
      Report Abuse
    • Author by trank (June 08, 2008 6:46 am ET)
         
      considering how easy it was for GOP media operatives to use OSAMA instead of OBAMA, a radio ad for the new mexico gun show suggesting americans need to buy guns to be ready for OSAMA is interesting.

      it featured an arabic accented villain getting shot by a well armed housewife but have these gun show ads been running since bush went after osama or just since obama started looking serious as a contender? or even since he got the nomination?

      of course, the ad ran on the biggest talk radio station in the state- KKOB 770, the limbaugh station. is this ad used in every state the gun show goes to? is it the kind of pro-Mccain stuff getting passed out by GOP surrogates?
      Report Abuse
    • Author by watadoo (June 08, 2008 10:33 am ET)
         
      "It's what the young folks are doing thiese days, eh?"   The fist pump goes back thirty five years. These FOX mowroons are just jabbering chimpanzees.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by dr. matt (June 08, 2008 3:14 pm ET)
         

      The amusing part of their little exchange is that one of them states "these pictures with George Bush are being taken -- the president, George Bush -- are being taken out of context."

      Yet, linking Obama to terrorism is a legitimate debate. 

       

      Report Abuse
    • Author by sportsguydave (June 08, 2008 4:41 pm ET)
         
      E.D. Hill once again proving why she's the biggest waste of space in TV  news....
      Report Abuse
    • Author by dcs2211493 (June 08, 2008 5:17 pm ET)
         

      and to think, it's only June.

       

      By October this will be call something like "a black power fist to the solo-plex of the soul of the American family". 

      Report Abuse
    • Author by Readeverything (June 08, 2008 5:25 pm ET)
         

      I don't even understand how she came up with "terrorist fist jab".  What in the world is that?  Fox news is down right ridiculous.

      Report Abuse
      • Author by Easy to refute wingnuts (June 08, 2008 6:05 pm ET)
           
        One can guess where it came from, and I won't need a "body language expert" to determine why she has a look of pain on her face every time she sits down.
        Report Abuse
    • Author by jack patzer (June 09, 2008 3:36 am ET)
         
      That didn't look like a terrorist fist jab. It was almost certainly a Weather Underground solidarity punch.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by pbg (June 09, 2008 10:12 am ET)
         
      Terrorist Fist Jab?

      Been looking for a name for the band, babe.

      Thxbye.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by What Happened to Gannon (June 09, 2008 10:14 am ET)
         
      FauxNews: Fisting America's airwaves since 1995.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by jinxer (June 09, 2008 11:51 am ET)
         

      Fist bump...

      ".....Oh gosh, what are those black people doing with that...that fist bump?....is it some sort of subliminal terrorist??....or a black power jester????.....it just makes me(FAUXnews) so uncomfortable...."  

      ....is there nobody at FAUX that can enlighten these uptight people?....loosen up FAUX....get with the program....pull the wedgie out of your butt.

       

      Report Abuse
    • Author by daggotht (June 09, 2008 5:05 pm ET)
         
      Why is this even a subject, that is the question.  lol, wth is a terrorist fist bump?  rofl
      Report Abuse
    • Author by see it real (June 09, 2008 5:48 pm ET)
         

      Republican Hate Hag Liar E.D. Hill calls the Obamas' fist bump a terrorist jab [rolling eyes].

      Earlier this week, or last week, "The View"'s resident Republican Hate Hag Elisabeth Hasselbeck showed she was equally as clueless by trying to make a DIFFERENT idiotic definition of the Obamas' fist bump [rolling eyes].

      Which of these 2 Republican Hate Hags is more ignorant, and more stupid?  Or are BOTH of them equally stupid?

      MMFA Posters, the floor is yours...

      Report Abuse
    • Author by Cythraul (June 09, 2008 6:07 pm ET)
         

      "HILL: First, the president of America..."

       

      Um... 'the president of america?'

      Quick, someone alert Brazil!

      Report Abuse