Gibson: Daily Kos convention attendees “demoralized” by Zarqawi death

Written by Ben Fishel

Published

On Fox News' The Big Story, host John Gibson and Republican strategist Ed Rollins suggested that attendees at the “big convention” for the “far-left-wing Daily Kos” weblog were “demoralized” by the death of Al Qaeda leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. Rollins said: “Well, they'll claim it's a conspiracy theory. That we knew their meeting was going on and that's why we did it [killed Zarqawi now].”


On the June 8 edition of Fox News' The Big Story, host John Gibson suggested that attendees at the “big convention” for the “far-left-wing Daily Kos” weblog -- at which he noted Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean and Sens. Harry Reid (D-NV) and John Kerry (D-MA) were scheduled to speak -- were “demoralized” by the death of Al Qaeda leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. Republican strategist Ed Rollins agreed, adding: “Well, they'll claim it's a conspiracy theory. That we knew their meeting was going on and that's why we did it [killed Zarqawi now].” Gibson replied: “Well, they are claiming that. They are claiming at this moment that they were saving Zarqawi to kill at an important moment.”

As Media Matters For America has noted, MSNBC host Don Imus and CNN political analyst Bill Bennett have also suggested that liberals were saddened by Zarqawi's death.

From the June 8 edition of Fox News' The Big Story with John Gibson:

GIBSON: You know, we talked about it a minute ago before we went on the air. Out in Las Vegas, the far-left-wing Daily Kos is having its big convention. Every major democratic leader -- Howard Dean, Harry Reid, John Kerry -- is coming out to speak, and they have been defeated in Southern California, [Brian] Bilbray won.

ROLLINS: Right.

GIBSON: Zarqawi was caught the day their convention opens. This is -- the left is demoralized by this.

ROLLINS: Well, they'll claim it's a conspiracy theory. That we knew their meeting was going on and that's why we did it.

GIBSON: Well, they are claiming that. They are claiming at this moment that they were saving Zarqawi to kill at an important moment.

ROLLINS: Well, you know, obviously, that's not true. And obviously, it makes them unhappy, so be it. It gives them something to talk about. The key thing here, though, is that it does show that our intelligence and our special services are working very well, and that's what I think is the most positive thing involved.

GIBSON: Republican strategist Ed Rollins. Ed, thanks very much.

ROLLINS: My pleasure.

GIBSON: It's always good to see you.