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On Fox, Tantaros said Obama nominating Clinton as sec. of state "would be akin to a family adopting the Menendez brothers"

November 20, 2008 11:58 am ET

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SUMMARY: Discussing the possible appointment of Sen. Hillary Clinton as secretary of state, Andrea Tantaros said that if President-elect Barack Obama "select[s] Hillary Clinton and Bill ... it would be akin to a family adopting the Menendez brothers." Erik and Lyle Menendez were convicted of first-degree murder in 1996 for shooting their parents to death.

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FoxNews.com contributor Andrea Tantaros compared Sen. Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton to "the Menendez brothers" during a discussion on the November 19 broadcast of Fox News' Hannity & Colmes about whether President-elect Barack Obama would nominate Hillary Clinton as secretary of state. After co-host Alan Colmes asked Tantaros whether, in her judgment, Obama had selected "one good person yet" for his Cabinet, and also asked her to "[n]ame one good thing he's [Obama] done," Tantaros said that if Obama "select[s] Hillary Clinton and Bill ... it would be akin to a family adopting the Menendez brothers, if they took them on." Erik and Lyle Menendez were convicted of first-degree murder in 1996 for shooting their parents to death.

Earlier on Hannity & Colmes, Tantaros said Obama's strategy for nominating Hillary Clinton would be to "keep your friends close and your enemies under your thumb."

From the November 19 broadcast of Fox News' Hannity & Colmes:

TANTAROS: Oh, it's gonna be quite a circus if all these appointments go through.

ALAN COLMES (co-host): But Tom Daschle?

TANTAROS: I think -- I think the list of names -- Hillary Clinton, she's the most hawkish out of all of them. But this isn't just keep your friends close and your enemies closer, Alan. This is keep your friends close and your enemies under your thumb.

COLMES: I see.

TANTAROS: By selecting these Clintonistas, he's putting a down payment on an eight-year term -

COLMES: I see.

TANTAROS: -- and I don't think Hillary wants it.

COLMES: All right, so -- I see.

TANTAROS: If I were Hillary, I wouldn't want to be under Barack Obama's thumb. Would you?

COLMES: All right. You know, it's - you know, the guy -- he can do nothing right in the eyes of some conservatives, right Julie? I mean, there's nothing he can do. No matter who he would pick, they'd find a reason, "Oh, my God, look what he's doing." Either they have no experience, or they have experience, and they criticize either way.

JULIE MENIN (Women's Campaign Forum board member): Well, that's exactly right. I think he's picked absolutely amazing people. I mean, Tom Daschle has experience as a former Senate majority leader, and what I really think is it signals how important health care is to the Obama administration, and how they really want to help insure the 47 million Americans who -

COLMES: Right.

MENIN: -- don't have health insurance.

COLMES: Andrea, has he picked one person -- one good person yet? One? Can you name one good thing he's done?

TANTAROS: Mmm --

SEAN HANNITY (co-host): I can.

COLMES: One good thing? No, no, no, I'm talking to Julie.

HANNITY: I got an answer.

COLMES: You know, whenever I ask a guest a question, Hannity loves to answer me. Julie, name one good thing Obama's done.

TANTAROS: I'm Andrea.

COLMES: I mean Andrea. I know.

TANTAROS: You're confusing us.

COLMES: I'm just so confused.

TANTAROS: How can you confuse us, Alan.?

HANNITY: I got an answer.

COLMES: I know. Go ahead. Name one good thing he's done.

TANTAROS: No -- if he -

HANNITY: I have the answer.

TANTAROS: -- if he selects Hillary Clinton -- even though for them to select Hillary Clinton and Bill, it would be akin to a family adopting --

COLMES: Name one good thing he's done.

TANTAROS: akin to --

COLMES: That's all I'm asking.

TANTAROS: Hold on, hold on, hold on.

COLMES: I'm asking. You're not answering my question.

TANTAROS: It would be akin to a family adopting the Menendez brothers -

COLMES: Can you name one good thing he's done?

TANTAROS: -- if they took them on.

MENIN: Now, but wait a minute, Andrea --

TANTAROS: If he names Hillary, I think she'd be a better pick than the rest of the names on that list.

COLMES: I see.

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    • Author by eweston8542983 (November 20, 2008 12:09 pm ET)
         
      Always fine to be asked about people you don't like. On Fox I suppose its like being asked,"Do you want gravy with that?" I have a horrible need to know what Hannities answer was going to be. A bon mot for the ages I'm sure.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by Col. Harlan Sanders (November 20, 2008 12:16 pm ET)
           

        Isn't that a cushy job Tantaros and her clones have? No knowledge of current events or understanding of politics needed, just the automatic slamming of Fox's enemies (anybody but the GOP).

        BTW, EW, I saw this last night, and I can fill you in on Inanity's answer; The Obama's have done a good job with their children. Which had nothing to do with the question regarding Obama's decisions as President Elect so far, but I'm sure in the rudimentary brain sitting atop Sean's spine, that established some sort of Fair & Balanced® capital.

        Report Abuse
        • Author by princeofwheels (November 20, 2008 12:22 pm ET)
             

          Notice how this broad had to keep repeating from the beginning her prepared line about the Menedez brothers? Had to have everyones complete silence so she could deliver this line?

          I ask you, whatever your name is, "Are you saying that the Clintons will kill Obama?"   P.S. FOX sucks and so does this broad. How did she get a job on FOX? I remember "THE JERK" getting an extra job at the circus.

          Report Abuse
          • Author by Col. Harlan Sanders (November 20, 2008 12:38 pm ET)
               

            You're right, POW, she did seem very determined to get that "zinger" in there. And the Menedez Bros. reference is ripped right from today's headlines.

            Report Abuse
            • Author by Pyrrhonist (November 20, 2008 3:25 pm ET)
                 

              You're right - it's like she came to the set armed with one coherent thought (supplied to her by persons unknown) and it was all she could do to deliver it.  Can't they at least get better mean girls? What happened to Coulter and Ingraham?  At least they're halfway good at being nasty harpies.

              Report Abuse
              • Author by princeofwheels (November 20, 2008 5:02 pm ET)
                   

                How can anyone take Karlie Rove seriously?...Seannie the Sissie calls him the architec(sic). He was in charge of the largest decline of any political party in history the past two elections. And KKKarl thinks someone on the other side needs his help. KKKarl, you better worry about how-to-dig out of prison. There won't be any redemption for this creep. Why do you think no investigations will be held before our President leaves office...Pardon me, anyone.

                Report Abuse
          • Author by worrierking (November 20, 2008 12:40 pm ET)
               

            "P.S. FOX sucks and so does this broad. How did she get a job on FOX?"

            I think you might have answered your own question Prince.

            Report Abuse
        • Author by eweston8542983 (November 20, 2008 12:37 pm ET)
             

          I was expecting some massive put down. I get a tapioca nonsequitor. Spose he considered that a nice coment.

          Report Abuse
    • Author by nerzog (November 20, 2008 12:14 pm ET)
         

      It's good to see the Troglodytes getting back into their stride as the strident screechers on the outside of the tent pi$$ing in.  I think they were extremely uncomfortable having to defend the idiocy of President Numbnuts.

      Now that they're out of power, they can sit on their haunches in the corner and throw poop at the Democrats.  It's what they do best.... it's what made Limbaugh the overpaid professional liar that he is.

      Report Abuse
    • Author by worrierking (November 20, 2008 12:22 pm ET)
         

      Shouldn't Fox be running out of brain dead women soon?

      I've never seen so many women whose eyes tell you that the lights are on but ain't nobody home.

      Report Abuse
      • Author by OnceYouGoBarack (November 20, 2008 12:37 pm ET)
           

        Hey!  Give them some credit, they are branching out.  This woman has brown hair.  To Fox, that is diversity.

        Report Abuse
      • Author by tippy (November 20, 2008 4:52 pm ET)
           

        "the lights are on but ain't nobody home" - Perfect description. Andrea Tantaros is an idiot.  She offers nothing but high school girl snippy comments.  I know it's only Hannity & Colmes, but you'd think they would have some standards.  I mean, not that they giva a damn about the factual basis for their attacks, but couldn't they work on getting marginally intelligent attack dogs?  I'm sure there are any number of up-and-coming would-be "political commentators" and "Republican strategists" who would jump at the chance to sell their souls to Faux Gnus and would do a much better job spreading the bile that this dim bulb.  

        Report Abuse
      • Author by Easy to refute wingnuts (November 21, 2008 10:15 am ET)
           

        The only way to get a sparkle in their eyes is to aim a fill light at the back of their heads.

        Report Abuse
    • Author by shaggles (November 20, 2008 12:37 pm ET)
         

      Colmes got it exactly right.  No matter what Obama does some people are going to slam him for it.  Too little experience, Washington insider, Clintonista...He can't win with the FOX crowd.  The good thing is I don't think Obama cares and FOX's influence is on the wane.

      Report Abuse
      • Author by mary59 (November 20, 2008 3:57 pm ET)
           

        Colmes was right, yes, but how ineffectual can you be?  "yes, I see...." over and over.  Hmm.  He's an enabler in this looney circus of a show.

        Report Abuse
    • Author by draftedin68 (November 20, 2008 12:38 pm ET)
         
      Andrea and her ilk will always have a home. There is one and only one reason that the bile-lappers droolingly watch and listen to FOX NEWS, Hannity, Limbaugh, Weiner-Savage, etc. They WANT TO. Just as sunlight threatens vampires, their closed, dogma-demented, incurious minds can't be exposed to anything that threatens their putrefied paradigm - you know, like facts.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by truthseeker77 (November 20, 2008 12:42 pm ET)
         

      Pundits are having a hard time selling their unanimous case against Hillary as SOS. A new Gallup finds that most Americans like the idea of her in that spot: See Gallup website.

      Report Abuse
      • Author by nerzog (November 20, 2008 12:53 pm ET)
           

        Seems that the standard talking point is that Obama's cabinet is shaping up as a Clinton Era Retread.  Of course, these are the same people who criticized Clinton for bringing in a bunch of rookies.

        After eight years of incompetent, corrupt Bush cronies,  Clinton retreads look pretty good to me.

        Report Abuse
        • Author by peebs755 (November 20, 2008 1:57 pm ET)
             

          When the shrub came in, he appointed people from the last few repub administrations and was lauded for bringing in experienced people. The double standard and hypocrisy is obvious.

          Report Abuse
      • Author by eweston8542983 (November 20, 2008 2:00 pm ET)
           

        Saw a link at FDL for that pol. 61% had an unfavorable opinion of the republican party. The media opinions will no doubt ignore this and keep on the message.

        Report Abuse
    • Author by roundhouse (November 20, 2008 1:02 pm ET)
         

      While the corporate media falls over itself rushing to push this Hillary story as something that will hinder Obama's ability to govern, Dasche is in as HHS secretary and the media folks haven't commented much. Waxman is in and Dingell is out without much fanfare either. The blue dogs are being ousted and all these media pups can do is chase their tail and bark "center right nation."

      Whatever. 

      Report Abuse
      • Author by nerzog (November 20, 2008 1:23 pm ET)
           

        Well, you have to cut the Corporate Media Hacks a little slack.  They've lost the story that has dominated their news cycles for almost two years;  the election is over.

        Now they must scramble to find another excuse not to talk about the crimes and abuses of the Bush Administration.  They have mastered the art of stretching what should be a trivial one-day story out for weeks or months.  

        On the flip side, they have demonstrated that no Bush scandal is too serious to bury after the briefest mention.

        Liberal Media my a$$.

        Report Abuse
    • Author by DorisRussell (November 20, 2008 1:10 pm ET)
         
      All the Hillary Haters are furious, they despise this tireless public servant, and why? Because she is not only a female but she stands up for herself.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by classicliberal2 (November 20, 2008 5:32 pm ET)
           

        All the Hillary Haters are furious, they despise this tireless public servant, and why?

        Because she ran a criminally ugly campaign, showed no class or even any sense of basic decency, has been grotesquely wrong on policy matter (voted for war with both Iraq and, later, with Iran), and has been basically a passive space-filler for 8 years in the Senate?

        Because she is not only a female but she stands up for herself.

        Uhm... no.

        Report Abuse
        • Author by OnceYouGoBarack (November 20, 2008 5:39 pm ET)
             

          That's your opinion, whatever little its worth.

          Report Abuse
        • Author by tippy (November 20, 2008 6:47 pm ET)
             

          The vote to label the Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organization was not a vote for war with Iran.

          Report Abuse
          • Author by Easy to refute wingnuts (November 21, 2008 10:23 am ET)
               

            It is if you're ignorant.

            classicliberal2 thinks it is.

            The rest of the syllogism is left as an exercise for the reader.

            Report Abuse
          • Author by classicliberal2 (November 21, 2008 4:20 pm ET)
               

            The vote to label the Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organization was not a vote for war with Iran.

            It was, indeed, a direct vote for war with Iran, and couldn't be read in any other way. In context, it was a consequence of Bush's unrelenting belligerence about alleged Iranian nuclear weapons. A state that designates the armed forces of another state as a terrorist organization while waging War On Terrorism? This wouldn't have to be explained to anyone who give it even a moment's thought. For those who are a little slow on the point, the original language of the amendment directly called for a "roll back" of the alleged terrorist activities. Barack Obama, Jim Webb, and others subsequently tried to pass further resolutions stating, unequivocally, that neither Kyl-Lieberman nor anything else the Senate had passed was to be interpreted as authorization for war, but the backers of Kyl-Lieberman wouldn't back it.

            Fortunately, for the world, the CIA then deflated the war Bush wanted by admitting that, contrary to what Bush had been saying in public, Iran hasn't had a nuclear weapons program for years.

            Report Abuse
    • Author by kogmedia (November 20, 2008 1:17 pm ET)
         

      if Hillary becomes the Sec. State, hopefully she will not be excessively distracted by outside drama or personal career plans, etc...

      Report Abuse
      • Author by Col. Harlan Sanders (November 20, 2008 1:37 pm ET)
           

        Are they doing Shakespeare in the Park in D.C.? That could be distracting, even moreso than indoor drama.

        I think "personal career plans" are something you'd want a new employee focused on, I'm not sure how that would be distracting.

        Report Abuse
      • Author by Pyrrhonist (November 20, 2008 3:31 pm ET)
           

        If Hillary becomes Secretary of State she will do what she always does - excel in her job and frustrate her critics.

        Report Abuse
        • Author by classicliberal2 (November 20, 2008 5:34 pm ET)
             

          If Hillary becomes Secretary of State she will do what she always does

          Collect a paycheck every week while passively filling space?

          - excel in her job and frustrate her critics.

          Uhm... no.

          Report Abuse
          • Author by OnceYouGoBarack (November 20, 2008 5:39 pm ET)
               

            That's your opinion, whatever little its worth.

            Report Abuse
          • Author by princeofwheels (November 20, 2008 6:12 pm ET)
               

            Maybe we should keep Condi...By the way, is she in an undisclosed secret location also? These Bushies are collecting pay checks, aren't they?

            Report Abuse
          • Author by tippy (November 20, 2008 7:35 pm ET)
               

            You must be one of her frustrated critics.

            Report Abuse
        • Author by roundhouse (November 21, 2008 4:15 am ET)
             

          "If Hillary becomes Secretary of State she will do what she always does - excel in her job and frustrate her critics."

          I don't know. Her job was to win the presidency and she failed at that. I'd say she was the one who was frustrated.

          She surrounded herself with a team of advisors who, given her national prominence and subsequent implosion, could only be considered mediocre. That speaks to her judgment. The nomination was hers to lose and she lost it, so I don't want to hear about ho great Hillary is. She is and was for the war, or did she change her mind about sending our sons and daughters to die for George Bush while most of us opposed it? She thinks, or at least she said she thought Obama's view of diplomacy with Iran was weak, naive. She's the opposite of him on foreign policy.

          I don't understand what Obama sees in her, but whatever, the guy gets the bigger picture better than I do.

          Report Abuse
    • Author by wzwriter (November 20, 2008 1:20 pm ET)
         
      These people on Faux News almost sound rational when you compare them with the people who participate in the forums at "Daily Paul". Now, THOSE folk are certifiably looney....
      Report Abuse
    • Author by manndan (November 20, 2008 1:24 pm ET)
         

      It's a pretty good line.  Almost on a par with Jim Carville's "drag a dollar bill through a trailer park," line about Paula Jones,

      Report Abuse
      • Author by Victor Colorado (November 20, 2008 1:28 pm ET)
           

        I can't see how the two lines are even remotely comparable.

        Report Abuse
      • Author by pete592 (November 20, 2008 1:51 pm ET)
           

        A good line?  Isn't that what we watch a "news" channel for?  Good lines?

        Report Abuse
        • Author by manndan (November 20, 2008 4:24 pm ET)
             

          Fox News is a News Channel?  Hannity and Colmes is a news program?  They are what they are. 

          Report Abuse
          • Author by Victor Colorado (November 20, 2008 4:38 pm ET)
               

            What are they?

            Report Abuse
            • Author by Caseysprings (November 20, 2008 5:01 pm ET)
                 

              Partisans.

              Report Abuse
            • Author by manndan (November 20, 2008 5:21 pm ET)
                 

              Drivel for pinheads.  I seldom watch Fox News and never watch H & C.  I trust Media Matters to give me a precis on what was on that network and that show.  For any thoughtful person both are a waste of time.

              Report Abuse
          • Author by Easy to refute wingnuts (November 21, 2008 10:28 am ET)
               

            Fox News is a News Channel?

            Yeah, I can't inagine how anyone would think that, given the name of the channel and its use of the word "news" and all.

            Of course, I can see how you might be confused, given that some of the best news programming on TV is on Comedy Central.

            Report Abuse
    • Author by nerzog (November 20, 2008 1:26 pm ET)
         

      I think the Troglodytes are afraid that Hillary will get Diplomatic Immunity for what she did to Vince Foster.

      Report Abuse
      • Author by wolf kotenberg (November 20, 2008 1:35 pm ET)
           

        I presume if Chelsea Clinton decides to serve the nation by holding a political offce, she will also be asked what she knew about Foster ?

        Report Abuse
        • Author by Easy to refute wingnuts (November 21, 2008 10:29 am ET)
             

          Yes, but by then the homophobes will be asking her about Jodie Foster, not Vince Foster.

          Report Abuse
    • Author by wolf kotenberg (November 20, 2008 1:33 pm ET)
         
      Amazing, even with Karl Rove in-house, they can't engineer a cohesive answer that actually answers what is being asked, sheesh.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by Col. Harlan Sanders (November 20, 2008 2:03 pm ET)
           

        Wolf, I think it was on this same program that Rove got his little digs at the cabinet picks, basically doing the same thing as every other Fox idiot; dismissing every selection with whatever reason was easiest.

        Colmes asked him, in closing, who Rove would consider a good pick. Herr Karls sort of sneered and said he wasn't going to help Obama fill his cabinet.

        Ain't that cute? He was being asked his opinion for laughs, and he mistakenly thought he was being asked because he's relevant or has some expertise outside of BushCo tactics.

        Report Abuse
    • Author by robrob (November 20, 2008 3:19 pm ET)
         

      "TANTAROS: It would be akin to a family adopting the Menendez brothers"

      Oh yeah, Fair & Balanced...

      Report Abuse
    • Author by Pyrrhonist (November 20, 2008 3:20 pm ET)
         

      What is it about stupidity and arrogance?  They are so often linked in nature.  As my father would say, they go together like tornados and trailer parks. However, as someone posted earlier, as least she's not another one of Fox's identical blonde drones. That's progress on the diversity front, I suppose.

      Report Abuse
    • Author by leftinmississippi (November 20, 2008 5:29 pm ET)
         

      Is being as dumb as a bag of hammers now a job requirement for Fox's Republican strategists? Every time this woman is on the air she embarasses herself.  Is she Murdoch's niece or something? O'Reilly's girlfriend? There has to be some explanation for her completely clueless presence.    

      Report Abuse
    • Author by Easy to refute wingnuts (November 21, 2008 10:12 am ET)
         

      Isn't George W Bushg responsiblr for about 500,000 times as many deaths as the Menendez brothers are?

      Report Abuse

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