I interviewed Tennessee's Senator Lamar Alexnader yesterday, and the transcript is here. One excerpt:
HH: Let’s talk specifically about the Fox News anger over there [at the White House]. Anita Dunn, you know, she’s the communications director. She made this speech that referenced Mao and Mother Theresa. Glenn Beck has played it. He’s making a big deal about it. It’s a legitimate news story. Are we supposed to not report on, Senator Alexander, interesting aspects and political philosophies of senior White House aides?
LA: Well, you’re supposed to do that, and of course, the Nixon…you know, Republicans don’t like a lot that’s in the New York Times. And sometimes, they don’t like what’s in other newspapers. And sometimes, they complain about it. And in the Nixon administration, they started out just complaining, and they ended up with an enemies list. And it destroyed the presidency. So you’ve got to step back from that, put it into perspective, and focus on the…particularly with the presidency. I mean, the presidency itself should restrict itself to the most important issues. And calling people out who disagree with you doesn’t sound presidential to me.
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