Audio: Ingraham goofs on Newt for misinterpreting Ahmadinejad joke
posted at 5:41 pm on September 21, 2007 by Allahpundit
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A follow-up to this morning’s post courtesy of Laura’s producer, Matt. The goofing is gentle, of course, and Newt’s admittedly got a lot on his mind, but if you’re going to float rumors about Bill Keller clinking champagne glasses with Ahmadinejad over roast duck at the Four Seasons, you’ve got to make them solid. Let’s be careful out there, people.
Link: sevenload.com
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Laura acted like an ass on this one. Her show is beginning to resemble the Howard Stern show, with her combo of pushing her book + urging her callers to harrass employees at book stores. Guffawing over Newt’s mistake was pathetic. She’s better than listening to Colmes, but as far as knowledge goes, she’s a pimple on Newt’s ass…
JWS on September 21, 2007 at 5:48 PM
The National Press Club is another issue, however.
amerpundit on September 21, 2007 at 5:54 PM
How? He mistook her joke. It’s his fault, not hers.
Allahpundit on September 21, 2007 at 5:59 PM
Funny! Too bad it was believable.
jaime on September 21, 2007 at 6:04 PM
This how rumors start.
terryannonline on September 21, 2007 at 6:08 PM
That’s the saddest part. I totally thought it was true.
mjk on September 21, 2007 at 6:08 PM
That is a quality reference there Allahpundit.
Theworldisnotenough on September 21, 2007 at 6:09 PM
Bad radio days for Newt. Subbing to Rush today, Paul W. Smith gave Newt a long, rambling introduction that included referrences to “personal baggage” Newt would carry in a campaign. Audibly annoyed, Newt said, “That’s a WEIRD introduction.” The interview went smoothly, but Newt cut and ran as fast he could.
laelaps on September 21, 2007 at 6:11 PM
Newt won national Attention, and then lost personally and politically.
He is now trying to reinvent himself – maybe too much….
Thanks Laura.
Randy
williars on September 21, 2007 at 6:13 PM
I don’t know how else she could have played it off. I mean she made a joke that Newt either didn’t hear the disclaimer to or misinterpreted that’s lines attribution, so she would have to respond with humor, unfortunately at Newt’s expense in this case.
Pity is Newt gave her complete credibility and that made him a fool. Her line about do I need to be more obvious, teehee, haha, is condescending though.
But all said, she had to address it though in some manner, and how else could she play it off?
Spirit of 1776 on September 21, 2007 at 6:13 PM
Allahpundit on September 21, 2007 at 5:59 PM
I think playing it over and over ad nauseum, complete with the too hard laughter, shows her contempt for the man. Corrrect me if I’m wrong, but didn’t she go on and on about him because he cancelled an appearance on one of her shows in the past? Like him or not, the man is brilliant, and she seemed to be reveling a bit too much in his embarrassment. Made HER look small time, like some morning radio zookeeper…
JWS on September 21, 2007 at 6:28 PM
Oh Boy… jeez Newt stop ordering the decaf.
infidel4life on September 21, 2007 at 6:46 PM
Larger truth! Larger truth!
Alex K on September 21, 2007 at 6:48 PM
Laura painted an entirely plausible scenario and Newt picked up on it. Overall, quite an indictment on the state of the Times.
T J Green on September 21, 2007 at 7:02 PM
Ooopsie.
Not a fan of Laura, though. Her constantly snide tone of voice is tiresome. She sounds like a smartass and this makes her seem un-credible. Her style makes her seem to be spending waaaay too much time trying to sound droll. It just doesn’t work for me and I can’t listen to her for long. (I have the same problem with Jed Babin, by the way)
By the way… what is with these shows turning the producers into on-air personalities? Almost universally they are people who have NO voice for radio with high pitched, boyish sounding voices. (Hello Hugh Hewitt… are you listening?)
Warner Todd Huston on September 21, 2007 at 7:08 PM
Cruditah? Cringe. That makes Newt and Laura even!
I agree that Laura’s show has been really annoying ever since Power to the People hit the bookstores, and she overplayed this Newt thing a little, but I don’t believe for a moment that she has “contempt” for Newt, and she did clearly tell Newt she was kidding, so what’s the problem again?
I think Newt is great about 90% of the time. He is doing one thing lately that really bothers me though, which is to link Katrina to Republican failures. There are a lot of things where Republicans fell down, but the Katrina example is very unfair and it just feeds the hungry mouths of the Left.
Buy Danish on September 21, 2007 at 7:14 PM
Yikes. Make that “There are a lot of situations where Republicans fell down. Things just doesn’t cut it.
Buy Danish on September 21, 2007 at 7:16 PM
Great question! I used to listen to Bennett in the mornings, and that was the reason I stopped.
Spirit of 1776 on September 21, 2007 at 7:20 PM
I too was taken aback this morning when I heard Laura, et al, regaling themselves in laughter over Newt’s mistake. I agree that it DOES seem totally plausible that the NYTraitor would take Ahmadimdumbass to lunch for the express purpose of schmoozing him, so I can see why it would get stuck in his craw and plop out at such an inopportune moment. Poor Newt, but come on, do that many people really listen to Laura?
I see a lot of comments re her snarkiness, and it’s too bad that you can’t have a little more fun with it… I mean, this IS the woman who made the “Silky Pony” connection which gave me oodles and oodles of fun in ‘04!
And I absolutely don’t blame her for hawking her book on her show. I’d much rather have her book being sold to the masses than the dumbass “free 2/night 3/day Vegas stay” that I hear non-stop on other stations… just my $.02 here.
Califemme on September 21, 2007 at 7:37 PM
Newt’s weaknesses cost practical conservatives a decade of defensiveness. You don’t have to be contemptuous to be skeptical.
Randy
williars on September 21, 2007 at 7:40 PM
We aren’t liberals, we’re conservatives and we call a spade a spade regardless of party affiliation. Newt has big shoulders and he’ll get over it.
csdeven on September 21, 2007 at 8:34 PM
Laura acted like an ass on this one.
JWS on September 21, 2007 at 5:48 PM
We aren’t liberals, we’re conservatives and we call a spade a spade regardless of party affiliation. Newt has big shoulders and he’ll get over it.
csdeven on September 21, 2007 at 8:34 PM
What calling which spade a spade are you referring to? Are you agreeing she acted like an ass or disagreeing with same?
JWS on September 21, 2007 at 9:09 PM
Would Laura have done this to Malkin? Nope.
Her doing to this to Newt simply lacked class. Kind of like showing a video of someone tripping down the steps. Yep, real funny…..my sides are killing me….
nottakingsides on September 21, 2007 at 9:35 PM
Instead of making it grist for her show, she should have contacted Newt to alert him to his misunderstanding.
She ADDED to Newt looking bad on this one.
Warner Todd Huston on September 21, 2007 at 9:48 PM
… oh, and if I were Newt I’d never go on her show again.
Warner Todd Huston on September 21, 2007 at 9:48 PM
I see some here are really upset about the shamnesty bill failing, and are very eager to attack Laura, pay back I can only imagine…what else then..?? She’s a friend and an ally to MM and doesn’t deserve this for something so off the wall and small..of course if I know Laura, she is always ready for the attack form the coyote lovers..
Legions on September 21, 2007 at 9:55 PM
hey hey hey, give it a rest people. it’s NBD. Laura came out like a champ on this one. Newt’s gaff was essentially a plug for Laura. Her bringing it up keeps it in the spotlight.
‘The IDEA that the NYT editorial is APPARENTLY . . . ‘ that doesn’t sound definitive. The bottom line is that Newt is rightly disgusted that Iran’s A$$ is coming to America.
No need to throw stones at anyone here. If I was Laura, I’d bring it up lightheartedly too. I’d also be flattered that Newt gave my words such credibility that he didn’t think twice about whether or not it was true.
ThackerAgency on September 21, 2007 at 9:55 PM
Warner Todd Huston on September 21, 2007 at 9:48 PM
Thank you. That was my point. If she had anything but contempt for him, she calls and explains what happened-she doesn’t try to make an ass of him. But then again, he DID miss an interview with her, so eff him, right laura, he’s fair game now? Oh well, she’s got the Howard Stern thing going now, so…
JWS on September 21, 2007 at 9:59 PM
It’s not like somebody jokingly said that I murdered a hooker, and some a–hole took it seriously and made a public statement about it. That would be a VERY BIG DEAL and I’d probably sue both of them.
It’s more like somebody “joked” that I talked to my aunt on the phone last thursday – but it turned out that didn’t happen to be true. Only an idiot would give a rat’s ass either way.
Laura Ingram is having a giggle over a silly and inconsequential misunderstanding. Anybody who tries to make more out of this than that is a retard. Move along.
logis on September 21, 2007 at 10:03 PM
… I’d also be flattered that Newt gave my words such credibility that he didn’t think twice about whether or not it was true…
ThackerAgency on September 21, 2007 at 9:55 PM
That’s effing assinine. He trusted her. His payoff? She embarrasses him? And she should be proud of that?? Huh?? Makes her another a**wipe radio idiot…
JWS on September 21, 2007 at 10:05 PM
Laura Ingram is having a giggle over a silly and inconsequential misunderstanding. Anybody who tries to make more out of this than that is a retard. Move along.
logis on September 21, 2007 at 10:03 PM
I’d say she set him up. After all, she’s gone on and on about Newt having the audacity to not show up for an interview. Inconsequential misunderstanding? Then why the hillarity? Why not have a bit of class and say “sooo sorry”, rather than try and make a fool out of him? Power to the people? I wouldn’t use the book for wrapping fish-and I’ve listened to her for years…
JWS on September 21, 2007 at 10:13 PM
from…1.beginning at; starting with 2.out of 3.originating with
Legions on September 21, 2007 at 10:16 PM
That’s why I still read the Times. Wraps bigger fish!
scooter on September 21, 2007 at 10:28 PM
This has turned into a real “whine & jeez” party. Laura has one of the most entertaining shows on the air and her producers do an outstanding job. She’s lucky they can double with on air banter. It’s show-biz folks. If Laura’s show sucked, she wouldn’t be on the air. Stop taking yourselves so seriously.
shellyanne on September 21, 2007 at 10:31 PM
I totally agree! She was the one that said the stupid joke! It was completely believable! If anyone of us had been told the same thing what would our reaction have been?? I also agree he had a completely classless intro by Paul Smith on Rush today! Newt sometimes has said some strange things,,, but the Republicans as well as this nation owe that man an eternal debt of gratitude! God only knows what destruction Bill Clinton could have brought on this nation if it had not been for the leadership and courage of a man named Newt Gingrich! That man deserves respect and we have more to gain than Newt, should he decide to make the run for President. If he does nothing more the rest of his days other than writing books and taking vacations and misunderstanding stupid attempts at jokes ,,, he will still always deserve better treatment than he received on those two shows! That is my rant!
JellyToast on September 21, 2007 at 10:33 PM
She told Newt loud and clear she was joking when she said it. He apparently forgot.
roninacreage on September 21, 2007 at 10:43 PM
Ok. It’s split. A brilliant man and a woman selling a book. Newt’s stand on katrina makes me hurl. Period. But on this site, if a conservative isn’t “perfect”, well, he’s out! Whatever.
JWS on September 21, 2007 at 11:10 PM
Who WOULDN’T believe that the editorial board of the NY Times is having lunch with AGHmaGHdinejad…? Sounds perfectly possible, plausable and probable. Newt’s one of the greatest political, economic, and social minds of our time and I cut him slack on this one. He’s entitled to a goof once in a while because the while is usually very long and the goofs are very few. I think Laura was just being candid and had no idea how offended some of us would be over her overkill. Personally, I like stuff like this. It takes GRAVITAS to be able to laugh at one’s self. I’d love to see a Newt presidency. Seriously would.
Rugged Individual on September 22, 2007 at 2:05 AM
Laura is a Gulianni woman. Listen to her commentary with his in mind and you will understand the direction she takes with some guests.
davod on September 22, 2007 at 4:18 AM
I thought this one was weak. I like Laura and met her at one of her Mile High City events, but I think she went a little too deep in examining the remark and its subsequent use by Newt.
and BTW,
I’ve noticed this quite a bit as well, and it is getting overdone on Laura’s show. The exception in my book is Sal on The Dennis Miller Show, who since day one has been more sidekick/straight man than interloping producer.
My pet peeve: any caller who makes it on the air and says, “as I said to your call screener…” Any producer or call-screener who doesn’t warn callers not to say that ought to be fired. And any host who doesn’t immediately stop such callers in their tracks and urge them to never utter those words on the air isn’t worth listening to. Talk about momentum kill…
Captain Scarlet on September 22, 2007 at 4:37 AM
I can’t listen to Laura anymore. She is a shill for this administration other than the amnesty bill. She is rude to callers and guests which is very irritating! I’m very weary of people on radio and TV acting with no manners and simply refuse to listen or watch any longer! If you enjoy…have fun! I don’t and won’t…
sabbott on September 22, 2007 at 5:17 AM
Let’s play liberals on this one: NYT isn’t having lunch, but it could have happened, it makes sense they would, they would have liked too, so although they didn’t they would in most conservatives minds…so Newt was correct (from a liberals point of view).
right2bright on September 22, 2007 at 9:56 AM
I love these kind of statements. She is a shill, except for when she’s not.
So if someone agrees with another most of the time they are a shill? She doesn’t agree with the out of control spending either…but she is shill instead of immigration and spending. She didn’t like his relationship with Vicente Fox either, so now she is a shill execpt for, immigration, spending and some foreign policy, she doesn’t like the Saudi relationship, so now some middle east policy is into play, oh and Katrine, well hopefully you get the idea (although I doubt it)….some shill. How many more policies does she need to attack before you wise up?
You should take a lesson from Newt, know what is being said by whom before making misstatements. The irony that you would state that on this post.
right2bright on September 22, 2007 at 10:04 AM
As much as I admire Laura, her defensiveness did not become her. The damage done to a fellow traveler is no joking matter, especially by one who was contributorily negligent.
petefrt on September 22, 2007 at 10:55 AM
Come on, people. Laura sets up the mistake for those who hadn’t heard the show the previous day. Clearly she’s entitled to set it up to say “Newt screwed up” because it’s totally obvious he did. After she’d finished setup, though, she sounded totally contrite about the situation even though it’s totally clear that the mistake made here is Newt’s. “Oh, no…” comes straight from her. She clearly knows that leading a Speaker of the House to step in it is a real “Whoopsie.” I’m impressed that she can laugh at herself over it, in fact.
I say nothing ventured, nothing gained. Ventures carry risks, and she knows it and clearly acknowledges it. There’s always a risk that humor will backfire, but humor adds tremendously to her show and makes her that much more distinct from Rush, Sean, etc.
flutejpl on September 26, 2007 at 10:46 AM
That’s the market risk she accepts, of course. Clearly, though, it’s a risk that is working out favorably for her. If you think Laura’s rude, check out Mark Levin sometime. Laura comes across like a kindergarten church school teacher compared to him.
They respond the way they do, though, because they understand these times in which we live. Seeing that seriousness naturally leads them and a bunch more of us to a certain intolerance for stupidity. (Just to be clear, I’m not calling you stupid.) Stupid people present their questions in such a way that shows they can’t be persuaded of their wrongness, and they deserve the treatment they get. They’re particularly stupid for wasting their time listening in the first place if they can’t be educated, and they themselves are rude for taking this attitude onto the host’s generous platform.
flutejpl on September 26, 2007 at 11:26 AM
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