He’s not exactly an A-lister, though his opinions may reflect those of a lot people. It’s just that Fox News Channel regular and former Carter pollster Pat Caddell has a platform on cable television to espouse his views.
On Fox News Channel’s Friday airing of “Red Eye,” host Greg Gutfeld wondered if the media were in denial over the notion it had little to do with the actions of Jared Loughner, the suspect in the recent Tucson, Ariz. shooting.
“Here’s an interesting point — as the truth comes out about this nutcase, doesn’t it seem like the media can’t believe that the killer doesn’t care about them?” Gutfeld asked. “It’s like they think they had an impact on him, when in fact all he cares about is UFOs.”
That led Caddell to launch into a rant about the media, specifically naming New York Times columnist and Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman and Newsweek and Daily Beast columnist Jonathan Alter.
“[T]he point is – you know, this thing started – I have to say, when I look at [Paul] Krugman and Jonathan Alter, with his advice and the president, ‘Don’t let this go to waste – let’s make it like Oklahoma City,’ and Krugman who is just a flat-out asshole, I’m sorry – these people what they did…”
Caddell indicated their initial response should have been different.
“People are dead and the first thing you have to do is go to politics, I mean no wonder the country hates the media and hates the politicians,” he said.
Watch:
Later in the show during the “Halftime Report” segment, “Red Eye” ombudsman Andy Levy had this exchange with Caddell:
LEVY: Pat, you called Krugman a real “a-hole.” New tone please, new tone? We’re operating under a new tone.
CADDELL: I’m sorry, but the guy is outrageous. He’s the most disingenuous human being I know. And not only that, he’s not even a real economist.
LEVY: I agree with you, but what you need to say is that, “Krugman is an opening at the opposite end of his digestive tract from his mouth, the function of which is to control the expulsion of feces.