Lefty news and gossip blog Gawker today introduced their newest hire: a current Fox News Channel employee who promises to dish the dirt about the goings-on within the Fox News empire.  The Fox Mole's inaugural post at Gawker includes a video, which the Fox Mole estimates to be pretty darn embarrassing and which he proceeds to mock, of Mitt Romney and Sean Hannity chatting casually before the taping of an interview at the Hannity Vegas Forum in February.

The thing is, the supposedly embarrassing video is really not that embarrassing—to either Romney or Hannity, that is. 

We learn that Romney and his wife Ann enjoy riding horses, and expensive horses at that, which the Fox Mole goes on to deride as an activity that only the most elite of the elitists partake in.  And who know?  Perhaps the discovery that the Romneys ride horses would be a turnoff to those who are still unfamiliar with the family's great wealth.

Next, we learn that Team Romney stays in mid-priced accommodations when they're on the road, rather than in luxury hotels.  Sean Hannity asks whether this is on account of the intense media scrutiny that the candidate's expenses undergo.  Romney responds, "It's not the scrutiny.  It's...you know, you can spend your money on ads or you can spend it on hotel rooms. I'd rather spend it on ads."  Oh, but how embarrassing it is to have a fiscally prudent candidate when we all know that real leaders are spendthrifts.

Finally, the Fox Mole discovers that Sean Hannity changes his tie midway through a two part interview in order to give the appearance that the two segments of the same interview were taped on different days.  The horror. (By the way –and I may get a stern talking-to from Peter Robinson for revealing this top secret information– on days when Peter records two Uncommon Knowledge interviews back to back, he changes his tie in between the tapings so that people don't fall under the false impression that he only owns one tie.  I know, totally scandalous, right?)

Maybe I'm overlooking something very important in this video, but at the end of the candid two minute clip, I found myself liking Romney just a little bit better.

Comments:


Mark Wilson
Joined
May '10
Mark Wilson

But Diane, he was just so...Republican...when did all of it.  Ick.

Roberto
Joined
Mar '11
Roberto
Diane Ellis, Ed.: We learn that Romney and his wife Ann enjoy riding horses, and expensive horses at that, which the Fox Mole goes on to deride as an activity that only the most elite of the elitists partake in.   · 2 hours ago

That's it, Romney's done. Americans will never vote for a man who rides horses, no what we want is a good cyclist.

untitled
Edited on April 11, 2012 at 2:37am
Mollie Hemingway, Ed.

I agree, Diane. That "explosive video" made me dislike Romney less. If this is the scandal that Fox News Mole leads with, I'm a bit disappointed. I would figure that any intern at any cable outlet should be able to dig up much, much, much better stuff than this.

James Of England
Joined
Apr '11
James Of England

Amy Schley

James Of England: The riding is therapy for Anne's MS. I'm pretty sure that heavy attacks on that are likely to do poorly.

I'm not wanting to challenge our resident Romney expert, but in my experience riding (either English or Western) was rather physically demanding.  Is this a normal MS therapy, at least among those MS sufferers wealthy enough to own horses? (Latin name: Equinus broke-us) · 27 minutes ago

Southern Pessimist: To Amy's question above, variations of balance training or therapy are essential for neurodegenerative diseases but she is right to question the benefits of the most dangerous sport in the world. Yep, it exceeds skiing, motorcyle racing and downhill mountain bike racing in serious injuries. · 6 minutes ago

Anne fell while riding in Montana in '08. It was a problem. Finding something that worked, though, in defeating the MS/ Breast Cancer combo, was not easy. Once you've found your cure, it's worth sticking with what works. While riding is dangerous, dressage is not the most dangerous form.

It's true that the horse costs money, but while there are some expenditures that people object to, fighting MS is pretty safe.

St. Salieri
Joined
Feb '11
St. Salieri

With a person in my life who is very close and beloved with MS, horse back riding was recommended as well as swimming, in the very early stages, as an excellant source of therapy.  Slow pleasure riding of course, not steeple chases mind you, was what was called for and just being around these intelligent (if occasionally willful) animals is very therapeutic.  As the disease progressed it became too dangerous to continue, but the bonds formed with the animals was and is a very great palliative that has continued for years and years even though walking is now dangerous for this person.

Amy Schley

I'm not wanting to challenge our resident Romney expert, but in my experience riding (either English or Western) was rather physically demanding.  Is this a normal MS therapy, at least among those MS sufferers wealthy enough to own horses? (Latin name:Equinus broke-us) 

EJHill
Joined
May '10
EJHill

Open mics are the biggest danger in broadcasting but only to Republicans. At the major broadcast nets the techs are unionized and they are not going to turn on a Democrat. (See Noonan, Peggy and Murphy, Mike)

St. Salieri
Joined
Feb '11
St. Salieri

Agreed, I have not been drawn to Romney, in fact I've never cared for him, as a politician or as a man (as far as one can judge a public figure, I do not think him evil, just not appealing) and have only begrudgingly thought of supporting him as a necessary evil; but these recent more personal moments make me warm to him.  Also seeing Santorum out today, I see no reason not to put all our efforts going forward to toward defeating Obama and holding Romney's feet to the fire.

Mollie Hemingway, Ed.: I agree, Diane. That "explosive video" made me dislike Romney less. If this is the scandal that Fox News Mole leads with, I'm a bit disappointed. I would figure that any intern at any cable outlet should be able to dig up much, much, much better stuff than this. · 3 minutes ago
sawatdeeka
Joined
Nov '10
sawatdeeka

The Gawker article reminded me of the passages in Eustace's diary from Voyage of the Dawn Treader: the speaker's plaintive POV tells you more about the speaker than it does his subject.

Ethan Safron
Bradley University
Ethan Safron

The inherent elitism and snootiness of golf is NOTHING compared to competitive horseback riding.

That was from the original article.

We're more than 15 trillion dollars in debt and this is what liberals are talking about? And to be honest, I wish that President Obama would golf all day, every day. 

ParisParamus
Joined
May '10
ParisParamus

Wow.  Seems like a pro-Romney double-secret agent at work.  Good job Gawker!

I guess there are DEMSM dog whistles of a frequency inaudible to all of us here? It's like a version of the Emperor's New Clothes, or something.

PS:  A year before he announced he was running, I sent an e-mail to Romney's PAC, Free+Strong America expressing interest in volunteering.  A few weeks later, I got a 617 area code cell phone call.  When I answered it, it was Romney's car--unlikely a limo on its way to the first stop on his book tour.  Romney's assistant was asking if I could find some dinner for Mr and Mrs. Romney to deliver to the book appearance.  In other words, this guy is about as down-to-earth as one can be in his position.

Peter Robinson

Pat Sajak

Peter Robinson

The difference between you and me, Pat--aside from your being an international celebrity with an audience in the millions, that is--is that you have Vanna.  When she's wearing a new costume on every show, your necktie--well, it's just not the first thing people notice, now, is it? · 6 minutes ago

You're right, Peter. It's generally my beautiful blue-green eyes. · 1 hour ago

I surrender.

Empty Nester
Joined
Apr '12
badgergreg

Pat Sajak

...on days when Peter records two  Uncommon Knowledge  interviews back to back, he changes his tie in between the tapings so that people don't fall under the false impression that he only owns one tie.  I know, totally scandalous, right?

How about me? I tape six shows in one day. This Ricochet  multiple tie scandal is mushrooming! · 2 hours ago

Pat, I suspected that the guilt of this hideous secret would get to you sooner or later.

Cal Lawton
Joined
May '10
Cal Lawton
EJHill: Yeah, that horse riding thing is pretty damning... We wouldn't want another president on horseback like we did in the 1980s... · 52 minutes ago

More like a president on horseback in 1860.

R. Craigen
Joined
Nov '10
R. Craigen

Horses?  Looks like Romney just found his way into the heart of America's women.  Well done.

I don't get the tie business.  But then I only own one tie.

R. Craigen
Joined
Nov '10
R. Craigen

What I'd like to know about this mole is ... whose cheek or chin does he appear in?  Hairs, or no hairs?

James Of England
Joined
Apr '11
James Of England

Ethan Safron

The inherent elitism and snootiness of golf is NOTHING compared to competitive horseback riding.

That was from the original article.

We're more than 15 trillion dollars in debt and thisis what liberals are talking about? And to be honest, I wish that President Obama would golf all day, every day.  · 25 minutes

Until quite recently, she was able to compete in pretty serious ("Grand Prix" level) dressage competitions. To be fair, that is kind of an elite thing. Under Obama's second term, everyone will be in the top percentile for Golf. Mitt can promise no such thing for dressage.

George Savage

Wow.  I like this Mitt Romney.  I hope we get to see Unplugged Mitt more often on the campaign trail.  Go, mole, go.

Misthiocracy
Joined
Aug '10
Misthiocracy
Pseudodionysius: I'm beginning to think that this mole is the work of Roger Ailes himself and he's feeding the guy material every day. 

This has John le Carre written aaaaaall over it.

Brian Clendinen
Joined
Mar '11
Brian Clendinen

What I find hilarious is the article  is mocking Hannity for changing ties and he actually agrees. He is saying he thinks it is silly on the video. Also the "Fox Insider" not knowing a joke when he see Hannity offer Romney to change ties also. All I can think of is this insider graduated from college? I guess I did not realize Gawker was trying to compete with The Onion.

Edited on April 11, 2012 at 4:59am
John Murdoch
Joined
Sep '11
John Murdoch

Amy Schley

...in my experience riding (either English or Western) was rather physically demanding.  Is this a normal MS therapy, at least among those MS sufferers wealthy enough to own horses?

Therapeutic riding has a long history with people with a wide range of disabilities--including many people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). It is a common therapy.

The vast majority of clients of therapeutic riding programs do not own their own horses. The one exception I can think of, off hand, is my youngest daughter:

Annie and SkyzTheLimit

I've been a volunteer at a therapeutic riding/driving program for almost twenty years. 

Edited on April 11, 2012 at 6:06am

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