Megyn Kelly and Joe Lieberman’s game play for Iran

BY KYLE ANDREW BROWN

Washington, November 27 – FOX News star Megyn Kelly pretty much scooped the Washington Press Corps with her Tuesday evening interview of Joe Lieberman on ramifications of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

Megyn’s first pitch to the seasoned batter: “Now Iran is claiming that they’re misrepresenting the terms – – The ink is barely dry on the deal . . (Joe: yeah) . . and already Iran is saying: “Don’t believe what the United States is saying about it.”

Joe leans into the plate: “It’s bad news. Even if you’re an advocate of the agreement which I’m not. But the very fact that now Iran is saying not just privately on a phone call to the White House but publicly we got different interpretations of the agreement.”

Joe wants the pitch. You just know it. Takes a swing: “I hope in the White House this leads them to put the brakes on. And not to begin to carry out any of the reductions in sanctions. Or unfreezing of billions of dollars of Iranian Assets that we have been freezing. It’s not an agreement.  Unless you have an agreement no part of it can be implemented.”

The failed vice presidential candidate kinda knows how this White House operates. Folks sitting around cut and pasting those electronic Iran Asset Spread Sheets.

It’s a called strike!

Megyn releases a sidewinder. “I realize there are a lot of things to criticize about the deal. But those who favor this deal say, look, a week ago they were moving forward with their nuclear program. And as of today they are not. Why is that not progress?”

And why is this not journalism according to MSNBC presenters?

Because it’s delightful theater. Easily played on the Kennedy Center Stage.

Joe’s job is to come on set, be the ham in the Deli Sandwich. First batter he swung at ObamaCare. Next Joe. Followed by the guy in the Warm Up Circle.

Joe’s keeps the fans revved up.  And as God is my witness he dances around tonight’s Secret Word.

Back down to the field: . . . split screen . . .

Joe: “So here is why it is not progress to me. Ah, all they did was push the Pause Button . . . the Iranians.”

Megyn: “Isn’t that better than pushing the play button???”

Joe: “Here’s the problem: They didn’t push the delete button.”

Crowd roars! Infield moves up from Theater to Journalism!

Megyn: “Why did the White House strike this deal?”

Joe: “He said right at the beginning of his Administration back in 2009 if the Iranians will unclinch their fist we will extend our hand to them. The Iranian president is a so-called moderate but he isn’t really. And he sees an opportunity. And so do the Europeans.”

Now this is the stuff of Electronic Journalism that FOX has so terrifically mastered. The PBS News Hour has its place in the rarefied air of Legacy TV News Coverage. But its mostly nice old ladies with great depth of knowledge sitting on a tired set from the 60s dutifully asking neutered questions disguising any hint of partisanship. Garnering insights geared to maintain the status quo.

Up in New York City on the FOX set lush rich colour tones. Swirling cameras. Banners weaving in and out. Megyn every bit the best-in-class Digital Age Journo peppering her guest with slice-and-dice questions.

There is just one tiny-tiny little blemish on Megyn’s performance tonight. In the rush to bring on a sleeper guest against Iran, Megyn has let the Interns do her research. You see, probably Judy Woodruff would have known that Megyn’s premise was shaky from the get go – – That part about Iran blowing up the Agreement today before the ink is dry. 

Megyn’s segment – – her name tops the Team Roster – – was a simple conceit that would have viewers believe Iran has rejected the Agreement.

Just isn’t the case.

See a fairly basic Journo 202 Three Step Google Toe Tapper shoulda set the segment’s ground rules that Megyn didn’t know tonight: She didn’t take the time to search out a real Iranian newspaper.  Or read the Ministry handout. Or catch the Foreign Ministry in play dynamic. That’s what journos do.

We’ve got Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Marziyeh Afkham as the Ministry’s face.  Nobody important. Not an Iranian man. Indeed, the Iranian Official News Agency FARS headlines that Iran rejects the White House text. That text being not the Agreement but a White House press release summary that didn’t come from State Department negotiators.

The Ministry absolutely in no way rejects the Agreement. Nor makes interpretations of the agreement. FARS has only written three sentences to state displeasure with the White House publicity sheet.

Followed by the full English version of the Agreement of the 5+ 1 signatories. Without comment.

Opps.

Then there is the rare Financial Times interview with Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani looking forward to the Agreements implementation.

Opps.

We do not fault our pal Megyn. Truly, we’re totally entertained. And we support the FOX segment’s agenda of being sceptical about Iran and the Agreement’s hoped for promise.

But Joe? Well, how to record the play? Sure demonstrated he’s a Washington Player. Only in the segment’s last sentence did he reveal the inning’s Secret Word: Israel. He just could not contain himself from receiving accolades sure to come from off the field.

But, geez. This kinda play from a guy who wanted to be elected a heartbeat away from a President? Joe let down viewers. Joe let down Secretary of State John Kerry.

Joe Lieberman complicated American diplomacy on behalf of Israel.

As for pitching star Megyn?

The girl went to Commercial Break – Bagged another sitting duck.

Megyn Kelly and Joe Lieberman’s game play for Iran.

2013-11-27