Fox News anchor taken off air after Obama 'terrorist fist jab' gaffe

Friday June 13 2008

Fox News anchor ED Hill has lost her show a week after suggesting Barack Obama and his wife Michelle's on-stage victory gesture could be seen as a "terrorist fist jab".

Hill, the anchor of Fox News show America's Pulse, made the comment last Friday after Obama and his wife affectionately bumped fists before his victory speech on becoming the Democratic candidate for president.

"A fist bump? A pound? A terrorist fist jab? The gesture everyone seems to interpret differently," said Hill in her show. "We'll show you some interesting body communication and find out what it really says."

According to US media reports Hill, who has been with Fox News Channel since 1998, has now lost her show although she is to stay with the network in an as yet undetermined capacity.

Hill apologised for the gaffe live on-air at the start of her show on Tuesday.

"I want to start the show by clarifying something I said on the show about an upcoming body language segment. Now I mentioned various ways the Obama's fist pump in St Paul's had been characterised in the media," she said.

"I apologise because unfortunately, some thought I personally had characterised it inappropriately. I regret that. It was not my intention. And I certainly didn't mean to associate the word 'terrorist' in any way with Senator Obama and his wife," Hill added.

Prior to anchoring America's Pulse, Hill hosted Fox News Live. She also co-hosts Bill O'Reilly's Radio Factor show.

The "terrorist fist jab" comment is the one in a series of anti-Obama incidents in which Fox News has been involved.

Recently an on-screen caption described Michelle Obama as "Obama's Baby Mama", a slang term for black single mothers.

And in May Fox News contributor Liz Trotta apologised for joking that Obama should be assassinated, along with Osama bin Laden.

Obama recently launched a website, www.fightthesmears.com, offering rebuttals of rumours that have continued to circulate online and in rightwing news outlets.



http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/ju ... arackobama