Michael Calderone at Politico profiles Hume today. The best tribute comes from Juan Williams who is the frequent sparring partner for Hume on their roundtable discussions.
Fox analyst Juan Williams, Hume’s Sunday morning sparring partner, may have divergent views politically, but he considers Hume fair in overseeing the network’s political coverage. Hume himself often complains about media outlets that don’t chase stories that are just waiting to be picked up like loose change, Williams said.I will so miss Hume when he steps down. I wonder which of his substitutes the network will choose to replace him. Neither Bret Baier or Jim Angle seem to have the gravitas that Hume brings to coverage. Both seem like very pleasant fellows and fine as substitutes, but no Brit Hume. One other possibility is Bill Sammon who has recently become the deputy managing editor at the DC bureau at Fox. Chris Wallace would be another choice but he seems to be quite happy hosting Fox News Sunday. Whoever is chosen, he'll have very big shoes to fill.
“What he has done there is to make ‘fair and balanced’ very real for the people at Fox News Washington,” Williams said, noting that under Hume, Fox gravitated not toward GOP talking points, but to the “loose change” mainstream media outlets ignored.
Williams praised Hume as one of the “greatest journalists of this generation,” and echoing a friend, said the newscaster could be “the conservative Walter Cronkite,” while still very much in his prime.
“I think for lots of people, conservatives, he is the standard-bearer. He is the guy who’s viewed as a trusted, steady hand in moments of crisis.”
“That guy brings out the best in my game,” Williams said. “If you’re debating Brit Hume, you better know what you’re talking about. He can be sharp, even arrogant, and angry. If you don’t have your feet on the ground, you’re going to get your ass handed to you.”
5 comments:
I think this is my first time commenting here. I have only recently discovered your site. Found it thru Malkin's. I had to comment here, bc I just respect and appreciate Hume so much.
I was really shocked to hear only a sort time ago, thru my Father that he would be stepping down by the end of the year. Everything you said is true.
He is a steady hand, and reassuring in the sense that he seems to radiate good sense, a sharp intellect and integrity. So you feel that you can trust a fair shake at the news from him. Never mean spirited and never swept under the rug.
He also is humble in his bearing and you get the sense he really has no idea the impact he has on the political news scene, and thus our culture. To the good. I wish he wasn't leaving yet, but, I understand - life calls!
Thanks for this post!
I will also miss him. He is by far the best in the business, never mind FNC. Hopefully his successor will continue to look for the loose change stories that the MSM chooses to ignore. I have a feeling that it may be a target rich environment for his successor.
Also sorry to see Brit leave, as I love to see him cut the libs off in mid-sentence to stop one of their talking point memo jabs and get them back on topic.
I've seen Bill Sammon only a few times on the show, but like his calm demeanor and command of his facts. And he's not been afraid to disagree with some of the liberals he's been paired with. (I'm assuming he's more conservative, but don't actually know that factually.) I'd prefer him over any of the others except Charles Krauthammer, but I doubt Charles would want the position.
Yes, Brit Hume is the best in the business right now, and I agree with you about Bill Sammon being the only one who seems even close to being able to follow him.
Anne and Bachbone-I agree about Bill Sammon mainly because Fox will save a bundle by simply reusing the chair of Brit Hume 6'4" for Sammon who is 6'7". All bets are off if Brit gets to keep the chair!
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