No high-fives over E.D. Hills' 3 little words on Fox News chat on Obamas' fist bump

The innocent fist pound or knuckle bump that Sen. Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, exchanged before his speech in St. Paul last week triggered a spate of odd analysis.

It's a pretty normal gesture between two people, a mild digital celebration or good luck wish like the high-five. Athletes frequently exchange them, or parents with their children, before a game.

Take a look here at least to the beginning of the discussion of body language on Fox News between E.D. Hill and another one of these experts or strategists who crop up so miraculously as talking heads on cable shows:

Did you catch it there at the beginning -- Fox News anchor Hill in a tease to the next segment on body language calling the Obamas' gesture several things including a “terrorist fist jab”? A what?

If that kind of fist bump is indeed a terrorist gesture, then we're starting to get very scared 'cause we saw them all the time in the recent Stanley Cup playoffs on NBC. We've never liked the Detroit Red Wings; finally a reason.

In the Fox piece that followed, a body language expert explained the fist bump was a signal of affection between the Obamas. There was no further reference to the gesture being called a “terrorist fist jab.”

The anchor never explained the origin of the term, which she read off the teleprompter as part of a written intro to the segment, according to a network executive familiar with the situation.

The phrase apparently came from a simple reader comment posted on an article on the conservative website Human Events that accused Michelle Obama of being un-American and employing “'Hezbollah' style fist-jabbing.” (The comment has since been removed.)

In the last few days, Hill has been roundly criticized for the remark, including by Fox News' nemesis and MSNBC host Keith Olbermann, who is normally so mild-mannered and understated, calling it “inflammatory idiocy.”

On Tuesday, Hill apologized, saying the words were not her characterization:

“I want to start the show by clarifying something I said on the show last Friday about an upcoming body language segment. Now I mentioned various ways the Obamas’ fist-bump in St. Paul had been characterized in the media.

"I apologize because unfortunately some thought I, personally, had characterized it inappropriately. I regret that. It was not my intention. I certainly didn’t mean to associate the word terrorist in any way with Sen. Obama and his wife.” For video of this apology, click on the Read more line below.

Also Tuesday, Fox News announced a series of changes to its daytime line-up, including an expansion of its 10 a.m. Pacific-time show “The Live Desk” to a two-hour show. Trace Gallagher is joining Martha MacCallum as co-anchor there.

The change effectively pushes Hill out of her 11 a.m. time slot. But a Fox News executive said the move was already in the works and not related to the comment flap. Hill is expected to get a new role yet to be determined.

A gentle fist bump to E.D. when that happens.

-- Matea Gold

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Comments

[Mitchell Aboulafia]

Well, I am glad that Fox has figured out that they are pretty much out in left field (although perhaps I should say way out in right field).

But in terms of undermining Obama with false stories, Fox is certainly not alone. There are web sites run by those who claim to be Hillary supporters making vicious and false claims about Obama. This is something that Clinton, if she is serious about supporting Obama, should publicly denounce.

"An Open Letter to Senator Clinton: Please Help Undermine the Anti-Obama Web Sites (using your name)"
http://msa4.wordpress.com/

[Jennifer]

As a black person associated with the fist pump of hitting fists together and the throwing of the hand to make a point as Michelle has done in the past at major events for Barack, I understand that this is a sort of street body language used to portray unity, brotherhood, or sisterhood. I see the Obama's as more gangsta that they let on with the way that they talk when not on their guard and the fact that they went to Wright's church where this type of behavior was normal and accepted. I think that now that the Obama's are running for president and first lady that this type of behavior should be talked about and analyzed for the whites who do not understand. I feel personally that Obama and his wife are too street for the American people and that ultimately if he happens to become president and forgets who he is and does these 'black' gestures to people that do not understand such as other world leaders or speaks 'street', I think that this will make the U.S. look bad around the world and will make all of us look ghetto. This may sound dumb but it is the truth.

[Cam]

Um, I'm white and I've been "Fist bumping" with my friends for at least a decade. Fist bump = just another kind of hand shake. Faux News used the intro that it did because it was thought that it would appeal to their viewership in much the same way that an electric shock gets attention. Personally, I see little news value in any of this. That Faux News would say something totally outrageous and blatantly untrue isn’t news worthy because they do so every day.

[Brian]

Jennifer, that is about the dumbest comment I've ever heard made

[Don't Tuck]

Michelle prefers the "Hezbollah' style fist-jabbing", whereas Barack prefers the more understated "Al-Fatah style fist-thrust". To each their own, I guess.

[Andrew]

Mitchell, what you said is not true except for your admission that is sounds dumb. Do you really think that Barack and Michelle are "too ghetto?" Could you be a little more racist? And to think that you are Black. Wow! You must not have grown up in America. If you did, you are sorely out of touch.

After what the world has seen of our leader for the last seven or so years, there is nothing Barack or Michelle could do to make us look bad. The rest of the world would greet Obama with great relief and many fist bumps if he was elected.

[Mr. Unite Us]

A fist pump or dap as us Black folks call it
is similar to a high five. Been doing it for years. We were giving each some dap last night during the Laker game. Just away of acknowledging accomplishment.

Leave it to Fox to portray this as terrorist gesture,
then blame it on other media outlets. The truth
is came from some nutcase posting a comment on
a website. Fox's credibility continues to sink.

I wonder Fox thinks Joe Lieberman and others
pictured here are terrorist.

http://mediamatters.org/action_center/fist_bump/

I stopped watching Fox after a news analyst made
a crack about killing Obama

Fox News Jokes About Killing Obama
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjYpkvcmog0

[mike]

Much like the 'Pop ya collar' "incident", this too has been misconstrued by someone who probably has black friends that they can count - meaning not many. Americans as a whole are "late starters" in the world game, in terms of learning about other cultures. As the world becomes a "global economy" to those who thought the the world begins and ends in the USA, look at it as an opportunity for teaching those who have chose to be ignorant to the people around them, because they can no longer ignore those who live right next door.

[Tom in California]

ED Hill: stupid, stupid woman. Fox News: stupid, stupid network.

[EMMANUEL]

fox news is an amalgamation ,of blatant racism,kangaroo journalism;,war mongering,promotion of lies that led to the dearth of 4000 American and civilians in Irag, watch their news at your own peril

[Patrick in Canada]

Didn't anyone see the movie "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy "? People read what is on the teleprompter, so what is really key is not who read from the teleprompter but who made the decision to include the line in the teleprompter script.

[Cryos]

This whole thing is pretty petty. But to all the liberals making it into a huge Fox News is evil thing, look at all the crap in the New York Times and most other mainstream media outlets. It's no different even though it suits your views.

And LOL at OB. "I own 4 tv’s in my house, and long ago blocked fnc from screwing up my kids."

I don't agree with some of what Fox airs since I'm a moderate but that's a good thing to tell the truth. I like being able to hear different perspectives and make intelligent judgements about which things I think are correct. Parroting what my favorite media outlet tells me and covering my ears to everything else isn't my style.

There are some reputable stories you'll only find on Fox since the mainstream media won't air them. Perfect example; Fox was running the Wright and other Obama stories on and off for months and major media refused to pick it up until a large number of primaries were complete. By democrats boycotting Fox News they had no chance to find out some of the true things about Obama. I guarantee if major media did their dilligence Democrats would have Hillary as their candidate istead of a con man.

[AJE]

The remark was unfortunate but I have to say I like E.D.Hill and I hope she stays at FOX in a capacity where she is seen frequently.

[Jim in Canada]

I just love Americans. You are individually sweet and good people - but collectively, you are mentally retarded.

I can't believe that even FOX News was dumb enough to air this - but also - that so many of you listeners are as gullable as you are.

I am so glad I live in Canada where it's OK to laugh at idiots like you.

[PJL]

ED Hill is a Fox propaganda reporter- she is not even a journalist nor a news anchor. What a c**t!!!! Take your racist republican ass out here E.D.

We don't need ya - the United States doesn't need ya - so just leave . . . get a job in Russia where Putin can use your talents

[Lee]

This message was sent to ED Hill and her boss. "ED" stands for "extreme dimwit", in case anyone didn't know that already.......

E.D. Hill -

You transparently racist, clueless excuse for a moronic talking head.

Please, keep up the great work!

With commentators like you the only people who won't vote Obama are illiterate white trash.
There's only one word for the Fist Bump Moment and it's "iconic".
Unlike the last two elections, morons won't be needed to win this one.

You just keep pandering to the worst elements in America, we'll take the best.


LK

PS - Fire your colorist.

[Jenna]

Even if she just read it on the teleprompter she should have had the common sense to think that it might be the wrong thing to say.

I guess these last 8 years haven't been too hard on her. She wants more of the same. Sad.

[cwmaxson]

Jim in Canada,

Collectively we are "mentally retarded", because the majority of individuals are equally idiotic. You can't have the whole without the parts. Sweet and good has nothing to do with this, we are dumb, dumb, dumb.

And for everyone else throwing around the word racist so readily: slow down. That term has heavy implications, and shouldn't be used lightly to describe others.

[ericmiami]

Fox News is an oxymoron. Some people will do anything for money.

[Gaias Child]

Hmm watched some game show tv with happy boy scout troop leader opening money cases and fist bumping from joy ... probably a young adult ... maybe Fox News doesn't know what rapport is.

[h]

Fox news is NOT a news station...they have opinion shows and do not report biased news. The comment was just put out there to be put out there. For those people who watch the station to influenced. Their news anchors spread racism, hatred and false information.

[Not Christian, by choice]

This is to expand on cwmaxson's post 'Sweet and good has nothing to do with this, we are dumb, dumb, dumb.'

Isn't standard republican operating procedure to cut funding to education by 1% every year? Of course we're dumb. They've made us that way, intentionally. But go to church and pray to jesus and everything will be fine. What a load of crap.

[Lee Kane]

You are clearly misinterpreting the Fox host in order to create a straw man (or woman) to mock. Shame on you. Intellectual dishonesty at its finest.

1.) She does not call the fist bump a "terrorist jab" herself but merely repeats the phrase semi-mockingly in a list of things it was in fact called by other commentators -- exactly as you do.
2.) The piece is in the context of other odd greetings made by politicians on stage including a Bush chest thump.
3.) The Fox host goes on to seriously analyze the gesture with a body language expert.

[Mike]

Negroes do negro things, simple as that. The question is do we want America being represented like this? Obama has 0 experience and the ONLY reason he is even still in the race is because he is black. If you are too naive to see that then you are most likely one of the ignorant brainwashed "guilty" whites who think supporting a black is "cool". I have no problem with supporting a black person but it will have to be one who is not a mafia member and one who doesnt have a bizarro world david duke wife. It is disgraceful seeing how the media is letting Obama get by without any negative coverage. That alone tells you that he is a phony and being used by elitist.

[Robert]

"In the last few days, Hill has been roundly criticized for the remark, including by Fox News' nemesis and MSNBC host Keith Olbermann, who is normally so mild-mannered and understated..."

Are the author kidding? Keith Olbermann is about as mild-mannered and understated as Bill O'Reilly.