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Fox News White House Correspondent Goes All In As GOP Mouthpiece

The Fox News public relations team was back at it working on behalf of the Republican Party as White House correspondent became a mouthpiece for GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney and earned his keep at the network conservatives trust.

This is from Huffington Post:

Fox News Chief White House Correspondent Ed Henry experienced a tense moment with President Obama during a Thursday press conference. The President held a joint press conference with Lee Myung-Bak, President of South Korea. Ed Henry had the first question of the conference and asked Obama if he considered the alleged Iranian assassination plot to be "an act of war."

Henry decided to quote a Mitt Romney statement from last week when asking for the President's plans to address Iran's alleged terror plot. Henry asked the President "what specific steps will you take to hold Iran accountable? Especially when Mitt Romney charged last week, quote, 'If you do not want America to be the strongest nation on Earth, I am not your President. You have that president today.'"

Obama paused and answered, "Well I did not know you were the spokesman for Romney," and smiled down at Henry.

He may not be completely a spokesman for Romney, but it's clear that the network is speaking on behalf of the GOP and all who oppose Democrats.

Henry, who framed his question in a way that was disrespectful at best and unprofessional at worst, is beginning to buy into that philosophy.

Hank Williams Jr. Fiasco Is A Byproduct Of Fox News Bias

Hank Williams Jr.

You never invoke "Hitler" in an attack if (especially) you're on television and you're some kind of celebrity, and that includes you Hank Williams Jr.

Of course, I am sure that Williams more than realizes that now, even as he tries to make all of the usual excuses.

I can imagine the thinking in the Fox and Friends pre-production meeting (relative to the ill-fated decision to bring on Hank Williams Jr.) going a little something like this:

We can bring on Hank Williams Jr., we'll all have a few Republican laughs before Monday Night Football, we'll have him take a few right-wing shots at President Obama and live happily ever after on Fox and Friends and Fox News ... business as usual in the name of our leader, Rupert Murdoch.

Unfortunately, the goofballs at Fox and Friends were sorely misguided and, ironically, sort of threw Williams, who sort of behaved as if he might have struggled to pass a field sobriety test, under the bus in their effort to take shots at President Obama and other liberals.

Williams should be more mad at Fox News and the dummies in charge of Fox and Friends than at anyone else.

It was Fox and Friends that really threw him under the bus ... not ESPN (which cut his famous... or is it now infamous opening this week).

Williams has "apologized" as apologies go these days. I don't care for his politics, but I am willing to give this dope a second chance if he keeps his nose clean.

Frankly, Williams was a willing pawn in the blatant right-wing bias of Fox News. It almost cost him dearly (if it hasn't ... we'll see how ESPN handles it).

Buchanan And Cain Seem To Think Little Of Blacks

When I first read a story with a headline about alleged presidential candidate Herman Cain saying that blacks voters have been brainwashed (into essentially not considering conservative/Republican perspectives) I shook my head.

Then, of course, it was no surprise that MSNBC's Pat Buchanan jumped to the defense of Cain to imply that blacks voters are being brainwashed (translation: not smart enough to make rational, fact-based decisions).

Does this mean that black voters not smart enough to make decisions as much as white voters are smart enough?

Apparently, to Cain and Buchanan, black voters can be brainwashed, but white voters vote based on what they believe is the right thing to do.

This Is A Perfect Example Of Why 'We' Struggle

Maxine Waters

Frankly, I have never been much of a fan of Rep. Maxine Waters and, I must confess, I doubt I ever will become a fan of the California democratic congresswoman.

One of the many reasons I have never been impressed with her is best exemplified by her silly whining about President Obama's strong comments to the Congressional Black Caucus. Basically, the president challenged the CBC to stop complaining about things, roll up their sleeves and get to work to help him shape this country for the better. If you want the specifics of what he said, you can go find it, here and here.

While Waters is whining about being challenged she is missing the point. She is engaging in the kind of politics that shows why Democrats are often weakened and why Tea Party Republicans are so strong. See, the Tea Party folks are ideologically strong and will stand by their beliefs through thick and thin while thin-skinned folks like Maxine Waters crumble like stale graham crackers and become defensive the minute they are called out. Like them or not, the Tea Party folks stand by their people through the tough times and work hard together while people like Maxine Waters jump off the bandwagon when things get rough.

See, Waters has whined and challenged the president and she thinks that is OK, but when the president challenges her back ... she wonders who in the "H" he thinks he is.

Instead of crying and taking shots at each other, folks need to work together, but that is not the way for Maxine Waters. It never has been and perhaps never will be the way for Rep. Waters.

If she is tired of supporting the president, then let her try on Mitt Romney or Rick Perry.

Superman ... the 'Illegal' Immigrant ... WHAT?!?!?!?!

Oh, those "illegal" immigrants.

I guess we pick and choose the good "illegal" immigrants from the bad "illegal" immigrants.

It's Scary Where This Country Is Headed

When Michele Bachmann and Rick Perry are potentially legitimate candidates to become president of the United States, that is a frightening sign of where our country is headed.

But, this should be taken as a signal that the extremists are finding a place in our society as proven by the platform the tea party folks received at the pathetic debate aired on CNN. The extremists may not be winning ... yet ... but their voices are louder than the silent majority.

That is the scary part.

Mr. West ... You're No Harriet Tubman

As usual, when Fox News needs to attack black folks, one of its favorite people to call upon is Rep. Allen West, who absurdly likens himself (I can't even make this up) to a modern-day Harrien Tubman ... LOL.

You can visit the link and read about his delusions of grandeur (only on Fox News). It honestly sort of destroys all future credibility, but we'll proceed anyway.

West made a stop on Bill O'Reilly's Fox News show to take some shots at the Congressional Black Caucus. It was mainly so he could attack Rep. Andre Carson for some strong words he used in going after the so-called tea party when he said some of them would "love to see you and me ... hanging on a tree." Obviously, those are strong words and over the top, but I think it's fairly clear that the tea party has a fairly Republican agenda that is out of step with the way most black people tend to feel.

O'Reilly had to love having West on to attack the CBC. It was sort of black-on-black crime.

It's ironic, as News Hounds points out, that O'Reilly would welcome Rep. West as a guest on the show to attach the CBC. West is the same one who launched a vicious attach against rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (largely applauded by O'Reilly and numerous others on the far right of the political spectrum). You may recall, the thin-skinned West was lightly challenged by Wasserman Schultz and, with his ego bruised, called her:

This was how Crooks and Liars quoted Politico:

Florida GOP Congressman Allen West this afternoon dispatched a scathing personal email to Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, calling her "vile, unprofessional ,and despicable," "a coward," "characterless," and "not a Lady," and demanding that she "shut the heck up."

I thought I would add a bit of that reminder of what O'Reilly's pal Mr. West said to attack Wasserman Schultz.

Apparently, O'Reilly has no problem with that kind of rhetoric against a liberal woman, but there is a problem when he sees someone from the CBC attack the so-called tea party.

Strange ... he likes to verbally attack some women, but yet he thinks he is Harriet Tubman. If he starts dressing like Harriet Tubman then things really get scary.

NOTE: (In reference to the photo) I am not necessarily calling West a raging psychopath based on this photo I found on the Internet. But I did think there was some satirical value to the contrast the person who put this photo illustration together saw.

Bachmann Photo Can't Make Her Look Crazy Without Her Own Contribution

It has been interesting to listen to some of the commentary about the Michele Bachmann cover photo that Newsweek selected.

I watched CNN's Reliable Sources as panelists whined about how unflattering the photo is and even (brace yourself) how it was some continuing conspiracy on the part of Newsweek to make conservatives look bad. Cry me a river.

If people think Michele Bachmann has a crazed look in her eyes then I think one has to begin by investigating her words and her record. Perhaps that is more indicative of the interpretations people have of this photo than anything else.

Perhaps people should look at it from a journalistic perspective and ask if the photo is appropriate for the person and the story. Judge it that way.

Tavis Smiley's Criticism Comes Across As Petty

Tavis Smiley

It seems clear now ... the ego has landed.

Tavis Smiley may have some legitimate beefs with President Obama and his policies, but his arguments are lost in a storm of egomania.

Smiley, in his media tour with noted scholar Cornell West taking shots at President Obama, offered this beauty during criticism of President Obama:

“Once he got elected and my critique of him about holding him accountable to various things didn’t sit so well with him or the people around him, he has not at this point come on my TV or radio programs one time since he’s been in the White House. This is the first president in my professional career that hasn’t invited me to the White House.”

Smiley, who has a long history of taking shots of Barack Obama, has to be better than this kind of seemingly petty criticism. One of the reasons he has to be better is that one of the primary criticisms of Tavis Smiley is that he is an egomaniac who is in it for himself. If he is truly interested in the bigger picture then he can't look like he is whining about not getting an invitation to the White House ... as if he is some kind of a big shot.

Sure, there is room to legitimately criticize President Obama (pandering too much to the far right, continuing the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, continuing tax policies that benefit the rich, not doing enough for people who are hurting, etc.).

Smiley's message, however, gets lost in a vast sea of what appears to be self promotion on his part.

One gets the feeling there is a little haterism in Tavis Smiley ... coveting the kind of spotlight that President Obama enjoys (not unlike what some people believe the Rev. Jesse Jackson suffered from back in 2008).

Tavis could be doing so much more in a positive way if he could cut down on the hate and turn it into some kind of a positive.

Tavis is a hate addict when it comes to Barack Obama. Tavis, you're an addict, jack.

Ali On Being A Black President ... Long Before There Was A Black President

Muhammad Ali's words are quite interesting today.

Allen West's Tirade Against Debbie Wasserman Schultz Is Highly Disturbing

Rep. Allen West clearly is a lot of things, but it would appear that "gentleman" is one title he has not fully earned.

One has to wonder if the state of Florida is big enough for Allen West, his ego and the rest of the residents.

Mr. West would appear to be a man who struggles to find comfort in working across party lines with strong women, like Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who do not simply give in to him. While most politicians are capable of civilized discourse, it appears Mr. West is incapable of that and revealed himself as weak and thin skinned when rather mildly challenged.

This was how Crooks and Liars quoted Politico:

Florida GOP Congressman Allen West this afternoon dispatched a scathing personal email to Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, calling her "vile, unprofessional ,and despicable," "a coward," "characterless," and "not a Lady," and demanding that she "shut the heck up."

Wasserman Schultz, in whose neighboring South Florida district West lives, provoked his tirade with remarks after he left the House floor today, in which she responded -- without naming him -- to the Tea Party freshman's support for "Cut, Cap, and Balance" legislation to raise the debt ceiling.

"The gentleman from Florida. who represents thousands of Medicare beneficiaries, as do I, is supportive of this plan that would increase costs for Medicare beneficiaries, unbelievable from a Member from South Florida," Wasserman Schultz said, saying the legislation "slashes Medicaid and critical investments essential to winning the future in favor of protecting tax breaks for Big Oil, millionaires, and companies who ship American jobs overseas."

Her criticism of the legislation -- more or less what most Democrats are saying today -- provoked a furious response. West copied members of House Republican and Democratic leadership on the email, as well as his chief-of-staff, Jonathan Blyth.

Come on, tough guy West ... you're supposed to be a grown man. What's next? Are you going to leave a nasty message on her Facebook wall and then block her so she can't reply?

This is weak brother West ... weak. It's almost as if he wanted to tell her to know her place in society, but was too angry and went straight to one-dimensional insults. That is just way too much anger at one time to be excused.

But, here is another pathetic sidebar to this story ... the conservative women rushing to assist West in attacking Wasserman Schultz.

Monica Crowley: "She of the Angry Perm"

Michelle Malkin: "Alan Grayson in Heels ... Anthony Weiner, Only An Octave Higher."

Then, you have the good-ole boys almost irrationally attacking Wasserman Schultz:

Rush Limbaugh: "Debbie Wasserman Blabbermouth Schultz Uses 'Mayonnaise' in Her Hair."

Eric Bolling: "Drives a Machete Into Colonel Allen West's Back As He Walks Off The House Floor."

Yes, these are the same folks (conservatives) who whine any time a person even thinks about saying something even remotely negative about poor Sarah Palin and poor Michele Bachmann.

If West does not want to apologize then that's fine, but he must live with the fact that he looks like a misogynistic bully with anger and issues regarding women.

Rep. West, remember the old Temptations song, "Treat Her Like a Lady."

Maher Comes Out With Race-Based Attack On Kim Kardashian

Bill Maher was at his predictable worst as he used Twitter as a platform to issue what was, by his standards, a fairly standard distasteful attack of Kim Kardashian. One sort of expects that Maher will say tasteless things, but then there are comments that are even bad for his standards (such as his standards are).

It started when Kardashian Tweeted this in response to the verdict in the case of Casey Anthony (you can look it up on your own if you don't know about it):

“WHAT!!!!???!!!! CASEY ANTHONY FOUND NOT GUILTY!!!I am speechless!!!”

Maher, smelling blood in the water, responded as he Tweeted the following:

“Kim Kardashian is upset with Casey Anthony verdict? Ur father defended O.J.! Starting the Kardashian tradition of getting black men off.”

A few thoughts about the original comment and the responses that went through my head:

1. He has probably been looking for an opportunity to unload this kind of comment on the Kardashian women.
2. He perhaps has some underlying issues with the Kardashians and their relationships with black people.
3. He is tired of seeing the Kardashians with guys like Reggie Bush, Lamar Odom, etc... Maybe he wants to see them getting off more guys like Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki and Bill Mah ... nevermind
   
4. His comment smacks of racism (not that he cares one bit about what anyone things of him ... good, bad or indifferent ... this is how he makes his money).

Interesting Interview With O'Reilly And Rapper Lupe Fiasco

Conservative Fox News talk show host Bill O'Reilly was in the zone as he hosted rapper Lupe Fiasco, who referred to President Obama and all presidents of the United States as "terrorists."

O'Reilly puts rappers on a pedestal to inflate their political influence so he can portray them as too black and too dangerous as he tries to tear them down.

Notice in the interview how condescending O'Reilly is as he talks to his guest. It's not an accident.

As a side note, O'Reilly hosted this segment also to disingenuously appear unbiased by "defending" President Obama against this man referring to him as a "terrorist." I am not buying it and neither should anyone else.

This was a cultural attack by O'Reilly that allowed him to fake a defense of Obama. In a way, it's kind of brilliant on the right-wing host's part.

Source: Color Lines

Right-Wing Audience Laughs At Comparison Of Obamas To Sanford And Son Characters, But Not Pleased With GOP Jokes

Reggie Brown, the man paid to impersonate President Barack Obama, was welcomed with open arms as he made fun of the Barack and Michelle Obama and at one point likened them to Fred Sanford and Aunt Esther Anderson fighting from the old Sanford and Son show (you know ... because black couples are supposed to fight, be loud and act obnoxiously ... black marriages are not supposed to stand the test of time and challenges). Apparently, it was funny to laugh at a black couple fighting, but it was not so funny to hear stereotype jokes of Mitt Romney, Tim Pawlenty and other jokes about GOP presidential candidates.

There were a few laughs with the Romney joke, but it clearly did not go over well with the right-wing audience and right-wing organizers.

Go on Reggie ... I guess you gotta get paid.

Random YouTube Video: A Mormon Explaining How Blacks are Cursed

It is interesting to look at this guy and try to figure out his body language. I hate to get into the Bill O'Reilly body language crap, but in this case it would be kind of interesting to get a feel for what someone thinks is going on with this guy.

Color Of Change Starts Petition To Get Fox News To Dump Fox "Business" Host Bolling For Racial Comments

Dear ColorOfChange.org member,

"It's not first time he's had a hoodlum in the hizzouse."

That's what Fox Business host Eric Bolling said on Friday about President Obama's meeting at the White House with the President of Gabon, Ali Bongo, while photoshopping a gold tooth onto the man's image. Then a photo of popular hip-hop artist Common, who participated in a White House poetry event last month (and was later smeared by Fox), appeared on-screen .¹

It's just the latest from Bolling, who last month accused President Obama of "chugging a few forties" in Ireland.²Bolling's attacks are part of a long history of racially-coded language and stereotypes that Fox uses to create a negative perception of the president.

Please join us in demanding that Roger Alies Chariman of Fox News and Fox Business fire Bolling. If enough of us speak out, it will ensure that Fox's leaders face some public accountability for its consistent race-baiting. It only takes a moment:

http://act.colorofchange.org/sign/bolling

Fox Business and Fox News continue to be safe havens for commentators who try to whip up race-based fears and peddle racial stereotypes as hard news.

President Ali Bongo currently holds the rotating presidency of the U.N. Security Council and was visiting the White House on official business. While Bongo has a troubling human rights record, past U.S. presidents have met with problematic figures for diplomatic reasons or to get them to change their behavior. Hip hop artist Common is a well-educated cultural and charitable ambassador and a talented musician. We doubt that Fox would ever have referred to the White House as a “hizzouse” while George W. Bush, Bill Clinton or any other president resided there.

But on Friday, Bolling seized an opportunity to race-bait. He opened the segment by asking, "So what's with all the hoods in the hizzy?" Later, when a guest challenged him, asking why Bolling was treating the meeting as a social event rather than an official meeting between two heads of state, Bolling said, "How do you know what they did? Maybe they did have s'mores and watch movies. Maybe they watched a basketball game." ³

Such obvious promotion of racial stereotypes is nothing new at Fox.^4,5 In fact, it's what made Glenn Beck's career at Fox News before he took things too far⁶ — a move that eventually cost him more than 300 advertisers and his 5pm show on the network. Beck will leave this coveted time slot vacant at the end of this month, and some observers believe Bolling's over-the-top race-baiting last week was an audition for Beck's spot — his attempt to show Ailes and other executives at Fox that he's up to the challenge of stoking Fox viewers' anger at President Obama in a way fitting of Beck's legacy.⁷

Please join us in demanding that Fox Business Chairman Roger Ailes fire Eric Bolling. Ailes might not care what we think — but he has to care about Fox's public image. If Ailes fires Bolling, it's a step towards accountability. If he refuses, it will make it abundantly clear to the public and the media that stoking racial division is part of Fox's agenda.

Please join us by clicking the link below. And when you do, please ask your family and friends to do the same:

http://act.colorofchange.org/sign/bolling

Thanks and Peace,

-- Rashad, James, Gabriel, William, Dani, Matt, Natasha, and the rest of the ColorOfchange.org team
June 18th, 2011

Help support our work. ColorOfChange.org is powered by YOU — your energy and dollars. We take no money from lobbyists or large corporations that don't share our values, and our tiny staff ensures your contributions go a long way. You can contribute here:

http://www.colorofchange.org/donate

References:

1. "Fox's Eric Bolling: Obama Is Hosting "Hoodlum[s]" In "The Hizzouse"," Media Matters, 6-11-2011
http://mediamatters.org/blog/201106110002

2. "Bolling: Obama Was "Chugging A Few 40's" Instead Of Responding To Joplin Disaster," Media Matters, 5-24-2011
http://mediamatters.org/mmtv/201105240034

3. See reference 1

4. "Tell CNN: Stop echoing Fox's race-baiting," ColorOfChange.org, 7-10-2010
http://orig.colorofchange.org/cnnfox/message.html

5. "An overview: Fox News and its problem with African-Americans," ColorOfChange.org
http://orig.colorofchange.org/fox/summary.html

6. "Call on advertisers to drop sponsorship of Glenn Beck," ColorOfChange.org, 7-30-09
http://orig.colorofchange.org/beck/message.html

7. "Is Race Baiting Part of Eric Bolling’s Fox News Audition?," Media Matters, 6-13-2011
http://mediamatters.org/blog/201106130006

Perfect Example Of An Insincere Apology: Featuring Eric Bolling Of Fox News

I chose this photo of Eric Bolling because of the caption that attacks MSNBC talk show host Ed Schultz. When Schultz made offensive comments about right-wing radio talk personality Laura Ingraham, he offered a sincere apology. He was truly sorry. Eric Bolling is sorry as a human being, but he is not sorry for the racially offensive comments he made in reference to President Barack Obama.

Fox News has a long and well-documented history of hosts and guests making hostile and offensive comments about people of color.

So, when the Eric Bolling (who seems to be auditioning to replace Glenn Beck) started making racially offensive comments about black people it was hardly a big surprise. If he is indeed sort of auditioning for the Glenn Beck role then this kind of racially offensive mentality would be totally expected, if not encouraged.

I am going to start with his apology expressed by this guy Bolling, first:

One editorial note. On Friday, we did a story about the president meeting with the president of Gabon. We got a little fast and loose with the language, and we know it's been interpreted as being disrespectful, and for that, I'm sorry. We did go a bit too far.

"Interpreted as disrespectful" sounds a lot more benign than calling it what it was, in my opinion: "racist." That alone should be indicative of a lack of sincerity.

It almost sounds like he is sorry it is being (not been) interpreted as disrespectful. Does this guy have a heart or a conscience in his body? This man seems as an arctic icecap.

First off, why is this man discussing this topic and using such offensive language on the so-called Fox Business channel?

Now the comments expressed by Bolling. This is an excerpt from News Hounds:

In other words, Bolling is not apologizing for using such offensive language as "It's not the first time (Obama has) had a hoodlum in the hizzouse" or posting a photo of Gabon’s leader with a shining tooth or the repeated use of a banner saying, "Hoods in the House." No, he's apologizing for how that language has been interpreted.

You think he would have said this about George W. Bush, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush or even Bill Clinton? There is no way he would have said this about a white president.

He is flat out not sorry for what he said. It was not his first time making offensive comments and it will not be his last time. He is almost certainly making his case to replace Beck as the host of one of the Fox News hours of hate.

Look, this is a weak, WEAK "apology" from Bolling. It is completely insincere and sounds every bit the part of a man forced to apologize for something he is not the least bit sorry about.

White Rapper Kreayshawn Sparks Controversy With N-Word Issue

Natassia "Kreayshawn" Zolot

The issue of whites and white rappers using the so-called N-word has come into focus again, with a story about Natassia "Kreayshawn" Zolot, a white rap artist.

She uses the word and doesn't much apologize for her use of it - in spite of the fact that she has now found herself knee-deep (at least) in a controversy. One of the general arguments in this case, and as is typical with use of the N-word, one of the primary arguments is that if they (black people) can use it then everyone else should be able to use it.

Here is a comment she recently tweeted about the controversy:

“People are acting so funny OMG lol. I got 200k views, not 200k dollars. WTF YOU WANT FROM A NIGGA. DMX VOICE.”

That comment tells me a few things: 1. She feels passionate about this issue, 2. she doesn't care too much what other people think (at this point) and 3. she is getting a WHOLE lot of marketing value out of this controversy.

A report from News One added this little nugget to the issue:

“In Oakland, Asian people will call Mexicans that. A Mexican will call a black dude that. A white person will call an Asian that. Everyone calls each other that. I feel like that word is used in the low-income community more than anything. I can see if I was some rich crazy trick and I was just saying this because it’s hip-hop,” Kreayshawn said, “I was raised around this. Me and my sisters were all raised around this. People call me that. But personally I’m not flaunting it around.’’

Whether she is flaunting or not is an interesting discussion. One thing is for sure, this controversy is helping Kreayshawn big time.

Honestly, she has the right to use it (like anyone else), but no one has the right to everyone's approval of use of the word. Based on what I've read, she probably has built up some credentials to be able to use it more than some (based on where she is from), but it doesn't mean everyone has to like it. Some do not and will not like it.

It's a controversy and not an easy one.

Weiner-gate Is Pathetic On Many Different Levels

The trouble that Rep. Anthony Weiner finds himself in is sad on so many different levels.

First, we're subjected to the pathetic and disgraceful right-wing blogger Andrew Breitbart gloating about his fetish for photos of Anthony Weiner's penis - disguised as a politically-motivated pursuit. The gloating that far-right extremist Breitbart is doing over having nude photos of Weiner is disturbing on its own. No one wants to imagine how often the excited and happy Breitbart has looked over and carefully examined the photos of Weiner's penis.

On the other hand, it's sad to watch how much Weiner has deservedly fallen from grace for his actions followed up by a weak, weak attempt at a cover up. In hearing some of his initial responses I had little doubt that his story seem farfetched to say the least. Frankly, my first thought was that he was embarrassed and was lying his butt off.

Weiner was emerging as a strong advocate for liberal positions bolstered by his toughness and intelligence.

Now, quite frankly, he has screwed up so bad he is in danger of being forced out of office. As is often the case, it was the cover up that caused more damage than the actual "crime" he is seen as having committed. He has fallen in his self-created mess and now has a lot of work to do to rehabilitate himself.

It won't be easy and it should not be easy.