Roger Ailes Now Says Palin Is 'So Smart'

Fox News chief also explains why Glenn Beck is off the network
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 6, 2011 12:23 PM CDT
Roger Ailes Now Says Palin Is 'So Smart'
Chairman and CEO of the Fox News Network Roger Ailes participates in an event at the National Press Club in Washington, DC in this file photo.   (Getty Images)

Roger Ailes is probably the last guy Anthony Weiner expected to rally to his defense. But in a new interview the Fox News chief does just that. “The media’s had enough giggles over Mr. Weiner and his name,” Ailes told Howard Kurtz of the Daily Beast. “Sometimes the families take a bigger hit than the person that people are trying to destroy.” Ailes had good things to say about another Democrat, too: “I’d like to hire Hillary Clinton. She looks unhappy at the State Department. She’d get ratings.”

As for his current talent, Ailes denied calling Sarah Palin an idiot, instead praising her savvy. “She’s so smart,” he said. “She’s got the press corps running up the whole East Coast behind her bus.” He also explained why he parted ways with Glenn Beck, saying he was uncomfortable with the fiery host’s extracurricular projects. “His goals were different from our goals. … I need people focused on a daily television show.” (More Roger Ailes stories.)

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