Thomas Ricks: Fox News Continues To Blast ‘The General’

When it comes to Thomas Ricks Fox News is not holding back. Fox News executive vice president Michael Clemente is standing by his claim that author Tom Ricks offered a private apology following his appearance on the network. As previously reported by The Inquisitr, Thomas Ricks was booted off the air after responding to a partisan question about the Benghazi terrorist attack and Susan Rice. In his response, Thomas Ricks attacks Fox News for bias in favor of the Republican party, saying they are “operating as a wing of the Republican Party,” and claims that “Benghazi generally was hyped, by this network especially.”

Thomas is also well known for defending ex-CIA David Petraeus, saying that in his opinion Petraeus should have remained on the job rather than quit under pressure. “These were consenting adults engaged in private acts,” he said, speaking of Petraeus and Paula Broadwell.

The entire Benghazi scandal has been marked by partisanship in the media reporting of the events. Those who chose to criticize the Obama administration early on were attacked for their choice of words instead of the substance of the accusations. Sarah Palin, for example, had NBC and others completely focused on the usage of the phrase “shuck and jive.” The maker of the YouTube video got the brunt of it, with father of slain Navy Seal Charles Woods claiming that Hillary Clinton assured him that the United States would “make sure that the person who made that film” was arrested and prosecuted. What about free speech? On the other side you have Republicans who believe the Benghazi scandal might be found to be an impeachable offense if the handling of the 9/11 attacks were fully investigated.

Thomas Ricks told POLITICO that Michael Clemente made the claim he allegedly apologized privately because “when the facts aren’t on their side, they attack the person.”

“Clemente is making it up, and it is sloppy of Hollywood Reporter to not ask him for specifics — what exactly am I alleged to have said? — and also to seek a response from me,” Thomas Ricks wrote in an e-mail. “Why are they doing this? Because their MO is that when the facts aren’t on their side, they attack the person.”

Clemente has responded by giving the specifics.

“I’m surprised by the General’s utter dishonesty,” Clemente said, as quoted by TVNewser. “I’ll refresh his memory – what he said following the segment was, ‘Sorry… I’m tired from a non-stop book tour.’ Perhaps now he can finally get some rest.”

Thomas Ricks is not a military general, although Clemente was likely referencing the title of Thomas Rick’s latest book, The Generals: American Military Command from World War II to Today. Even if what Clemente says is true, it does not sound like Thomas Ricks might have intended an apology, even if that is how the comment was perceived.

For Thomas Ricks Fox News will probably never clarify or apologize…nor will we likely know the truth. Thomas Ricks claims the first person he spoke with after going off-air was Bret Baier. Asked about the discrepancy between the two stories, Clemente referred POLITICO to Fox News communications representative Dana Klinghoffer. Neither Baier, Clemente, or Klinghoffer responded when asked to comment on the charge that Clemente lied about Ricks’ apology. Who do you think is telling the truth?