In a New York Magazine article about Fox News chairman Roger Ailes, which terms him the de facto "head of the Republican Party," one "Republican close to Ailes" was quoted as saying that Ailes thinks Sarah Palin is "an idiot." Fox News’ executive vice president of programming Bill Shine is furious.
New York quoted this "Republican close to Ailes" as saying, "Roger is worried about the future of the country. He thinks the election of Obama is a disaster. He thinks Palin is an idiot. He thinks she’s stupid. He helped boost her up. People like Sarah Palin haven’t elevated the conservative movement."
In response, Shine gave a very un-newsmanlike statement to The New York Times: "I know for a fact that Roger Ailes admires and respects Sarah Palin and thinks she is smart. He also believes many members of the left-wing media are extremely terrified and threatened by her. Despite a massive effort to destroy Sarah Palin, she is still on her feet and making a difference in the political world."
He ended his tirade with a personal shot at the unnamed source. "As for the 'Republican close to Ailes' for which the incorrect Palin quote is attributed," Shine said, "when Roger figures out who that is, I guarantee you he or she will no longer be 'close to Ailes.'"
