Turns out there was a good reason why S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford picked Keven Cohen’s radio show to make his mildly-anticipated return to the state’s airwaves …
Cohen coddled, swaddled and cooed the Palmetto State’s disgraced, scandal-plagued governor throughout the one-hour interview Tuesday, loving up on him much like La Socialista (a.k.a. The State newspaper) loves up on South Carolina’s failed education establishment.
The show was billed as Sanford’s first extended, unfiltered media chat featuring live interaction with voters since his descent into perpetual scandal two-and-a-half months ago. It turned into a “man-date,” with Cohen serving as Sanford’s waiter/ groupie.
Unfiltered? Please.
With one notable exception, the questions from Cohen’s listeners were all softballs – prompting our founding editor to receive several inquiries as to whether or not the governor’s office “planted” calls on radio shows back when he served in Sanford’s communications office.
Duh.
“Of course we did,” Sic Willie said. “We planted them like it was friggin’ Arbor day.”
Aside from the barrage of curiously supportive calls (Radio Free Cuba?), there was Cohen’s fawning, servile treatment of Sanford – which at times bordered on the obscene. For example, Cohen declared the drumbeat for Sanford’s resignation and impeachment to be a “witch hunt” prior to handing the microphone over to Sanford for the better part of the hour, letting him wax philosophic, as he is wont to do.
Maybe it is a “witch hunt,” but does that change the fact that Sanford has personally provided each one of his critics with enough hay and matches to burn down the whole town?
“(It was) the most amateurish interview I’ve ever heard,” said one veteran S.C. communications advisor. “He let (Sanford) filibuster. He never had control over the interview. It was an auditory blow job.”
FITS spoke with Michael Smith (a.k.a. the one “hardball” questioner), who asked Sanford about his stated March 2007 belief that strengthening trade ties with Argentina would not be an economic development priority for his administration.
Clearly, “strengthening trade ties” with Argentina got bumped up on the priority list by the summer of 2008, when Sanford visited Buenos Aires for several days of “meetings” that were later exposed as cover for an illicit rendezvous with his Argentine lover, Maria Belen Chapur.
“What changed your mind (about Argentina) – or who changed it?” Smith asked the governor.
How did Sanford respond to this one hardball?
“He evaded the question,” said Smith.
By Adam Wright September 9, 2009 at 10:25 am
I’ve interviewed Sanford in the past and have been trying to get him back on my show for several months…before the sex scandal broke. My guess is he won’t come on my show…but I’ll keep trying. No softballs here…
By baked September 9, 2009 at 10:53 am
anyone who expected anything but softballs from cohen was a fool. his mode of hosting is to get as far up his guests’ ass as possible…and fawn over them like they’ve just cured cancer. the guy’s a joke. the next tough question from him will be his 1st.
By A person that knows September 9, 2009 at 10:57 am
Interesting how Cohen was a strong proponent of Sanford’s resignation. Only a few days later he became a Sanford apologist. I guess that is what you have to do to get him on a radio show.
By Strom's Daughter September 9, 2009 at 12:42 pm
Kevin Cohen kissed Sanford’s ass so hard yesterday, it’s a wonder he didn’t suffer a concussion.
He’s probably undergoing an MRI today to check for any further brain damage due to the violence of his ass kissing.
By Radio September 9, 2009 at 12:50 pm
Somebody has to do the hypocritical, flip-flopping radio host thing now that Andy Thomas is off the air.
By Richard September 9, 2009 at 1:10 pm
A total waste of an hour of my life. Sanford evaded every question and ended up saying nothing, just as he has done during his entire political career. Kevin sold out! Two huge egos on the same stage. My question would have been: “Governor, you say that God is on your side. Evidently you did not feel God was on Pres. Clinton’s side when you voted for impeachment. What criteria do you use to determine who is worthy of God’s favor?”
By SC Integrity September 9, 2009 at 2:18 pm
Sorry, Keven, no orders here for your weenie flavored Kool-Aid.
I’ll leave you a tip though. Search far, wide and abroad and you too will find your secret agent mission.
By Liberty For Me September 9, 2009 at 2:29 pm
Kevin Cohen is a joke….He has stated that Lindsey Graham is a statesman because he will make a deal with Democrats to pass bills..(sounds more like a socialist sympathizer)
He also has stated that Carolinians are hicks if they believe in more states rights…
He states how he thinks so much of military men and how patriotic he is…but has not problem having them killed to protect us from some invisible aggressor.I would love to see how long it would take him to change his tune if it was his fat ass going to Iraq
By Jonny D September 9, 2009 at 3:12 pm
HA! y’all are just in awe that Luv Guv is doin’ it well!
http://www.youtube.com/?v=zovrTP2dnig
By cohen is an asswipe September 9, 2009 at 3:14 pm
Cohen is a total asswipe. Always has been. There’s a reason he is doing a radio talk show in Columbia, SC. That’s about as high as the bar can rise for this total suck-up.
Dave McDougall is so much better than this Cohen clown. I usually switch it off if I happen to be listening when Cohen’s stupid little “who’s ass can I kiss today” show comes on.
He had a chance to ask the ‘hard’ questions (a term I must be careful using when also putting Sanford in the same sentence) and Cohen failed miserably.
By shiya September 9, 2009 at 3:19 pm
Still sleeping, FITS? where is your headline about the call by 60 repubs for Sanford to step down. Even Drudge has it up.
By SC Integrity September 9, 2009 at 4:00 pm
I’m worried about our true leader too. FITS, are you OK? Please check in or we’ll have to send out SLED for another cover-up secret agent mission.
By Tom September 9, 2009 at 4:15 pm
Cohen was also very soft on Jim DeMint a few weeks ago.
By Heidi September 9, 2009 at 6:31 pm
KC’s voice has grown very grating of late…no matter what he is talking about. He belittles callers who ask tough questions, like all the little Obamabots are learning to do.
Kevin — your mic has been turned off as far as I am concerned!
By BIN News Editorial Staff September 9, 2009 at 6:42 pm
sic(k) willie, “you ignorant slut.”
Our Funding Editor loves that reliable old quote from SNL because it hits sic(k) willie right where it hurts. In his credibility and his shorts.
Those are his most vulnerable areas. Actually, sic(k) willie has no credibility. But he has a lot of vulnerable areas.
Wonder why sanfraud has not agreed to appear on “Radio Free Willie.” You know. The wacko web radio show sic(k) willie pimped; that fizzled.
By Red Bank Bar September 10, 2009 at 3:44 am
Keven Cohen, Joe Wilson’s biggest buddy in the suck-up media!
By james conrad September 10, 2009 at 8:21 am
Cohen is exactly what he is a “local” radio talkshow host…did anyone expect more…LMAO…
By Workin' Tommy C September 10, 2009 at 12:00 pm
Keven Cohen’s excuse in an email to me was that he can’t get too aggressive in going after corrupt politicians because, if he does, they won’t come on to his show to be interviewed.
Keven Cohen and Brad Warthen are about the same in that regard: they chum it up with the political and other elites based on their bully pulpit. They move in circles that such pathetic souls would otherwise have no chance of ever entering.
Once they’ve made that relationship, the hard questions are out the window. They’d rather be known as Lindsey Gaham’s butt-buddy or a friend of the Governor than to actually pursue the rampant political corruption/fascism/socialism in BOTH parties. They’re taking the easy way out rather than to serve a vital political function in this state.
We saw how it all ended for Brad Warthen–couldn’t have happened to a more deserving do-nothing. He could have actually had a purpose to his life: a grand mission to stop corruption by simply investigating and publicizing the quid pro quo actions and cover-ups that are a routine part of politics in SC. Otherwise, what is a political commentator/journalist good for?
The powers that be at “Der Staat” figured out how worthless Warthen was when it came time to cut off the dead flesh in order to survive economically. Can you imagine that they would have ever done such a thing to someone with the energy and enthusiasm (no matter what you think of his politics) of a cash cow like Glenn Beck or someone else equally aggressive in ending corruption? Sorry, it would not have happened.
Warthen chose the path of social-climbing, milquetoast journalism and ultimate uselessness. Keven Cohen is following the same easy road and will meet the same fate if there is any justice in this world. And he really deserves obscurity–in spades.
By Strom's Daughter September 10, 2009 at 6:10 pm
Keven Cohen is to journalism what acne is on an ass.