The author of a harsh expose on "nasty" Hillary Clinton appeared on MSNBC, Wednesday, and made his charges against the Democrat. The Cycle hosts grilled Ronald Kessler about his claim that Secret Service agents think Mrs. Clinton is "the worst." They also ignored his allegation that Bill Clinton is having an affair with a mistress known as "the energizer. [1]"
Promoting his book The First Family Detail, Kessler proclaimed, "Behind the scenes, [Hillary Clinton is] so nasty to her own Secret Service agents, who are there to protect her and even lay down their lives for her, that, she – being assigned to her detail is considered the worst assignment detail in the Secret Service." [MP3 audio here [2].] He added an assertion not often heard on liberal MSNBC: "That's something people should consider as well as track record when they elect a president."
Host Krystal Ball chided, "How are you confident when you make an allegation like that about Hillary? How are you confident in that sourcing?" Ball, a former Democratic congressional candidate, followed-up:
KRYSTAL BALL: How do you respond to the Washington Post, for example, who says that you milk the agents for the juiciest gossip and get it mixed with a rambling list of their complaints and that this is National Enquirer style gossip?
Abby Huntsman, the daughter of liberal Republican Jon Huntsman huffed, "As a politician's daughter, I have to say, anonymous sources can mean a number of things."
Kessler pointed out that two-thirds of his sourcing is on the record. He then zinged the Post: "Remember, Watergate was all done with anonymous sources."
None of the hosts mentioned the author's allegations that Mr. Clinton's latest mistress is named "the energizer [3]" by Secret Service agents. ABC has highlighted Kessler's contention that Joe Biden likes to swim in the nude, but ignored the latest on the former president.
A partial transcript of the August 6 Cycle segment is below:
3:39
ABBY HUNTSMAN: Well, there's a new book out about the people who protect our leaders. The First Family Detail Secret Service agents reveals the hidden lives of the presidents. And while there are many titillating excerpts, we're going to concentrate here on specifically the Secret Service, Washington and the kind of reporting about both. Veteran journalist Ronald Kessler wrote the book and is with us now.
...
3:40
RONALD KESSLER: I really am more interested in just telling the truth. And that's what I do in this book. So it impugns Democrats. It impugns Republicans. It has flattering stuff about both sides. And that's just the truth. I think it's important for people to know about the character of the people who represent us and who are our leaders. You know, they parade on TV. They smile. They project an image, such as Hillary does of being compassionate and being a champion of the little people. But yet, behind the scenes, she's so nasty to her own Secret Service agents, who are there to protect her and even lay down their lives for her, that, she – being assigned to her detail is considered the worst assignment detail in the Secret Service. That's something people should consider as well as track record when they elect a president. On the other hand, Barack Obama treats his agents very well, with respect. So there's stuff on both sides in this book.
KRYSTAL BALL: Now, Ronald, how are you confident when you make an allegation like that about Hillary? How are you confident in that sourcing?
KESSLER: Well, first of all, I broke the fact that the Secret Service agents were hiring prostitutes in Colombia and were being sent back. So, I think, that tells you what kind of sources I have. But also, a lot of the material is on the record. About two-thirds of the book is on the record. There are a number of on-the-record quotes from agents who were on Hillary's detail about how nasty she is.
BALL: Okay. How do you respond to the Washington Post, for example, who says that you milk the agents for the juiciest gossip and get it mixed with a rambling list of their complaints and that this is National Enquirer style gossip?
KESSLER: You know, It's just the opposite. It's, as I said, on the record, truthful reporting. You know, it's not gossip to report when people like Joe Biden, for example, don't -- will not have the nuclear football in the mornings in Wilmington, which is just scandalous. I mean, it puts us all at risk. That's not gossip. That's a very serious expose.
...
HUNTSMAN: As a politician's daughter, I have to say, anonymous sources can mean a number of things. Interesting stuff though, nonetheless. Ronald Kessler, thank you so much for being here.
KESSLER: But two thirds of it is on the record. And, remember, Watergate was all done with anonymous sources.
HUNTSMAN: Thank you so much for being here. We appreciate it.
— Scott Whitlock is Senior News Analyst at the Media Research Center. Follow Scott Whitlock on Twitter. [4]