Fox 9′s Heidi Collins raises eyebrows for ‘insanely hostile’ interview with Mark Ritchie

Collins was simply trying to get Ritchie to answer Tony Sutton’s charge that he was connected to ACORN and Ritchie implied that there was none. But if you google “Mark Ritchie Acorn” you get this:

” … Ritchie has credited his own political career in large part to an obscure, Soros-funded group called the Secretary of State Project (SoS), whose express purpose is to seed state election bureaucracies nationwide with partisan activists — Ritchie among them — who are strategically positioned to influence the outcome of close recounts like the one now underway in Minnesota.”

http://www.newsmax.com/InsideCover/acorn-mark-ritchie/2008/12/22/id/327265

Sutton is right to suggest that the accidental discovery of 400,000 phantom ballots in Hennepin county for example, don’t pass the smell test and an unbiased press would agree. In fact, the actions of Heidi Collins reflect those of a reporter who’s doing her job while those who question her aggressivness and ask us to “moveon” are not.

What is it about that Newsmax article that’s untrue, Paul?

Collins seemed to be looking for a confrontation. Peple trying to filibuster over an interviewer typical increase their volume a bit, but Ritchie didn’t. They also talk fast and avoid pausing, and Ritchie didn’t do that either. That suggests he couldn’t hear her very well. Collins ought to know by now how those remote interviews work, but she moved immediately into getting patronizing.

The article you linked says someone who worked for ACORN gave $500 to Ritchie. Those are the “ties to ACORN” you are talking about?

The article also implies that registering people to vote is a bad thing, so take it as you will.

Ritchie didn’t get 100% of the vote! I guess she put him in his place.

Sounds like our local Fox affiliate has decided to join hands with the rabid-right-wing Fox non-news network. Sad… I loved Robin. This is how they replace her?

Pretty scary interview… very unprofessional. Definitely a big step down for Robyn.

Mark Ritchie is a good public servant — I don’t know anyone else in this state who could remain so calm under such crazy circumstances. He has gotten death threats over the last big recount (Franken vs. Coleman) that has been lauded for being an extremely thorough, fair process. I am so glad I missed this interview — I am not interested in raising my blood pressure over smear campaigns.

No Dennis,
Heidi was not “simply trying to get Mark to answer the question”, she was going into her full-on Right-wing-rhetoric. It was as plain as day.
She didn’t give him a chance to answer, definitely didn’t listen to his answers, and asked such stupid questions that it was a total embarrassment.

If Fox9 News wants to be like FOX news… well, they’ve got a good head start this this woman. Oh, and FOX news isn’t really news… just so we can be clear here.

Won’t watch this woman again.
Sorry Fox9, Heidi Collins really blew it and this is her “homecoming”…. Sheeez!

Robin will find herself very unpopular if she’s going to bring a cable news mentality to the Twin Cities. No thank you!

Andy, you do excellent work. Keep it up. Perhaps there should be a Heidi Collins Watch blog.

Minnesota is changing and here are two examples of that. Mark Richie is the calm competent example of the old Minnesota. This woman, and people like Michelle Bachmann, are examples of the new. They are rude ignorant people and they are ruining this state. I am still shocked that we, of all the states in the Union, had a major bridge colapse. A direct result of no new tax, right wing polocies push by short sighted ignorant “new” Minnesotans. We had one of the best state park systems in the country, we had some of the best schools in the country, we always survived economic down turns slightly better than the rest of the country. We were “above average.” If this turn to the right continues we’ll have to look up to see mediocre.

Mark Ritchie way to keep your composure you are a true professional. Heidi Collins your an unprofessional ” IDIOT ” and it showed!! 1 less Fox viewer here that’s not new’s that’s ” TMZ ” tabloid bull! But nice try

When Heidi Collins leaves the news desk and runs for political office on the GOP ticket, then you can say that Fox 9 News is once again a biased a news organization.

Collins didn’t blink at Sutton’s ridiculous accusation that Ritchie is an ACORN activist, or that after being elected and reelected Richie really does not “just happen to be” Secretary of State. He is there by the will of the people, in the finest tradition of democracy. He does not deserve such condescending treatment, especially from a new-hire.

She stepped on him every time he tried to point out that the voters approved of his handling of the last election by reelecting him on Tuesday.

She also threw in a biased comment implicitly attacking Hennepin County’s integrity just to support the right-wing conspiracy propaganda.

Finally, she attacks him for his competence. It is his job to be prepared for the possibility of recounts, just as it is his job to be prepared for problems that might crop up.

Of course the whole right-wing voter intimidation thing was never mentioned even though that made headlines too.

I used to think that the FOX bias was limited to the national personalities. At least that is what I heard. I don’t really watch Fox9 news, but after this I do not intend to.

Heidi Collins is a modern day bully – hostile, arrogant, argumentative and insinuating all things negative with no facts. She has abused and demeaned her professional duties with such a reckless, unprofessional and biased show of emotion. Her lack of credibility and fairness speaks to her poor judgment and performance.

Yeah, so what’s the difference again between Fox News, the national network, and their local Twin Cities news operation? They look pretty much the same to me.

I liked watching the local Fox news when it was Robyne Robinson and Jeff Passolt. I even like Marne Hughes and Jeff Passolt doing the news, and the local morning show with Tom, Alix and Keith. However, Heidi Collins projects some serious bitchiness when I hear her read the news, and she definitely came across as pro Republican during their election coverage. I can’t watch any newscast with her on it now. Her interviews come across as if she’s interrogating someone. Get her off the air now before you lose a lot more viewers than just me.

It is possible to file complaints with Fox9 about this; they are required to keep them in their public file. It might be possible to challenge their broadcast license. This is one reason to bring the Fairness Doctrine back!

Collins seems to be shooting for a national broadcast gig as a Fox opinionator.

Did she pass the audition with the Mark Ritchie interview?

Between Collins and the always hyper-partisan Mr. Sutton, every day until the governor’s race is resolved seems just a bit longer and darker.

I feel for the people of Minnesota if your journalists and politicians continually jump between those two careers. What chance do you have of ever getting the straight story when the 4th estate has a conflict of interest with the outcome?

Take it down, Collins.

“I ask, you answer. OK?”
Lady, the answer has an end. Let him get to it before asking the next question.

It seems like she wants people to know her questions, without caring about the answers to them.

Take it down, Collins.

Terrible, terrible interview – such disrespect. I generally liked Heidi Collins when she was with CNN. What on earth was she thinking? Ritchie wasn’t asking questions (Heidi: I ask the questions), he was trying to complete a point and wasn’t going on and on as so many politicos do. Heidi, Fox is pretty low ball to start with when it comes to nasty politics, now you’ve set an (even lower) new standard. Toooo Bad…

Very rude, biased interview. Unprofessional to say the least. I will not watch Fox 9 as long as she is part of their team.

“You told me that it seemed like you were ready for this, prepared for this type of thing to happen. I think if voters hear that right now, they’re going to be saying, ‘What? Are you kidding me? You knew this was going to happen again? You were prepared for it?’”

For that alone she should be fired for incompetence. It’s an insult to all Minnesotans.

I say all who disliked Heidi Collins handling of the interview should write-in and call Fox 9 to complain. Here’s the weblink to send comments:
http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/subindex/about_us/contact_us

As Neal Justin pointed out, it would’ve been preferable to have Mark Ritchie seated near Heidi when she was asking the questions for the ebb and flow, and ease of talking to a person instead of into a camera (for the interviewee). But then it probably wouldn’t have looked as good for her future interview “demo” tape for the national Fox “news” channel & it’s harder to be confrontational when looking directly at someone’s face.

Way to go Heidi. Its about time someone exposes this left wing hack. There is no way Franken would have won that recount without help from Ritchie. If all the votes that were cast would have been counted without courts and lawyers picking and choosing Colemans lead could not have been erased. So here we go again.

If I was Ritchie I would have said no. See ya later. She was very very rude and now I will not watch channel 9 anymore, still have to watch fox national news on cable. She did not have to talk like she was talking to a child. She needs to apologize for the way she talked to him at that point. She could have just said Mr Ritchie, can we keep this on track, thank you. Not I ask you answer, yes. I had to listen to it a few times, he did ramble on away from the question but you just don’t add the unprofessional attitude that she did. I think she must have had a bad day and just let it out on him.

Easy to see Fox has planted a venomous wing nut at their Twin Cities affiliate. Never liked her at CNN. Saw examples of this condescending, ill-informed right wing attitude of hers. Beside the fact that she is just not very likable, I suspect that CNN dumped her because she crossed the line like this on other occasions.

As for Tony (Balony) Sutton, Acorn, really? Is it Mark Ritchie’s fault that it was a close election? Rest assured, Mark Ritchie has three times the integrity of Tony-Balony.

I used to watch Fox news. This is it. I’m done. Never again.

I don’t feel there was a delay issue. She was loaded for bear and just wanted to make Ritchie look bad. Tie him to the Acorn boogieman. It’s sad to see she is from here. But college in Maryland from the U of Maryland with a degree in journalism. She works her way up to CNN, now she at the channel 9 Twin CIties juggernaut. How is it that she graduates Moundsview HS in 85 and earns the Journalism degree from Maryland 93. The 8 year program for the 4 year degree? I think a person from Alaska took the same journalism degree path program.

I use to watch Fox LOCAL NEWS.

Hate isn’t an important part in my life. If you can’t asked questions that are interesting

and stop accusing whoever you are interviewing, what is the object?

Carol Curry

You’re completely WRONG about the 2008 recount. The right candidate won, get over it.

The Minnesota Supreme Court, and even Coleman’s lawyers, among many others, are on the record stating that the recount was handled correctly and the correct person won.

Those are the simple facts Michael. Look ‘em up.

I’m horrified by this interchange. Heidi Collins is rude and unprofessional. Who raised this child? She does herself and Fox News a grave disservice. She doesn’t belong in Minnesota and she doesn’t belong on television. Fire her. Thanks to Susan for posting tis link for complaints to Fox News: http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/subindex/about_us/contact_us. I’ll be sending my comments to them.

Wow, what a crazy bitch. She shouldn’t be allowed on tv. I’m done with channel 9 news.

Same thing happened on an MPR interview between the two Attorney General candidates. The Repbublican candidate just kept saying “Acorn, Acorn, Acorn”, while Lori Swanson calmly explained what she’s done for the State.

I think she belongs on the Jason Lewis show… not a local news channel…

G’bye Heidi… don’t let the door hit you on the way out!

ACORN is a dog whistle. The fact that a so-called journalist would even bring it up as a credible allegation – after all that has been done to prove that ACORN never did anything wrong – affirms that she is biased, unprofessional, and most likely racist. It disgusts me that she has a job when so many deserving people are out of work.

I’ve been all over trying to find a place to express my dislike for your new news anchor, Heidi Collins. She is very impersonal, has a horrible voice, talks over people and thinks she should be constantly talking even though she usually doesn’t have anything to say.

I forgot to add – I really like Marni Hughes. Please retain her as 9 and 10 and I’ll continue to watch your news.

i would have thought that any insane (insanely hostile) interview would have to include Dayton?

I would like to underline the pattern we’re seeing here.

As someone above pointed out, we’re seeing the emergence of a strange beast–a conservatism that’s angry, belligerent, deeply ignorant, prone to see the world through conspiracies and dark plots. It’s absolutely incapable of critical thought and grows angry when its illusions are challenged.

Just look at the above comments. Here we have Dennis (through the pseudo news site NewsMax) suggesting that billionaire George Soros is behind some dark conspiracy to steal elections. Another poster, Michael Vadnais, asserts that Franken’s win was illegitimate, the product of a left wing conspiracy to steal the election. And of course, there is the omnipresent, awesomely powerful ACORN (a cabal of liberals/leftists/communists/fascists?–they’re all the same thing, of course) secretly working behind the scenes, pulling the strings of power.

Part of our society has slipped into a kind of death of the mind where hints become facts, conspiracies become truth simply because they make a complex world simple, common differences between people become grave threats, and the kind of reasoned, deliberate, thoughtful discourse necessary for a democracy is no longer tolerated since angry yelling and blustering is all that the fearful, ignorant and paranoid seem to know how to do anymore.

She is a “c” word. What a b!t@#

Heidi Collins sucks. Tony Sutton is a fat piece of shit. Again, a fat piece of shit.

”
Part of our society has slipped into a kind of death of the mind where hints become facts, conspiracies become truth simply because they make a complex world simple, common differences between people become grave threats, and the kind of reasoned, deliberate, thoughtful discourse necessary for a democracy is no longer tolerated since angry yelling and blustering is all that the fearful, ignorant and paranoid seem to know how to do anymore.
”

That just needed to be repeated.

“That just needed to be repeated.”

Here here.

Im glad someone is asking tough questions. Tossing softballs is a waste of time. She may have been a little rude but Ritchie needs to directly tell voters about his connections to Soros and some of his left-wing groups that want to “collapse America and build a new world order.”

@Dave

All Republicans are ignorant fear mongers. All Democrats are weakling money grubbers.

It’s easier than ever to play Online Politics. PLUS! If you call now, we’ll throw in our comprehensive guide to online debating entitled, “The Internet and You: A Beginners Guide to Worthless Arguments and Ramble Rousing.”

Maybe Sutton has a glandular condition…

If every democrat needs to start defending any connection to Soros, then it’s time that Republicans and Tea Partiers start defending their relationship to David and Charles Koch.

Very interesting discussion. It appears that Minneapolis (Henn Co.) is looking more like a Chicago type “democratic machine”. It doesn’t matter how the election is run as long as the democrate wins.

Sounds like the Heidi I know!!! If you know her personally, you know that she treats all people like dog meat. She believes, religiously, that she is better than everyone. I mean, she actually thinks she is a superior breed. Finally, the world sees what I have known all along!

Just saw this today. She’s always sportin’ tude. Haven’t liked her from the first time I saw her. I’ve always turned the channel when I see her face pop up on the screen.