Prior to hosting this week's GOP debate, Fox News' Dana Perino recently moderated a panel at a conference sponsored by the Clinton Global Initiative, and in doing so, she made reference to “the amazing Secretary Hillary Clinton,” as Breitbart reports, ruffling conservative feathers and perhaps lending credence to accusations of liberal bias often leveled by folks such as former President Donald Trump.
News of Perino's involvement in the Clinton Foundation event comes amid criticism of the Wednesday night candidate free-for-all, which many on the right believe was, at least in part, hijacked by the left via remarks from fellow moderator ilia Calderon of Noticias Univision.
The aforementioned panel appearance at issue came during the Clinton Foundation's September gala, when Perino assumed hosting duties for a panel talk titled “Journalism on the Front Lines: How Supporting a Strong, Free Press Strengthens Democratic Societies Worldwide.”
During the event, participants spoke about the detention in Russia of reporter Evan Gershkovich, whose employer – the Wall Street Journal – has shared ownership with Perino's employer, Fox News.
It was at this panel discussion that Perino lauded the former first lady and failed presidential candidate as “the amazing Secretary Hillary Clinton,” raising eyebrows among conservative observers.
Particularly critical of Perino's remarks was commentator Jordan Schachtel, who took to Substack to express his displeasure about the debate, and that is when he also blasted the host's recent foray into Clinton world, as Mediaite reported.
“Last night's Fox News-Univision hosted debate was beyond bizarre, with the moderators at a supposedly right wing news network curiously advancing leftist talking points instead of asking questions that are relevant to conservative Americans,” Schachtel began.
He continued, “The Dossier has uncovered some information that may offer more clarity as to why that happened. It appears that at least one of the moderators on stage has a special place in her heart for the one and only Hillary R Clinton.”
Conservative pundit and podcaster Liz Wheeler was similarly irritated by the revelation about Perino's apparent words of praise for Mrs. Clinton.
“Unbelievable,” Wheeler said. “Because Fox & the RNC don't want authentically conservative politicians. They want uniparty elitists. Gross.”
Author Michael Senger joined the chorus of critics making a connection between Perino's Clinton Foundation appearance and the perceived low quality of the Republican event, saying, “Last night's GOP debate was an utter farce,” and lamenting the absence of questions direct at Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on key topics such as the pandemic response.
“It's no accident Fox hasn't asked one question about COVID – they know what they're doing. The lead moderator, Dana Perino, was at the Clinton Global Initiative last week,” Senger added.
Podcast host Josh Power echoed those sentiments, opining, “I thought Dana Perino and her team did a poor job moderating the debate last night. Seemed like they wanted a circus that would make the GOP look stupid.”
“Then I woke up this morning and read a post that she was at a Clinton Global Initiative meeting last week,” Power added, and though it is admittedly difficult to conclusively link one thing to the other to establish some sort of nefarious intent on the part of Perino, she may find it difficult to shake the feelings of suspicion and distrust these revelations have clearly engendered among many.
