Fox News Sunday's Chris Wallace Has No Plans To Kiss Up

Fox News Sunday host Chris Wallace celebrated a birthday on Monday, and sounded annoyed that Imus's wishes came a few days late.

"We wished you happy birthday on the air, we simply didn't talk to you that day," said Imus. "Why do you have to — like your father — put a negative spin on everything?"

Wallace, who just seconds earlier had congratulated the positive energy at Fox News, admitted that at 62, he often sees traces of his father Mike Wallace in himself.

The good news, Imus pointed out, is that Wallace reads at a 63-year old level. Ha ha.

So, Imus wondered, is the White House torked off at Fox News or what?

"It's a full-scale stiffing," said Wallace, who was told point-blank that no administration officials would be going on his show. Their "beef" with Wallace is the result of an August interview he did with an official from the Veterans Administration.

"She just blatantly misled us about some facts, and the following week we did a fact-check, which we do not do often," Wallace said. "Some things were true, some were completely untrue. They were outraged by that."

Instead of directing this outrage at the VA official, the White House targeted Wallace and his crew. "They were outraged that a news organization would do a fact-check about the statements of an administration official," Wallace said.

To make things easier, Imus offered this advice: "You folks need to start playing ball!"

Earlier this morning former U.S. Senator Bob Kerrey, for whom Imus has enormous respect, said he thinks President Obama should heed General Stanley A. McChrystal's recommendation to send more troops to Afghanistan. What say Wallace?

"I don't want to tick off yet another Democrat," he joked, referring to Kerrey. Imus kindly suggested his guest stop being a sissy, and answer the question.

Wallace thinks Kerrey's points are legitimate. "Think of all the women who, under our protection, have gone to school," he said. "Think of what would happen to them if the Taliban took over and we went back to the Middle Ages."

Of greater concern to Wallace is American national security, which he believes would be helped by sending more troops to Afghanistan. He pointed to the success of the Iraq surge as an example, stating that there is "a growing stability there, politically and militarily.

He noted, however, "It's never going to be Disneyland."

This Sunday, Wallace will welcome Karl Rove and Terry McAuliffe to his program, much to the I-Man's discomfort.

"I have to take a shower after seeing either on of them on television," said Imus, radiating that Fox-inspired optimism Wallace mentioned earlier.

-Julie Kanfer