Recapping History
Election 2008

Although the excitement of the 2008 presidential election is beginning to wane, there’s a low hum underlying everyone’s political thoughts. Americans are anxious about the state of the country and people rely on the media to break the major issues. Some listen to the radio, read the newspaper or watch the evening news; others turn to the morning shows to get their dose of current events before starting the day. Brian Kilmeade, from Fox News’ Fox and Friends, helps keep viewers informed as part of their morning routines as to what’s going on in the country and the world.

Kilmeade wanted to be on television since he was a ninth-grader at Massapequa High School in Long Island. Initially, he used his extensive sports knowledge and experience—he’s a former soccer player and current soccer coach—to break into that world. When he first signed with Fox 11 years ago, he was a sports guy, hosting a weekend show on Fox News.

Then the world started getting more serious. Kilmeade recalled the war in Bosnia, the election mess of 2000 and the 9/11 attacks, and said his show went from “this is the sports guy” to being involved in the bigger stories.

Because he was so passionate about the news, covering it was an easy transition. Proving himself to others was the initial issue. “It was a gradual process; thankfully, Fox gave me the opportunity. Some people would say, ‘Too bad we only have the sports guy. Let’s wait for the news guy to come in,’ but Fox allowed me to do it,” he said.

About three years ago, Kilmeade also started his radio show Brian and the Judge that goes on air immediately after Fox and Friends. Here he covers news stories from a different perspective, working with Judge Napolitano, who Kilmeade says is like having a full-time lawyer—every story has a legal end to it. It’s during this time he’s able to give a freer opinion on the stories he covers.

Naturally, as a person heavily involved in the news, Kilmeade found himself smack in the middle of the election whirlwind. On Nov. 6, just two days after Barack Obama won the presidential election, Kilmeade was still reeling from the excitement of the election results. He joked that maybe by the time the weekend was through he’d get to relax a little bit.  Kilmeade’s concept of relaxing might involve more sleep deprivation than most of us can imagine. He wakes up at 2:30 a.m. on workdays. With two teenagers, a 12-year-old, a 7-year-old, and a 5-year-old, he’s an extremely devoted family man. His job usually allows him to hop on a 2 p.m. train home and “I actually get to pick my kids up from school,” he said. The only thing he sacrifices is sleep. He’s a big fan of double lattes.

Kilmeade, who was just as involved in the 2004 election, got to experience what made this election so different and exciting for people. “This time, Americans really got to know both players,” he said. As opposed to the 2004 focus on Iraq, the campaigns this year took voters from oil to the economy, with a little break from Georgia and Russia, according to Kilmeade. “I think Barack Obama brought a lot of excitement to it,” he added. Obama won due to circumstances involving the economy, as well as his charisma, confidence, and his ability to communicate, Kilmeade explained. He also noted Obama’s “ability to run a tight ship.” With two years of campaigning, Obama’s campaign rarely had a misstep.

Now the Republican Party is looking for leadership, Kilmeade said. Upcoming politicians, this is your time. “Barack Obama showed that you can go from nowhere to everywhere quickly if you have the right message and the right team behind you. It’s a good opportunity on the Republican side. I mean, how long is John McCain going to be the man, and at 72, how long does he want to be the dominant Republican? There’s a huge opportunity there,” Kilmeade said.

The new president doesn’t have the luxury to sit back and see how things turn out with the economy. Obama “has got to find a way to have the revenue and stability to put together all of these programs, like national health care and middle-class tax cuts,” Kilmeade said. Instead of talking down the economy, Kilmeade believes Obama is going to talk up the economy. “His message will change,” he said, “and I think he’s got everybody’s attention.”

Joe Biden warned that the world will test the new president, and while Kilmeade agrees and said we are seeing that already, he also said it’s an opportunity. “I interviewed President Bush a month ago. He told me that this job has been a blessing and I asked, even with all this stuff going on from the election, both sides criticizing you, the Katrina issue, the stock market issue? And he said it’s been unbelievable to have this responsibility.” The president added that he appreciates how lucky he has been. Kilmeade believes Obama feels the same way. “It takes a very special person to want that job,” he said.

Now, Kilmeade is looking to the country’s political and economic future, saying the next big thing is going to be the inauguration, as well as the state of the stock market leading up to the holidays. “If people are buying, things will get a little bit better; maybe things will begin to turn around.”

And Kilmeade will be there to tell the public when those stories break.