NBCs Williams demonizes Reid and Pelosi (ala Republican propaganda) and put's words in Obama's mouth

[JohnWxy]

ON NBC Brian Williams, interviewing Obama just before the election (I think it was on Sunday night before the election) asked Obama how he was going to govern in a 'post partisan way' .."with Pelosi and Reid..." statement not finished - he just let the words hang in the air and stared at Obama.

Obama, being a fair minded person, went ahead and answered the loaded question saying he would be able to get people to work in a bipartisan way. The trouble is, in answering the question, Obama accepted William's implied propostion that (I guess) Reid and Pelosi are partisan or not interested in dealing in a fair way with Republicans in Congress.

I wish Obama had used the proper rules for dealing with "embedded" Republicanista journalist-provacateurs, opinion molders, and responded something like this: "Yes??,,,what is it your trying to say Brian? What's your point?" -- in other words, stop the interview right there - and force Williams to EXPLICITLY MAKE HIS POINT RATHER THAN (OBAMA, in this case) ACCEPTING THE IMPLIED PROPOSITION (in this case, that Pelosi and Reid are, what? unreasonable people who deal with Republicans in a not-in-good-faith manner? Was that your point Brian?) Then, If Williams didn't answer, and waited Obama out, Obama could have said "Well, if that's what your trying to get me to agree to Brian - one, I do not accept your premise and two, I have to ask is this an interview or are you campaigning for the Republican Party or spreading Republican propaganda? If so, I'd say the interview is over. But I'll be happy to talk to anyone from NBC who is not trying to put words in my mouth."



I realize this may sound harsh but I really think the M$M cannot be treated like the journalists they pretend to be. IF they are, in effect, Republican operatives they must be treated as such. You cannot be a willing participant in their(Republican) efforts to create an image of Democrats or demonize Democrats who are just trying to meet their responsiblities to the people who elected them. And for Democrats that's the people NOT LOBBYISTS for Corporate interests.


Just my opinion, for what it's worth.

[Mass]

1. I guess you are speaking of Reid, Senate majority leader, not of Reed, RI Senator

[JohnWxy]

5. Yes. Thanks for pointing my mispelling out. I corrected it.

[BrklynLiberal]

2. Williams is a repuke tool Wonder how he is going to pay his rent for the next 8 years.

[janedum]

4. If Williams is a repuke tool, he should be fired.

Call your local representative and ask them to pass
THE TRUTH IN BROADCASTING BILL.

[JohnWxy]

6. He will continue to faithfully spread the Republican disinformation.

What 'gets' me is he so obviously is so impressed with himself. the seriuous furrowed brow like he's a real journalist doing a real job. He's just a public relations man for the Republican party.

"How are you going to do that with REID and PELOSI........?" God damn! I would have loved to have seen Obama say: "Well, Brian, what's your point???" He should have flushed the propagandist out of his journalist cloak. (shit! Obama's and attorney - but no experience as a trial attorney, I guess. He needs some coaching from John Edwards).

Dems just are just too nice to want to get "into it" with these fake journalists, these propagandistas. They should go ahead and do it. If they do not want to interview you, then okay, let's have an argument (debate, if you prefer) then. You make your point then I get to counter it. Are they 'up' to that? Or do they want to throw implications/insinuations from the safety of a journalist disguise?

I'm sick and tired of this shit from journalist-provateurs.

[zbdent]

3. I think the last journalist turned off the lights in 1997 ...

and then a bunch of vacant airheads said "Hey, an empty room with cameras! Let's put on a show!"

[samsingh]

7. i still shudder at Brian Williams post 911 speech where he said the following about Bush

1. 'this very popular President'
2. Gone are the concerns about Bush's ability to lead the nation in times of crisis
3. Gone are the questions of the legitimacy of this President in office

williams was just making shit up.

i can't stand his voice because everytime i hear it, it reminds me of this propaganda he spouted.

[JohnWxy]

8. he really loves playing the part of the "anchor man".

[MagickMuffin]

9. Well you do know that Williams is a Limpballs fan, right

If not then you heard it here first.

So, Brian probably gets his "talking points" straight from the Limpballs mouth.

I agree with you 100% that Barack should have asked where Brian was heading with his leading question.

Funny thing about the Rethuglicons, when they lose power they are the first to start yelling bi-partisanship, but when they have the power they are the first to deny bi-partisanship. This has been happening over and over and over again. The most irritating thing to me is the Democrats always do the right thing and are bi-partisan. I would love to have the Democrats play hardball and tell the rethuglicons that there is room at the table but only if the rethuglicons want to govern instead of playing politics.

[JohnWxy]

10. you are so right (thankyou for that tip) - from Media Matters:

http://mediamatters.org/items/200501240007

WILLIAMS: I do listen to Rush. I listen to it from a radio in my office, or depending on my day, if I'm in the car, I will listen to Rush. And he will tell you I've been listening for years. I think it's my duty to listen to Rush. I think Rush has actually yet to get the credit he is due, because his audience for so many years felt they were in the wilderness of this country. No one was talking to them.

<...>

Rush said to millions of Americans, you have a home. Come with me. For three hours a day you can listen and hear the like-minded calling in from across the country, and I'll read to you things perhaps you didn't see that are out there. I think Rush gave birth to the FOX News Channel. I think Rush helped to give birth to a movement. I think he played his part in the Contract with America. So I hope he gets his due as a broadcaster.

Here are some examples of Limbaugh's commentary, for which Williams apparently thinks Limbaugh has "yet to get the credit he is due." He has:

compared U.S. guards' torture of Iraqis at Abu Ghraib prison to a fraternity prank, saying the guards were "having a good time," "blow some steam off" ;

claimed that women "actually wish" for sexual harassment, and said he "laughed self to tears" when Media Matters for America documented that remark and other sexist remarks he has made ;

said: "Hugo, Cesar -- whatever. A Chavez is a Chavez. We've always had problems with them." ;

stated, when African American Reverend Jesse Jackson joined Senator John Kerry's presidential campaign: "The Kerry campaign has finally gotten a chocolate chip"; University of Maryland political science professor Ronald Walters described Limbaugh's comment as a "backhanded racist remark" ;

said: "John Kerry really doesn't think 3,000 Americans dead in one day is that big a deal" ; and
said Democrats believe "the more deaths in Iraq the better" .


Before his promotion, Williams hosted several other NBC news programs, including The News with Brian Williams on MSNBC and CNBC, where Limbaugh was a frequent guest. On September 24, 2002, Williams introduced a News segment on a speech made by former Vice President Al Gore by observing: "ur friend Rush Limbaugh told his radio listeners he almost stayed home from work, not due to any health reasons, but because he was so livid at the speech given yesterday by former Vice President Al Gore criticizing the Bush administration's apparent march to war in Iraq." Williams asked, "Is it un-American to speak out against the Bush plan to take on Iraq? Is it democratic to ridicule and threaten those who do?"

(more) ...good reading, with links.


NOW I KNOW BRIAN WILLIAMS IS A JERK - A BRAINLESS JERK! HE'S NO BETTER THAN A BARBARA WALTERS!

[urgk]

11. It's a fair question.

The implication seems to be that with Pelosi, Reed and Obama there is the possibility of partisan government. I think and hope that that IS the case.

If Williams is right-leaning, this certainly doesn't seem to be the evidence I'd use to damn him for it.

[JohnWxy]

12. I don't care if he is Right-leaning - I want him to keep it out of his so-called newscasting.

IF he wants to make a point (that Reid and Pelosi are partisans(?)) then he should be required to do so EXPLICITLY - not through implication.

If he wants to make that point then he and the person he is supposed to be interviewing can debate whether his contention is well founded or not.

The point is he was implying a point rather than coming out and saying it. that's what i criticize M$M for. they are usually implying Republican positions are the accepted views of reality or in this case advancing the Republican campaign to demonize Reid and Pelosi.

I hardly think you can call them partisan since they put the cabosh on the move to impeach Bush. I'd say they are bending over backwards for the REpublicans - in order to get things accomplished in Congress.

Reid and Pelosi disagree with Republicans on many issues THAT DOES NOT MEAN THEY ARE INORDINATELY PARTISAN OR UNWILLING TO WORK WITH REPUBLICANS. THEY ARE DEMOCRATS NOT REPUBLICANS.