On MTP, Gregory allowed Mehlman to peddle falsehoods, attacks on Democrats

[madfloridian]

David Gregory really did let Mehlman off easy, and he was pretty tough on Howard Dean. Dean held his own, but David let Mehlman get away with a lot of stuff instead of calling him on it.

http://mediamatters.org/items/200608150001

"Summary: Interviewing Republican National Committee chairman Ken Mehlman on Meet the Press, David Gregory allowed Mehlman's false claims to go unchallenged, and Gregory himself suggested that if Sen. Joseph Lieberman won re-election, it could "expose the Democratic Party as divided and weak."

In interviewing Republican National Committee chairman Ken Mehlman on the August 13 broadcast of NBC's Meet the Press, guest host and NBC News chief White House correspondent David Gregory allowed Mehlman's false claims to go unchallenged. Additionally, Gregory himself suggested that if Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (CT) -- currently an independent candidate for Senate after losing the Democratic primary -- wins re-election, it could "expose the Democratic Party as divided and weak."

Mehlman: Democrats "oppose efforts to surveil" terrorists

Mehlman asserted that Democrats "oppose efforts to surveil the enemy." When Gregory later asked him to comment on "the Bush record on national security," Mehlman questioned Democrats' ability to protect the country from terror, asking: "How are we going to be safer as these movements go forward ... if we can't surveil them and figure out what they're doing?" Mehlman also suggested that in the upcoming congressional elections, Americans will elect Republican candidates because "I don't think they want to weaken the surveillance" of terrorists.

But as Media Matters for America noted when Mehlman made similar claims, the assertion that Democrats "oppose" the surveillance of terrorists is a straw man, "a made-up version of an opponent's argument that can easily be defeated."

More at the link, and there is contact info. If we don't keep up the barrage on the ones who spin constantly, we don't have a chance.

[ChiciB1]

1. Well, Having Seen Mehlman In Action.... It's Hard To Get ANY

word in while he's interrupting! He aggravates me to death, I just turn him off. But Gregory HAS been pretty wimpy lately!

[Warpy]

5. That's no excuse

for not insisting he back up his utter garbage. I've heard him and his rapid fire lies can and should be identified as such by any interviewer worth air time. A quiet but well enunciated "That's a lie, Ken," would be sufficient.

Since no interviewer EVER has the decency to challenge that lying sack of shit, no interviewer is worth my time and trouble to watch. Their sponsors can look elsewhere if they want to sell me cars or insurance or whatever they're peddling.

If you love what those sycophants are doing to the country, by all means keep watching. If you don't, deny their sponsors a target audience by switching them OFF.

There are old movies out there, yanno.

[sallyseven]

2. I think your wrong. I didn't come away with that

feeling. I always think Gregory is better than Timmy and I think he does a credable job.

[madfloridian]

3. I was quoting Media Matters. I posted their words.

Mehlman did not get called on anything. Dean got the usual "but Governor Dean...are you sure" like David could not trust him.

[ChiciB1]

4. I Said "Lately" He's Been A Little Wimpy!

And one on one against Timmy.... not contest! I've seen Gregory on other shows and he does seem to lean left.

I was really talking about Mehlman mostly. I suppose Gregory will come through again. I don't like his time change and I don't watch him as much as I did before. But then I don't watch much of CNN either!

[Donna Zen]

6. I watched this and was horrified

Dean did a very good job btw.

Gregory didn't Mehlman on anything. Mehlman kept using the phrase "cut and run." No Democrat is proposing cut and run, that's nothing but a damn bumper sticker. Dems want an exit strategy, and as an extra bonus, maybe a strategy for regaining a little dignity.

Mehlman was flame throwing, and Gregory did zip.

[I_Make_Mistakes]

7. I actually think Gregory does a decent job, but I caught him use

the Democrat instead of Democratic slip in one place. I started me wondering.

I used to think impornant was a Repub word, until I heard Bill Moyers say it, it must be a Southern thing, so, maybe the Democrat thing is too?