Brian Williams responds to Rush L.

MSNBC: http://dailynightly.msnbc.com/2006/08/new_york_state_.h...

On the latter topic, I was taken aback somewhat by what seems to be the prevailing (70/30) opinion -- apparently echoed today by Rush Limbaugh -- that I was somehow "disrespectful" in the interview.

Several things here: While I don't know the President outside of the parameters my job, he has always shown me great kindness, we've always gotten on well, and when we parted company yesterday, he was of good cheer and seemed satisfied with our time together (and notably was in NO hurry to end the interview) as were members of the White House staff. My job, remember, is to report...ask questions...and serve as advocate for our viewers who don't get the chance to ask questions of the President themselves. Any charge of "disrespect" deservedly gets my attention, because of my profound respect for the office and its occupants. In fact, one of the topics of conversation any time I'm with the President is our shared interest in Presidential history -- which we discussed during some private time yesterday. I note that one viewer has written complaining of "unprofessionalism" in my "tone of questioning and facial expressions."

Perhaps some background will help. What we aired yesterday, and will again tonight, was a rather spontaneous, strolling interview in the hot afternoon sun in New Orleans. It was to have been taped an hour later, but the President was understandably anxious to greet the people who'd been waiting for him and Mrs. Bush in the heat -- so we gladly obliged, and things got underway very suddenly. He is, as has been widely reported in this space and elsewhere, a man who truly seems to enjoy the give-and-take and verbal "combat" that often comes with good conversation. He indicated to me more than once yesterday that he was anxious to have a robust discussion. Perhaps because the backdrop and circumstances of yesterday's interview differed so much from the norm -- the conventional presidential interview we've become used to seeing -- people saw something different that struck them as negative in some way. Asking tough questions is one thing, but I am constitutionally unable to be disrespectful around the President of the United States.

:shrug:

Thanks for printing the gist of it... still reading!!

Maybe this link will work:

http://dailynightly.msnbc.com/2006/08/new_york_state_.html#below-fold

What are these media people so afraid of?

Limbaugh each day...How's that for unbiased reporting by Williams?

and deconstruct their narratives in order to not let them go uncontested. I think something like Media Matters is extremely patriotic. Brian Williams is the least of our problems, people.

in right-wing media!

I love and support Media Matters!

www.mediamatters.org

Perhaps he tunes in to hear what people talk about around the water cooler. Not a bad idea to know what people out there are saying. And Rush is a very high profile host.

to listen to Rush everyday?

Rush Limbaugh's perception that he (BW) didn't bow and scrape to King George enough.

Jesus. Liberal media my ass.

WTF??? PEOPLE ARE BEING KILLED EVERYDAY BUT THEY THINK A FEW HARDBALL QUESTIONS TO THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE IS OVER THE LINE? I tell you I can't take much more of this.

Responding to this criticism is a back handed way of responding to the more substantive criticisms about Williams and the press going too easy on the President. This is entirely self-serving. If anything, he has been far too respectful of Bush and his office. This also allows the bullshit standard reporter response of "I made people on both sides mad so I must be doing a good balanced job!"

DETECTABLE ideological bias."

So there ya go....

pig says Brian Williams is a GOP "go to guy" says it ALL about republican Williams!

Bush deserves no honorifics nor any respect. Even if he didn't have 3 of the biggest blots on his record: 9/11 Iraq and Katrina.

perhaps he should have averted his face and whispered in dulcet tones? So now we must approach the ruler as if he were a deity?

INSANE!!!

If anything, Williams let Bush off the hook several times, but I'm kinda glad he did. When we get bogged down with book reports or that nonsense, we lose track of the war.

limbaugh, a drug addict, warmongering and yet cowardly chickenhawk, one who possibly dabbles in sex with boys in some foreign country, one who has no social life, no friends, can't keep a marriage strong and intact, can't get it up without chemical stimuli, is concerned that a professional like Brian Williams might have appeared to disprespect a fellow drug abuser and a man who deserted his military to avoid a drug test, an inside trader, a liar, a racist, and one who has total disregard for the constitution, who has failed at every endeavor his entire life. A man who only goes to New Orleans for photo ops. Yes, somebody on TV had it right, limbaugh is just a comedian.

And he continues to prove it every day.




Edit to add: Shame on BW for dignifying Pimple-Butt Oxy-Rush with a reply.

but *, both in his replies and particularly his body language was incredibly defensive. He got right in William's face on a couple of occasions and his responses were trite and repetitive, delivered in a tone that seemed both aggressive and resentful. I'd have asked him "If you're so sure you're right, why are getting so pissed off at these questions?"

I thought Brian actually PUSSYFOOTED a little. I did think he did better than I EXPECTED. But he didn't do as well as I'd HOPED.

Has seventy percent of our nation been dropped on their fucking heads????

Williams would sit smarmily on his little MSNBC cable newscast during the Clinton inquisition and refer to the office he now claims he "am constitutionally unable to be disrepectful around..." by refering to Clinton as "this President"...with a snarl in his voice and in an attempt to isolate him from all others. He reported quickly and with sarcasm all the latest gossip and right wing talking point when it came to Clinton. This hypocrite gets no quarter here. He's an example of the problem.

Booooshie didn't need Williams to look foolish...he does it every time he opens his pie hole. The big elephant in today's culture is the total disintigration of credibility and responsibility from the corporate media. A perfect example is how shameless they not only overdosed in the useless JonBennet story...but when they were proven wrong, they just move along as if nothing happened. While millions of us don't trust them, they still think they're some sewards of public trust. My hopes are those the majority of Americans are wise to this ruse or just aren't tuned in at all.

as well as it did. There were moments when Williams just had to look at the ground. Making eye contact with someone who has just offered a response that is so utterly befuddling WAS indeed a sign of respect. Someone with less respect might have looked the pResident in the eye and EXCLAIMED, "Are you kidding me!!"

In response to 9/11, American's are suffering from Taxes. The 9/11 - Tax Connection???

The 9/11 - Iraq Connection - he makes the connection, then in the same breath says that he has NEVER made the connection.

I stood up in Jackson Square - I have honored those promises. (Best we not review that speech.)

Three Shakespeares.

The morale of the troops is good.

Frankly, Williams ought to get a medal for being so respectful. However, the interview needs to be aired over and over and over again so 'Merica can see who we have in charge. It is shocking.

that he should always genuflect before the KING? :sarcasm:

lick bush's ass? Shame on you, brian williams..get with the fucking program.

disrespectful mean? I never got that in my civics class in high school or my minor in government at the university level.

his physical and psychological characteristics.

Yeah, he must.

interview of Bill Clinton, I'm sure!!

and as big of a loser as limpballs.

It is the job of journalists to challenge those in authority, not kiss their asses. That kind of attitude makes him, and many others, bad journalists.

"Journalists" have to constantly genuflect to the leader, and apologize for any apparent lack of grovelling. Don't go hunting with the VP, Mr. Williams - those apologies really sting.

What is Bush, our Fucking King?

What Would Katie Do? ............... (Couric)










(Fawn)

No matter WHAT HE SAID OR DID during his interview with Bu$h, Ru$h and his gang of scum would still find something wrong with it.

That is just how they are.