Charley Gibson & Brian Williams Trying to Defend Media From Scotty's Book

[EV_Ares]

"On 'The Early Show,' ABC's Charles Gibson said he think 'the media did a pretty good job' before the Iraq invasion: 'We were not given access to get into the country to go along with the inspectors. But the questions were asked. It's convenient now to blame the media.'

NBC's Brian Williams said you have to take into account the 'post-9/11' mindset."

Link to entire article: http://www.politico.com/playbook/

[kentuck]

1. I remember clearly..

They were cheerleaders. They questioned nothing.

[spanone]

2. hey williams, you remember judy miller?

[BeyondGeography]

3. Pathetic...as if the post "9/11 mindset" meant we had to throw history out the window

and suspend reality.

Not that our self-satisfied media will squirm in the least about this...

[PCIntern]

4. Post 9/11 rimjob...

is more like it.

[blm]

5. Right guys - your coverup for Bush on ToraBora was a prime example - questioning Kerry's integritry

on that instead of the integrity of those from Bush WH and Pentagon who lied to you about it for over two years. You acted as if Kerry's charge was just 'political' posturing, because no way would Rove and Tommy Franks lie to you, eh?

Media covered up for Bush on Plame outing, too. They knew damn well that Rove was lying for the WH the entire time, but allowed him the room to run as a WH steeped in straightforward talk and truthfulness.

The media's duty was to their owners who needed Bush protected for the favorable legislation they expected from a second term of BushInc. They knew a President Kerry would NOT allow their expansion, as he already sent his disapproval to the senate floor in June 2003.

The media is FULL of Bushprotecting liars cashing HUGE PAYCHECKS as they protect BushInc and his fascist media alliance.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

6. Charlie Gibson has that same constipated look as Brit Hume

He must have taken constipation lessons from the constipation master, Brit.

[navarth]

7. Lying Cowardly Bastards All

They'll be trying to re-write history. May they fail miserably. They're ALL COMPLICIT.

[bdamomma]

8. and just one thing, in all the 8 years of *

the media has never been liberal. that is total BS, the media went totally corporate and protected *'s a$$, especially the rallying call of an invasion on another country. when this filthy administration started shock and awe, they portrayed it as a wonderful thing. God, how disgusting and shameful.

[Marr]

9. The invasion began in 2003. How long is that "post 911 mindset" supposed to last, anyway?

I mean, I frankly do understand the irrational jingoism that took place for a week or even a month after the attacks. An adult-- let alone a professional-- could collect their senses in fairly short order. These people were actively helping to promote lies, and just ignoring the gaping holes in the administration's story.

[Supersedeas]

10. it is convenient to blame the 'post-9/11' mindset

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

11. Couric differed and said it was "one of most embarrassing chapters in American journalism

http://www.politico.com/playbook/

Katie Couric clearly disagreed with Gibson, calling the run-up to the war “one of the most embarrassing chapters in American journalism”: “Our responsibility is sometimes to go against the mood of the country and ask hard question.”

Couric was also on the Today Show this morning with Williams and Gibson and I posted about it here
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=3349860&mesg_id=3349860

[gatorboy]

12. She sure changed her tune.

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/09/28/couric-on-iraq/

This week, Couric spoke at the National Press Club with host Marvin Kalb to discuss “Democracy and the Press.” Couric explained that her goal in Iraq was to appear neutral and avoid “a Walter Cronkite moment,” as she put it:

Is it my job to go over and say this war is terrible and withdrawal is necessary? I don’t necessarily think that is the case. … I don’t necessarily feel that unless there is a clear cut factual element to it. … I have never really saw it as my role, unless something is really egregious and without question wrong.

Kalb rebutted Couric’s assertions, charging that she offered only neutered judgments about the status on the ground and missed an opportunity to critically assess the situation in Iraq:

You offered only one judgment about the war. And you cushioned that by the way. You said, “There are definitely areas where the situation is improving.” Fine. But you then asked nine questions, nine important questions about Iraq. But you didn’t even make an effort to answer them. … You have been there. You’re an anchor every night. You’ve seen the material that flows into you. Surely on some of those nine issues, you must have had a strong feeling.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

13. It might be a guess on my part, but I think her tenure with CBS will be coming to a close

and she is finally deciding to open up.

People, even Democrats couldn't believe she was pimping the Shrub administration because she was reportedly a Democrat from a strong Democratic family. Her sister, who passed away young, was involved deeply in Democratic politics. I figure the "access" to the WH and paycheck lured Couric away from being a truthteller, and now, unfettered from the pressure of her bosses (if she is indeed losing her job), is now finding the "courage" and is speaking out.

[LynnTheDem]

14. Which "media" did a "pretty good job"? The WH-paid military stooges?

Yeah they did a "pretty good job", alright. Just like Brownie.

[Oilwellian]

16. My first thought as well

The "leftwing media" sure has been quiet about that little scandal, eh?

[gratuitous]

15. Lauer interviewing Russert on Today

I thought, "Boy, now this is going to be a hard-hitting segment," and I wasn't disappointed. Matt and Tim moved into absolution mode from the get-go, and generously let each other and all their media brethren and cistern off the hook. The most revealing comment, though, was the set up for one of Lauer's questions, where he mentioned some of the damaging things McClellan said in his book, damaging things that we've been screaming at them for years. Lauer ran through a short list, then said, "This isn't MoveOn.org saying these things . . ."

After I reassembled my head, it occurred to me that this comment said everything that needed to be said about the media's predictable reaction to McClellan's book, and that is, that even though they've heard these things for years, they haven't seen fit to bring them to the public's attention, or question the Bush administration's patent lies, or evince any skepticism whatsoever. Why? Because it was the dirty fucking hippies that were bringing it to their attention in the media. And for whatever reason, whether it's because they didn't like the message or the messenger or they hadn't found it first, they declined to report on the sins of the Bush administration for years and years, and now they're evincing surprise at McClellan's book. The surprise, however, isn't about the meat of what he said, it's that he broke the cone of silence around the Bush administration. Again. The big question in the media's mind seems to be not "Is all of this true?" but rather, "Why is McClellan telling us all this?"

[KharmaTrain]

17. Plausible Deniability

Yep...the "gatekeepers" of the "librul" media are sure on the job aren't they? :sarcasm:

Williams has always been a GOOP tool...just recently he slobbered all over himself over how a "war hero" Gramps was and how he listens to Rushbo and other right wing screamers...where he surely gets his talking points from. He used to irk the hell out of me during the Clinton inquisition as you could hear his hatred drip in each report he gave...and then would go on Imus and yuk it up with the hyenas there over another lame Clinton or Kerry or Gore joke.

Gibson...don't even get me started on that right wing shill...for years I couldn't tell him and Britt Fumes apart.

All the networks were onboard for the invasion...and in spades. There were ratings to grab...and big ones. Their worst nightmare was a last minute settlement...they were gung-ho to show those great battle scenes and chant "USA, USA"...be damned with what the world thought. There were also the big no-bid contracts companies like GE and others got in the "rebuilding"...war is good for the bottom line.

The saving grace here is that these stenographers are being looked at due to the rise of the Internet and that they're losing their ability to both control and manipulate "the news". Instead of admitting they wanted this invasion...and for their own profit...they just shrug their shoulders and pretend they were duped like the rest of us.

[ProfessorGAC]

18. The Professor Says "You Have To Take Into Account. . ."

". . .Brian Williams' mindset." What a tool.
The Professor