Couric Stumped by Dignified Father of Fallen Marine; W Portrayed as Having Big 9/11 Problem

[governsleastgovernsbest]

A triple-header of interesting segments on Today this morning. The most notable was Katie Couric's interview with the father of a young Marine who was just killed in Iraq.

There is something inherently grotesque about this kind of interview. We all know that Couric is bitterly opposed to the war in Iraq and above all to the Bush administration. If she were honest, she would say to the father "don't you realize that your son died in vain?"

But of course she doesn't dare do that. So instead she tries to draw out the most maudlin, heart-rending details of the loss. "How did you hear about it?" "What details do you have about how your son died?"

To his eternal credit, the father, Kirk Morris, would not provide Katie the kind of Bush-bashing fodder she was hoping for.

To the contrary, he said that his son Jeffrey "knew why he was there." He stated that his son's life had not been taking a good path until he joined the Marines, and that the Marines had turned Jeffrey into "the perfect son."

Katie quoted from a letter Jeffrey had sent home from Iraq, in which he told his family that even if he didn't come home, he knew that he was "fighting for the Iraqi people to choose their government, it was a huge injustice for them to be suppressed for 30 years."

Still, Katie persisted in trying to jerk as many tears as she could from the situation. "Jeffrey left behind five little brothers and sisters. How are they dealing with loss?"

Although Mr. Morris had already given sufficient indication that he would not be used for Katie's propaganda purposes, she closed with final question hoping for something to use against President Bush.

"In closing, the country is so conflicted about Iraq. How do you feel about situation in Iraq?"

A. "I think government made best decision it could based on facts it had. I support government and the troops."

I find it despicable that she would even seek to conduct these kind of interviews. Leave them to someone, if there is such a person at NBC, who doesn't think soldiers and their families are chumps.

The interview with Mr. Morris was preceded by a reasonable interview by Matt Lauer of Paul Bremer, US administrator in Iraq.

Lauer did ask one tough question: "We expected opposition from the Sunnis, who are Saddam loyalists, but recently we have seen violent uprisings by Shi'ias. So if Sunnis and Shi'as hate us who are our friends?"

Bremer's answer: "The 90% of Iraqis who support democracy."

As to the situation with Al-Sadr, the radical Sh'ia cleric, Bremer said "this is not a Shi'ia uprising, it is an illegal militia that has attacked Iraqis above all."

Q. "There are reports that Iraqi police have been hesitant to act. How can we be confident in turning over power to that force if they are unwilling to carry out their duties?"

A. "We will take measures against those police who fail to act."

Finally, there was a "pre-game show" for Condi's appearance before the 9/11 Commission.

Reporter David Gregory served as an apt DNC shill. The premise of his report was that W was in a deep hole as a result of the Clarke testimony. Thus Gregory portrayed Condi as "the Bush administration's best hope to answer credibility questions that have come up regarding issue of whether Bush administration did enough to prevent 9/11. They hope her testimony will neutralize what could be a major problem for a President who likes to portray himself as a war-time president."

Note the sarcasm, note the implicit assumption that Clarke has damaged the President's credibility, note the way he tries to portray W as being on the ropes.

Even in a sea of liberal reporters, Gregory consistently distinguishes himself for sheer partisanship.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Please see #40.

[syriacus]

Thanks for the summary of the show. I like to know what happened, but I like to protect my blood pressure, too.

[Bat_Chemist]

After that interview, I'm thinking of printing a new bumper sticker:

"Boycott Katie Couric. Communist, traitor, b!tch."

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Please let me know by post or private message if you would like to be added to or removed from my Today Show ping list.

[COUNTrecount]

Katie just did a segment on the recent findings that very young children should not be allowed to watch tv because it rewires their brains and may cause ADD and hyperactivity in later life.

She just saw her future core audience diminish radically.

[SquirrelKing]

Reporter David Gregory served as an apt DNC shill. The premise of his report was that W was in a deep hole as a result of the Clarke testimony. Thus Gregory portrayed Condi as "the Bush administration's best hope to answer credibility questions that have come up regarding issue of whether Bush administration did enough to prevent 9/11. They hope her testimony will neutralize what could be a major problem for a President who likes to portray himself as a war-time president."

Funny, most polls (for what they're worth) show otherwise: Poll: Bush' s Approval Rating Remains High Despite Clarke's Claims

[mrtysmm]

Thank you for posting this. As usual...duty above and beyond! NBC tries so hard to undermine the President. As I see it, cutie Couric is not making any headway. She has exposed herself time and time again as a Bush-hater and I don't think anyone relies on her for credibility.

[InvisibleChurch]

why are you or anyone surprised by what jerks these people can be? they are who they are and have no interest in a truth or opinion that doesn't serve their agenda ...

[stayathomemom]

I hate these types of interviews. Just once I would love to see an interviewee reply "You just lost your husband and sister to cancer. How does it feel?"

[God luvs America]

I don't know if this belongs here but just a few notes from CNN....Bill Hemer starts the broadcast by stating "Fighting in Fallujah this morning has killed 600, er 60 Iraqi's as American troops are bogged down in that Iraqi city."

The best was Daryn Kagan the other day who was speaking about the one year anniversary of Jessica Lynch's rescue and how the former soldier is still "angry with an overzealous defense department that used her."

She then states, "Jessica spoke with our Paula Zahn last night" -cut to clip- and Zahn asked Lynch "do you feel used by the government?"

Jessica's response? "At first I did but after they cleared everything up I realized it was just a misunderstanding and now everything is okay."

I started laughing and asked my wife who's more pissed off Jessica or CNN??

[proud American in Canada]

"He stated that his son's life had not been taking a good path until he joined the Marines, and that the Marines had turned Jeffrey into "the perfect son."

I wish there were some way for Freepers to get in touch with Mr. Morris and express our gratitude, condolences and pride in Jeffrey's service to the nation.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

why are you or anyone surprised by what jerks these people can be?

I watch out of a combo of masochism, the fact that Today continues to attract top guests, and the belief that it's worthwhile to keep track of what the liberal media are up to, as predictable as they might be.

[mrtysmm]

I believe you are correct that they will try and "get" Condi, Bush and Cheney. Let's see what happens when Klintooon and Algore are testifying. I wonder how 'hard' the questioning will be and how the media will treat it.

[Maria S]

"Katie, the Leftist Terrorist's Mouthpiece
Blyth reveals:
• Katie Couric wrote in a letter to left-wing Unabomber terrorist Ted Kaczyinski that she would like to give him the chance to explain his experiences “to our huge audience,” “to share your views” and how she "would be more than happy to just come and meet” with him if he thought “it would be helpful."

The above is from newsmax.com book review:

"Myrna Blyth, longtime editor-in-chief of Ladies' Home Journal, for years had a firsthand look at women in the media. Now she lifts the curtain, revealing how magazines and TV exploit women’s emotions, pushing a message that all American women are perpetual victims. “Spin Sisters: How the Women of the Media Sell Unhappiness and Liberalism to the Women of America” (St. Martin’s Press) is the compelling inside story of the powerful influence the media have on all women today."

[governsleastgovernsbest]

The best [i.e. most biased] was Daryn Kagan

I remember during the Florida recount in 2000, when it appeared that things were going bad for Al Gore, there were times that I literally thought Daryn Kagan was on the verge of tears! I almost expected to see CNN "grief counselors" come onto the set to console her!

[mrtysmm]

Very interesting. Without the cameras Condi is not important...with the cameras on they'll all be there. What does that tell you about the credibility of this commission?

[MEG33]

Governs,I hate how do/did you feel interviews by anyone.It is the press at its exploitive worst.I just meant Katie and her phony tone did not overtake the father's message this time.

When my husband died suddenly I had two modes.I wanted to talk about him at length or I couldn't bear to say a word.If someone had asked me "how did you feel"..I would have smacked them,I believe.

[Fenris6]

When liberal fems rant about the cost of liberating Iraq and how we should be using the money to help the poor, I have them dump their purse on the desktop and justify the amount of money American Women spend on cosmetics.

Someone should ask lil miss Katie how much money she wastes on "looking hot"

[mrtysmm]

"straphangers"???? I think you are being much too polite!

[TankerKC]

That was Carole Simpson of ABC. I almost threw my shoe through the TV.