Today: Did Bush Admin Force Newsweek to Retract True Story?; Today Propagates More Ugly Rumors

The Today Show | governsleast governsbest

[governsleastgovernsbest]

With its Alice-in-Wonderland treatment of the Koran flushing story, the Today Show demonstrated this morning that it is capable of making a Bush-bashing silk purse out of a false MSM sow's ear of a story.

Given the universal attention that the false story and Newsweek's retraction have garnered, there was no way that Today, much as it might have liked to, could have ignored the story.

Forced to deal with it, they managed to put its own ugly spin on the matter. Again and again, Today floated the notion that Newsweek retracted the story due to pressure from the Bush administration, and went so far as to suggest the story might be true.

The focus was at least as much on possibly sinister motives at the "White House," as it was on any transgression by Newsweek.

Thus the story was introduced with this question: "Will Newsweek's retraction end the flurry of White House criticism?"

And again: "Did pressure from the White House impact Newsweek's decision to retract the story?"

Matt Lauer stuck to the marching orders in his interview of Dan Klaidman Newsweek DC Bureau Chief.

Lauer: "Did you get pressure from the White House?"

Klaidman flatly denied it: "The only pressure was our own sense of responsibility."

That wasn't good enough for Lauer. He was apparently more willing to believe the enemies of the US than he was the Bush administration or even Newsweek.

Lauer: "There is suspicion in the Muslim world. They say they've heard similar reports from released detainees. Why shouldn't we believe it and think that Newsweek retracted the story only because it was forced to do so by the White House to protect its image?" And just in case anyone missed the MSM message, Lauer sympathetically asked: "Is there piling on by the administration?"

Given that the propagation of a false story led to riots and deaths, you'd think the last thing Today would do would be to air other rumors. Yet incredibly, incredibly!, that's exactly what it devoted virtually the entirety of its next segment to.

NBC reporter Richard Engel reported from Baghdad, and his report consisted of retelling a variety of additional rumors:

1. "There are many rumors in Iraq and across Muslim world that this kind of thing happens regularly."

2. "There are rumors that US Marines while raiding a mosque abused a Koran and spray-painted it."

3. "Another one - during a search of woman, a search dog pulled a Koran out of the woman's handbag and Marines started laughing."

Engel claimed: "People believe this is not a war on terrorism but a war on Islam."

Lauer 'helpfully' filled in the blanks: "You're telling me people in that part of the world expect the worst from the US.?"

Engel somberly observed: "I'm not sure we're winning the battle for hearts and minds. There is still fallout from Abu Ghraib."

And just to pour the last measure of gasoline on the fire, Engel ended with this explosive allegation: "There are rumors women were raped at Abu Ghraib. One women claimed she was raped six times every night."

Just when you thought the MSM couldn't sink any lower . . .

[myself6]

Look at the islamic cleric reaction to newsweak admitting the story was false.

They claim the Bush admin put pressure on newsweak to pull the story. They did this to keep their islamic cultists in an orgasmic froth of hate.


Look at the MSM's reaction to newsweak admitting the story was false.

They claim the Bush admin put pressure on newsweak to pull the story. They did this to keep their socialist cultists in an orgasmic froth of hate.


Does anyone really need any more proof than this? The MSM needs to be treated as an enemy force.

[onyx]

They're losing viewers and this is a sterling example of why.

Great job again.

[Russ]

I can understand the radical muslims hating this country but I just can't understand why people like Matt Lauer hate America or want to see us fail.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Yup.

[DCPatriot]

Thanks GLGB. Had the interview on in the background and was hoping you'd have your summary this AM.

The question of possible WH influence was fair....but not to the point that Lauer & Co. pursued the point...as if the Newsweak spokeman was lying when they said it was their conscience that made them retract it.

[Lazamataz]

The MSM needs to be treated as an enemy force.

They are truly the domestic enemy of the United States. If this was attempted in less PC times, say WWII, Roosevelt would have shut them down and imprisoned them.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Thanks Onyx.

[Howlin]

Neither can I. And it's dang scary that they don't even realize that they're doing it -- or do they?

[Arrowhead1952]

because they have no idea of the size differential, and they don't have the foggiest idea how a toilet works!!

I heard a rumor that it was a detainee that ripped the Koran page by page and was flushing the pages

Guess they don't think we peons have enough sense to know this.

The first thought I had when I heard this article by Newsweak, was just how stupid does the media think we are on issues like this.

Now that they have retracted the story - AFTER THE DAMAGE IS DONE, - sort of like the old saying, "We locked the barn, after the horse was stolen."

I can say one thing, I'll never read that garbage again. Here is the best place for Newsweak.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Heading out now. Looking forward to reading all comments when I return.

[DCPatriot]

A book that is about 6" X 8" X 2" will not fit through a four inch hole.

If the pages were used individually as toilet paper it would.

[marktwain]

There is no way anyone could flush a book the size of the Koran down any toilet. A book that is about 6" X 8" X 2" will not fit through a four inch hole.

Use a little imagination. It could have been a small version (I understand that 1x2 miniatures have been printed for use as talismans) or the book could have been flushed down page by page (as is alleged some of the detainees did to try to stop up the plumbing).

[sirchtruth]

LOL!! What on God's green earth is that!!!!?

So is this what all these DUer's have evolved into?

[RobFromGa]

good reporting, glgb.

They are proving once again that their audience is the anti-Bush crowd, no decent person could watch this every day without feeling soiled afterward.

[Lazamataz]

That, dear sir, is a Barking Moonbat -- the symbol of Islamics and Liberals everywhere.

Yes, this is what the Democrat Party now stands for -- the defeat of the Evil American Empire.

They are -- literally -- enemies of this country.

[Mr. C]

I suppose now we can all say, with a bitter truth;

"...Newsweek Lied, People Died..."

[bonfire]

Good for YaYa and kudo's to Imus! (Ya just never know with Imus)

[Calpernia]

>>>>Today floated the notion that Newsweek retracted the story due to pressure from the Bush administration, and went so far as to suggest the story might be true.

So Today needs to be held accountable as an accomplice to these deaths.

[sauropod]

Engel claimed: "People believe this is not a war on terrorism but a war on Islam."

Engel is right.

It is. And I support the WOI. They've made it personal. Now it's personal.