NBC's Williams: Journalists' Gloves Off

AP ^

[jmc1969]

NBC's Brian Williams says the lasting legacy of Hurricane Katrina for journalists may be the end of an unusual four-year period of deference to people in power.

There were so many angry, even incredulous, questions put to Bush administration officials about the response to Katrina that the Salon Web site compiled a "Reporters Gone Wild" video clip. Tim Russert, Anderson Cooper, Ted Koppel and Shepard Smith were among the stars.

The mute button seemingly in place since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks has been turned off.

"By dint of the fact that our country was hit we've offered a preponderance of the benefit of the doubt over the past couple of years," the "Nightly News" anchorman said. "Perhaps we've taken something off our fastball and perhaps this is the story that brings a healthy amount of cynicism back to a news media known for it."

Hundreds of reporters, in all media, did heroic work on the Gulf Coast in the deadly storm's aftermath. None arguably was as financially and symbolically important to his company as the job turned in by Williams.

Williams said he sensed trouble brewing already that Sunday, Aug. 28. At the Superdome, he saw National Guardsman barking orders at people seeking shelter, and patting down small children and the elderly for weapons. The crowd was angry about being forced to stand in line in the rain even though there was a large overhang a few yards away, he said.

[SteveMcKing]

I seriously doubt you can because your assertion is false and indefensible.

No, your assertions are false and indefensible. You have not supported your position, most likely because you can't. You just keep stating the same falsehoods repeatedly.

Don't be irrational - cite data, illustrations, and circumstances.

[stockpirate]

What they really mean is against Conservetive's. if this was Billy and Hitlery nothing would be said.

They are so transparent

[pillbox_girl]

Do not try to reverse the burden of proof because you don't have any. Again, justify your position.

You said first:

"Independent" really just means indecisive, or even apathetic.

The burden of proof firmly lies on you to justify that position. You refuse to do so, instead offering up nothing more than insults and repetition. And now you are trying to worm your way out of your responsibility to justify your statement by trying to shift off your responsibility (in an very Naginesque way, I might add).

Prove that independents are indecisive or apathetic.

[Paladin2]

We have open primaries. Things here are like they were in Alabama when I was a teenager. The real election was the Democrat Primary. The Fall election was a foregone conclusion.

If there is a good and possible Repub candidate, then try to line up a beatable 'Rat. Otherwise pick the best of litter or vote against the incumbent 'Rat.

[Getsmart64]

Hmmm...seems to me an independent is someone that likes to smoke dope and own a firearm...

[Mike Darancette]

"Perhaps we've taken something off our fastball and perhaps this is the story that brings a healthy amount of cynicism back to a news media known for it."

The "Old Grey Whore" and the MSM ain't what they used to be.

A Blame Bush's America campaign will get real old real fast. I see ratings going further South.

[pillbox_girl]

Hmmm...seems to me an independent is someone that likes to smoke dope and own a firearm...

Um. No. The dope smokers don't give a damn about federal firearm laws. After all, they don't bother to obey drug laws, why should they obey gun laws?

Many independents are people who would rather see legal abortions instead of ever increasing welfare dependency, and who also want to preserve the right to keep and bear arms. Drugs have nothing to do with why they disagree with both major parties.

Do you need more examples? I have many many more.

[SergeantsLady]

...couldn't agree with you more...in fact...the very short memory of the MSM seems to forget their multiple self-praise of their heroic efforts covering A New Orleans that had once again been "grazed" but not seriously hurt by a hurricane...ON MONDAY NIGHT...

OF COURSE the fact that no news was coming from the cities in LA SOUTH of New Orleans or the entire STATE of Mississippi...should have been a clue that TOTAL DEVASTATION had happened...only once again the MSM was "over" the story since it wasn't as bad as they'd hoped.

Now, we hear nothing about Mississippi...and it's quite possible that the death toll there will exceed that of New Orleans...of course, Mississippi didn't riot on the news...and in the midst of their frustration with New Orleans sucking up all the relief efforts...they managed to dig themselves out, help each other and offer prayer services today honoring the sacrifice of those on 9-11...

The MSM created the image of a failed relief effort...supported it with the same "looter" film clips for three days... AND now that an entire city has been relocated & housed...they're still trying to make the Federal response (slow)...90,000 sq miles...

And I've been on several pictorial blogs covering New Orleans before and after the storm...those thousands of people at the Convention Center (while not all) appear to have started gathering Thursday Morning as directed by the New Orleans Local Emergency Services who told them buses were coming to the Convention Center.... And if you notice, most appear in fairly good condition (definitely not all and definitely horrible for quite a few and with all my heart I wish the Red Cross & Salvation Army had been allowed in...and YES it did make me very very angry...)... BUT the hysteria of the media fed the beast... And Geraldo stands at the top of the list... I'd kept hearing about that baby he held in his arms...I felt awful and I did feel angry. BUT today, I saw the actual clip, and what I saw was a very cute & round & sleepy baby...but not a baby in dire need of medical attention at that point...(I'm a Mom and I do know the look of a child who doesn't feel well...and I did see many children who were obviously in distress...just not the one that Geraldo picked up to use has a prop...).

I'd like to hang (not by their necks..just ears...that's not considered a violent comment to post is it???) most of the media by their microphone cords (except of course, most of them now use digital connections instead of the cords...oh well, I guess I'll just hope for a massive burst of static feedback in their ears. OK, sorry for the rant, but it's just so annoying...like if Shep Smith had really worried about those folks on the overpass...why didn't he unload the electronics from his truck...load up some water & take it over...and if the body on the bridge bothered him so much, well, again...the media certainly had their heavy trucks available....aaarrrggghhh. I apologize to any that might have been offended by this rant. Really, I've toned it down... And another thing, if you check out the people who've posted pictures of the media broadcasting...those anchors specifically Brian Williams & S Smith & a couple of others...were all sitting on chairs under plastic "tents" with staff hovering all around them... Perhaps, they could've shared those comforts... (AND this comment does not apply to Jim Cantore or his crew who really did help & save lives & quit broadcasting to do so...Now, to me that's not a "media" hero...that's just a GOOD MAN doing the right thing.) I just wish that evil would quit blowing its horn & let the music of the miraculous relief be heard...

[BlessedBeGod]

Excuse me?

[SteveMcKing]

The burden of proof firmly lies on you to justify that position.

I did. You seem to expect a fully-funded 30-year cohort to be allowed to say anything here, a forum of discussion and opinion.

And now you are trying to worm your way out of your responsibility to justify your statement by trying to shift off your responsibility (in an very Naginesque way, I might add).

I am still here. I have to go in a couple of hours, but I have not "wormed" anything.

Prove that independents are indecisive or apathetic.

I stated my reasoning: "People have all the tools they need to politically define themselves,"

Mathematical proof is neither possible nor required; you either agree respectfully, or (in your case) moan and whine over it.

[Southack]

"NBC's Brian Williams says the lasting legacy of Hurricane Katrina for journalists may be the end of an unusual four-year period of deference to people in power."

Rolls eyes...

Bush did Cocaine! Bush is a dry drunk! Bush used dirty tricks against McCain in South Carolina! Bush wants to poison us with arsenic in our water! Bush is a drunk driver!

Bush's is anti-medicine (stem cells)! Bush is anti-science (teach alternatives to Evolution)! Bush is giving big tax breaks to the rich! Bush is leading us into a nuclear arms race by killing the ABM Treaty!

Bush's "16 words!" No WMD's in Iraq! Bush didn't Guard the WMD chemicals in Iraq! Bush let the Iraqi's loot their own museums!

Abu Ghraib, Abu Ghraib!

Bush is responsible for Global Warming, hurricane Katrina, and Louisianna's failure to use their buses to evacuate their own people!

Oh, and don't mind our forged Bush National Guard documents, our "leaked" Valerie Plame reporter set-up, our Senate Democrat Intel Committee memo that admitted abusing the Senate for our partisan advantage, our forged "exit polls," our forged French intel documents on Nigeria uranium sales, our lies about Bush crowds "booing" Clinton, etc.

Oh yeah, the Corrupt News Media has really been "deferring" to the Party in power. They've had their "mute" button on.

< /mocking! >

[Getsmart64]

Do you need more examples? I have many many more.

Shesh...you're just arguing just to argue...by your reply to my remark just proves it...you have no clue what an independent is..even if you think you are one...

[SteveMcKing]

"Independent" like a 20-year-old who needs her boyfriend's muscles, and her daddy to pay for every bill she wracks up...

[DCPatriot]

Evidently they thought they were very hard on Bubba...or else he'd have said "twelve" instead of four years.

IMO the internet forced the MSM to report Whitewater and the Impeachment Trial, etc..

These pukes make me sick.

[Verginius Rufus]

The media has been going after Bush since he began to run. The New Yorker somehow got a hold of his college transcripts and published them in the fall of 1999, to help fuel the "Bush is dumb" theme during the 2000 campaign.

Bush had a press conference in the spring of 2004 which was remarkable for the ferocity with which the reporters went after him.

[eyespysomething]

Mute button since 9-11? Where have I been?

[sono]

More evidence that the MSM is 'Stuck on Stupid.'

[MarkL]

What is he smoking??? Journalist have been attacking George Bush since the moment he took office.

What do you mean "since the moment he took office?" Do you remember the word "gravitas?" President Bush has been maligned and slandared by the MSM since he announced that he would run!

Mark

[pollyannaish]

Uh, Mr. Williams?

Before you start throwing stones, Mr. Glass House, you might want to take a look at your own approval ratings.

Thank you.

[pollyannaish]

You know, I'm going to disagree with you there. From what I've seen they hate you even more if you are a Conservative Republican of Color.

This is NOT a race thing...they are trying to make it a race thing, but it's not. It's a Socialist thing.