Posted on 10/14/2005 4:50:52 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest
by Mark Finkelstein
October 14, 2005 - 07:10.
In a deliciously ironic twist of fate, shortly before airing a segment aimed at embarrassing the Bush administration by suggesting that it had staged a video conversation between the president and soldiers in Iraq, the Today show was caught in staging . . . a video stunt.
In the Bush/Iraq segment, Today screened footage indicating that prior to engaging in a video conversation with President Bush, soldiers on the ground in Iraq were given tips by a Department of Defense official.
But the only advice that the official was shown as giving was a suggestion to one solider to "take a little breath" before speaking to the president so he would actually be speaking to him. It was also stated that some of the soldiers practiced their comments so as to appear as articulate as possible. But there was no indication, or even allegation, that the soldiers were coached as to the substance of their comments or in any way instructed what to say.
Today's timing couldn't have been worse. A preceding segment focused on the incessant rains and ensuing flooding in the northeast. For days now, beautiful, blonde - and one senses highly ambitious - young reporter Michelle Kosinski has been on the scene for Today in New Jersey, working the story. In an apparent effort to draw attention to herself, in yesterday's segment she turned up in hip waders, standing thigh-deep in the flood waters.
Taking her act one step further, this morning she appeared on a suburban street . . . paddling a canoe. There was one small problem. Just as the segment came on the air, two men waded in front of Kosinki . . . and the water barely covered their shoe tops! That's right, Kosinski's canoe was in no more than 4-6 inches of water!
An embarrassed Kosinski claimed the water was deeper down the street but that her producers didn't want to let her go there for fear she'd drift away. But Katie and Matt, perhaps peeved by her attempted scene-stealing, couldn't resist ribbing her.
Matt: "Are these holy men, perhaps walking on top of the water?"
"Gee, is your oar hitting ground, Michelle?" inquired Katie, as she and Matt dissolved into laughter.
Moral of the story: people in canoes in four inches of water shouldn't throw video-stunt stones.
Finkelstein has degrees from Cornell University and Harvard Law School.He lives in Ithaca, NY where he hosts "Right Angle," a local political talk show. Finkelstein specializes in exposing liberal bias at NBC's Today Show.
Thanks, I caught it - cool! I'd like to think my original story this morning did help move the story.
You're the best, glgb!
Evening ROS,
Amen to that, and a little penal time works wonders on those liberals who hold criminals in such high regards.
All Along The Watch Tower,
NSNR-JH
Thanks, DC. It's been a fun day, capped by getting back in your good graces ;-)
Hey Mary,
Thank you for the enlightenment on NPG. I knew there was a freeper out there to get me back on course. NSNR= NO Surrender No Retreat-CSAOTL= Combined Strength Advancing On The Left.
I hope I clarified everything for you and appreciate your comments on all.
Sincerely,
NSNR-CSAOTL
Definitely, and she looks quite pathetic doing it! Such a SWEET clip this is... what perfect timing, with the stabs at the Presidential videocall!
So...can we think of other ways to spur Couric's jealousy and make her look like a fool? :-)
Well, looks like you got the original zotted, but from what I had read, it was quite clear that the poster ("esmerelda of the desert") was claiming to have gotten it from the NPR audio of the phone call preparations.
I don't support RealAudio because of the 527 contributions the founder has made to Leftist campaigns, so I don't know what the audio contains...but did you try listening to it to find out before you flamed?
(I'm sure the mods had reason to zot, but I'm asking you if your comments were based on listening to the audio, or were just from the claims made about it. If the audio doesn't show what the MSM are claiming, let's trumpet the specifics from that, not just censor it!)
They were here to troll, and linking to NPR is a no no.
As I said, it wasn't the mods I was questioning. But I see that you don't care to answer. Fair enough.
And as I can see, you don't care that it really was a troll.
You just want to fight.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1502290/reply?c=170
"propaganda"?
They were a troll, form their OWN comments.
Thanks, hummingbird, glad you enjoyed it!
She is what she is.....a petty meanspirited nasty person that people are afraid of at work.
bttt
The husband was ripping mad at the media insinuation that the soldiers were coached. He said they were given some idea of what the questions would be, not what they should answer. They were also told about taking a breath before they speak and to collect their thoughts and be concise because of time limits.
The man went on to tell his story. Not very long ago, the couple's 22 month old son died of congenital heart defect. The soldier came home for two weeks and was told that if she felt it was best for her family she did not have to go back to Iraq.
This soldier said she wanted to go back to her unit and complete her mission.
And she did, and she makes us proud with her devotion to her country.
Thanks for this important report. It goes a long way to debunk the MSM's insinuation that the soldiers were coached as to what to say.
Too bad some of 'talkers' were too busy to have this guy speak on their show.
I doubt Gambling gets many listeners.
I usually switch to WOR when he's on.
Interestingly enough, he spoke with Chris Wallace immediately before this man came on and he and Wallace were ridiculing the President for 'staging' the conversations with the soldiers. Then when the husband got on, Gambling was all agreeing with the husband about it not being staged. Of course, that's why I don't listen to two faced John Gambling.
GREAT job !!!!! Keep it up !!!
Whoa!! Linking to NPR is a banning offense? Since when? It's a left-wing outlet (supported unfortunately by my tax money) but we can link to the NY Slimes when necessary even though its as far left as NPR. Now if it was a troll that posted and made slime remarks I can see it. But not to link to and expose NPR when they have some half-baked liberal story? I don't get it.
Regarding Real Player, my opposition is more pragmatic than opposition to the founder. The current version is a memory hog, takes over your media programs and plants spyware. Stay away from it.
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