Posted on 02/08/2006 5:35:49 AM PST by frankjr
“NBC Nightly News” anchor Brian Williams told The Hill that he wrote Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and Rep. Harold Ford Jr. (D-Tenn.) letters of apology last week after he confused the two men at the State of the Union address.
During NBC’s broadcast, Williams noticed Obama on the House floor and identified him to the viewing audience. Unfortunately, it was actually Ford.
“I made a silly and honest mistake, and knowing both men I knew instantly what I had done,” a contrite and gracious Williams said in a phone call. “I obviously should have corrected it, but the proper time never arose.”
Williams isn’t alone. Rewind to last’s year’s State of the Union. Another reporter asked Obama’s office why he hugged the president. Again, it was Ford.
People mix them up plenty, even though the Capitol Rotunda separates the two men on most workdays. And “they don’t look that much alike,” one Senate staffer said. That they get confused at all is “pretty amazing,” one House aide lamented.
Neither Ford nor Obama’s offices would comment.
The two lawmakers are good friends, and Ford even campaigned for Obama in 2004.
If Ford is successful in getting himself elected to the Senate this fall, the mix-ups may deepen.
Ford was weaned on corruption, cut his teeth on kickbacks and learned to walk on bribery. He tries to make everyone believe that he isn't like his crroked family, but the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
Let's put it this way...
If (God forbid) one became President, and the other gave up politics for an acting career. And Hollywood made a TV movie about the President, and cast the actor to play him...
People would say the choice of casting was obvious, but no-one would be fooled that it was the real President.
Oh please, he made an honest mistake and apologized. He never said that all black people look alike, that was added by the original poster of the thread. Considering that it also states the mistake is made by other reporters, I personally think the added text was unnecessary, people should use original titles and not add such inflammatory rhetoric.
I think it would be easy to get confused. I often confuse Hillary with a Senator.
"He never said that all black people look alike, that was added by the original poster of the thread."
Dear nut -
Obviously Williams confused the two because they looked the same to him (for whatever reason). I never said he said all black people look alike.
Boo hoo.
Ford looks like Derek Jeter.
Obama's ears stick out like a car with its doors open... I would find them hard to confuse.
Methinks Brian doth protest too much.
I can.
They look alike to me.
If the criticism weren't so biased against conservatives who make mistakes or slips of the tongue, I'd agree. But the idiotic press really likes to rip to shreds Republicans who have gaffes, as if it is revealing of their "inner thoughts", but when a liberal does it, it is a "simple mistake".
Neither of them look a thing like Rayfield Wright, but they have a certain resemblance. At least from those pictures. I'm not really familiar with how Ford looks in person.
That would never happen. Carl and Tony don't look anything alike. ;-)
Well apparently a few people misconstrued the comments you added and stated so. A comment like that can be interpreted as such, and while I really don't understand your point in adding it, I'll chalk it up to an honest mistake on your part for not realizing that it could have been interpreted as inflammatory.
Reminds me of that movie, "Dave."
I know, but I don't think Williams meant anything by it, it was not intentional and he immediately realized his own mistake and apologized, that's better than most Dems would do. For doing the right thing, I will give him a break, just this once : )
True, but it certainly is appropriate to point out that the MSM et al would be treating it a whole lot differently if it had been Rush.
Great post
Great post
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