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Stung by Ingraham, NBC Claims Its Iraq Coverage. . . Not Negative Enough!
Today Show/NewsBusters ^ | Mark Finkelstein

Posted on 03/22/2006 5:24:01 AM PST by governsleastgovernsbest

by Mark Finkelstein

March 22, 2006

Laura Ingraham clearly hit an MSM sore spot with the charges she levelled during her appearance on yesterday's Today show, in which she locked horns with David Gregory and James Carville. Read Laura in the Lions Den.

Ingraham accused most American media of covering Iraq from their balconies in the Green Zone, confining their reports largely to IEDs and killings and missing the more positive stories that abound across the country.

This morning, a clearly stung NBC asked itself whether it is doing a good job reporting on Iraq, and - surprise! - the Peacock Network assured itself and us that indeed it is. If anything, Today told us, the situation in Iraq is even worse than the MSM portray it.

Ingraham's gutsy appearance took on national momentum. Laura discussed it at length during her own syndicated radio show. Rush Limbaugh picked it up, and Ingraham made evening appearances on the O'Reilly Factor and Hannity & Colmes. At one point, Ingraham mentioned that it was her viewing yesterday of a report by NBC's Richard Engel, from the proverbial Green Zone balcony, that sparked some of her sentiment.

NBC fired back this morning, and featured the very same Engel in doing so.

Hosting the segment was Gregory, sitting in for Matt Lauer. He kicked things off asking "is the U.S. media focusing too much on the negative and ignoring the positive stories in Iraq?" Gregory then threw it to Engel in Baghdad, who began by alleging that there are "a lot of myths and misperceptions about what reporters are doing and are not doing here in Iraq."

Engel then narrated a montage showing that at various times, he and his crew have accompanied US troops, put on flack jackets and ventured outside the Green Zone, and exposed themselves to a variety of violent situations. We saw dramatic footage of Engel flat on the ground as bullets whizzed around. The point was made that even staying in the office can be dangerous, as the NBC News Bureau has twice been bombed. Engel also mentioned the danger of kidnapping, with 40 reporters having been taken hostage so far.

While making the case that Baghdad is a dangerous place and that the people covering display bravery, in many ways Engel failed to confront Ingraham's most fundamental charges. She had challenged NBC to apply some of the massive resources it devoted to the Olympics, or even to answering "Where in the World is Matt Lauer?", to its Iraq coverage. Ingraham suggested that the media get off their perches and out into the field. Speak with the Iraqi military, meet with villagers and children. Ingraham predicted that the resulting stories would paint a picture of Iraq more positive than the gloom and doom seen in the glare of the latest IED explosion that is the typical MSM fare.

There was nothing in Engel's report to indicate that NBC had ventured much if at all outside Baghdad or made any systematic effort to speak with the Iraqi military, or with Iraqi people-in-the street or with villagers in the many peaceful areas of the country.

Indeed, Engel's report confirmed Ingraham's allegation that the MSM portray Iraq in a consistently negative light. At one point, Engel asserted that "reporting on everyday life is increasingly dangerous because life here is getting more dangerous." And incredibly, Engel closed by claiming that, if anything, NBC's coverage was . . . not negative enough.

When Gregory asked "is security the overall story?" Engel replied:

"Most Iraqis I speak to say most reporters get it wrong. The situation on the ground is worse than the images we project on television."


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: carvillethelunatic; davidgregory; drunkarddavidgregory; ingraham; iraq; lauraingraham; mediabias; nbc; nbcbullcrap; pinheadgregory; prettychicken; richardengel; todayshow
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To: soloNYer
Has there ever been even ONE story in the MSM about how the insurgents are not adhering to the Geneva Conventions regarding the rules of war?
141 posted on 03/22/2006 3:14:49 PM PST by FreedomCalls (It's the "Statue of Liberty," not the "Statue of Security.")
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

Laura Ingraham is GREAT!


142 posted on 03/22/2006 3:20:07 PM PST by jporcus
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To: Mo1
I highly doubt that Gore would fight this war like Bush has

Gore would have never gone into Afghanistan... much less Iraq. The courts and the UN would have been his 'weapon' of choice.

143 posted on 03/22/2006 3:23:23 PM PST by johnny7 (“Nah, I ain’t Jewish, I just don’t dig on swine, that’s all.”)
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To: joesbucks
"I too cannot understand the terrorist mindset. I don't believe you can understand insanity."

I am sorry for the confusion. I was posting while doing something else.

I didn't mean the Islamic mindset. I meant the Americans who hate America and its military, mindset.

The only thing between the hajis and the Hollywood crowd and other liberals who the hajis hate, is W and our military.

I am mystified by the mentality of those Americans who think that by removing W and the military from the equation, they (the liberals) will somehow be safe.

They won't be. The next time the hajis hit, it may well be the Hollywood morons who get clubbed. Wouldn't that be poetic justice? (sorry, momma told me not wish for such things)

I remember the nuns showing us old newsreels of Neville Chamberlain standing at the foot of the airplane ladder, holding up a piece of paper and smiling.

It still amazes me that the man actually believed that he had accomplished something.
144 posted on 03/22/2006 3:51:24 PM PST by Al Gator (Remember always to pillage BEFORE you burn!)
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To: joesbucks
"I'm asking for intellectual honesty. I don't think you would be happy with our current situation in Iraq if this was a dem president, but the events had been played out in the same manner."



On this note Joe, remember when boy Clinton went into Serbia. Republicans had grave reservations. But they were quiet and supported his decision to use force, and even stayed the course. (btw, our troops are still there, even though boy Bill said they would be out by that Christmas, I hear crickets chip when I listen for criticism from the msm) But Clinton never, ever, had to deal with the sniping, backbiting and downright treasonous activity that W is having to put up with from the Ratz.

This point can't even be debated.
145 posted on 03/22/2006 3:57:57 PM PST by Al Gator (Remember always to pillage BEFORE you burn!)
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To: FreedomCalls

Had John Kerry won the election we would have turned tail and run last year.


146 posted on 03/22/2006 4:18:56 PM PST by mrexitement (There's the right way, the wrong way, and my way. My way is also wrong but it's faster.)
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To: Miss Marple; PhilDragoo; potlatch; ntnychik; pookie18; writer33; GOPJ; holdonnow; Laura_Ingraham; ..


147 posted on 03/22/2006 4:43:46 PM PST by devolve ( host-images-fast-free=Photobucket & tinypic.com)
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To: joesbucks; PhilDragoo; Travis McGee; potlatch; ntnychik; Grampa Dave; Interesting Times; ...


How did Slick Willie "play it out" in Rowanda?

What happened when the UN and Slick Willie decided that Africans in Rowanda were disposable?

What happened in Cambodia after John Kerry came home after Christmas Eve?

--

WTC-'93, Somalia's "Blackhawk Down", WACO, bombing the ChiCom embassy by Slick Willie - we know well the great minds of the democrats when things get hot -

--

As far as "intellectual honesty" - Slick Willie's alleged "intelligence photographic memory" did not seem to help him when MENSA turned down both Bill & Hill flat in 1992 during the campaign.



148 posted on 03/22/2006 5:01:57 PM PST by devolve ( host-images-fast-free=Photobucket & tinypic.com)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
When Gregory asked Carville what his advice to President Bush would be, Carville 'helpfully' suggested: "Talk about the consequences of failure."

If anyone knows about failure, its Carville.

He's been one his entire, pathetic life.

149 posted on 03/22/2006 5:11:41 PM PST by mountn man (Growing old is mandatory. Growing up is optional.)
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To: devolve

LOL, first time I've seen the NBC Pinki!


150 posted on 03/22/2006 5:30:50 PM PST by potlatch (Does a clean house indicate that there is a broken computer in it?)
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To: devolve
Good thoughtful post devolve.

Just my own devious sense of humor but I especially liked this one;

What happened in Cambodia after John Kerry came home after Christmas Eve?

Cambodians - "did you see him?", "no, hey Ling, did you see him?".............

151 posted on 03/22/2006 5:40:42 PM PST by potlatch (Does a clean house indicate that there is a broken computer in it?)
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To: potlatch


About 3 million Cambodians were butched by Pol Pot after the USA pulled out of Viet Nam

The media occasionally showed some pix - there was a great movie - but the MSM never let Americans connect it up with the anti-war hippies and John Kerry


152 posted on 03/22/2006 5:55:00 PM PST by devolve ( host-images-fast-free=Photobucket & tinypic.com)
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To: devolve

Yes, I wasn't thinking and was joking about Kerry's claim to having been in Cambodia on Christmas Eve.


153 posted on 03/22/2006 6:34:28 PM PST by potlatch (Does a clean house indicate that there is a broken computer in it?)
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To: chimera; potlatch; devolve; PhilDragoo

PBS did some navel-gazing tonight about whether the press is unfairly accentuating the negative. The lead-in was a portion of Pres. Bush's encounter with Helen Thomas yesterday. The conclusion of the panel was that "if it bleeds, it leads" and if people want to know anything else, they'll have to go to alternative sources like the internet. OK, they don't have to tell me twice!


154 posted on 03/22/2006 7:48:58 PM PST by ntnychik
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To: devolve

Thanks for the ping.


155 posted on 03/22/2006 8:06:40 PM PST by GOPJ (Peace happens when evil is vanquished -- Cal Thomas)
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To: devolve

HA!

That's GREAT! ;o)


156 posted on 03/22/2006 8:32:30 PM PST by dixiechick2000 (There ought to be one day-- just one-- when there is open season on senators. ~~ Will Rogers)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

Here's what that dirbag Keith Olberman said:

"A note about Laura Ingram's comments. I've known her a long time. I'll in fact give you the caveat that I've know her socially. But that hotel balcony crack was unforgivable. In was unforgivable to the memory of David Blum, it was unforgivable in considerable of Bob Woodruff and Doug Vought, unforgivable in light of what happened to Michael Kelly and what happened to Michael Weiskopft. It was unforgivable with Joe Carroll still a hostage in Iraq. And it was not only unforgivable of her; it was desperate and it was stupid."


157 posted on 03/22/2006 9:45:49 PM PST by Chango47
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To: Chango47
Mathews had full hour "we're ok, the world's all wrong" coverage and the idiot Olberman continued it. NBC can't stop from trying to justify its actions.

Hee, Hee.
158 posted on 03/23/2006 4:51:30 AM PST by Wilum (Never loaded a nuke I didn't like)
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To: MEG33

Can't stand Tim.

Long ago, he'd sometimes make a half-hearted attempt at being non-partisan, but that flew out the window in the year 2000.


159 posted on 03/23/2006 6:25:17 AM PST by EnquiringMind
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

"Come and get one in the yarbles, if ya have any yarbles, ya eunuch jelly thou!"
- Alex (Malcolm McDowell) in 'A Clockwork Orange (1972)'

160 posted on 03/23/2006 8:00:48 AM PST by Darth Republican
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