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Asleep at the Wheel: Credulous 'Today' Curiously Incurious About Kennedy Drinking
Today Show/NewsBusters ^ | Mark Finkelstein

Posted on 05/06/2006 5:31:24 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest

by Mark Finkelstein

May 6, 2006

Let's imagine it was, oh, Karl Rove who had been involved in a car accident under circumstances identical to those surrounding Patrick Kennedy. Think the Today show would be focusing on his 'courage' and largely taking at face value his claim that prescription medicines caused the crash? Or would they be asking another question: was Kennedy telling the truth when he claimed that no alcohol was involved?

That 'Today' was in a decidedly forgiving mood was clear from the show's very opening. Note the graphic Today attached to Kennedy's image: "Seeking Treatment". Not "Telling the Truth?" or "Drinking & Driving?"

In his subsequent report, NBC reporter Chip Reid clearly seemed to endorse Kennedy's version of events. We first were treated a clip of Kennedy's statement about his addiction to painkillers, concluding with his observation that "I struggle every day with this disease as do millions of Americans."

The very next words out of Reid's mouth: "That struggle came to a head this week in a bizarre traffic accident on Capitol Hill." Translation: Kennedy's version of the accident is true. It was the 'struggle' with prescription drugs, not alcohol, at the root of the accident.

Reid later referred to Kennedy's announcement that he was entering rehab as a "big step." Oh, the bravey! Again, had this been Rove or another disfavored Republican, one can imagine the MSM skeptically suggesting a decison to enter rehab was nothing more than part of a carefully-orchestrated PR campaign.

Now, it's true that Reid mentioned that Capitol Hill police officers suspected Kennedy was driving under the influence of alcohol. But Reid mentioned only the police report stating "Kennedy's eyes were red and watery, speech was slightly slurred and balance was unsure." No mention that police reportedly smelled the odor of alcohol on Kennedy. No mention that police at the scene wanted to perform a sobriety test and were prevented from doing so by supervisors who ordered Kennedy be given a lift home. Reid left it for viewers to infer that the police mistakenly confused Kennedy's pill-induced symptoms as stemming from alcohol.

We were later treated to file footage of father Ted Kennedy saying he was proud of Patrick, and to Sen. Kennedy's current statement saluting Patrick's "courage."

Not a word from Today of a reported eyewitness who saw Patrick Kennedy drinking prior to the crash at the 'Hawk & Dove' bar. No apparent investigative reporting on NBC's part to determine the truth.

Curiously incurious, those NBC folks, wouldn't you say?


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: District of Columbia; US: Massachusetts
KEYWORDS: carcrash; chipreid; mediabias; nbc; patchaquiddick; patches; patrickkenned; patrickkennedy; ratcrime; tedkennedy; todayshow
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1 posted on 05/06/2006 5:31:28 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest
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To: Behind Liberal Lines; Miss Marple; an amused spectator; netmilsmom; Diogenesis; YaYa123; MEG33; ...

Today Show/NewsBusters asleep-at-the-wheel ping.


2 posted on 05/06/2006 5:32:14 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest (Watching the Today Show Since 2002 So You Don't Have To.)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

I think the difference between Rove and Kennedy is that people actually give a flip what Rove does/says.


3 posted on 05/06/2006 5:34:27 AM PDT by ruiner
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

4 posted on 05/06/2006 5:35:32 AM PDT by mewzilla (Property must be secured or liberty cannot exist. John Adams)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

Hey, quit your bitchen, courage worked for Dan Rather, why not for Patrick Kennedy?


5 posted on 05/06/2006 5:36:44 AM PDT by babydoll22 (If you stop growing as a person you live in your own private hell.)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

Did anyone see the photo that AOL/ABC had up yesterday? Didn't look at all like any of the other photos I saw... very presidential photo shopped pr picture... unlike every time they show a photo of the President or Vice Prez, he has a stupid look on his face.


6 posted on 05/06/2006 5:37:22 AM PDT by Mercat (It's still Easter and we are the Easter people.)
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To: babydoll22

Yeah, sorry about that ;-)

Of course, the question here is whether Kennedy's courage was of the liquid sort.


7 posted on 05/06/2006 5:37:27 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest (Watching the Today Show Since 2002 So You Don't Have To.)
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To: babydoll22
Hey, quit your bitchen, courage worked for Dan Rather Rush Limbaugh, why not for Patrick Kennedy?
8 posted on 05/06/2006 5:40:04 AM PDT by Glenn (There is a looming Tupperware shortage. Plan appropriately.)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

I thought it was interesting that he mentioned the names of 2 drugs he was taking,(neither a painkiller) and tried to blame his situation on them, and then said he was addicted to painkillers.
Why didn't he mention the name of the painkillers he's addicted to?
And how many of the R.I. voters knew he was an addict who had mental illness?


9 posted on 05/06/2006 5:41:06 AM PDT by nuconvert ([there's a lot of bad people in the pistachio business])
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

What, no mention of the fact that he very cleary stated that he had nothing to drink yet can't remember even getting up?

How do you not begin to question things when people say things that contradictory?


10 posted on 05/06/2006 5:42:10 AM PDT by CheyennePress
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To: nuconvert

Excellent point. In fact, I will go revise my NewsBusters report accordingly.


11 posted on 05/06/2006 5:42:36 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest (Watching the Today Show Since 2002 So You Don't Have To.)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

Between this and the Cynthia McKinney episode, do you think there might be a morale problem in the Capitol Police forces??????


12 posted on 05/06/2006 5:43:36 AM PDT by armydawg1 (" America must win this war..." PVT Martin Treptow, KIA, WW1)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

The left runs Washington & the MSM... why do you seem surprised.


13 posted on 05/06/2006 5:45:59 AM PDT by johnny7 (“Nah, I ain’t Jewish, I just don’t dig on swine, that’s all.”)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
They should have said "reentering rehab for the second time in six months" as some reports have Patches in rehab at Christmastime. And unlike those other "millions" of fellow sufferers, Patches has the wherewithal for first class treatment.
14 posted on 05/06/2006 5:47:12 AM PDT by NonValueAdded ("Too soon to remember??? How about TOO SOON TO FORGET!" from Mr. Silverback)
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To: armydawg1

I would like to know the name of the arresting officer who wished to test him, since he seemed willing to DO HIS JOB. I would also like the supervisor who tried to sweep this under the rug, because he was bought and paid for, or at least expected a favor in return for this little service of his. I think the press ought to covert eh supervisor and see how many other people he has done this for.

By the way, I also wish there really is a Santa Clause...


15 posted on 05/06/2006 5:48:14 AM PDT by LachlanMinnesota
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

As I said yesterday, originally, we were apparently to believe that he was sleepwalking, sleepdrinking, sleepdriving, and then sleeptalking. None of which was his fault, of course.


16 posted on 05/06/2006 5:48:23 AM PDT by nuconvert ([there's a lot of bad people in the pistachio business])
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To: nuconvert

Now he'll be in sleeptherapy until this blows over...

Anyone for a sleeprecall petition?


17 posted on 05/06/2006 5:50:00 AM PDT by LachlanMinnesota
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

I believe what we have here is a "Culture of ......?" Need help here folks. What's the right word to throw in here.


18 posted on 05/06/2006 5:51:08 AM PDT by Recon Dad (Force Recon Dad)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
19 posted on 05/06/2006 5:51:28 AM PDT by martin_fierro (< |:)~)
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To: Glenn
Rush Limbaugh does not go to work drunk and/or high and write the laws by which we, the people, must live. Laws do not apply if your last name is Kennedy. Rush was put through legal and public hell for several years. Patrick Kennedy is heroic for going to rehab (again and again).
20 posted on 05/06/2006 5:51:50 AM PDT by JustaDumbBlonde
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