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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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To: Glenn

OK, so lets treat them the same. Where's the prosecution? When are we gonna get to see some medical records? Where's the DA on TV and in the paper discussing his case? Where's the charge of DUI,admitted by Mr Kennedy? Etc, Etc.

So the point is.. Birds of a feather? OK why then are the authorities doing nothing and they tried to crucify Rush?


81 posted on 05/06/2006 7:57:20 AM PDT by saleman
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To: Glenn

Nope they all should be treated the same. Kennedy was caught in the act of driving while under the influence. I do not condone taking illegal drugs but neither had illegal drugs in their system but one had drugs in his system while driving and almost hitting a policeman head on,not having his lights on and then colliding with a fixed object and that does make a difference. What did your mama teach you.


82 posted on 05/06/2006 8:36:22 AM PDT by gunnedah
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To: governsleastgovernsbest; Howlin; Miss Marple; Txsleuth

I've watched this video of Patches a couple of times

Kennedy Press Conference: “I Don’t Remember Car Incident At All” (VIDEO)
http://www.exposetheleft.com/2006/05/05/patrick-kennedy-pc/


And the one thing I've noticed throughout it all

He show nos emotion .. no real regret and no shame at what he has done

I thought he said he was suffering from depression?


83 posted on 05/06/2006 8:45:50 AM PDT by Mo1 (DEMOCRATS: A CULTURE OF TREASON)
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To: Rte66
Do we have any idea approximately where he lives?

Click here for my post on another thread about that, including a link to a map of the route from the bar to his apartment. A helpful person posted the map itself on the thread ten posts later.

84 posted on 05/06/2006 9:20:59 AM PDT by Steve0113 (Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power. -A.L.)
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To: Eroteme
"Culture of Hutzpha"
85 posted on 05/06/2006 9:23:51 AM PDT by Recon Dad (Force Recon Dad)
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To: Recon Dad

Tolerance, understanding, compassion, empathy, reverence, forgiveness, nurture, feculence.


86 posted on 05/06/2006 9:33:55 AM PDT by Old Professer (The critic writes with rapier pen, dips it twice, and writes again.)
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To: StarFan; Dutchy; alisasny; BobFromNJ; BUNNY2003; Cacique; Clemenza; Coleus; cyborg; DKNY; ...

Patchaquiddick ping!


87 posted on 05/06/2006 9:40:12 AM PDT by nutmeg ("We're going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good." - Hillary Clinton 6/28/04)
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To: Glenn
Of course he did.

The prosecutor told the judge he had no evidence that Rush had broken any laws.

When he filed charges anyway, Rush pleaded not guilty.

He is not guilty of breaking any law.

He did not enter into a plea bargain, as that requires that he plead at least "no contest" to some charge. (He didn't.)

88 posted on 05/06/2006 10:01:17 AM PDT by Dan(9698)
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To: Mo1

I got the same impression...like he was just giving a speech about mental health on the House floor...as an amendment or something...NOT something that just happened to him..

He probably had rehearsed it a bunch of times...and was bored by the time he gave it at the presser...LOL


89 posted on 05/06/2006 10:34:10 AM PDT by Txsleuth
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To: armydawg1

I would say that Capital Police are the least capable cops on any payroll in the US...and this ought to worry more people.


90 posted on 05/06/2006 10:39:08 AM PDT by pepsionice
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To: Old Professer

I only had to look up feculence!


91 posted on 05/06/2006 11:50:43 AM PDT by Recon Dad (Force Recon Dad)
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To: LachlanMinnesota
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 suspect when this blows over this good officer is going to find himself out of work.

92 posted on 05/06/2006 11:57:05 AM PDT by Cementjungle
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To: skimask
Do you think it a possibility that his dad, "Splash" might have been in the car with Patches that night. You know "Splash" lots of experience in covering things like this up.

I wonder if there are any female "campaign workers" missing.

93 posted on 05/06/2006 12:01:40 PM PDT by Cementjungle
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To: Mo1

Why do they call this man Patches?


94 posted on 05/06/2006 12:08:45 PM PDT by CheyennePress
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To: NonValueAdded
reentering rehab for the second time in six months"

Some print media is now writing that it is the third time. The MSM (DNC propaganda machine) doesn't even try to pretend they are unbiased any more.

95 posted on 05/06/2006 1:41:01 PM PDT by Freee-dame
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To: nutmeg
Don't forget the "Good Friday" Kennedy Rapes -- Curse to Bear, A new account of Ted Kennedy’s Palm Beach adventure (Good Friday 2006, Ted, Patrick and William's  15th Anniversary)

96 posted on 05/06/2006 2:31:17 PM PDT by Coleus (I Support Research using the Ethical, Effective and Moral use of stem cells: non-embryonic)
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To: mewzilla
any doc prescribing the Ambien and Phenergan to a patient with a history of addiction needs his/her head examined.

I seem to recall hearing -- in one of his rapidly upgraded versions -- that some doctor on the premises of Congress to treat the members prescribed both for him.

I think I heard this one before the "painkillers" version came up. I think they're leaving it with painkillers -- the local (Boston WRKO) radion station at every news break I heard said it was addiction to painkillers.

97 posted on 05/06/2006 5:03:22 PM PDT by maryz
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To: nuconvert
And how many of the R.I. voters knew he was an addict who had mental illness?

He's only a mentally-ill addict when he's NOT running for re-election.

This fall, he'll be all better, and don't be bothering him - he'll be attending to THE BUSINESS OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, more specifically, saving the chillrens of his district.

SO LAY OFF HIM, YOU COLD-HEARTED CHILD-HATING BASTICH!!!

98 posted on 05/06/2006 10:00:23 PM PDT by an amused spectator (Bush Runner! The Donkey is after you! Bush Runner! When he catches you, you're through!)
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To: Starboard

Men like Audie Murphy and Dick Winters showed courage.

This Kennedy moron showed dangerous irresponsibility.


99 posted on 05/07/2006 8:05:36 AM PDT by Emmet Fitzhume ("Where did you hear that? On CNN? I thought you were going to be honest with me.")
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To: Freee-dame

The MSM spews only the nastiest venom toward this great nation and our President.

Honest reporting went out the window 60 years ago.


100 posted on 05/07/2006 8:13:07 AM PDT by Emmet Fitzhume (Memo to the deceivers at CNN: It is NOT "Domestic Spying." It is TERRORIST SURVEILLANCE!)
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