ABC's Gibson: Kerry's Dumb 'Get Stuck In Iraq' Merely an 'Idle Political Remark'

NewsBusters ^ | November 1, 2006 | By Brent Baker

[johnny7]

Introducing the lead story on Tuesday's World News about John Kerry's seeming insult of troops in Iraq -- or at the very least that Bush is stupid -- ABC anchor Charles Gibson characterized it as merely an “idle political remark” as he fretted the attention it got from alternative media outlets and how that crowded out other issues: “What happened today is an object lesson in how in this day and age, an idle political remark gets seized upon, becomes fodder for the talk shows, the blogs, and the politicians, and suddenly obscures discussion of all other issues.” Following the story by Jake Tapper, which included shots of NewsBusters (see NewsBusters item with video and screen capture), Gibson pressed George Stephanopoulos about presumed White House duplicity: "George, does anyone at the White House really think that Senator Kerry was in some way denigrating the intelligence of American troops?" Stephanopoulos assured him: "Not exactly, but they don't think it's their job to give John Kerry the benefit of the doubt.”

[billybudd]

The liberal media, desperately trying to do some damage control. Sorry, too late. I guess Mr. Gibson would like us to move on to more important issues - like how Mark Foley didn't have sex with interns. Yes, we should focus on that important issue for two weeks straight, right through the election.

[Anti-Bubba182]

Imus said it was not clear from Kerry's statement that he was talking about Bush and Kerry really did not have any business
telling jokes due to his incompetence.

[goldstategop]

Kerry couldn't tell a joke since he always forgets the punch line. No wait - he is the joke!

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

[Anti-Bubba182]

I read that earlier. Too bad the creep didn't get worse.

[mainepatsfan]

This kind of reminds how they handled the first few days of Rathergate.

[mainepatsfan]

I may check in just to hear how his guests try to spin it.

[Vaquero]

Why would Lurch, whose grades were not as good as GWB's at Yale, try to make a 'joke' equating Bush with being uneducated and stupid. Where does that leave Lurch????

[johnny7]

Ughhh... isn't the swinette on the right the one Peter Jennings was dating?

[6SJ7]

I dunno, Charlie, why don't we ask Trent Lott? Senator Lott, do you have any words on how Republicans are treated by the drive by media over "idle political remarks"?

Ouch! How dare you remind the MSM they have a double-standard! ;-)

[johnny7]

I've thought that so many... many times...

[USNBandit]

You call her Ms. Ashwari-Jennings, but the real truth is even more shocking. Ms. Ashwari is actually Sam Donaldson in drag! Have you ever seen the two together? I don't think so. <\snickering juvenile humor>

[JCEccles]

Gibson pressed George Stephanopoulos about presumed White House duplicity: "George, does anyone at the White House really think that Senator Kerry was in some way denigrating the intelligence of American troops?"

Since when does a democratic operative speak on behalf of the White House???

The MSM's deceptions and spins on behalf of the Democrats is beyond enraging.

[Alia]

To the MSM:

And the likelihood that he would gaffe, as such, makes him very clearly not someone to put into a position of high authority in the world. Especially, not with dirty nukes, and Islamofascim still yet not defeated in the world.

Gaffes, like his as the MSM and Kerry himself are after-fact alleging, could set off unprecedented chaos around the world. And after chaos, mayhem, murder and slaughter, would John Kerry say: "I was just kidding? Sheez, can't y'all just take a joke".

John Kerry is a man aspiring to the office of President of the Free World. A very dangerous thought, indeed: Gaffe or no gaffe.

But some in the MSM would much rather poke fun at President Bush's pronunciation of nuclear.

Very telling.

This tells me that the MSM puts money above principle; they'd rather wish a world-wide war with horrid events, chaos, so they could fatten their money accounts - than a world of peace through victory over murdering enemies.

Yes, MSM -- you are the 5th column nattering "Yes, blood for Ratings!"

[johnny7]

Fat Teddy will get one all for himself!

[Anti-Bubba182]

"..whose grades were not as good as GWB's at Yale.."

Also: Bush higher SAT score than John Kerry

Bush can sound dumb because of occasional fractured English (Strategery etc.), but he isn't

[Enterprise]

Why, YES!! :)

[Alas Babylon!]

Here's another one:

Charlie, what about a Reublican senator calling an operative of his opponent, who continuously shows up at his campaign events, a "maccaca"? No one even knows what a maccaca is, except you drive by media types, who are sure it MUST be something racist? Worthy of an "idle political remark", or fodder for the smear machine you call ABC News?

[mainepatsfan]

Nah he has enough blubber to float and keep from freezing.

[Eddie01]

Google: ex-military corporate officers

http://www.refresher.com/!dominance.html

The US military is the finest management training in the world. Period. Compared to OCS (Officer Candidate School) training, Harvard and Wharton are all form and no substance.

Approximately 40% of Fortune 500 CEO’s are ex-military.

Why? First of all, US military officers learn by doing. They learn the fundamentals and application of the principles of leadership. Officers learn the differences between strategy and tactics. They don’t just learn how to run a complex organization. They learn how to achieve a mission objective. They learn how to plan for it; how to prepare and train their troops for it; and how to focus the assets available in the most effective manner, while minimizing losses. The price of failure is horrific. The training is so intense because the stakes are so high. That kind of training develops real leaders.

http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?F=1875598&C=america
Ex-Military CEO Firms Outperform U.S. Market: Study
By REUTERS, NEW YORK

U.S. companies led by chief executives with military experience have outperformed the U.S. stock market’s benchmark index over the past three, five and 10-year periods, according to a survey released on June 16.

The study by recruitment firm Korn/Ferry International found 59, or 8.4 percent, of the CEOs running the 500 companies in the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index had served as military officers, and these companies on average outperformed the index by up to 20 percentage points.

Cont...

Wonder what these CEOs would say to John Kerry.

(links sent to Rush and Drudge)

[MPJackal]

"Imus said it was not clear from Kerry's statement that he was talking about Bush"

That is such BS. He was OBVIOUSLY saying only the less fortunate, less educated are in the military. You have to use some pretty pretzeled logic to even try and come up with another meaning. This is just another spin on the first gulf war's "too many blacks are in combat arms". Are we to believe he meant that about Bush? with his degree from Yale and what is that other place????? Oh yea Harvard.