Posted on 08/30/2007 5:31:11 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest
It's rare to see a leading MSM light directly confronted over the liberal media's bias. But it happened in spades this morning as Tom DeLay (R-Tx.) called out Matt Lauer for the MSM's double-standard in handling Republican, versus Democrat, scandals.
The "Today" co-anchor opened his interview of the former Republican congressman and Majority Leader with a laundry-list of GOP scandals.
MATT LAUER: By all accounts these are some tough times for the Republican party. Last fall Democrats took control of both houses of congress, largely because of opposition to the war in Iraq. In 2006 the Republican party was also hit with distracting scandals involving Congressman Mark Foley's inappropriate emails to male congressional pages and lobbyist Jack Abramoff's corruption case that brought down several prominent Republican congressmen. This year the phone number of Republican senator David Vitter turned up in the records of a Washington, DC escort service, and now recent polls show voters prefer a Democrat over a Republican by 51-27% and at least one poll found the most popular choice among Republican presidential candidates is "none of the above." The question now is can any of the damage be reversed? Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay served in congress for 22 years and knows personally how scandals can impact a party. He's also the author of a new book called No Retreat, No Surrender: One American's Fight. Tom DeLay, congressman, good morning.
TOM DELAY: Good morning, Matt.DeLay wasted no time in confronting Lauer with his bias.
LAUER: So I went through a litany there, and maybe I should start by stepping back. We've got two members out of 49 Republican senators in office right now embroiled in controversy. So do we have a party embroiled in scandal or do we have two bad apples?
DELAY: Well, I hate to say this Matt, but you just showed the problem, the double-standard, and you just participated in it. You listed a whole lot of scandals that involve the Republicans but you didn't mention one Democrat.In response, and throughout the ensuing exchange, Lauer clung to the fig leaf of his "bad apple" query.
LAUER: But you didn't hear me. I also just said do we only have two bad apples or is there a case of an entire party embroiled in scandal?
DELAY: I think in your premise if you had listed all the Democrats that are having problems right now it would have been different. You see the Democrats re-elect the people with their problems; the Republicans kick them out. If you look at what's going on, it's how you handle it as a party and as a political group.And later . . .
DELAY: The double-standard in the media is amazing. The feeding frenzy, the sharks in the water that's going on right now because of a Republican. Where is the frenzy on Alan Mollohan from West Virginia or William Jefferson from Louisiana?When the interview ended, newsreader Ann Curry turned to Matt and said with apparent sympathy for his ordeal "Now-w-w, let's get a check of the rest of the morning's top stories," as Matt broke out into a big grin.
LAUER: I think you mentioned William Jefferson. There was an awful lot of coverage of William Jefferson when that story broke, congressman.
DELAY: Yeah, for just a couple of days and then we went on. In the case of a Republican, believe me I've experienced this, it's day in and day out in the media, and they write this story over and over and over again. We all know the double-standard in the media -- it's amazing.
LAUER: I'm not going to let it, you know, end with that assumption, congressman, because I clearly don't agree with it, but why don't we just say . . .
DELAY: You exhibited it, Matt!
LAUER: You know what, congressman? I think it's unfair. Because I listed a list of problems and then immediately --
DELAY: All Republicans.
LAUER: Well we're talking about the Republican party. You just said, I invited you on to talk about the GOP.
DELAY: Because you don't want to talk about the Democrats.
LAUER: And I also started, congressman, and then said "is this a misperception that there is a party embroiled in scandal when we may just have two bad apples?" That's exactly how I started my first question.
DELAY: No, you started the first question by listing a bunch of Republicans and didn't mention one Democrat.
LAUER: Because we're talking --
DELAY: About the situation that's going on in Washington today and including both Democrats and Republicans. There are scandals that need to be addressed. Republicans address them, Democrats re-elect them.
LAUER: Alright congressman, I'll let you have the last word. It's good to have you on.
DELAY: Thank you.
DeLay schools Lauer on MSM bias. Ping to Today show list.
Hammer time.
They don’t call him The Hammer for nuthin’
Tom DeLay mega-BUMP!!
Lauer is just as bad a Katie was.
He rudely argues with Republicans, even the President of the United States, showing his absolute contempt for them, and the next day gives a tongue bath to the first available Democrat.
They haven’t heard or seen the last of Tom Delay.
Love it!
Nice job by DeLay. That’s the important thing that lots of people who go on these shows forget — you have to go after the underlying premise to knock that down. Otherwise you get stuck answering “have you stopped beating your wife?” type questions.
Oh, God bless Tom! What a great exchange. He is exactly right and I say it’s about time more Republicans start holding the media accountable and blasting them for their obvious bias. The column yesterday from Brent Bozell showing how the morning shows devote three or more times as much coverage to Demo presidential candidates than Republicans was one glaring example of how the Dems know they can rely on the “news” media to save them big bucks on advertising.
The next time Giuliani or Romney are on one of these shows, or during their next debate, they should hammer the media over their bias. I would add McCain to that list but he is already one of their favorites.
Sweeeeeet!
Lauer looks like he wanted to just talk about Republican scandals and completely ignore the crap on the democrats’ side. He got called on it and tried to hide behind that he had asked about repubs and DeLay was the one changing the subject.
They must really live in a dreamland.
How long did Lauer attack DeLay for him being indicted for something that wasn’t a violation of campaign finance rules when it occurred but does Lauer mention Hillery’s illegal fundraising from Peter Paul to Hsu? How obvious is that double standard.
MSM types like Lauer can’t acknowledge that the very nature of topics they choose and the way the questions are framed often exhibit extreme bias. If he had meant to be neutral he should, with DeLay, have had a Democratic spokesperson, listed Democratic scandals and asked the very same question of that spokesman. DeLay was right to point out that glaring unbalance in the discussion. (Yes, I meant Democratic.)
Delay from downtown!
Delay for President 2008?
What Larry Craig did was wrong on a whole lot of levels but we have to keep some perspective. I mean it’s not like he raped someone or drove off a bridge and waited 10 hours to call emergency personnel to rescue his passenger or let his boyfriend use his apartment as a homosexual whorehouse or take campaign contributions from Red China or make a commercial for Hugo Chavez or
Take brains, guts, wit and bite to the DBM!
HF
If the republicans fought like the demmies EVERY Repub would repeat this line on Every show and the media would stop bringing it up.
“Republicans address them, Democrats re-elect them”
"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 Palelologus
Title should read, “DeLay bitch slaps Lauer”
“Republicans address them, Democrats re-elect them.”
...now thats a great bumper sticker if I ever saw one.
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