Posted on 06/07/2011 9:16:53 AM PDT by smoothsailing
June 7, 2011
In an interview with Andrew Breitbart on Tuesday's NBC Today, co-host Matt Lauer suggested the conservative blogger should not have broken news of the scandal involving Congressman Anthony Weiner: "Did you worry that – you know, as a conservative, you don't want government in people's bedrooms. And so did you stop and have a debate with yourself about that?"
Moments earlier, Breitbart had noted feeling some sympathy for Weiner during Monday's press conference: "I felt so unbelievably sad for this guy." Lauer responded by wondering why that sympathy didn't keep the BigGovernment.com creator from posting Weiner's racy tweet last week: "But if you're sad for the guy then, did you not consider that at some point you might be sad for him when you first posted that photo ten days ago?"
In response to Lauer's bizarre assertion that reporting on the scandal somehow went against conservative values, Breitbart explained: "I'm not the government. You know, he tweeted to, you know, 45,000 people that image. A person sent it to me. I can't think of a world in which that isn't news."
Later in the interview, Lauer was suspicious of a more graphic x-rated photo of Weiner that Breitbart had not released: "Is this, Andrew, some kind of x-rated insurance policy?...Because people have characterized it as something more." Breitbart replied: "I don't like to think of it that way."
Lauer pressed further, sparking this exchange:
LAUER: Under no circumstance will you release that? In other words, let's say Anthony Weiner supporters target you in some other way?
BREITBART: If Anthony Weiner decides to make this a jihad against me for his interpretation of putting me into this situation, you know what, I'll take that as a – you know, you said an insurance policy. Maybe. I can't foresee a circumstance in which I would release that. I don't think I want to put his family through that type of thing. But for instance, I've already started to hear words that Megan, the woman who came forth, people are prying through her private life. And they're-
LAUER: So would you use that photo to protect these women?
BREITBART: That's – you know, I'm not thinking of it that way, but I certainly have it in my possession. And I guarantee you he would use this against me and the people on the left side of the blogosphere would have used this against me. I could have put that out there and his career would have been over today.
In his final question to Breitbart, Lauer wondered: "Had you come into possession of photographs of a Republican congressman that were similar in nature to the photograph you received of Anthony Weiner, would you have been as quick to post that photograph?" Breitbart replied: "Yes....I'm repulsed when it's, when it's, you know, Larry Craig that's involved in these type of behaviors or Ensign, the Senator from Nevada....these guys put themselves in a blackmail-able situation."
Breitbart then added: "The problem is, is that there is the mainstream media. They've got the resources and they're usually there to cover it. My contention, it's my belief, is that there is a double standard in the media in how they treat Republicans and Democrats."
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Full transcript at LINK
What would a wazoo aperture like Lauer know about principles, let alone conservative ones?
It’s a darn good thing Breitbart got this information on Weiner before CHINA, RUSSIA, or IRAN not to mention lobbyists and assorted ME enemies did.
I suppose the idea that Weiner would have been subject to blackmail didn’t cross Lauer’s feeble mind.
Is Breitbart the gov't? Where exactly did Breitbart call for gov't to get involved? Lauer's more than a bit confused, as usual.
If Weiner had kept his namesake in his bedroom this would never have come to light, Matt.
And adultry is not a cherished conservative value.
My thoughts exactly. Where the hell are these lib media types getting their logic? In the same few days we have Babs Walters comparing Palin’s bus trip to Weiner’s weiner — and now Lauer with this.
Herman Cain says “stupid people are ruining America.” Methinks he’s right.
This all seems darn to close to “Have you stopped beating your wife?”
NBC’s Lauer - an expert on conservative thought, et al
The next day Tony Weiner appeared on Don Imus' show and said a number of things and mentioned that Massa "was one taco short of a happy meal".
I don't recall Matt criticizing Tony over that bit of invasion of the proverbial "bedroom", but there you have it.
Nice spin, Lauer!
Perverts need to be exposed
If Lauer had a naked picture of Sarah Palin he would be having emissions down the front of his pants as he exposed it on national TV.
Who is this a-hole trying to fool ?
Lauer has no principles.
Sending uninvited pornography or soliciting sex from underage females over the internet is a felony.
I don’t think a warped and demented mind like Lauer’s can grasp that.
I’m amazed that Breitbart hasn’t brought up the fact that he could sue Weiner for defamation and has, so far, restrained himself from profiting at Weiner’s expense.
The FIRST conservative principle should be TRUTH.
I doubt the truth would have ever been told had Breitbart not stepped forward to call BS on Weiner.
Alinsky tactics
As if we didn’t know what this is all about. Lauer is just holding out hope of getting on Weiner’s sexting list.
I’m SICK of liberals telling us what and who we are... If Lauer wants to know who we are he can watch our actions.... That’s who we are...
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