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NBC's Lauer Claims Breitbart Breaking Weiner Story Violated Conservative Principles
NewsBusters ^ | 6-7-2011 | Kyle Drennen

Posted on 06/07/2011 9:16:53 AM PDT by smoothsailing

NBC's Lauer Claims Breitbart Breaking Weiner Story Violated Conservative Principles



Kyle Drennen

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."

.................

Full transcript at LINK


TOPICS: Extended News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: nbcnews; partisanmedia; weiner; weinergate
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To: smoothsailing

Like my wife says, “I stopped dating when I got married”


21 posted on 06/07/2011 9:30:26 AM PDT by faucetman (Just the facts ma'am, just the facts)
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To: Mr. Mojo

And for all we know, Weiner’s computer could have been in his living room.


22 posted on 06/07/2011 9:30:41 AM PDT by raccoonradio (..)
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To: smoothsailing

Lauer: a Dem sharing his Weiner with the world is fine; a conservative media man reporting on it is “bad values.”


23 posted on 06/07/2011 9:30:44 AM PDT by Yaelle
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To: Keith in Iowa


"Did you worry that – you know, as a conservative, you don't want government in people's bedrooms." - Lauer


I guess that is an apropos statements considering it was Weiner's congressional office where he sexted and had phone sex:

Many in Congress sleep in their offices, watchdog says
http://azstarnet.com/news/national/govt-and-politics/article_094a4918-c48b-514c-8d70-af8b62e3b5dd.html



24 posted on 06/07/2011 9:30:52 AM PDT by jacknhoo (Luke 12:51. Think ye, that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, no; but separation.)
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To: smoothsailing

Do you think that Matt got an autograph from a real newsman?


25 posted on 06/07/2011 9:30:58 AM PDT by Cyman
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To: Carry_Okie

Good point. Breitbart has shown remarkable restraint, considering the flak he’s taken.


26 posted on 06/07/2011 9:31:07 AM PDT by smoothsailing
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To: Yaelle

BRAVO!


27 posted on 06/07/2011 9:31:17 AM PDT by liberalh8ter
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To: smoothsailing
Did you worry that – you know, as a conservative, you don't want government in people's bedrooms.

Does Weiner sleep on the internet?

28 posted on 06/07/2011 9:31:37 AM PDT by dead (I've got my eye out for Mullah Omar.)
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To: smoothsailing
Breitbart... You magnificent bastard!

Amen to that! Lauer"s a sniveling twerp.

29 posted on 06/07/2011 9:31:43 AM PDT by jazusamo (His [Obama's] political base---the young, the left and the thoughtless: Thomas Sowell)
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To: AngelesCrestHighway

Didn’t Lauer split with his wife because he was roaming the ranch?


30 posted on 06/07/2011 9:32:20 AM PDT by jerseyrocks
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To: Keith in Iowa

What would a wazoo aperture like Lauer know about principles, let alone conservative ones?

Liberals, like Lauer, need to work on a set of principles of their own first. Being unprincipled doesn’t give you very much insight into conservative principles. But, just like they don’t have a popular budget proposal so they attack conservatives for whatever they come up with. Liberals are so pathetic but really great at spin.


31 posted on 06/07/2011 9:34:21 AM PDT by Bitsy (!)
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To: smoothsailing

Lauer is now the definitive authority on Conservatism? (snort!)


32 posted on 06/07/2011 9:35:46 AM PDT by YHAOS (you betcha!)
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To: smoothsailing
In a world where new, alternative media sources are being born each day, the mainstream media has a powerful interest in denying the double standard that today virtually defines their work.

All remaining claims to legitimacy for the old media depend upon the crumbling pretense that what they present to the American public is factual and unbiased, rather than contrived and contorted.

33 posted on 06/07/2011 9:37:40 AM PDT by andy58-in-nh (America does not need to be organized: it needs to be liberated.)
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To: Keith in Iowa
What would a wazoo aperture like Lauer know about principles, let alone conservative ones?

What would Adolf Hitler know about genetics?

34 posted on 06/07/2011 9:38:07 AM PDT by Hoodat (Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. - (Rom 8:37))
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To: smoothsailing
Matt Lauer is Anderson Teabaggin' Cooper minus the good hair.
35 posted on 06/07/2011 9:40:03 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (If Sarah Palin really was unelectable, state-run media would be begging the GOP to nominate her.)
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To: Keith in Iowa

Answer Question

Should Chris Hanson interview Anthony Weiner?

Your Answer:

What’s that in your pocket Mr. Weiner?

Would you like some ice tea and cookies?


36 posted on 06/07/2011 9:41:32 AM PDT by KeyLargo
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To: smoothsailing
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."

Agree totally!!!

37 posted on 06/07/2011 9:44:12 AM PDT by rawhide
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To: Keith in Iowa
Dear Mr. Lauer:

I have no problem supporting the general concept of "keeping the government out of the bedroom" as a matter of conservative principle. That all went out the window when Congressman Anthony Weiner Tony Dick decided to broadcast his "junk mail" to people all over North America.

One of the pernicious side effects of advanced technology is that it gives freaks and morons plenty of opportunities to demonstrate their dysfunctional and disordered behavior for the world to see.

Sincerely,

Alberta's Child

38 posted on 06/07/2011 9:48:15 AM PDT by Alberta's Child ("If you touch my junk, I'm gonna have you arrested.")
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To: Carry_Okie
Interesting point, but that would be nothing more than a hypothetical scenario for Breitbart to mention. He'd have a hard time winning such a case because he'd have to demonstrate that he actually suffered some kind of harm or monetary loss as a result of the defamation.

Weiner's defense -- and it's a perfectly legitimate one -- is that Breitbart has actually benefited from all the nonsense and exposure Weiner has given him (no pun intended) over the last week.

39 posted on 06/07/2011 9:52:16 AM PDT by Alberta's Child ("If you touch my junk, I'm gonna have you arrested.")
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This quote by Matt Lauer reminds me of a terrific quote from a movie...

"This guy just might be the dumbest person on the planet."

Mark

40 posted on 06/07/2011 9:55:35 AM PDT by MarkL (Do I really look like a guy with a plan?)
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