Posted on 02/03/2005 7:54:50 AM PST by paudio
MSNBC's "Hardball" host Chris Matthews suggested last night that the high point of President Bush's State of the Union Address - the emotional hug between grateful Iraqi voter Safia Taleb al-Suhail and Janet Norwood, mother of a Marine who died liberating her country - was staged by the White House.
The cynical host apparently first voiced his skepticism during a commercial break. His comments were immediately seized upon by "Hardball" guest, MSNBC contributor Pat Buchanan when the show returned.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsmax.com ...
Well, call me gulible but I thought what you said you meant. Was it a joke or what?
PHONY, FAKE, DISGRACEFUL IMPEACHED EX PRESIDENT.
After Ken O'Donnell went "Tourettes" at the SBVT O'Neil, Pat cut to a break saying we'll be back with Senior MSNBC Analyst, at least for the next hour, Ken O'Donnell.
I mean it. What some aren't understanding is that there are different level of staging. I don't think it was scripted and queued by some off screen producer, I have no doubt that both the women were sincere in their reactions, but I understand that there's a reason they were both there and that they weren't introduced to each other off camera. That's a lower level form of staging used very frequently in TV, confrontation based news shows like O'Reilly and Hannity & Colmes do it, soppy episodes of afternoon talk shows like Oprah do it (like when the re-unite long lost loved ones). There's nothing insincere about it, and I certainly don't fault anyone for it, it really helped push Bush's message which is a good thing. But that is staging, very deliberate decisions have to be made to bring these people together and not make them aware of each other until they're in front of the cameras, similar to the decisions made while writing the speech and deciding what tie Bush would wear. All of these things are done with a desired effect in mind. And I trust the Bush White House enough that I'm willing to assume there was no overt monkeybusiness, that the ladies were not coached or prompted that their reaction was genuine and heartfelt, but I also understand there are reasons why it happened where and when it happened, reasons I don't have a problem with but apparently some find the very thought repugnant. Take it as you wish, I merely advise that not all happy accidents are 100% accidental.
roger that. thanks.
The Soldiers Mother said She didn't know the other Woman was going to be there, and i believe Her.
Funny that Chris matthews didn't say the same for John F'n Kerry's "Staged walk through a Vietcong Village" wearing a Flak Jacket and bandolier trying to look like Rambo. Having someone video tape Him. That was much more Obvious...so Why didn't the Media Genius Matthews catch that?
Because He is a Partizan Liberal Biased Jerk.
Breaking: Chris is a pedophile.
I have NO evidence...just wondering.
You're right. The serious of the charge itself should be more than enough, if you apply the same rules to the Left that they apply to us.
Thats good enough for Me, I believe you. Isn't it obvious that His Heterosexual demeanor is "Staged"
Sissie Chrissie is a left wing idiot!
I believe her too. I also believe there's a reason she wasn't made aware of the other woman until during the speech in front of the cameras.
Good example of the difference between benign and maliscious staging. What Kerry did was sophomoric and pathetic. What happened last night was merely a matter of trusting people to be people and timing when they would have their opportunity to react the way normal people would and should in that circumstance. I have no doubt their reaction would have been identical if they were introduced to each other at an informal lunch; but timing is everything in life, TV and politics.
Who watches that idiot anyway? When they brought on the dog show host, Ron Reagan they lost me. Chris hasn't said anything new or interesting in years.
That's a lower level form of staging
Wrong.....They could have shook hands...or patted each other on the shoulder....or smiled at each other.....
The Hug was genuine and unscripted.
When Kerry made a movie of Himself walking through a VC village........that was "Staged"
When Clinton walked up to those rocks on the beach and made a cross while the cameras were rolling....was "Staged"
Stop picking at nits and call a spade a spade.
I take it you didn't like what he said :D
They could have done a lot of things. I believe the hug was genuine and unscripted, doesn't mean the situation wasn't staged. I'm not picking at nits and I am calling a spade a spade, a staged event is a staged event even if the specifics of the event are spontaneous there's still staging in getting thing to the point where that spontaneous action can happen in front of TV cameras. Do you think that it's just an accident of travel plans that caused these women not to be introduced to each other until they were introduced to America by the President?
:-)
no.
nikos
Anything involving the President is staged. Of course Matthews has to be all negative about it. No one was talking about him and his on-air orgasm over Bill Clinton and opening of the Presidential Double-Wide.
I think both people were screened and may have even met before the speech, but I doubt that they were told to hug. The dog tags getting caught up in the dress also was unpredictable.
Matthews is a light weight tv journalist who really came to the forefront like allot of them during the Clinton scandal.
I rarely watch him...
nikos
Speculation at best....an opinion not based on fact and of no value whatsoever
funny how you keep ignoring the point that it was the VIP box, we are at war, so no amazing thing the President and First Lady had Military members and their family in the VIP box, and wanted to honor them. we just had a successful Iraq election - so again NO surprise the Iraqi lady would be a VIP guest. that you assume there was some contrived staging in those simple facts is assuming things you have no way to back up. the Marine mother said she had not met the Iraqi Lady previously. perhaps that is because there was NO staging involved? all you are doing is assuming. and you are no more an expert on how the handing of the State of the Union speech is planned and delived then i am.
Whenever I watch him I feel like screaming also. Weren't you happy that Zell Miller gave him an on-air slap down? I sure was. I nearly drove off the road clapping *LOL*
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