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Behind scenes, NBC execs concede Matt Lauer forum performance was "disaster"
CNN Money ^ | 9-8-2016 | Brian Stelter

Posted on 09/08/2016 10:37:13 AM PDT by tcrlaf

NBC News knows the "Commander-in-Chief Forum" was not Matt Lauer's finest hour.

One executive, speaking anonymously, was blunt about it: "Disaster."

The morning after Lauer's back-to-back interviews of Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, several high ranking sources at the network said they hear the criticism and agree with at least some of it.

Lauer was widely criticized for failing to fact-check or follow up when Trump falsely claimed that he was opposed to the Iraq war when it started. Some viewers thought Lauer held Clinton to a higher standard than Trump. Several people who were sitting in the audience told CNN that they were frustrated too.

The ratings for Wednesday night's forum were strong, according to preliminary data. But the reviews were pitiful. So what went wrong? That's what journalists both inside and outside NBC are asking now. There is no clear answer.

Lack of preparation is one theory.

New York Times TV critic James Poniewozik wrote Thursday that Lauer seemed "unprepared on specifics of military and foreign policy: "He performed like a soldier sent on a mission without ammunition, beginning with a disorganized offensive, ending in a humiliating retreat."

But Lauer's interviewing skills are second to none. He has hosted thousands of episodes of the "Today" show.

And he had a week to prep for the forum.

(Excerpt) Read more at money.cnn.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Front Page News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: bias; cicforum; clinton; lauer; media; miserablefailure; msm; nbc; nbcnews; trump
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To: tcrlaf
Wrong. Matt Lauer did a great job. The left is talking about it. The right is talking about it. Some hate it, some love it. The truth is it created viewers. Ratings create money, and that is what counts. He knows it. Now, my personal wish is that all the networks will see the benefit of trying to pin Hillary down with a ratings boost.
101 posted on 09/08/2016 1:40:09 PM PDT by political1 (Love your neighbors)
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To: political1

I keep praying for random acts of journalism to occur, but let’s face it - the case against her on the emails is so overwhelming and the statement by Comey is so narrow (ignored many other statutes violated) that it should be obvious that the fix is in and it will remain that way.

I think Assange could drop the biggest bomb imaginable on her and it would change nothing. Too many of (myself included) keep hoping that she will fail on her own when the best thing that could happen would be for Trump to defeat her on ideas. The media is doing everything they can to make this about personality - not platform. He wins on platform walking away.


102 posted on 09/08/2016 2:05:15 PM PDT by volunbeer (Clinton Cash = Proof of Corruption)
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To: FourtySeven

And what about when she claimed no one died in Libya thanks to her?!


I would guess that there were four families that did not appreciate that comment.


103 posted on 09/08/2016 2:10:17 PM PDT by rwa265
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To: justiceseeker93
Iraq and Saddam should be discussed more....

many years ago...I think just after we went into or were ready to go into Iraq....Hillary was interviewed by Tim Russert.

IIRC, she said "It has been the policy of the Dems to take out Saddam"....(I think since 1998...)

Bubba gave a big speech in 1998 and we started bombing Iraq cuz they were violating the UN agreement permitting searching for WMD.

By the time Bush was going to Iraq, they had violated the UN "Ceasefire" 15 times.

Iraq belongs to Bubba.

104 posted on 09/08/2016 2:37:45 PM PDT by Sacajaweau
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To: justiceseeker93
I watched some. I thought it was obvious that she knew the questions in advance. In one case about Veteran Suicides, I thought she answered (with an obscure, to me, statistic) before Lauer was finished with the question.

All this makes it hard for me to believe that she needed earpiece advice, but I suppose it could have been a backup.

ML/NJ

105 posted on 09/08/2016 3:08:13 PM PDT by ml/nj (quotequote)
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To: tcrlaf

Folks,this is a message to Lester Holt moderating the first debate,HANDS OFF HILLARY AND HER EMAILS AND HAMMER TRUMP ON EVERYTHING


106 posted on 09/08/2016 3:49:43 PM PDT by ballplayer (hvexx NKK c bmytit II iyijjhihhiyyiyiyi it iyiiy II i hi jiihi ty yhiiyihiijhijjyjiyjiiijyuiiijihyii)
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To: justiceseeker93

Couldn’t they drop some dope in Donald’s drinking water? Or screw with the lighting so he looks sinister?


107 posted on 09/08/2016 3:57:34 PM PDT by Eleutheria5 (“If you are not prepared to use force to defend civilization, then be prepared to accept barbarism.)
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To: tcrlaf
Yeah, his performance got off to a rough start when he opened with, "Good evening. I'm Matt Lauer, and you're not."

It was all downhill from there.

108 posted on 09/08/2016 4:12:45 PM PDT by Texas Eagle (If it wasn't for double-standards, Liberals would have no standards at all -- Texas Eagle)
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To: tcrlaf

Save


109 posted on 09/08/2016 4:26:15 PM PDT by submarinerswife (Allahu FUBAR.)
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To: justiceseeker93

Hillary can’t think on her feet (and she may be mentally ill now as well), so an earpiece means someone was feeding her lines in real time in response to questions.

Obama allegedly wore an earpiece as well during the 2012 debates.


110 posted on 09/08/2016 6:08:03 PM PDT by Dave346
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To: Bikkuri

No, I can’t find anything about Lauer working for MTV. Maybe you’re thinking of Jon Stewart?

He does however rake in the big bucks at NBC. According to wikipedia they are paying him $28 million per year!


111 posted on 09/08/2016 6:19:43 PM PDT by Dave346
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To: justiceseeker93

The left is crying foul because they think Lauer’s questioning was disproportionate, but in truth he went very soft on her considering the scandals in her wake. There can be no proportional lines of inquiry between her and Trump when she is the one who has the disproportionately horrific track record of abuse, opportunism, corruption and devastation to answer for.


112 posted on 09/08/2016 8:04:14 PM PDT by monkeyshine
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To: tcrlaf; flaglady47; pax_et_bonum; ExTexasRedhead; seekthetruth; Maine Mariner; Bob Ireland; ...
A salient point being missed here is how quickly the lib/lefty politicos and media will turn on one of their own and eat him alive.

It's also a message to further liberal moderators to protect Hillary, demolish Trump....or die.

Leni

113 posted on 09/08/2016 8:22:13 PM PDT by MinuteGal (Starbucks CEO Just Endorsed Clinton...(you know what to do!)...GO, TRUMP !!!)
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To: TakebackGOP

The much bigger point is, regardless of how Trump felt at the start of Iraq war, Trump realized much sooner than the Bushes, the Clintons, and other war enthusiasts in DC, that Iraq war was destined to be a disaster and Trump said so in the 2004 interview with Esquire magazine.

An intelligent person realizes and admits their error quickly.


114 posted on 09/08/2016 8:35:57 PM PDT by entropy12
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To: MinuteGal

Libs are attacking Lauer for not fact checking during the interview.

Well, Candy Crowley did fact check Romney during the debate with Obama, and her “fact” was wrong. But by the time she was called on her error, the huge audience of debates was no longer there.

I have to agree with Chris Wallace that it is not his job to fact check. His job is to ask questions. The answers will be analyzed and dissected to death later by media.


115 posted on 09/08/2016 8:40:47 PM PDT by entropy12
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To: monkeyshine; tcrlaf

The criticism rings hollow because Trump does not need to answer for an off hand layman’s opinion on the Iraq invasion. He may have voiced support in 2002. But he is not responsible for the invasion, the strategy, the tactics; had no vote to authorize use of force, had no access to intelligence information, and had no oversight responsibilities. Just months after the 9-11 attacks, the entire country was united behind the principle that we had to smoke out and hunt down those responsible for the attack. A lifelong New Yorker interviewed on a New York comedy radio show voicing support for the President in the wake of a national tragedy can be forgiven in all proper context. I mentioned proportionality in my post above, the left should pay heed to not disproportionately mistake a statement of solidarity and patriotism as some kind of treachery.

Trump was a civilian, and like all of us, sold the strategy by everyone in positions of authority and with access to intelligence not just here but in the UK and Europe too. The only people truly responsible for these decisions are those in office at the time, including Hillary. And the left need to be careful lest they be called hypocrites. In 2002 some 80% of Americans supported the war in Iraq. Many people changed their minds since then. Trump is entitled to that same prerogative, as his was just the opinion of a citizen civilian. Only those in positions of power, who voted in Congress to authorize the invasion have to answer for it.

And I am not sure this line of attack on Lauer will work for the same reasons. Many Americans hold a different opinion today than they did in 2002. They probably wont judge him for changing his mind like they did, especially if he did it before it was fashionable. Only Hillary has to explain her support, her vote to use force, and moreso her continuation of the policy a decade later as Secretary of State that spread conflict to Libya, Syria, Egypt, Yemen, and ISIS, all resulting from a relentless hawkishness that actually goes all the way back to policies enacted and supported and escalated by her husband. So I think all this crying and whining may backfire. It should.


116 posted on 09/08/2016 8:51:57 PM PDT by monkeyshine
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To: justiceseeker93

.
>> “ If so, what would be the purpose of it?” <<

Same as with Obama: Feed the idiot the words.
.


117 posted on 09/08/2016 9:11:11 PM PDT by editor-surveyor (Freepers: Not as smart as I'd hoped they'd be)
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To: entropy12; MinuteGal

I think the reason Matt Lauer did not grilled DJT more than Killary is he knew that Trump would have destroyed him totally. BOR knows the same !!!


118 posted on 09/09/2016 5:38:53 AM PDT by danamco (s)
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To: monkeyshine
The criticism rings hollow because Trump does not need to answer for an off hand layman’s opinion on the Iraq invasion. He may have voiced support in 2002. But he is not responsible for the invasion, the strategy, the tactics; had no vote to authorize use of force, had no access to intelligence information, and had no oversight responsibilities.

Good points...

119 posted on 09/10/2016 11:14:59 AM PDT by GOPJ (Hillary's defense - "I'm not a criminal, I'm just incompetent and slow witted" - freeper Iron Munro)
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