Clinton to ABC News: It's payback time

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Sic em big dog

The former president chastises Peter Jennings for ABC's "sleazy" coverage of Whitewater -- and he's right.

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By Eric Boehlert



Nov. 23, 2004 | President Clinton's prime-time interview with ABC on Nov. 18, in conjunction with the opening of the Clinton presidential library, was for the most part a feel-good, nostalgic affair, as Clinton looked back on his presidency with ABC anchor Peter Jennings. But Clinton flashed real irritation when Jennings suggested some historians thought that Clinton's presidency had lacked "moral authority," without mentioning its having been tarnished by independent counsel Kenneth Starr's multiple investigations.

"You don't want to go here, Peter," snapped Clinton, who proceeded to criticize the reporting of ABC News, in particular, in the 1990s. "Not after what you people did and the way you, your network, what you did with Kenneth Starr. The way your people repeated every little sleazy thing he leaked. No one has any idea what that's like."

In truth, Clinton's criticism of the media's overheated and often conspiratorial scandal coverage could be applied to a host of mainstream news operations. But it was fitting that the comment was directed at ABC, which occupied a unique role amid the seven-year, $70 million media feeding frenzy surrounding Starr's probes. At times ABC, led by reporter Jackie Judd and producer Chris Vlasto, seemed to act as the broadcast counterparts to the print reporters relying on news from the Office of the Independent Counsel -- making an early investment in the Whitewater story and determined to see it pay off.

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2004/11/23/jennings_clinton/index.html

[PrisonerLazy8]

1. Clinton should only talk with CBS instead

Dan Rather and CBS has Clinton's back covered. He should help Dan Rather out of his latest jam too. As it stands I watch ONLY CBS for my news because they give the Dems a better light than the other networks.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

3. He should not talk to any of the shitheads, and neither should

anyone else.
Let them wallow in complete ignorance. That is what they deserve.

[PrisonerLazy8]

4. I agree except for CBS and Dan Rather

Rather has been the best voice for Democrats and he has done a very good job to make it transparent to the American listeners. He has done more to help us than any other reporter in American history. He will not be forgotten.

[SeveneightyWhoa]

8. Why do you single out Dan Rather?

Isn't the entire media 'liberal'?

[PrisonerLazy8]

9. Hardly. Rather is the only one that I see as liberal

Do you have others in mind? I can't think of any other major network reporters that don't play up to the right wing.

[SeveneightyWhoa]

12. Just wondering..

What do you mean by Rather being "transparent"?

And could you give me some examples of Rather "helping" "us"? I can't seem to remember any instances. Help jog my memory.

[PrisonerLazy8]

14. Transparent meaning not-in-your-face and well presented

Helping us as in getting the liberal message out in an honest and presentable manner without pontificating. Just about every night at 19:00 is an instance. Unless you were watching you're on a solo jog.

[SeveneightyWhoa]

17. Getting the liberal message out?

How does he get the "liberal message" out?

What exactly is that message? I'm sorry but, personally, all I see in Dan Rather is a guy who reads the news into a camera.

Oh, and 'transparent' does not mean "not-in-your-face and well presented". Transparent means see-through.

You, yourself, are a bit transparent.

[PrisonerLazy8]

19. Thanks but no

I'm not here to be insulted or argue with anyone. ttfn.

[SeveneightyWhoa]

24. I know.

You just want to fit in.
You're doing a remarkably poor job of trying to play a "liberal". Or as someone from the boards you normally frequent would say, "LIE-beral".

[Media_Lies_Daily]

18. Right...the old Texan liberal trick from the LBJ school of politics....

...ever wonder why Danny-boy climbed the ladder so quickly after LBJ became president? Ever wonder about Rather's coverage of the JFK assassination? Ever wonder why he can't be found in any of the film or pics on November 22, 1963, despite his claims to have personally seen the assassination? Ever wonder why he continues to shill for the Warren Commission, one of the buggest hoaxes ever perpetrated on the American people?

Do some homework on Danny-boy and then come back and talk to us.

[PrisonerLazy8]

20. "talk to us"?

"Us"? Does the handle Media_Lies_Daily consist of more than one persona? Sorry but I don't feel one bit inferior to a screen name that claims to be more than one person. Only superiors assign homework. As an elder I resent the insinuation.

[Name removed]

25. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[CityDem]

22. He should talk to Olberman

It would surely give his show a ratings boost.

[KeepItReal]

16. The same Rather that said he kept his mouth shut in run-up to Gulf War II?

Yeah, big help he was to "us". <end sarcasm>

Rather admitted that he was afraid to step up to Bush & Co. in the run-up to the war and fell into the same unquestioning mode that just about all the network media here was in.

If you had the benefit of watching foreign news sources pre-Iraq invasion (I happened to travel to Europe then), you'd have seen the huge disservice major media folks like Dan Rather and the no-debate-having Congress did to this country. For THAT Dan Rather will not be forgotten in my book.

Like someone said, "Silence is assumed to be consent."

[Winamericaback]

2. Was this ever put on the web?

I missed the interview and would love to see it.. does anybody have a link?

[seafan]

6. Links here. Clinton rips into Jennings, and deservedly.

Here is the actual Clinton-Jennings interview:

http://www.therandirhodesshow.com/randi_audio/clinton.mp3


...and here is what Randi said about it:

http://airamericaradio.com/layout.asp?baseurl=RandiRhodes/11-19-04/RandiRhodes.wma



Both of these links are on her home page:
http://www.therandirhodesshow.com/

[donco6]

7. Kick

Good links.

[Winamericaback]

10. Thank you!! n/t

[seafan]

15. Y're welcome!

:)

[krkaufman]

23. Clinton UN speech video/audio available anywhere?

Is video or audio of the Clinton speech to the UN available anywhere?

p.s. Thanks for these audio links.

[NVMojo]

5. Jennings and all them who were repuke lapdogs paved the way

for complete submission to the Bush regime and the neocon thinking...and takeover of our country's heart and soul. Damn them all.

[tabasco]

11. Jennings and his ilk are enemies of democracy.

They are unofficial mouthpieces for the neocon government. As such they are propagandists and enemies of our democracy. They will be punished when the American people rise up and reclaim our rights.

[bliss_eternal]

13. I'm just pleased to hear someone call them on their

so called 'reporting.'

I actually thought I had missed something the last four years. I was so disgusted by the way Shrub got into office and the fact that he was in the White House at all. Everytime they announced a story about him, I would turn off the tv, or at least change the channel. In four years one would think I missed a lot by doing this. NOT.

By reading some papers, perusing various internet sources, I think I was just as informed if not more so than many of the repukes I spoke to on other sites.

[Carl Brennan]

21. When you compare the ass kissing the MSM does to the chimp

it really throws a bright light on how hypocritical they are. The MSM just lined up and went at Clinton with a vigor, but ignored every signal coming to them about what a fucking monster this asshole in the White House is. They sugar coat every piece of bad news about Iraq the economy everything and don't mention shit about Bush's personal life like the unanswered questions about his cocaine addiction, fathering a minors child, etc.

[KakistocracyHater]

26. Clinton to ABC News:Payback Time

There was another moment when people saw those around them they loved & cared for get hauled off to jail, or killed, or prosecuted in 'kangaroo courts', just because of their affiliations, their philosophies. It's called The Enlightenment. That was when scientists were put under house arrest for daring to comprehend the world around them, or they were put to death. But all the people who personally experienced those times are now dead & their story is just another 'historical document'. Our fearless media needs a competitor, real soon, because if the truth-aka reality-doesn't start incessantly talking & making itself heard on a daily basis, then why should reality be taken seriously?

[newyawker99]

27. Hi KakistocracyHater!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Fovea]

31. Love the name

Eu Ge!

[struggle4progress]

28. Well, I still love ya, Bill, but let's be honest: you rolled over ...

... for these thugs every day for eight years, and that's part of the reason we don't have Congress or the White House today.

[Joe Chi Minh]

29. I remember

thinking at the time of the impeachment fiasco that, in Jennings, the pharisees had surely plumbed the very depths of the abyss; he came across as the ultimate low-life; all the more slimy and sinister for not being their usual figure of fun, such as Bill Bennett. You know - the comic-book, mean, shifty expression, together with the endless wringing and kneading of his pudgy hands. After I first saw this on mad Larry's, his minder must have told him to keep his hands below the table. But Jennings... what a piece of work!

[Joe Chi Minh]

30. Well, maybe

the depths of the abyss is pretty strong, but he sure he is despicable enough, even among low-lifes.