Need help with question about GMA's Charlie Gibson...

[DemMother]

Isn't he about the right age to have served in Vietnam? Did he? I think some of these journalists feel threatened by Kerry, embarrassed that they didn't serve. Maybe that's why they feel they have to denigrate Kerry's service (and work equally hard to prop up the empty-headed frat boy).

I've always believed they went after Clinton for similar reasons. Kerry and Clinton are the same age as these talking heads and have done much more with their lives. For god sakes, Gibson spends the majority of his highly-paid on-air time discussing things like enchilada recipes...

Anyway, I tried a Google search about Gibson and wasn't that successful. Just curious about his military background--and about the backgrounds of many of these journalists who are regurgitating repub. spin points (and not just the obvious RW hacks).

[Jacobin]

1. Here's a start

Gibson came to ABCNEWS in 1975 from a syndicated news service, Television News Inc. (TVN), which he joined in 1974. He covered President Nixon’s resignation and the subsequent Watergate conspiracy trials for TVN.

From 1970 to 1973, Gibson was an anchorman and reporter for WJLA-TV (then WMAL-TV), the ABC affiliate in Washington, D.C. Prior to joining WJLA-TV, he had been news director for WLVA-TV and Radio in Lynchburg, Va. His first job in broadcasting was Washington producer for RKO Network in 1966.

The National Endowment for the Humanities named Gibson a National Journalism Fellow at the University of Michigan in 1973, and he has served as a board member of the Michigan Journalism Fellows since 1988.

Gibson is a graduate of Princeton University, where he was news director for the university radio station, WPRB-FM.

http://www.kepplerassociates.com/speakers/gibsoncharles.asp?1#bio


Looks like he spent the Vietnam years in Princeton on a college deferment.

Maybe you could google Princeton's alumni page and find out when he graduated

[theboss]

2. He's a Princeton Alum

I've met him at Alumni Functions. I think he graduated in the mid-60s.


I just checked the alumni page. He graduated in '65.

[Jacobin]

6. Probably a 4-F then

Maybe he had a pimple on his ass like OxyRush

[theboss]

7. I like Gibson

He's a good guy.

Why am I supposed to hate him again?

[Jacobin]

10. I never suggested you should

I was looking to see whether he had served during Nam per request of the original post.

I don't think anything of him one way or the other.

Typical RW propagandist as far as i can tell. No better or worse than the other whores

[Bunny]

3. From his GMA bio:

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/GMA/GoodMorningAmerica/GMA_gibson_charlie_bio.html

It says "His first job in braodcasting was Washington producer for RKO network in 1966". Does this mean that he graduated from college circa the mid-60's?

[DemMother]

4. Thanks

Thaks to all. I'm writing a letter to ABC. If all of this medal nonsense is so relevant I think it's time to take a look at the background of some of these "reporters." I don't see why that should be off-limits.

[Snellius]

5. Word is: GMA's exec. quit because he couldn't stand Gibson

Gibson is a notorious ahole to work with.

ABC makes a shift for 'Primetime'

NEW YORK -- ABC News yesterday shifted Shelley Ross, the chief executive behind "Good Morning America," to the top job at the newsmagazine "Primetime Thursday."

Ross, at the helm for five years at "GMA," said the move had not been her choice but that she was flattered that ABC News president David Westin wanted her at "Primetime."

A few weeks ago, ABC took David Doss, the former executive producer of "Primetime Thursday," out of his job to set the stage for the Ross move.

Ross downplayed published reports of a rift between her and Charles Gibson, coanchor of "GMA" with Diane Sawyer.

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/living/articles/2004/04/15/rift_limits_liberal_radios_range/

[tishaLA]

8. My email

I was interested in Mr. Gibson's report concerning Sen. Kerry "lying" about his medals. So I checked Mr. Gibson's biography and it appears he graduated from Princeton in the mid-60s but never served in the military. Could Mr. Gibson please explain to viewers why HE felt he didn't have to serve his country and can now stand in judgement of Sen. Kerry's noble service and post-combat activites? Did he manage to get a deferrment? Or did he simply think service to his country should be left to others--and then disparaged thirty years later?

[DemMother]

9. Great letter

I sent one too--wish it had had more of your tone, but I was too mad. In fact, I think we should demand the service records of all the so-called journalists who are disparaging Kerry's record. I would like to know if Chris Vlasto (ABC) served--he's behind the medals story, as well as other smears of Democrats, going back to the Clintons.

[VolcanoJen]

11. It's ok to be mad!!

Screw these chickenhawk journalists sitting atop their ivory towers, in judgement of John Kerry. It's time for us to start playing a little rough. This walking-on-eggshells crap didn't get Al Gore very far, that's for certain.

I've been writing some angry, strongly-worded letters to the media myself these days, and I'm going to keep the pressure on them. TishaLA's letter was excellent, but don't hold back and feel like you have to play all nicey-nice with these jerks, DemMother. I'll bet your letter was fantastic, too!

LET'S GO GET THESE BUSH BASTARDS!!!

[papau]

12. ABC's Vlasto is running with the smear - my email to ABC below

Why is ABC running another Chris Vlasto smear? ABC News is currently running a web headline which reads "Medal Dispute, EXCLUSIVE: Did Kerry lie about Vietnam War medals?" When was the last time ABC used the "L" word about President Bush? Or is it always 'exaggeration' when it's President Bush? Or is this again the ABC producer that creatively edited a video with Hillary Clinton about the Rose law firm, changing the meaning of her answer, the fellow who smeared Howard Dean with the trouper abuse story, falsely implied Iraq was behind the anthrax scare, and was a Star reprinter and indeed message taker to Jim McDougal - granted that Jeff Greenfield had no problem ignoring the lie as he tried to create a WH worried about exposure of secrets if Vince Foster death is investigated moment - but one still marvels at Vlasto's telling other reporters that "corrupt liars were in the White House, not the independent counsel's office".

Now the link between Starr's office, the Wall Street Journal and ABC television can be written off as a business need - but what is reason that ABC has allowed Vlasto to run with the word "LIE" in a Kerry does not distinguish between "medal", "ribbon", and "medallion" - says military uses term medal for all or part of the award - story?

Granted that Vlasto, who picked up the tab for a celebratory dinner for Paula Jones, is just doing his right wing thing, but doesn't ABC have standards? Chris Vlasto’s SOP remains the same: slime and smear with the most salacious of charges be they true or false - God can sort that out later - but is it not time for ABC to get off its GOP required kneepads?

http://www.moveonpac.org/warrecord/