Shep Smith And Geraldo: Saving Lives Or Part Of A Big Photo-Op?

[DistressedAmerican]

They were on screen pleading for help at length last night. It seemed pretty sincere to me. This morning they report that help is finally here by way of a large helicopter evacuation and food distribution.

So, did their pleas fall on the right ears? Were they planned to "see" the evacuation (virtually unreported elsewhere BTW)?

Is is real or is it a cover-up?

[Catherine Vincent]

1. Probably a little of each.

They were both with the people suffering and saw it with their own eyes. I think they were really affected by it. It's too bad someone like Hannity or O'Reaily didn't volunteer to go to those places. I would have loved to see how they would react.

edit: I spelled O'Really wrong but who cares. :-)

[ernstbass]

2. I think they were genuinely horrified and distressed

They reported on Hannity and Colmes and Hannity totally blew them off saying things like, "let's get a little perspective on this" - God how I hate that man!!!

[Inspired]

3. I believe it was sincere on THEIR part....

if it helped why should we care about the motivation?

[Fleshdancer]

4. I'll probably be in the minority on this one

I watched both Geraldo and Shep last night. I watched Geraldo's tear filled pleas of help. The sheer amount of anger in Shep's eyes gave me a chill.

They're not actors, they're reporters. They stood in the center of hell and described the smell of death. They couldn't believe that lack of governmental response when American babies were dying from dehydration. To instantly believe it was for a photo op is, in my opinion, off base. Their reactions to what they were witnessing was very real, very human.

I can't stand Fox and I rarely have anything good to say about their reporters, but not in this case.

[DistressedAmerican]

12. I Agree Completely. I Believe It Is Genuine.

I do think when Bushco saw that footage, theyh knew they had to make it happen NOW.

[charlie]

5. Geraldo is a self-besotted blowhard

He just happened to be on the side of angels this time.

[Dem Agog]

6. they seemed legit...

and i had my bullshit meter tuned, directed and waiting for it...

i would never give fox credit for anything unless i had to but that clip from shep & geraldo last night was moving and seemed earnest.

[RandiFan1290]

7. Little of each

HLS is in charge. They gave Fox the exclusive on this. Orders from the top! You can bet on it. I would like to hear what is going on behind the scenes at CNN and MSNBC.

[kikiek]

8. Need to give credit where credit is due. They have both been extremely

upset and advocating for people there. I appreciate the work they do today.

[krkaufman]

9. Evacuation is happening.... but it's only a start

Hell, at this point we're just moving people from point-A to point-B, and providing minimum life-sustaining nutrition. There's a LONG way to go to get these people to the lowest acceptable living conditions.

We're supposed to stand up and cheer, though, that the most basic measures are FINALLY being taken.

Hurrah.

[PA Democrat]

10. I haven't seen any other network covering this big air evacuation

that Geraldo is reporting. In fact CNN, had a reporter live down at the convention center and he didn't say ANYTHING about evacuations. Anyone else get a confirmation that this is occurring from any other source besides FOX?

[Quixote1818]

11. Bush was afraid he was going to lose his FOX news base

Of course they sent in a chopper after their was mutiny on the bounty on National TV.

[OneGrassRoot]

13. What I hope is that.........

the damage is already done. That Shep and Geraldo's pleas from last night (and Shep's throughout the week) outweigh the current evacuations. We're all relieved those poor souls are finally getting help, but hopefully the message that THIS DIDN'T NEED TO HAPPEN will remain with the Faux viewers/* supporters.

Another thing, sad as it is to say, a percentage of Faux viewers don't give a shit about the humanity story here. They're simply pissed that their "good ole boy" humiliated them in front of the rest of the world, making us look like a third-world country with the leaders in a clusterfuck.

[DistressedAmerican]

14. It Is Still Going On All Over The City. That Is My Problem.

Looks like the city is saved. But, there are many thousand more still dying.

But, at least those ones got out. Every life that is saved is precious at this point!

[TheCentepedeShoes]

15. Just a thought

that occured to me: there's some speculation that the reason these thousands of people were herded into the convention center and basically left on their own was to create such desparate conditions that would prod them into some kind of riot. Maybe Shep and Geraldo got wind of something about to happen and tried to head it off by focusing attention there. I didn't even realize until yesterday morning that there was anyone at the CC, all the attention was on the Superdome. :shrug: