Daily Show Slams Cosby's Soft Interview With DeLay

[JABBS]

When Rita Cosby became the latest in a series of "journalists" to move from Fox News Channel to MSNBC (aka "Fox News Lite"), JABBS was among those to protest.

How many conservative hosts does MSNBC need, JABBS and others asked. And when will MSNBC's programming chief, Rick Kaplan, realize that adding the conservative scraps from other channels is no way to hike MSNBC out of last place in the cable television chat wars?

Conservative bloggers protested. Cosby was no conservative, they said. She's apolitical, they said. It's wrong to assume that every Fox "journalist" is conservative, they said.

Blah, blah, blah.

If Cosby's Oct. 21 interview with former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX) is any indicator, then Cosby's interview style is far from "fair and balanced."

In the wake of DeLay's indictment on conspiracy and money laundering charges -- and his now famous smile for his mug shot -- Cosby was "soft and mushy."

Jon Stewart, host of Comedy Central's The Daily Show -- a show that isn't afraid to astutely comment on the daily failures of the "mainstream media" -- highlighted this awful interview on Oct. 25. Here's a partial transcript:

STEWART: Why the big grin? Why the smile? Why is he smiling in his mug shot? DeLay explained to MSNBC's "Throaty McHuskington."

COSBY: The mug shot, the famous mug shot now. You‘re smiling in it.

DELAY: Yes.

COSBY: Why?

DELAY: Well, that‘s how I feel. I mean, this — this is not getting me down. I have a certain sense of peace and — and joy about this.

STEWART: Peace and joy! Now, that's a hardass. As long as someone's going to jail, DeLay's happy. Even if it's him, he doesn't care. Peace and joy, baby. But like the true journalist that she is, Cosby wouldn't take "peace and joy" for an answer.

COSBY: But you seem to feel you are target number one.

DELAY: Well, I don‘t know about that. ...

COSBY: ... How painful has this been for you personally and for your family?

DELAY: Oh, it hasn‘t been painful for us. ...

COSBY: ... But is this one of the worst periods for you?

DELAY: Well, you know, the worst — I don‘t know. ...

STEWART (imitating Cosby): How about this interview? Bad? Painful? Is anything painful? What if I were to grab your scrotum?

You know, uh, obviously I'm not Rita Cosby, but if I could give her any piece of advice for this interview: continue this line of questioning. It's bearing fruit.

COSBY: You were forced to resign as Majority leader. Personally, how...

DELAY: Step aside.

COSBY: Step aside.

COSBY: How heartbreaking was that for you?

DELAY: Oh, it didn‘t really bother me.

STEWART: He has no emotion! Leave him be! Nothing can harm this man!

***

This item first appeared at Journalists Against Bush's B.S.

[patrice]

1. Drugs. eom

[MadJohnShaft]

2. that was hilarious!

[On the Road]

3. I Loved That Bit

and in a warped kind of way, I was impressed with how Delay was handling it. Couldn't hurt that he had a softcore interviewer. And will make it more fulfilling when he's finally convicted.

[rinsd]

4. It was bizarre...

..it was as if Delay was saying to himself "who in the hell is this crazy woman who is trying WAY too hard to be Barbara Walters".

[MaineDem]

5. I find her painful to watch

And listen to.

Jon Steward made me listen to her. Damn, you JS! (It was funny as all get out, though. How sad for her.)

[Blue Belle]

6. "Throaty McHuskington".... Jon's friggin' brilliant!

Thank God someone looked up the transcript and posted. I was trying to remember what he called her... and all I could come up with was "Foghorn McRaspy". :)

Either one is a fit description... Rita Cosby makes Kathleen Turner sound like a tenor in a boys choir! :+

[calimary]

7. Around our house she's Rita Clear-Your-Throat.

GAWD but that voice...

I can only guess that some programming exec thought it sounded sexy, and wanted it on the air. I don't know. But it's the sound of nails on a blackboard to me. :grr:

[Blue Belle]

12. I agree... this woman is painful to watch and listen to.

The only thing that puts the remote control in my hand quicker is a pending George W. Bush speech, Bill O'Reilly (actually Fox News in general) or anything with Terry Bradshaw doing commentary or trying to act. :eyes:

[MattP]

8. Much worse

If you would have watched the actual interview it was much worse, the way she introduced him was one of the most honest men in America.

[Kittycat]

13. If there was ever a reason to stop smoking & mainlining coffee - she's it!

:rofl:

[elperromagico]

9. What a great interview style Cosby has.

1. State a fact about the interviewee.

2. Ask how that fact felt.

3. Repeat as necessary.

For example, if Ms. Cosby were interviewing Abraham Lincoln, it might go like this:

COSBY: On April 14th, you were shot by John Wilkes Booth in Ford's Theatre. (meaningful pause) Was that painful for you?

LINCOLN: Quite frankly, Miss Cosby, I don't recall it. I had a bullet in my head.

COSBY: Moving on, then. The next day - April 15th - 7:22 AM - you died.

LINCOLN: That's what I've read.

COSBY: That's what you've read. (meaningful pause) How heartbreaking was that?

LINCOLN: Being dead at the time, I can't recall. In fact, I'm not sure how I'm doing this interview.

COSBY: In July of 1865, four co-conspirators were executed for your murder. (meaningful pause) How much closure did that provide for you and your family?

LINCOLN: Look. How many times do I have to tell you that I'm dead?

[montana500]

10. Rita Cosby.....

...sounds like a dolphin with strep throat, trying to communicate with clicks and grunts.

[xxqqqzme]

14. I sounded like that briefly -

right after the respirator tubes were removed from my throat!

[ChiciB1]

11. I've Been Praticing A Lot Lately.... And My Husband Says

I can do a fantastic imitation of her!

How Sad!!!!