So Matt Lauer says MJ Fox needs to be held "accountable" also!!!

[CTyankee]

That's right, folks. Right there on the Today Show, interviewing creepy Laura Ingraham and Susan Estrich. Worse, Estrich agreed with him!! WTF!!

Lauer also said that Rush was "just saying what everyone was thinking", e.g., that Fox was exploiting his illness for the sake of partisan politics.

I am speechless. Totally speechless. :grr:

[mucifer]

1. This must be working for the repubs or they wouldn't be doing this.

[Richard Steele]

15. Actually, I think this proves it was a MAJOR blunder for them...

Which is why their more respectable, first-string
shameless whores are being given orders to reinforce
the radio-only second-stringer LimpThrall.

Rush says stupid crap like this every week, and the
"real media" pretends they never heard of him. Not
this time! Suddenly they not only notice him, but
they start to repeat him.

Because this one has them worried; worried enough that
they need to break from the usual routine to try to
spin it.

[mucifer]

22. you know what they say any publicity is good publicity

I am a very pessimistic person by nature. But, the media mentioning rush all the time probably is advertising his show and increasing the listenership which has gone WAY down in the past few years.

[LSK]

73. on the flipside, McCaskill and Duckworth got national attention from this

[Binka]

40. It's Called Damage Control

Rush REALLY fucked up and now the GOP Whores at NBC were ordered to put lipstick on the pig and call it Monique. Sorry NBC, KKKarl, Rush, this is a very very ugly PIG!

[Richard Steele]

2. That "accountability" thing cuts both ways, Matt.

Be careful what you wish for.

[blm]

12. Lauer should be held to account for being good friends with Rush.

.

[Richard Steele]

17. All in good time.

[mtnester]

36. You have dirt dontcha?

Or else I am losing my senses.

:)

[Wickerman]

3. I remain stunned

I heard it, too, and couldn't believe it. I'm not so sure, though, that Estrich agreed with him, as much as she was not listening, working to frame her next talking point. Not defending her, she just didn't seem on task as he talked.

The only decent part of the interview was when Ingraham tried the weak Couric joke at the end and totally tanked. What a moran.

[CTyankee]

16. I couldn't even understand it!

Also, Estrich needs to work on her constant grinning.

Why oh why can't we get a spokesperson on our side who would respond, "I can't believe you just said what you did, Matt! What does Michael J. Fox have to be held accountable? To and for what? What the hell are you talking about?"

[Wickerman]

28. exactly

she mumbled something, but clearly was framing her next point rather than worrying about Matt's hideous proclamation. Her grinning is ridiculous and, yes, for god sakes, lets get some folks out there that can think on their feet and get a cogent message out.

[WCGreen]

88. Why is she a spokesperson....

[krkaufman]

89. Oh, we've got 'em. It's just that lightweights like Lauer ...

... don't want to have to face them. Lauer's none to eager to be publicly dressed-down every day.

[Pirate Smile]

29. Estrich has worked at Faux too long. She has the Faux Dem pundit

thing going on.

[Wickerman]

31. That explains a lot

I watch no Fox so I ddin't know where they dredged her up.

[Arugula Latte]

52. Yep. She's not on our side.

Just like Coombs is not on our side.

[Clark2008]

58. I dunno - Wes Clark is a Dem pundit for Faux and he hands

them their asses on a regular basis.

:7

[MrModerate]

60. Which highlights how Clark is totally different . . .

From the genrally mindless shills who show up on all these news shows.

Ya know, even . . . presidential?

[originalpckelly]

4. I guess he was being partisan when he did an ad for Arlen Specter...

a Republican Senator from Pennsylvania.

[Coexist]

11. you beat me to it - maybe we need to email that tidbit to Matt.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/1246773/posts

the freepers were pissed.

[Cassandra]

5. Obviously Rush was making those jerky movements because...

Matt Lauer was under Rush's desk on his knees.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

6. Just when Lauer shows a glimmer of being a true journalist, he dives

face first back into the cesspool.

Rove is probably trotting out some "skeletons" in closet threats to try to offset this little fiasco. MKJ

[rubberducky]

7. Totally unbelievable!!

[July]

8. Who is this "everyone," Matt?

Because "everyone" I know is appalled by Rush Junky's comments.

[The Wizard]

14. That's everyone who

pays Matt's salary. Matt is a big douchebag, hosebag, scumbag and second hand butt plug. Did Matt mention Rash has lost half of his audience?

[City Lights]

9. KO showed a commercial MJF did in the past for Arlen Spector.

Where was the outrage then? Making commercial in support of repubic supporting stem cell research is okay. Making commercial in support of Democrat supporting stem cell research is bad.

:wtf:

I'm beyond disgusted with these whores. :nuke:

[e-mail]

Let 'em have it!

[plcdude]

50. Here is my email to the Today Show

I am appalled at the spinning and right-wing framing of this discussion. “Shouldn’t Fox be held up for ridicule?” asks Matt Lauer. When did journalism real journalism involve the option of ridicule? The Today Show needs to get back to objectively reporting important and relevant stories. It would seem that they have lost their way and spend time on insignificant and redundant stories, e.g. germs, Madonna, etc. Not only have they lost their way they have lost this individual as a viewer. Good Luck General Electric.

[zbdent]

10. Every Repuke has been exploiting nearly 3000 deaths

for their campaigns ... while ignoring roughly 3000 other deaths ... or 20K+ injuries ... or 650K OTHER, non-human, er, non-American deaths ...

[sendero]

13. I wonder just...

.. what being "accountable" for speaking your minds means? Is Bush going to be accountable for being the worst president ever, for dragging the country into the most ill-advised and counter-productive war ever waged by this country?

These people are insane, or idiots or both, as is anyone who thinks Micheal Fox has done something wrong.

[flvegan]

18. Someone tell Matt that 1994 called, and they want their

"next big thing" asshole back.

Fucker.

[twiterpatted]

19. I'm trying to think like Mat.

Lets see, here goes.

Because I had to watch Fox and was made uncomfortable by his illness and felt sorry for his situation and that Fox knows this will be the case and that Fox hopes that the reality of his illness will cause me to have emotion or sympathy and that that sympathy may translate into support for a cause that may provide a cure for him. Because of this, Fox should be held accountable, because I should not be made aware beyond my own will of the reality of such issues, Fox is bad and wrong.
How dare he pull my head from the sand. This is America.

Is this how it goes?

I hate these people>

[mmonk]

20. Yeah,

How dare Michael do a commercial which reveals his symptoms. He's not really for a cure, he's just a political hack pretending and acting for the democrats.:sarcasm:

[Throwing Stones]

54. And worst of all ...

cue the screeches


MJF is a CANADIAN!!!

[Canuckistanian]

71. I wish they'd knock that off

MJF should come out with a statement saying he's officially an American citizen.

[KharmaTrain]

21. Them Damn Celebrities...

Gotta love talking heads on television who gained their fame in a similar way at Mr. Fox claiming these people should "shut up" while they bloviate without any accountability. Without the camera, these losers would be selling burial plots...they have built themselves up by stepping on others...especially those with diabilities.

I hope this Fox controversy lasts another news cycle...there's a silent outrage that doesn't show up immediately. Remember, the Mighty Wurlitzer lives off the cycle where Rushbo starts the sliming and its carried over to other hate radio shows...but it can only go so long. I don't see Michael backing off on this...and if anything, I welcome making his illness an issue. Almost all of us have a relative or close friend who suffers from some debilitating illness and have seen the struggles they face...to have someone publicly mock their condition reaches deep into many people and stirs a strong negative reaction. While the Mighty Wurlitzer needs another tune to play...especially when they find the current song & dance isn't working...if we continue to keep the focus on this faux pas (and it is) the more people who were outraged by Rushbo's callouness will show up more at the ballot box than his coven who will have moved onto some other slime tactic.

The hubris the Repugnicans are displaying this late in the campaign is strictly pandering to their base...Stem cell is a big loser for the GOOP and they'd love to turn the debate from the issue to the personal.

I'm hoping all these last minute tactics only embolden Democrats to work harder with one focus...taking control of the House and Senate on November 7th. Nothing else matters at this point. We're on the right side of the most important issues no matter what a Lauer or Ostrich...err Estrich think they know.

Months ago, I was frustrated with the Charlie Cooks & Stu Rothenburgs who I thought weren't seeing a trend toward Democrats...I guess too early. Today, they're the ones who are some of the strongest proponents in the Democrats winning a major victory on November 7th. I'd rather hear about what they say these days than others.

Peace...

[Lex]

23. That darn 'liberal media' again!

:eyes:

[The Brethren]

24. Like the old expression

"Shake the tree and watch what falls." The responses to Limpy's cruel attacks on Micheal J. Fox will show you a lot about who that person is.

I use to like Matt Lauer. I didn't think he was the best I've ever seen, but I thought he was a decent person who was trying to do his job and cover the news. That was till I watched him become a sell-out for the repugs.

[lonestarnot]

25. And Lauer knows nothing of empathy.

He needs an implanted gene with Parkinson's.

[earth mom]

26. Why anyone on DU continues to watch idiots like Lauer

is beyond me. Who gives a damn what he or any of em have to say??!

BOYCOTT the ASSHOLES! ALL OF EM! :puke:

[Armstead]

37. Self righteous ignorance of the prevailing culture doesn't help

While I understand your point, and often share the feeling on a gut level, you seem to make the mistake that we too often do on the left.

Like it or not, what the idiots and charlatans in the media say does have an effect on the nation, and on the things we all care about.

Dismissing observations about the prevailing media culture is a case of "see no evil.."

[earth mom]

43. NO. It's far more ignorant to deliberately allow people to LIE to your face...

All for the sake of being "informed". If you want to know what's going on it's easy to find out about it here on DU or elsewhere like the Huffington Post which has much of the latest drama along with hard news.

The ONLY thing the bastards in the corporate media understand is money & profits.

YOU are supporting them financially by tuning in.
YOU are condoning their hate fest by tuning in.
YOU are feeding their lie machine by not demanding honesty from them.

As the saying goes "you're either part of the problem or part of the solution". I prefer the later.

[Armstead]

45. You contradict yourself

My post was prompted by the insulting and dismissive tone you expressed to DUers who post and comment on what people like Lauer say and do.

But you now say that it is unnecessary to watch them because you can find out what's goinbg on by reading DU.

But if everyone followed your advice, DU would not have any information about how the media is spinning things, because we would all be in our insulated little corner feelling superior.

I don't like the mainstream media any better than you do. But unfortunatelyt, that is the "zeitgeist" of modern American culture and politics. The only way to change it -- or at least counter it -- is to engage with it.

I also realize how distasteful it is to watch that shit sometimes. So if one doesn;t have the stomach for it personally, that's fine. But don't pretend that trying to ignore it personally is the equivalent of taking any kind of moral stand that's "above it all."

[earth mom]

49. Let's see who's being insulting and dismissive.

First off, I NEVER said anything about being "above it all". Nor did I say to ignore what's happening. Nor did I say to not discuss Lauer or Limbaugh or any of the lying bastards in the corporate media. What I said was to refuse to feed the corporate bastards by not tuning into their vile lies on T.V. and to get your info about it from other venues such as DU or Huffington post. What in the hell is wrong with that?! Answer: Absolutely nothing.

Yet, you are the one that replied to my post in an insulting and dismissive tone and proceeded to paint me with a broad brush smear for speaking the truth. EXCUSE ME, but I want to see change. I want more than this. I'm not going to keep letting those bastards get away with this b.s. while they laugh all the way to the bank.

If you want to continue to let them get away with it, that is certainly your prerogative, but I hope that you can accept that YOU are part of the problem whether you will admit to it or not. Denial is a strong coping mechanism after all.

[Armstead]

66. I'll admit that my frustratioin was not only directed at you

I apologize if it seemed like I was singling you out. Frankly it was a larger frustration at people who snipe at posts like the original, which inform us about obnoxious instances of media bias.

But my original point was valid, (IMO of course). Too often the people who bring these up and who discuss and/or vent about these examples here get shot down by some responses like yours, which basically say those of us who do care about what happens in the media are dunderheads for wasting our time and "supporting" the MSM by watching it....And yes, there is an implication that those who do not watch are "above it all."

Your post was an example of that. "Why anyone on DU continues to watch idiots like Lauer is beyond me. Who gives a damn what he or any of em have to say??! BOYCOTT the ASSHOLES! ALL OF EM!"

First of all, watching them is not "supporting them" as you claim I am doing.....Unless one is an active household that is filling out ratings books or has some kind of rating device, it makes no difference to the networks whether we are watching or not. It's not like actively buying a product. It is A "boycott" that simply consists of not watching on an individual basis is no boycott in the classic sense....On the contrary, media activism requires watching what is happening, and taking action to counter these things.

Second of all, if some people don't watch it, they can't report back to those who don't watch it. That goes both on a general level and in terms of individual situations....I, for example, don't watch the Today Show. But I am grateful to those who post the latest examples of idioicy and bias that occurs there.

There are no harsher critics and non-supporters of the practices than groups like Media Matters or FAIR. If they decided to simply "boycott" the media, then they would be totally useless in the effort to correct the problem.


Finally, as I said above, if one personally chooses not to watch, that's fine. I can totally understand why a person believes that it is a waste of their time, or is so annoying that they don't want to subject themselves to it.

But, my original point, please recognize that you are making a personal choice by ignoring your own television set, just as those who do believe that it is important to watch it are. If trying to report on and pressure for change is a waste of time in your opinion, that's fine too. But please don't slap down those who have a different view of it.

[earth mom]

78. Point taken.

I appreciate your apology and I am sorry if I offended too.

That being said, I do understand where you are coming from, but I just don't think we will ever get anywhere or accomplish anything if we keep playing the game on their terms. Either we say NO to their propaganda or nothing will ever change. Continuing to watch them and complaining about what they dish out has no real useful purpose when they don't listen or care what we think in the first place.

We must recognize that the only thing that really "speaks" to the corporate media is the almighty dollar. If enough people boycott them, trust me, they WILL sit up and take notice when it hurts their financial bottom line. Not only that, but the criticism of them won't stop just because we aren't actually "watching" them on t.v. No way, No how!

[TlalocW]

27. Matt's right

It's just like those damn MADD members exploiting their tragedy of losing loved ones to drunk driving to influence politics.

Poor people pushing for the right to unionize? Maybe if they weren't poor, they wouldn't come off as so shady.

And for God's sake, would someone in the press finally put Martin Luther King, JR. into some sort of perspective. He obviously exploited the color of his skin when it came to his fighting racism. If he had been white, well, then it would have been okay.

:sarcasm:

TlalocW

[bullwinkle428]

30. Lauer providing Rush with the "Glenn Beck defense":

"I'm just sayin' what everybody's thinkin'...haw-haw-haw-haw!" :mad:

[qanda]

32. Right after I saw that interview I tried to write a post about it

But because I don't use curse words, I just couldn't find the right thing to say. Simply unbelievable.

[WinkyDink]

33. They've chosen to attack the WRONG celebrity. MJF is BELOVED.

He's no polarizing Jane Fonda. This will NOT help Republicans.

Well, that, and the general mockery of afflicted people.

[Armstead]

34. Matt Lauer used to host a local version of Jerry Springer show on WOR

His roots in shock, tabloiud TV are showing, I guess.

[Red Zelda]

35. Lauer is worse than Limpballs

On the stage of the Today show, how could this madman take such a position?????
Lauer needs smacked down HARD.
I recall his appearance on The Daily Show when he talked the whole time so as to avoid any complete skewering by Jon Stewart.

[gulfcoastliberal]

38. I hate to invoke bad karma, but maybe if Lauer is diagnosed with a severe

illness that stem cell therapy offers the only hope of a cure for... well, I think he deserves it if he said that.

What a sad,pathetic commentary on our modern dark age when superstition overrules sick living people in favor of a clump of embryonic cells. That's just sick an shows how corrosive and ass-backwards these American Taliban are.

[CTyankee]

79. You didn't invoke it. Karma will come to Matt Lauer

if not in the form of Parkinson's it will be in the form of shame. Remember, that at the end of his life, cut short by a brain tumor, Lee Atwater felt enormous shame and was compelled to beg forgiveness from those he had wronged. I wouldn't want the weight of that guilt on me! What a horrible way to die.

[MadHound]

39. What, exactly, should Fox be held accountable for?

Speaking his mind? How dare he exercise his First Amendment rights:eyes: Or does Lauer think that Fox should be held accountable for his disease?:eyes:

Lauer needs to account for how he transformed from a real journalist into a bought and paid for media whore.

[Norquist Nemesis]

41. Back to the old blame the victim ploy

God, these people make me sick! Where's the discussion about the ISSUE?

Does it occur to them that the same thing was done with the kid who did the ad for about funding the VA? Nope.

For all of their accusations of 'Liberals hate America' and 'Liberals blame America first', they should engage a some serious introspection. It's a Blame the Victime First with them and if that fails...blame Clinton!

[Cass]

42. What in the hell does MJF have to be held accountable for??

For expressing his opinion? For getting sick? What utter garbage. I am so sick and tired of ridiculous statements coming from the unhinged right wing-nuts and their media enablers. I'd be willing to bet the farm that a sizeable majority of the public think its absolutely reprehensible that Rush, Hannity, and Lauer are attacking a sick man who dared to express an opinion.

:grr:

[gatorboy]

44. It's NBC making this political by only having pundits on to discuss this.

This is a medical argument. Did they even consider inviting someone from the medical field onto the show to discuss this?

[mohinoaklawnillinois]

46. Of course they didn't.

That would be "too much like right".

Besides Rush Limbaugh and Matt Lauer are experts on everything, don't you know.. :sarcasm: :sarcasm:

[GeorgeGist]

47. Bush warned Matt...

that the terrorists want to kill his family.

[Zodiak]

75. yes, he did

just like a good mobster, making a threat through feigned concern.

"This is a rough neighborhood, you could use some good protection".

Of course, one can always discuss the quid-pro-quo needed to get Lauer's untalented ass in the White House to interview Bush (while getting poked in the chest) in the first place.

[stopbush]

48. Funny how they never mention MJF's similar ad for Arlen Specter in 2004.

It's not partisan if it's done for a rethug.

[Beelzebud]

51. There's our liberal media in action...

/me pukes

[young_at_heart]

53. He's trying to make up for the Bush interview

Bush was angry at him for speaking out and this is Matt's way to say, "I'm one of you guys"..... Matt, you've just lost a fan!

[smoogatz]

55. How dare Michael J Fox exploit his devastating illness to drum up

support for research that may lead to, uh, a cure for his illness. How despicably partisan of him. For fuck's sake--what the fuck is wrong with this country? Somehow Limbaugh attacking a guy with Parkinson's--a horrible, debilitating, terminal disease--somehow he's saying what we're ALL thinking? Jesus fucking Christ on a cracker.

[peekaloo]

56. So Mutt, use your powerful media influence and book both MJF and

Rush on your show, in the same studio, and let them talk face to face.

[Gregorian]

57. Now I know Lauer's interview with Bush was staged.

And I was so impressed.

Lauer, you are no Michael J. Fox. In fact, it appears you aren't even a journalist.

[izzybeans]

59. My response is: so, of course he is exploiting his illness. He's sick. He wants

help. And you ridicule for it. You exploited his reliance on medicine for political fodder. The question is which one of these political acts has a moral foundation. I think any reasonable person can decide that for themself. That's an example of what an appropriate response would be.

[wholetruth00]

61. Just proves that rich healthy people hate anyone who is really ill.

Like the Nazi mentality of maintaining a "super race."

[BootinUp]

62. Why would he attack a sick man asking for help?

:grr:

[wholetruth00]

63. Did Rush exploit is lies about losing his hearing to gain support for

drug abusers? I think so.

[Jacobin]

64. Keep in mind that Rush and Matt went golfing together in Scotland

For a WEEK.

Matt is bought and paid for

[Solly Mack]

65. Held accountable for what? Having an illness?

Oh yeah...let's punish him for being sick!

That's the kind of America we are...we like to torture and we like to punish the sick.

[Zodiak]

76. and the poor...

and african Americans, and gays, and anyone who takes drugs, or like sex, or anyone whose body size is different (big or small), or anyone who tries and fails, and anyone who isn't a whitebread cookie-cutter little freeper with piss in his pants and an full and open pocket to pilfer.

This country is the farthest thing from a "Christian nation" I can think of. Making fun of Fox isn't an outrage; it is par for the course in this country.

[elehhhhna]

67. No wonder Matt's wife left him. Again. Right after Bush said to him on National TV:

"Matt...they want to KILL YOUR FAMILY!!!"

[BootinUp]

68. CAN YOU EXPAND a little on what lauer was saying?

THis is very disturbing, I want to email him but it would be a better email if I understand what exactly the idot said first.


thank you

[CTyankee]

81. Well, I think what I posted were Lauer's two main points

and now that I think about it, the "he's just saying what everyone is thinking" sounds like a gratuitous comment. It really came out of left field. So I think what happened is that Lauer had the "talking points" from the RNC and he wanted to get in 2 of them: 1)isn't Fox also accountable for what HE says and 2) Rush just said what everyone was thinking. The second one is clearly outrageous; there is absolutely no evidence that ANYONE is thinking that except the fevered brains of the right wing. It isn't even logical, it's just a throwaway insult.

Tom Oliphant had it right today on Al Franken. Fox has become iconic, a great draw as a speaker for Dem candidates, right after Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. This is cause for alarm in the Repub. party. They simply have to "get" him. Oliphant said it perfectly. "They are desperate."

[jarnocan]

69. also L.G. was allowed much more spew time,What a SHAM!

[BlueJac]

70. Just another shit program

I quit watching their bias programming long ago.

[LSK]

72. are these "things" a member of some other species that does not get disease???

:wtf:

[Tesla]

74. He's so F***ing Glib

He is a butt kisser...

I wonder if Rush took his Viagra on the golf outing??

[emdee]

77. Have these people never actually seen a person with the disease?

I have and Fox's behavior was not exaggerated!!

He was diagnosed many years ago and the disease has progressed to this point. How dare they say such stupid things. Utter stupidity.

emdee

[Phillycat]

80. Well, you can't be totally sure what Matt said there.

It's hard for him to speak clearly with Rush's d**k in his mouth. :eyes:

[file83]

90. LOL - oh boy, that was a good one!

:rofl: :rofl:

[wabeewoman]

82. The way I look at it is

there is very little the republicans can say that doesn't cause the public to think about their transgressions. First thing, John Q Public thinks is 'held accountable??' You mean like bush and all the crooked republicans.And Iraq, and gas gouging... And then they start thinking about the hypocracy. That is why there is nothing they can say that will change this election. They have screwed up too much and cried wolf too much to be taken seriously.

[Cha]

83. Count me out

Biaaaaaaaaaatch!

I wonder how Michael feels about all of this?

And isn't susan ostrich a fauxmediawhore?

[sallyseven]

84. Estrich is a big blowhard. She is stupid and

ignorant. She knows nothing. lauer is a republican ass wipe and never makes any sense. What a fool.

[Octafish]

85. Lauer is a NAZI.

So's his zero-hero.



Survival of the fittest Übermenschen and all that rot, vot?

[Nikki Stone 1]

87. Nah, he's just a lawn gnome.

:)

[pitohui]

86. these people truly have no souls

they really don't, they really really don't, do they

there is no bottom to their lack of human empathy because they are just not human is all i can figure