Today show spins with Gingrich

Submitted by KC Hanson on July 13, 2005 - 10:22am

Good grief...what I woke up to this a.m.... Newt Gingrich on the TODAY show. At least 2 cups of coffee were ruined....

So the republican spin machine is in overdrive, and the talking points are coming out rapid fire. The minions are getting their boys to all the usual places and high stepping into the mainsteam. Willing participants like the TODAY SHOW folks offer Gingrich and his ilk forum, allow them the spread of their drivel, and offer no equally partisan opinion from the the other side.

The latest spin, of course, is to villify Joe Wilson and glorify Karl Rove. We sure expect the rightwing radio bunch and Faux News to play this game and trumpet their message, and we're even used to a skewed bias from the Mainstreamers. But the garbage that portrayed itself as jounalism this morning is beyond the pale even for NBC.

See my letter below for my comments to NBC, and I strongly encourage everyone to drop at least a one-liner to them (at the email address below).

They may not change their tune, but we can let 'em know that their singin' stinks.

KC Hanson

To: nbcshows@nbcuni.com

Subject: TODAY SHOW commentary
Date: Wed, 13 Jul 2005 12:39:29 EDT

On this morning's TODAY SHOW, 7/13/05, Katie Couric conducted an interview with ex-congressman Newt Gingrich which was less interview and more a blatant forum for Gingrich to regurgitate this week's republican talking points.

Couric allowed to Gingrich to spout that Joe Wilson "lied," had Kerry Campaign ties, and that dear Karl Rove was actually SO careful when talking with a reporter, not REALLY divulging Plame's name.

Here's some clues for good journalism, folks:

- When you have a vehemently partisan guest, try to balance it with a partisan from the other side.
- Putting on a pair of bookish glasses doesn't make the interview.... It's a good idea to actually ask questions that pertain to the FACTS.
- Oh, by the way, the FACTS are that a CIA agent's identity was leaked to the press; Karl Rove is tied to the leak.

Gingrich and Couric can do the talking point cha-cha all they want, the behavior of Karl Rove at the least warrants his removal from government service, and at most could justify imprisonment.

The actions of Rove need investigation, not spin.

Carla "KC" hanson
Portland, OREGON