From the official Sept. 7 Chuck the Meat transcript:
PRES. OBAMA:
I'm preparing the country to make sure that we deal with a threat from ISIL. Keep in mind that this is something that we know how to do. We've been dealing with terrorist threats for quite some time. This administration has systematically dismantled Al Qaeda in the FATA.
ISIL poses a broader threat because of its territorial ambitions in Iraq and Syria. But the good news is coming back from the most recent NATO meeting is the entire international community understands that this is something that has to be dealt with.
....
CHUCK TODD:
You've not said the word, "Syria," so far in our conversation. Obviously, if you're going to defeat ISIS, you have used very much stronger language [sic]. It's gone through the week during your trip to Wales. You have got to go to Syria in some form or another.Of course, that's the transcript of the edited interview. According to this site, in the unedited interview the President said the word "Syria" four times before Chuck said he hadn't.
The only rational conclusion is that Chuck had that scripted gotcha ready to roll in honor of the late Fathead Tim, and wasn't going to let the facts get in his way. Obviously Chuck's video editor failed him and let a presidential mention of Syria see the light of day, exposing the lie. I remember that heads rolled at NBC News when a misleadingly edited version of a 911 call was shown on Peacock TV. I doubt that a goateed head with male pattern baldness will be bouncing 'cross the floors of NBC as a result of Chuckie's failed stunt.
It's not good optics.
(And no, Chuckie's simpering post-clip statement -- "He had mentioned it, but he hadn't said whether he was taking military action there" --doesn't cut it. He played his assertion, even though false, but deleted Obama's multiple mentions of Syria to bamboozle the viewers. Chuckles didn't ask Obama whether he was going to take military action in Syria. Chuckles couldn't be more dishonest if he tried.)
(And no, Chuckie's simpering post-clip statement -- "He had mentioned it, but he hadn't said whether he was taking military action there" --doesn't cut it. He played his assertion, even though false, but deleted Obama's multiple mentions of Syria to bamboozle the viewers. Chuckles didn't ask Obama whether he was going to take military action in Syria. Chuckles couldn't be more dishonest if he tried.)
ReplyDeleteNBC should make Seymour Hersh the host. That'd be worth watching for the few weeks until Washington people start refusing to go on at all.
More generally, the host ought to be some grizzled print journalist with opinions and a head for details but not a lot of Washington society connections, if any such exist anymore, instead of the infotainment potatoes who get the jobs.