Lauer Challenges Uncle's Call for $100 Million Ransom for Kidnapped Soldiers

Today Show/NewsBusters ^ | Mark Finkelstein

[governsleastgovernsbest]

This is not the first sign that, in the wake of Katie's departure, Lauer is being more 'fair & balanced.' And I try to be fair in my reporting too. Here's a link to another story about Matt being fair:

http://newsbusters.org/node/5878

[Coldwater Creek]

We are a military family and I DO NOT understand the uncle's response.

As another poster said, I would be too distraught to have a microphone stuck in my face.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Many thanks, syriacus. I've got my biases, for sure, but had to be fair to Lauer on this.

[JCEccles]

This was not the bereaved wife/mother, this was a highly articulate, composed, well-informed uncle being given a chance to make his case.

???

The guy's a nut. He is not grounded in reality no matter how "composed" he strikes you as being.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

He might have extreme views, but he was not a distraught family member being exploited for a show of grief.

[JCEccles]

Stage magicians use one hand to misdirect you (Lauer challenging the uncle) while their other hand pulls off the trick (the MSM giving a raving nut a microphone, a camera, and centerstage to undermine the War on Terror).

[satchmodog9]

A first.

[Coldwater Creek]

Kinda like the Jersey Girls!!!!!

[Smokin' Joe]

I have to wonder if Ann Coulter hasn't had just a little effect on Lauer, there.

I'll grant the man (and his son) are victims, but that does not grant them the right to dictate policy in re dealing with terorists. Maybe Lauer 'got it'.

and maybe he is just trying desperately not to seem like a girlyman interviewer after Ann handed him his hat.

[McGruff]

My reaction...

I have a question. Was he speaking for the family or for himself? That makes a huge difference.

[Wristpin]

I have a feeling this guy was not speaking for the Soldier's family and is deeply involved with the Anti-war movement. Obviously, much preparation went into developing his talking points.

[Blueflag]

This was a live interview. The fact that it went so well was chance. I will give the grieving uncle his due. Under the circumstances we'd all want our son/nephew back alive.

But here was a guy whose expectations were all out of alignment with reality, reason and practicality. But I can understand why. I also infer from whom he does NOT blame, or does NOT call to action (i.e. terrorists) that I can guess where his political sympathies lie. He looks to th eUS GUmmint for help and indirectly accuses/certainly implies that "they" are not doing enough. Understandable for sure. Sad nonetheless.

My oldest son is weighing enlisting in NROTC right now. Personally I hope he does. God forgive me if I am wrong, but I sincerely doubt I would EVER blame the US gummint for not securing his release BY PAYING RANSOM from terrorists captivity. My dad is a WW2 vet -- a NAval aviator whose TBM was downed by gunfire. HE had to evade capture near an occupied island until picked up by US Navy SAR people. HE would NEVER have expected the US to pay a ransom.

I cannot lose sight of the FACT that this guy's position deserves empathy, but not sympathy -- because he is just WRONG. People are entitled to be wrong. No harm, no foul.

But back to the only real point I have -- I despise what the TV media do to get a grieving relative on the air.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

I don't think it was explicitly stated who he was talking for. I wouldn't be surprised, given how well-informed and articulate he was, if the family had designated him as spokesman. But whether they had signed off on his specific comments, including his call for the $100 million ranson, I can't say.

[Blueflag]

Ann can have any affect on me she wants to. Repeatedly ;-)

[JavaTheHutt]

OK, first off, good job on Lauer's part by challenging him. For once, it actually did something besides act as a mouthpiece for the lunatic fringe.

Speaking of the lunatic fringe, it's quite obvious this uncle is a charter member. My question is this: Were Cindy's handlers hiding behind the curtains somewhere? He had his speech a little too well rehearsed. His assertion on the facts and figures he used in his statements lead me to believe he was well rehearsed to spew those talking points.

[Smokin' Joe]

LOL! I'd agree, but my wife wouldn't ...

[Doogle]

does anyone have the Lauer/Coulter interview link?


Doogle

[Ditter]

Good report. Speaking of katie, when does she come on? I looked for her the other night and found a bunch of people 'reading' the news but not her.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Thanks. According to this article, Katie will debut at CBS Evening News in early September.

http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=televisionNews&storyID=2006-06-19T071901Z_01_N19276131_RTRIDST_0_TELEVISION-CBS-DC.XML&archived=False

[Ditter]

She gets the summer off, how nice. (and we don't have to listen to the katie-hype yet)