Posted on 06/01/2004 4:38:08 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest
I should have suspected something was brewing as soon as I saw that Katie Couric had on Mary Matalin, alone, as an interview guest. The Today Show almost never has on Republican spokesmen by themselves unless an attack is planned.
The putative topic of the interview was VP Cheney's speech later today promoting the re-adoption of the Patriot Act. But then Katie launched the sneak attack: "but before we get to that . . . "
The first attack was on the left's favorite bugaboo - Halliurbton. Katie cited an email alleging that the awarding of contracts to Halliburton had been coordinated with Cheney's office. Mary flatly denied it, and added that Halliburton has had more than a dozen of its employees killed in Iraq and that people should stop playing politics with the issue. While this part of the interview was airing, Today played video of VP Cheney taken from a low-angle, showing him in the most unflattering, jowly, menacing light possible.
Next, on a matter totally unconnected to the supposed subject at hand, Katie cited a Washington Post article alleging that the Bush campaign employes a higher percentage of negative ads than the Kerry campaign. Much hand-wringing on Katie's part. Matalin responded that the ads were entirely factual, based on Kerry's 19 years of votes in the Senate and his public statements, and adding for good measure that all this carping about negative advertising is so much inside the beltway "bloviating."
Katie continued with an attack on a Bush ad that states that Kerry wants to repeal the Patriot Act. Couric alleged that all Kerry wants to do is re-enact it in a way that strengthens it while removing some unconstitutional provisions. Matalin cited statements from Kerry in which he called for it not to be readopted.
Finally, in the only direct discussion of the Patriot Act, the supposed topic of the interview, Couric cited two Republican senators (Larry Craig and someone else) who want to replace the Patriot Act with something called the "Safe Act," again because of constitutional concerns.
Matalin made the point that for all the hand-wringing, no one, not even the ACLU, has been able to point to one unconstitutional aspect of the Patriot Act, and that it has been used successfully to break up numerous terrorist rings. Couric continued her assault, worrying that the Patriot Act is being used not only against terrorists but also against organized crime and drug traffickers. Gee, what a shame.
I only wish I could show the video of Katie's false-friendly farewell. Dripping with disdain, it was a "don't let the door hit you on the way out now that I've trashed you" look.
To her credit, Matalin came very well-armed with facts and arguments. You could sense that she was angered, but not in the least surprised, by Couric's ambush tactics.
Today Show ping.
Thanks for the post! And what's with Couric's appearance? If that's a bottle tan, boy did she trowel it on. If she got it naturally, she's gonna make some dermatologist a happy man in a few years.
Nice recap...
She did lay it on heavy. And although I wasn't going to mention it, since you have broached the topic of her appearance it struck me that Katie seems to have added some serious avoirdupois around the hips. We're talking virtual Hillary territory here.
Why does anyone talk to Couric? Surely everyone knows what a b@g-licking dimocrat sl^t she is. And those TEETH! You KNOW God would not give teeth like that to anyone normal or decent. Sheesh!
THe perky one foiled again!
My official Today Show ping list publicist will respond to your inquiry. ;-)
I wish Mary'd ask Katie if she works for NBC or the DNC. I'd love to see Katie's trap drop open then.
One of these days, some exasperated Republican is going to respond along those lines, and won't it be fun?
In fairness, Matalin did an excellent job in parrying Katie's thrusts, and did not mention her book once.
Yes, and long overdue. Katie makes no pretense of being objective; she's just as partisan as, say, Rush. But Rush doesn't say he's an objective journalist.
Great synops! Thank you for enduring the kat-o-colon for us!
Good for her! I often think it must be hard to prepare to face someone like Couric -- when you're not sure what they'll attack, it must be difficult to go prepared with everything fresh in your mind. For Dems in a parallel situation, of course, it's easier; they just make up "facts" as required and talk loud.
LOL. Didn't stick around long enough to see that, which is why I look forward to your threads. Don't know how you keep from blowing a gasket, though, sitting through Colic & Co. Care to share your secret? :)
Thanks Joe, it's my pleasure. And since, in light of your moniker, it's clear that you are an expert when it comes to suds, I'd be curious to conduct a one-man poll: in the impending election between Miller Man and the Clyesdale, who gets your vote?
Mary can handle herself against the likes of the aging, mental-midget Couric.
Wasn't one of the big selling points of the Patriot Act that it allowed the government to use the same tactics already being used on mob and drug cases that were forbidden to counter-terrorism?
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