Matt Lauer astonished that Charlton Heston never reconsidered Support of Gun Rights. (BARF-OLA!)

Media Research Center ^ | Friday September 6, 2002

[Draakan]

Matt Lauer acted astonished that NRA President Charlton Heston had never reconsidered his support of gun rights after hearing about a shooting.

During a taped interview played on Thursday's Today, Lauer wanted to know, given that Heston has guns in his house as he is showing signs of Alzheimer's, whether there is "a concern that if you become of diminished mental capacity that that could be a problem?"

Lauer was also appalled by Heston's disrespect of Bill Clinton. Today showed a clip of Heston proclaiming: "Mr. Clinton, sir, America doesn't trust you with our health care system. America didn't trust you with gays in the military, America doesn't trust you with our 21-year-old daughters, and we sure Lord, don't trust you with our guns."

After Heston maintained, "I'm proud of having said it," Lauer admonished him: "Speaking about a President of the United States here."

Earlier in the interview, Lauer demanded: "Have you ever gotten up one morning, read the newspaper or seen the news about a particularly horrific crime or event that involved a shooting and thought even for a second, I may be on the wrong side of this issue?"

Heston: "No I never felt that."

An astonished Lauer wondered: "Never wavered?"

Lauer set up the September 5 segment, aired during the 7:30am half hour, which MRC analyst Geoffrey Dickens noticed:

"Last month actor Charlton Heston got some stunning news. He was diagnosed with what is believed to be Alzheimer's disease. He's known to millions around the world as Moses or Ben Hur.

But in recent years Heston has become almost as well-known for a different role. That of political activist. Most notably as the five-term President of the National Rifle Association. Recently I sat down with him for an exclusive interview to reflect on his diagnosis and his life crusading for the causes he believes in."

Lauer prompted Heston during the pre-taped, in-studio session: "You were active in the civil rights movement" and reminded him: "You stood on the Lincoln Memorial steps as Dr. King delivered his, 'I Have A Dream,' speech."

Lauer soon noted: "Heston is as much known for his activism as he is for his acting." Lauer asked Heston: "What are you most proud of in that area of your life?"

Heston: "I suppose the leadership of the NRA." Lauer: "Why?" Heston: "I believe in the right to keep and bear arms. Thomas Jefferson and all those smart old, dead, white guys that invented the country, that's what they were in favor of. And so I'll go with him."

Lauer suggested Heston should change his views:

"Have you ever gotten up one morning, read the newspaper or seen the news about a particularly horrific crime or event that involved a shooting and thought even for a second, I may be on the wrong side of this issue?"

Heston: "No I never felt that." Lauer: "Never wavered?" Heston: "No. Again I'm on the side of the men who invented the country. They believed in the Second Amendment and I believe in it too."

Lauer: "Let me read, probably, your most famous quote as the head of the NRA, standing in front of the convention one year-"

Heston: "Oh yes." Lauer: "And if you, well I'll start it, you finish it. How about that? 'As we set out this year to defeat the divisive forces that would take freedom away I want to say those words again for everyone within the-"

Today jumped to join a clip in progress of Heston as he held up a rifle at an NRA convention: "-within the sound of my voice. To hear and to heed and especially for you Mr. Gore. From my cold dead hands!"

Heston: "From my cold dead hands."

Lauer: "Received an enormous reaction."

Heston: "Yes it did."

Lauer: "Still feel that way?"

Heston: "Yes I do. Yes I'm, I'm very proud of the fact that I've been able to be useful to the NRA."

Lauer: "There was a column written after it was announced that you had Alzheimer's and it brought something up that I hadn't thought about."

Heston: "I don't have it yet, not yet, not yet, later, later."

Lauer: "That you had the symptoms. It brought up an issue that I hadn't thought about. You are gun owner, you have guns in your home. Is there a concern that if you become of diminished mental capacity that, that could be a problem?"

Heston: "If it becomes a problem then it has to be dealt with it, doesn't it? But I don't think it will be."

Lauer: "What do you say to the people who have opposed you on that particular issue over the years?"

Heston: "You have a right to oppose me but I have a right to do as I feel is, is important and is best to do and that's what I'm doing."

Lauer: "You started out as a Democrat."

Heston: "I did. I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

Lauer: "What changed you? The story goes you were driving down the street one day and each day you would pass a big campaign billboard for Barry Goldwater in 1964."

Heston: "Yeah, that's right."

Lauer: "And that billboard said something to the effect of, 'In your heart you know he's right.'"

Heston: "Right. And I thought son-of-a-gun, he is right."

Lauer: "And you switched right then."

Heston: "I did."

Lauer: "Let me read you what you said about Bill Clinton. 'Mr. Clinton, sir, America doesn't trust you-'"

Today again joined a soundbite of Heston in progress: "-with our health care system. America didn't trust you with gays in the military, America doesn't trust you with our 21-year-old daughters, and we sure Lord, don't trust you with our guns."

Heston: "I'm proud of having said it. I'm also-" Lauer, jumped in to admonish him: "Speaking about a President of the United States here."

Heston: "I also was pleased to hear that afterwards he said to his followers, after the last election when Mr. Gore was defeated. To his credit he said, 'It was the NRA and Chuck Heston that did it.'"

Lauer: "And you're proud of that?"

Heston: "I am."

Lauer moved on to lighter topics: "He's still getting offers and is currently in negotiations for a movie. He's also working with his son Frazier on an animated version of Ben Hur. And he's spending more personal time with his family as well, including his daughter Holly, his grandchildren and wife of 58 years, Lydia. Heston's first and only love whom he met in college."

For the remainder of the interview Lauer asked about his wife and kids and role as a father as well as how he has kept a daily journal throughout his life and how he his handling the disease which confronts him.

[Draakan]

I guess we can expect as much from Commie Curic's other half.

[white trash redneck]

What part of "shall not be infringed" doesn't he understand?

[Argus]

Even with Alzheimer's, I'd still trust Chuck Heston with my guns, my daughters and my country before I'd trust $h!t-for-brains Lauer or Sinkdaddy Clinton with anything.

[LiteKeeper]

Heston is the man!

[Billthedrill]

Mr. Lauer's astonishment speaks volumes. What he finds hard to understand is a man who thinks for himself. Lauer should try it sometime.

[wardaddy]

Lauer is such a little weasel. Typical insulated-paid beyond merit-liberal punkass. I wish Moses had knocked him on his butt.
"I may have early Alzheimers Matt "son" but I can still whip yer whiney little liberal butt"

[Feiny]

What did Lauer think..... Chuck was gonna flip-flop like his beloved Clinton? Matt is a puppet head.

[isthisnickcool]

Lauer is someone else's sock puppet. He just does and says what the hand up his a$$ tells him to. What a weiner.

[austingirl]

I'm so glad I didn't see little commie Matt- just reading about it makes me want to heave up my guts. What a maroon!

[Mr. Lucky]

Does Lauer appreciate the fact that he was completely outwitted by a guy with Alzheimer's Disease?

[thegreatbeast]

Isn't it just plain as day, reading this, that Matt Lauer doesn't have a clue? What a friggin' moron!

[ladylib]

God, I used to think Matt Lauer was so attractive. (Hate his new buzz cut, but then again, it probably takes pressure off his brain.) Then I watched him for a while and determined for myself that he really should have taken that job as a tree surgeon after all. I'll take Heston with Alzheimer's over Lauer at his brightest anyday.

[SpringheelJack]

Lauer: "You started out as a Democrat."

Heston: "I did. I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

LOL.

[Tadhg]

"...paid beyond merit liberal..." great line

[Conservative til I die]

Matt Lauer = douchebag. Do you think when he thinks really hard his brain hurts?

[Conservative til I die]

Heston is a true giant of the industry. Glad he's on our side.

[TomServo]

"a concern that if you become of diminished mental capacity that that could be a problem?"

Matt speaks from experience.

[Conservative til I die]

Lauer is someone else's sock puppet. He just does and says what the hand up his a$$ tells him to. What a weiner.

Yeah but his hair is nicely blow-dried, and that my friends, makes him "somebody" in America!

[lsee]

Matt is a (expletive deleted) and should never have talked down to a great man like Charlton Heston the way he did, especially about the potential impairment of his disease. His behavior was shameful.

[dead]

Lauer admonished him: "Speaking about a President of the United States here."

I’ll eagerly await Matt Lauer’s similar behavior next time (running a clip, speaking of disrespect for a President) when he guest is Jeanine Garafolo, Sandra Bernhard, that horse-faced chick from Sex in the City, Michael Moore, etc.