Left wing blogs, such as Huffington Post, also jumped to publicize Kennedy’s rant, with Talking Points Memo calling it “a must-see moment.”
Anchor Brian Williams characterized Kennedy’s yelling tirade as “a gripping moment,” describing how Kennedy railed against “U.S. strategy in the war, then he turned on the news media and how few have bothered to show up to cover the debate.” Williams’ embracing set up, with “Speaking Out” as the on-screen heading:
There was a gripping moment this afternoon here in Washington. It happened on the floor of the House of Representatives as the House was debating withdrawing U.S. troops from Afghanistan. Congressman Patrick Kennedy, a Democrat who represents Rhode Island, the son of the late Ted Kennedy, got up and gave a loud, emotional and angry speech about U.S. losses in the war, U.S. strategy in the war, then he turned on the news media and how few have bothered to show up to cover the debate.
If anybody wants to know where cynicism is, cynicism is that there's one, two press people in this gallery! We’re talking about Eric Massa 24/7 on the TV. We’re talking about war and peace, $3 billion, 1,000 lives and no press? No press?! You want to know why the American public is fit? They’re fit because they’re not seeing their Congress do the work they are sent to do. It's because the press, the press of the United States is not covering the most significant issue of national importance, and that's the laying of lives down in the nation for the service of our country! It's despicable the national press corps right now.
Audio: MP3 clip, with Kennedy's screaming.
Williams finished up without mentioning the overwhelming defeat for the measure: “Congressman Patrick Kennedy, who recently announced in the wake of his father’s death, he will not run for re-election to Congress. He’s coming to the end of his eighth term in office.”
—Brent Baker is Vice President for Research and Publications at the Media Research Center. Click here to follow him on Twitter.
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If anybody wants to know where cynicism is, cynicism is that there's one, two press people in this gallery! We’re talking about Eric Massa 24/7 on the TV. We’re talking about war and peace, $3 billion, 1,000 lives and no press? No press?! You want to know why the American public is fit? They’re fit because they’re not seeing their Congress do the work they are sent to do. It's because the press, the press of the United States is not covering the most significant issue of national importance, and that's the laying of lives down in the nation for the service of our country! It's despicable the national press corps right now.



















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Comments Policy
If Williams meant by "gripping" was, "They've come to take him..
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 04:07 ET by jawebster1away, Ha Haa, they've come to take him away!", then I agree with him. I have a feeling though that he meant it in a totally different context. Jim Webster
A "gripping" moment?
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 08:02 ET by motherbeltNo. I'd say a "LOST his grip" moment.
Sheesh!
Looks like he's going for the "Byrd" moment.
(That's a shortened version. I suspect in the longer one, Byrd kept repeating while he tried to remember what he was saying, and I nearly fell asleep during the lulls....)
This guy never WAS the
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 04:08 ET by killa37This guy never WAS the sharpest knife in the drawer.....and sometimes he wasn't even IN the drawer. He wouldn't be anything but a trustfunder if not for his name.
Of course.........the MSM are too dense to even realize that they're taking part in 'punking' themselves for running this clip....they probably think ol' Patrick was talking about somebody else.....
And this is coming from a guy....and a mindset....who had a 'body count' for EVERY day when Bush was president.....and now he's howling about the lack of publicity!!!!
Liberalism is a mental disorder AND it is suicidal!!!!
Knives....
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 09:41 ET by adamsmithNone of the Kennedy clan are ever the sharpest knives in the drawer. I forget the name of the other nitwit(Robert Jr. perhaps?) who is the "environmental" Kennedy. Watch that moron sometime, and see his "arguments" ripped apart due to lack of facts. JFK was NOT a liberal moonbat. He was a hawk, and the Kennedy clan has been repainting his image since Dallas. He sent troops to VietNam, set up the Bay of Pigs invasion, and went toe to toe with the Soviet Union over the nuke thing. The Kennedy clan just think their constituents are not Ivy Leagers and can't think for themselves, so the Kennedy clan are just helping them out. I can't think of a more disgusting clan of do-gooders out there. Vote them out and see the country become a much better place.....
Ha, no need for the "enviro"
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 09:43 ET by Blondea simple "mental" Kennedy will do.
Unless you want to talk about the Val girl, like, you know, Caroline.
I hope he fails, too.
Tomorama has an EARLY BINGO moment
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 10:53 ET by TomoramaAdam BINGO, I am from Bawwwstun and I have been preaching that truth for years, Teddy was NO JFK, I actually kept a bust of JFK that my parents had of him (in their honor).
JFK was more Republican than anything, he cared about people, BUT SO DO WE DAMMIT, but his "Don't ask what your country can do for you speech" sums up gis CONSERVATIVE IDEALS PERFECTLY.
The nitwitl liberals in my state have tried to hijack him as a liberal when he was NOT.
The rest of the sordid clan however were..... WITH MY MONEY most of the time.
Patches, the men with the white coats, they are not here to wask your rug dude, you need what your Auntie got from Daddy Joe, a LOBOTOMY.....................
A great man once said, YOU only get out of life what YOU put into it, he obviously wasn't a liberal.
To Hell with the Kennedy's, and let's all hope this will be the
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 04:25 ET by R D Helm...very last time we ever have to read about this hideous, dysfunctional family from Hell on the threads of NewsBusters.
This entire family was a waste of sperm from day one, and I am sick to God-damn death of hearing about them.
Commie traitors all.
Screw them, and the horses they rode in on.
-Dave
Dave
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 04:37 ET by MrShyI believe those were adoring MSM horses they rode in on. And those horses haven't totally died off yet, sadly.
I'm not looking for anyone's pity. - Jer
There have been studies. - Jer
Shy,
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 04:47 ET by R D HelmLOL.
Perhaps I shouldn't blame the horses. :-)
-Dave
are you sure
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 07:58 ET by CCsteelcitythe horses didn't ride in on them?
"A few years ago, this guy would have been getting us coffee." - Bill Clinton in 2008 from "Game Change"
Jeez Dave...........you ARE
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 04:57 ET by killa37Jeez Dave...........you ARE being a little rough on those horses!!! And if they're Arabian horses..............you're being racist too!!! You know Ted Kennedy 'fundamentally changed' the racial percentages in this country, moreso than anyone else..........in the name of 'fairness' and 'political correctness'..............
Teddy's Horses
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 10:59 ET by CO2Makerare water polo ponies
The runt of the litter of
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 04:29 ET by raccoonradioThe runt of the litter of the runt of the litter--Howie Carr
To Patches (said in a Glenda-the-Good-Witch voice):
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 07:31 ET by ChrisNH"Be Gone with you. Before someone puts you in a car and drives it off a bridge near Chappaquiddick.
Looks very familiar...
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 08:34 ET by notinstlAnother alcohol-fueld Kennedy faux tirade!.....thought we were done with those......
I can't keep them straight.
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 08:46 ET by nadadhimmiIs Michael the heroin addicted Kennedy or just the standard edition alcaholic Kennedy?
There Are A Lot Of Words
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 09:07 ET by packmanthat I might use to describe Lil' Patty's rant, but "gripping" sure ain't one of them...unless it is used as "lost his...grip" on reality...
"...Were we directed from Washington when to sow and when to reap, we should soon want bread..." ~Thomas Jefferson
I don't know about any of
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 09:33 ET by BDI don't know about any of you, but on the few occasions I have gone to DC and seen the gallery during a debate I have been struck how NO ONE is paying attention to the person who is speaking.
Usually, the gallery has families on tour who could careless about what is being said. And I have never actually seen a member of the press. (Why when you can cover from CSPAN in the comfort of your own office instead of wooden benches?)
What I usually observe is some rep speaking on a subject no one cares about while ten or so other reps who could care less about what the speaker is saying mill about waiting for their chance to step up and praise Rutabagga farmers or some such.
Either Kennedy is a total moron and does not understand this dynamic or he is being totally disengenuious.
The fact that Bryan Williams televised this addled rant gives one pause that perhaps HE does not understand the dynamic as well. In that case he is in over his head in this position.
I'm betting drunk
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 09:33 ET by BlondeBut he's a Kennedy, so that's probably redundant.
I hope he fails, too.
Just for the next two days, I'm shaggin' my blog....hope to keep you all amused as we make our way back to CR.
http://blondephotos.org/BlondeGator/
Gripping?
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 09:32 ET by Cappmann1962My first thought was, "Wow! Paddy's off his meds". Then, after hearing his full, unhinged, slurred-word rant, I thought, "Wow! Paddy must've taken a double dose of whatever he's on". Either way, he's an obvious whack-job...
I expect more such from him
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 09:36 ET by BDI expect more such from him in the coming days as he tries to come to grips with his fading relevance after he leaves office.
What shall he do? Become a lobbyist?
I can see a future for him not so different from the child star Corey Haim's. Sad....
Cappman,
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 09:38 ET by daddysykas a person of Irish descent, I would like to formally accuse you of being racist by using the term "Paddy." You clearly need some kind of racial sensitivity training. I bet you are one of those tea party people too because as MSNBC has told us, they are all racists. You need to lose any position of power you currently hold and I feel you owe all people of Irish descent some form of reparations. I take Visa. Oh, if you are a Democrat, disregard this. There are no racist Democrats.
"The world needs ditch diggers too." ---Judge Smails
daddy
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 15:30 ET by Cappmann1962I didn't see a sarc disclamier, but I sincerely hope this was meant in jest. Just to play safe, I have to say that Irish isn't a race, it's a nationality, and Paddy is an accepted diminutive for Patrick. That said, I am a conservative, not a tea partier (though in full agreement with most of them), and being called racist has as much effect on me as being called a rock or beachball or fluffy cloud. In other words - absolutely none. I know I'm not a racist, so I feel no need to defend myself against someone else's perceptions. If someone doesn't like my words, they are more than free to take a hike out of earshot. That said, Paddy Kennedy is still a whack-job.
Gripping?
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 09:34 ET by daddysykIn what way? I almost couldn't control my laughter. So this is what a trust fund and an entitled life produces. All I could think of was Mayor Quimby from The Simpsons. Have another scotch junior. Notice he never went after the Messiah who promised to end this war and bring the troops home. Funny how the make believe world of campaign stops hits reality in the face once you actually have to govern.
"The world needs ditch diggers too." ---Judge Smails
Screaming hysteria is SOP
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 09:47 ET by Wanderer0101Screaming hysteria is SOP for Liberals. Never use logic or reason when emotion is so much more fun and a lot less work.
Well, that explains his understanding of ...
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 11:01 ET by CO2Maker...Catholic theology and moral teachings. Ask the bishop of Providence.
Yikes!
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 09:49 ET by MorganfrostWhoa, easy there, Pat-- here; have a drink.
LOL--thought the same
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 11:55 ET by StarAZI saw that and thought, "Better have a look at those meds, bud."
How about "Let me call you
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 12:24 ET by Hunter12How about "Let me call you a cab"?
"An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last." - Sir Winston Churchill
Brian Williams
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 10:07 ET by TexndocHe's more loathsome to me than Chris Matthews or even Olbermann. A White House mouthpiece who thinks he's above Olbermann or Matthews. After Sarah Palin's convention speech, on NBC, when asked for his opinion he literally pulled out a pre-written "response from the DNC" and read it word for word and said "back to you...."
BTW, Patrick Kennedy? That's one High school and college grade transcript I'd love to see. He's always struck me as borderline retarded.
yea.
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 10:21 ET by sarainitalybut the tea party peeps are dangerous and unhinged... /s
wasn't he making some of the same complaints as tea partiers, though, really?
What did he watch tapes of
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 11:08 ET by Radical1979What did he watch tapes of Teddy and think all that yelling and gesturing was a good idea? Not.
2 thoughts fer U, Patrick Kennedy.. amended.. 3 thoughts
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 12:23 ET by Gary Hall1.) Indeed, as the evidence came in that the surge in Iraq was working, and as relative peace and a darn good shot at Democracy came to the long suffering (44+ years) people of Iraq, the national press's coverage in Iraq almost completely disappeared.
Did you care, then?
We know you were out tipping a few back then.
2.) Silly me, but in the weeks leading up your second pathetic public outburst in as much time, I've experienced a substantial increase in the amount of press coverage of ongoing events hapening on the ground in Afghanistan, and in the coverage of related political events in Afghanistan.
Where U been? Out drinking again?
opps. Fogot one.
3.) Yea. Where was the press coverage of your idiotic remarks when you announced that, "Brown's [Sen. Scott Brown] whole candidacy was shown to be a joke today when he was sworn in .."
That was a really pathetic way to introduce a new United States Senator. Perhaps as you leave public office next year, someone will announce that your "whole career was shown to be a joke."
(;~/ gary
Brian Williams and NBC
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 12:43 ET by Ruler4YouBrian Williams and NBC is/are (a) shill(s) for socialist government. It's no wonder they couldn't get any lower into the ratings cesspool than they are. They are virtually a state propaganda machine unworthy of even the slowest intellect in the nation.
As far as Kennedy goes, he's a genetically cultivated moron from the intellectually challenged side of the family. If his name was anything other than Kennedy he'd be a landscape engineer. What we call here in the west a "Plant Manager".
URGENT!!! Breaking...TSA EXEMPTS MUSLIMS FROM FULL SCANNER
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 12:38 ET by sjanus11URGENT! Full Body Scanners Exempt Muslims
Did you know that The TSA, when confronted by CAIR in this regard, immediately capitulated, thus giving in in the face of yet another Islamic threat. Simultaneously, the TSA agreed to instruct its security staff, in enforcing the same tortuous security measures for everyone but Muslims, to ‘pat down’ Muslim men and women, with the proviso, of course, that only same gender ‘pat downs’ would be permitted for our Muslim brethren
This is Barry putting mor Amerivan lives in Danger......we must fight this.....
Please follow link for full story
http://fellowshipofminds.wordpress.com/2010/03/11/full-body-scanner...
Here is #..I suggest we flood the lines with complaints.Please help end the spinless people who caved to Cair yet again, who by the way are Un-Indicted Co-Conspiritors in the Largest money laundering case. The Holy land Money case.1-866-TELL-FAA (1-866-835-5322)
" Read The 5000 Year Leap" It's Part Of The Cure
SPAM ALERT SPAM ALERT
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 12:45 ET by BO STINKS"Liberals have managed to eliminate the idea of manly honor. Instead, all they have is womanly indignation." ~Ann Coulter
BO
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 12:48 ET by BKeyserAs I just mentioned to Shy in another thread- Steve's not a spam artist; this is more of a one-time event. I hope you'll give him a pass.
BK
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 12:55 ET by MrShyOkay.... for now :)
I did take a look at his link, and this is scary stuff.
It was just his rapid-fire, across-many-threads posting, and the all-bold text, too, that had my suspicious.
I'm not looking for anyone's pity. - Jer
There have been studies. - Jer
Okay -
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 13:00 ET by BO STINKSDidn't think I attacked him, but whatever.
"Liberals have managed to eliminate the idea of manly honor. Instead, all they have is womanly indignation." ~Ann Coulter
BO
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 13:02 ET by BKeyserNo, I wouldn't say you attacked him. I assumed you were just posting a warning message. I just happen to know him and spamming is not his MO so I didn't want him to get a bad rep that's all. :)
:-D -
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 13:32 ET by BO STINKS*kisses and hugs*
"Liberals have managed to eliminate the idea of manly honor. Instead, all they have is womanly indignation." ~Ann Coulter
yeh, I knew this. For all
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 12:50 ET by Ruler4Youyeh, I knew this. For all of you who think that the plans, procedures, restrictions, regulations, legislation, laws and other red tape are being put inplace (like the new bill Lyndsey Grahm is supporting for a 'National ID' card "for workers authorized to work in America"), are there to protect YOU, I have some great beach front property in Colorado I'd like to sell you.
These are for one purpose and one purpose only and that is to get control. Once Americans have been subdued by regulation and "Rights" are a thing of the past government can get down to what it really wants to do. Turn the socialist 'river' card.
How many times do you need to see the same thing over and over and over again before you know the ending? They say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results every time.
It seems P.T.Barnum was correct a sucker is born every minute. And America is where they come to live.Get a Tube!
Ruler...
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 13:05 ET by BKeyserI've got a photo[shop] of the prototype cards here. I think they accurately represent your POV on these things.
The Full Body Scanner is
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 13:30 ET by ElyasThe Full Body Scanner is wrong but not out of the norm for TSA. I put myself through college working for TSA, and I was disgusted with their procedures and security technology.
We also did "sensitivity training" to make sure we didn't single out Muslims. They didn't come straight out and say this, but about 75% of the pictures in the presentation were Muslims when discussing how we shouldn't profile.
But one note about the "same gender pat downs". It has always been same gender screening so they are not making an exception for that.
The only time you can have different genders is for bag searches, not personal searches.
Patty's not very bright-
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 12:43 ET by BO STINKSIt was a mercy that very few media types witnessed his un-hinged moments. They ARE doing their job - throw a sheet over any Kennedy doo-doo's on the floor! He should thank the SCM.
"Liberals have managed to eliminate the idea of manly honor. Instead, all they have is womanly indignation." ~Ann Coulter
Among the 65
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 12:47 ET by UpNorthon the losing side, were 5 Republicans,
John Campbell (CA-48)
John Duncan (TN-2)
Tim Johnson (IL-15)
Walter Jones (NC-3)
and…drum roll please…RON PAUL (TX-14)
So Paul decides that Kennedy and Kucinich are foreign policy experts who deserve his support?
Yeay, waiting for
Fri, 03/12/2010 - 09:30 ET by BDYeay, waiting for the trolls to show up cheering the virtues of the Paulians again....
No need
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 13:33 ET by tim413The "press" does not need to be in the gallery bcs they can see every "debater" on C-SPAN. I don't know how you can call this a debate when the only other House members in the chamber are the ones who are scheduled to speak next.
Did Brian really attempt to mislead people into thinking P. Kennedy was not running bcs his father died?!
Stop federal judges from foisting their notions of "fairness" on the States. Amend the 14th Amendment! - tim413
I thought only Tea Partiers yell!
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 14:49 ET by SkipperMLMHe's a piece of work...I was in D.C. when he had his "accident" while impaired on "cough meds". And the "media" bought it...or at least for his sake acted like they did.
Si vis pacem, para bellum
Williams certainly is the
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 14:49 ET by SemusWilliams certainly is the lefts idea of a Newsman.
Drunken Kennedy Rant
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 15:31 ET by Secret ConservativeSounds like just another drunken Kennedy rant, in the proud tradition of his father. Patches, PLEASE go away and hopefully we will never again be subjected to your face, your voice, or your breath again. And could you take all of your cousins with you, please?
All that's missing was...
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 21:12 ET by Johnnie_HIf he had only prefaced his rant by saying, "I'm Matt Foley and I'm a motivational speaker," he would have had his Chris Farley imitation down perfectly!
It just keeps getting better and better, doesn't it?
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 22:21 ET by PresidentSuitThis was the most wonderful lunatic rant I've heard in awhile! It was so good, I included it at the last minute in this week's installment of my web comic President Suit, Savior of the World on my blog at http://patrioticmobster.wordpress.com Democrat Eric Massa, the media circus gift that keeps on giving! This is certainly welcome comic relief in the middle of the fall of the Republic as the Obamaniacs rahm their healthcare bill down the unwilling Public's throat. Seriously, though, how does this country keep electing these deranged dopes to high public office? It was a pleasure to blog about Massa, Beck, Pelosi, Rahm and Patrick Kennedy this week at http://patrioticmobster.wordpress.com
I hope somebody handed that
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 22:54 ET by IndyAdamI hope somebody handed that guy a scotch, double/neat, and escorted him to his seat.
Hey Patrick, how about
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 22:59 ET by Radical1979Hey Patrick, how about letting cameras in for some of the healthcare discussions you dems are having?