In a portion of Matt Lauer's interview with Barack Obama, not aired before the Super Bowl, but aired on Monday's Today show, Lauer asked the president about the release of a Guantanamo prisoner coming back to haunt him. However, Lauer couched the question in not public safety, but political terms as he asked the president, "If one of those people that's released goes back and takes part in the planning of, or carrying out of, an attack against U.S. interests, you're gonna have a Willie Horton times 100 situation." In other words Lauer bypassed asking how upset the president would be if a released Guantanamo prisoner killed U.S. citizens, nor asked how worried Obama would be if Republicans made a Willie Horton like ad, featuring the terrorist, to hurt him politically.
The following exchange was aired in the 7am half hour of the February 2, "Today" show:
MATT LAUER: Let me go on quickly, if I can, to some other subjects. You signed an executive order in your first week, that says you'll close the military detention center at Guantanamo within a year. So the clock is ticking. And already you've heard the criticism that you don't know what you're gonna do with the 245 prisoners being held there?
BARACK OBAMA: It's the right thing to do, ultimately it will make us safer. You've already seen in the reaction around the world, a different sense of America by us taking this action.
Story Continues Below Ad ↓LAUER: Some of these people may be released.
OBAMA: Yeah.
LAUER: The ones that seem to be less of a threat. But, if one of those people that's released goes back and takes part in the planning of, or carrying out of, an attack against U.S. interests, you're gonna have a Willie Horton times 100 situation, on your hands. How are you gonna deal with that?
OBAMA: Of course I'm worried about it. Look the, the, you know I have to make the very best judgments I can make in terms of what's gonna keep the American people safe. And is what, what's gonna uphold our Constitution and our traditions of due process. If we don't uphold our Constitution and our values, that over time, that will make us less safe. And that will be a recruitment tool for organizations like al-Qaeda. That's what I've got do keep my eye on.
—Geoffrey Dickens is the senior news analyst at the Media Research Center.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
7 years
February 2, 2009 - 12:14 ET by jed587 years from using civilian airliners as weapons on U.S. soil to having their spokesman in the White House....who would have thunk it?
LOL
February 2, 2009 - 14:23 ET by 10ksnookerBoy when you make a dribe on the basket ...
No worry. The MSM TV shows
February 2, 2009 - 12:20 ET by ThisnThatNo worry. The MSM TV shows would reject any such ad as "not meeting their standards". And the NYT would reject any such information (as they did McCain's op-ed) on the basis that it didn't incorporate their words or ideas. In effect, no such blame would occur for Obama.
Instead, it would be Bush's fault -- GITMO caused ordinary, happy-go-lucky and peaceful Muslim citizens of the world to go mad, turning them into criminals and people who hate the U.S.
___________________________________
The challenge is to follow a consistent plan despite inconsistent prices - Sarah Palin, State of the State of Alaska speech
and of course the most
February 2, 2009 - 12:20 ET by Snappyand of course the most important thing to keep this country safe is to have the positive press of the world. We have all seen how that has worked out for most of the EU, why they NEVER have terrorist attacks in their country, its always on American soil that these attacks take place.... or was it....hold on, I will get back to you on that thought.
The "High School" of international relations
February 2, 2009 - 13:47 ET by UnsaneUnderstand that our President, The Holy Shahinshah, belongs to a new school of international relations. For years, we have had the realist school, and the optimist school. Now, we have the High School.
International relations "High Schoolers" all think in terms of international relations being a high school popularity contest. In other words, if The Holy Shahinshah thinks an action - like releasing those poor,harmless little dears at Gitmo - will make the entire world LOVE us, it must be done.
What The Holy Shahinshah could care less about is whether or not such actions are in America's best interest. It is all about making sure America is LOVED worldwide. Unfortunately, too many Americans think that being LOVED is indeed preferable to being FEARED.
"THIS IS YOUR FINAL WARNING!!! THE HOLOCAUST OF THOUGHT IS DAWNING!!!" - Nevermore, "Bittersweet Feast", from This Godless Endeavor (2005)
And is what, what's gonna
February 2, 2009 - 12:22 ET by motherbeltAnd is what, what's gonna uphold our Constitution and our traditions of
due process. If we don't uphold our Constitution and our values, that
over time, that will make us less safe.
There is nothing in the Constitution, or in our "traditions" that require granting "due process" to non-citizens caught engaging in acts against the US.
Or is that in one of those "penumbra" thingies?
MB-you may be right, it could be one of those thingies.
February 2, 2009 - 12:31 ET by thebutlerdiditI like the fact Lauer, that sneaky sissy, is out there worrying about Obama's political future. What a goober. Closing Gitmo? I'll believe it, when I see it.
Bringing the government in to run Wall Street is like saying, "Dad burned the dinner, let's get the dog to cook." PJ O'Rourke
Butler
February 3, 2009 - 00:07 ET by choselife3xThe best 60 seconds of TV I've ever seen was when a GIANT bat crawled up Matt Lauer's back on the Today show some years ago. NEVER will I forget the expression on his face as a claw appeared on the top of his head.
But does that mean the right should emulate the left?
-balboa http://newsbusters.o...
In order to be pro-choice, one must first be born. Ah, the irony.
CL3X
February 3, 2009 - 00:14 ET by thebutlerdiditDon't you just know that Matty is one of those girly-men? He seems so sissy-prissy, to me. I would love to have seen the bat bite him on the butt. The squealing sounds would be worth watching for. He probably has his wife with the big man hands remove the icky bugs from the house.
Bringing the government in to run Wall Street is like saying, "Dad burned the dinner, let's get the dog to cook." PJ O'Rourke
Our values
February 2, 2009 - 14:19 ET by KC MulvilleOnly lawyers think the world loves us for our lawyers. I just don't buy the idea that the rest of the world loves us only when we promote ACLU values, or hates us when we don't. Only lawyers ...
→ Willie Horton
February 2, 2009 - 12:29 ET by Cool ArrowSo Lauer is less concerned about how many people might be killed by ricidivism than how those deaths might reflect on President Obamboo.
Don't worry Matt. Olbermann has alread paved that path. They are murderers because they've learned to hate America in Bush's Gitmo Camp.
Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country - Khalil Gibran
CA
February 2, 2009 - 14:04 ET by well99It never ceases to amaze me about the so called caring left.They put political agenda ahead of lives of people.
I imagine Obama will move
February 2, 2009 - 15:46 ET by kgI imagine Obama will move current gitmo detainees to the US prison system to shut up the far left and any future detainees will be shipped to a secret camp.
"Forget change, I want improvement!"
The really scary thing is
February 2, 2009 - 12:40 ET by Arelhe actually believes what he is saying. God help us all.
Can I be the first to call
February 2, 2009 - 12:46 ET by Jack BauerCan I be the first to call the future GITMO released terrorist outrage killing Americans...
Jack, Or (in honor of
February 2, 2009 - 15:59 ET by Chris NormanJack,
Or (in honor of Dr. Seuss) how about:
"Horton Cheers Abu"? :)
The "Mainstream" Media: By liberals. For liberals.
"Horton Cheers Abu" lol - excellent Chris
February 2, 2009 - 16:11 ET by Dee Bunkthanks for the laugh. We need it in these dire times.
Dee,Thasnks. It's either
February 2, 2009 - 16:28 ET by Chris NormanDee,
Thanks. It's either this or cry.
The "Mainstream" Media: By liberals. For liberals.
Chris......and I'm about
February 2, 2009 - 18:18 ET by bigtimerChris...
...and I'm about ready to cry.
I can't believe what I am hearing in the Senate about Eric Holder coming from some on our side of the aisle....I wished Hatch would get voted out of office, but I have for a long time. Kit Bond more than surprised me though with his support...Isakson did too.
They are going to vote soon on his confirmation.
I want to tell you something...I heard a floor speech from Sessions...we all should be terrified of some of the others he has nominated to be in the Justice Dept., one of them defended John Walker Lind (sp)...another gal, took her case all the way to the SC to stop any of our military recruiting on public campuses...ect...the rest are just as terrifying...people should pay attention to this and call their congress-critters, if there is a video or transcript later of Sessions speech, I will see if I can get it here...people should listen.
It is bad enough with all that Holder has done that we all know about from FALN to Rich, but he couldn't answer simple and full questions about his views about what is going on with the 2nd Amendment in differing states for just one example.
Be afraid, very afraid, we are going to have an administration like nothing we have never seen, the JD is going to be infested with communists as far as I am concerned, we already have plenty there as is.
Yeah, BT. He nominates
February 2, 2009 - 18:25 ET by Chris NormanYeah, BT. He nominates "reasonable" sounding people and once confoirmed, they fill almost everyone below them with brazen far-lefters.
The "Mainstream" Media: By liberals. For liberals.
...and these are some of
February 2, 2009 - 18:34 ET by bigtimer...and these are some of the people from the Clintoon administration one way or the other to-boot.
They are far left activists...they are more than spooky...they are deadly to this country in my opinion.
Btw...so far McC, Hatch, Bennett, Corker, Kyle, Isakson, Specter, Bond, Lugar, Gregg, and Chambliss (I think) have all voted for him...quite a bunch of conservatives voted no...won't do any good though.
A sad day indeed...we are so screwed.
BT and Chris - When it comes to Holder
February 2, 2009 - 18:36 ET by Dee BunkI'm upset too - It's a horrible choice. But I don't really hold it against someone for voting for his confirmation. Obama is entitled to have anyone he wants no matter how left they are.
The tax crooks are a different story though.
Still, I'm very very upset by the directions Obama is taking and fear our Country may never be the same when he's done with it.
Holder in...75-21
February 2, 2009 - 18:43 ET by bigtimerNeither will our Jusitice Dept. be either Dee.
It is absolutely terrifying what I heard today about the other nominees.
to the list of 'R's I named above, Graham and Voinivich are included with the Ayes.
The Justice Dept. has a lot of POWER Dee....depending on whose running it.
You know I have to be more than furious about the tax-cheats ect also....I have posted as such.
→ Holder is dangerous
February 2, 2009 - 18:49 ET by Cool ArrowHe's already been involved in pardoning a tax cheat (how appropriate) and pardoning 16 terrorists (again, appropriate).
We're going to be sorry.
“Make no mistake, tax cheaters cheat us all, and the IRS should enforce
our laws to the letter. ” Sen. Tom Daschle, 05/07/98
I knew this was coming,
February 2, 2009 - 23:54 ET by thebutlerdiditthey are afraid to knock too many of Golden O's picks. I see a Daschle in our future, also. He is one of their old rat pack of Senators, so they will resist a little, then in he will go. Holder is an absolute nut, the fact the mod. Dems didn't vote against him, well, they will regret it, also. He will probably be in charge of rooting out us disidents, by point of an automatic rifle, he knows about this already.
Bringing the government in to run Wall Street is like saying, "Dad burned the dinner, let's get the dog to cook." PJ O'Rourke
Believe me I know BT - that's why I was so upset Obama won
February 3, 2009 - 00:15 ET by Dee BunkBut they can't stop these nominations for ideological reasons. These senators that praise these picks are beyond disgusting but I can't really blame people for voting for them except the tax cheats. There were good non ideological reasons to stop them.
LAUER: The ones that seem
February 2, 2009 - 12:46 ET by MidAmericaLAUER: The ones that seem to be less of a threat. But if one of those people that's released goes back and takes part in the planning of, or carrying out of, an attack against U.S. interests, you're gonna have a Willie Horton times 100 situation, on your hands. How are you gonna deal with that?
We've got your back Mr. President but a terrorist attack by someone you have released will be really difficult to excuse away so we need to be prepared.
you're gonna have a Willie
February 2, 2009 - 12:54 ET by rimskyyou're gonna have a Willie Horton times 100 situation, on your hands. How are you gonna deal with that?
Matty boy is acting a little scared. He should be, cuz this guy isn't going to know how to deal with it.
Whatever Happened to "Secret Prisons"?
February 2, 2009 - 13:05 ET by ConservativeMissourianI hear what Obama is saying on "sticking to our principles", and that is a excellent sentiment... BUT these ARE FOREIGN NATIONALS, not US citizens and they want to KILL ALL OF US.
What am I missing here? Do enemy combatants deserve the same treatment as our own citizens?
Of course they do!
February 2, 2009 - 13:08 ET by Sergeant ROCKHow else can we destroy ourselves?
Bolton/KEYES 2012
Political Failout
February 2, 2009 - 13:30 ET by Pilgrim1949If one of these (I loved the naming idea!) "Ali Horton" scumbags manages to smuggle in either a small nuke or a "dirty" bomb to scatter radioactive material around, I suppose ol' Matty Boy will no doubt be giving somber, daily updates on the Poltical Fallout Level: to wit, how quickly the politically radioactive, Quisling/Chamberlain-induced attack's results fade from the nation's political gnat's-lifespan attention span.
I'd say the Political Fallout Level is already rising on a daily basis as our emenies collectively lick their chops at this child-in-man's-clothing stumbles from one telepromter to another, trying to get up to speed in the adult world. Surly he is the gift that potentially keeps on giving, a la ol' Bruthuh Jimmuh --- 242 days or so, was it, of national impotence, waiting for a Reagan Viagra Revolution.
When the Leftists claim to want to serve man, I always mentally envision the scene in the Original Twilight Zone where linguists make a chilling discovery about their newfound alien friends' "manual" for Earthbound buddies. Dinner is served!!!
Speaking of GITMO and rendition
February 2, 2009 - 13:51 ET by Prester JohnIt appears that Human Rights Watch, which of course thoroughly condemned the practice of rendition under Bush, now sees that there may be occasions when it is appropriate (courtesty NRO).
Gee, I wonder why HRW changed its position?
BEFORE 1/20/2009:
The US government should:
Repudiate the use of rendition to torture as a counterterrorism tactic and permanently discontinue the CIA's rendition program;
AFTER 1/20/2009:
"Under limited circumstances, there is a legitimate place" for renditions, said Tom Malinowski, the Washington advocacy director for Human Rights Watch.
http://dissentingjustice.blogspot.com/2009/02/major-flip-flop-by-human-rights-watch.html
Apparently the original article was in the LA Times over the weekend.
We've seen reaction around the world all right
February 2, 2009 - 13:56 ET by Dee BunkCuba and Iran are both now demanding preconditions from Obama. Other than that, I've seen no meaningful "reaction around the world"
Same WARPED attitude we saw from MSM during the Iraq surge
February 2, 2009 - 14:28 ET by krendlerThe issue for them wasn't so much a war being won, terrorists being killed, lives being saved (US troops and civilians) and a fledgling democracy being given a chance move forward, as it was the potential negative political ramifications of the surge's success for Democrats. Thus, rather than rejoicing, we witnessed the muted, somber and - even at times - negative/dismissive reaction from the media.
There already are GITMO Willie Hortons.
February 2, 2009 - 15:25 ET by R D HelmSixty of them, last time I checked.
Matt Lauer is a traitor to the United States of America.
-Dave
Our clueless political leaders are about to drive us all over a cliff. The time to HITM is now-before we go over.
Yet again, an MSMer,
February 2, 2009 - 15:45 ET by Chris NormanYet again, an MSMer, instead of asking a Democrat a straight question based on skepticism, offers them friendly political advice in the form of a pseudo-question.
The "Mainstream" Media: By liberals. For liberals.
let's look surprised
February 3, 2009 - 00:32 ET by i was just thinkingYou're exactly right. Obama's statement "It's the right thing to do, ultimately it will make us safer. You've already seen in the reaction around the world, a different sense of America by us taking this action" BEGS a follow-up question: "Mr. President, how does releasing terrorists and murderers back into the world make us safer? If they attacked us once, what's to stop them from doing it again?"
But then maybe I've answered my own question. Does the left really believe that the prisoners in Gitmo are terrorists? Maybe they're just misunderstood. Wait... it's coming into focus... that's it, they are just misunderstood, disenfranchised citizens of the world. We release them, as a sign of good faith, they will see that we really care about them, and then they will return to the Middle East to spread the news of America's love and light. All is forgiven!
Sorry for the stream-of-consciousness rambling.
I suppose we should be grateful
February 2, 2009 - 17:29 ET by AlexaShruggedI suppose we should be grateful that Lauer took away the racial aspect that liberals always claimed was in the Willie Horton ads. Nope, it was just about a typical liberal letting out a dangerous criminal to strike again. As Obama is doing with Gitmo.
http://www.AlexaShrugged.com
What's murky to me is what
February 2, 2009 - 17:43 ET by RR GOPWhat's murky to me is what will happen to future terrorists that are caught? Not being able to trust what The One says about anything, it's hard to tell.
I suspect there will be a spring offensive in eastern Afghanistan by the Taliban? What happens to any of those that get captured?
One of the 24% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 89% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory.
RR GOP, hopefully our guys will stop capturing these pukes...
February 2, 2009 - 19:05 ET by R D Helm...and just go ahead and arrange for their meeting with Allah right then and there.
They would be doing this nation and what remains of the civilized world a great service if they did.
-Dave
Our clueless political leaders are about to drive us all over a cliff. The time to HITM is now-before we go over.
I don't believe Obama has any real intention of closing GITMO.
February 2, 2009 - 19:11 ET by R D HelmI think he is just trying to squelch some of the criticism he is getting from his surrender-monkey, peace-at-any-price-no-matter-what, who-cares-if-they-nuke-a-US-city-and-kill-millions supporters over at Kos and DU.
-Dave
Our clueless political leaders are about to drive us all over a cliff. The time to HITM is now-before we go over.
Rush doesn't
February 2, 2009 - 19:15 ET by bigtimerRush doesn't either.
...but I do.
I also think the leftist creatures coming into the Justice Dept. will have a lot to do with what happens.
warm fuzzies all around!
February 2, 2009 - 23:44 ET by i was just thinking"ultimately it will make us safer" ??????? So much for "preserve, protect, and defend"!
Following that logic, let's open all the prisons. Release the convicted felons and then open a national dialogue with them. I'm sure they'll see the errors of their ways and will love us. No more crime. Wow. The Big Zero's Utopian States of America.
→ Don't laugh
February 2, 2009 - 23:49 ET by Cool ArrowAnd reenfranchise all of them.
Now you've got the picture.
“Make no mistake, tax cheaters cheat us all, and the IRS should enforce
our laws to the letter. ” Sen. Tom Daschle, 05/07/98
*sigh*
February 3, 2009 - 00:21 ET by i was just thinkingYep, that's what I'm thinking. Millions of "Thank you, Lord High Obama for rescuing us!" ex-con voters, all lined up at the Democrat polls.
"Reverends" Jackson and Sharpton will be so happy.