At the top of Tuesday’s CBS Early Show co-host Harry Smith offered this witty line teasing a story on the Iraq journalist who threw his shoes at President Bush: "Sock and awe. How the Iraqi shoe-thrower is now being hailed as a hero and drawing thousands of supporters." Later, Smith introduced a report about the shoe-thrower: "It's being referred to as the 'toss heard around the world.' In fact, many Iraqis are showering accolades on the journalist who threw his shoes at President Bush." The report, by correspondent Elizabeth Palmer, declared: "As demonstrators across the Arab world called for Muntathar al-Zaidi's release, his stature as a folk hero was growing...al-Zaidi using his shoes to disrespect America's president has thrilled the Arab world."
Palmer, who offered a similar report during Monday’s CBS Evening News, went on to describe al-Zaidi’s global popularity: "The internet is brimming with shoe jokes and a Saudi businessman has offered a million dollars for Zaidi's shoe...al-Zaidi's TV station announced today that not only are they going to give his family a house, but that his support extends beyond the Arab world. Another fierce critic of America, Venezuela's president, Hugo Chavez, has offered Al Zaidi permission to settle there, whenever, that is, he gets out of jail." Palmer also featured testimony from Shibley Telhami, a Middle East expert from the liberal Brookings Institution: "It's a reminder, and a reminder that we shouldn't forget that the vast majority of people, in the Middle East and around the world, still think Iraq is a huge failure and that the Iraq war was a big mistake."
On Monday’s Early Show, correspondent Richard Roth compared President Bush’s unpopularity in Iraq to that of Saddam Hussein. On Tuesday, Palmer promoted the same theme in her report: "al-Zaidi got into the Green Zone wearing his weapons and then threw first one, then the other, at President Bush...But in the Middle East, there is no bigger insult. When Saddam's statue was toppled, this is how Iraqis showed their contempt." Footage of Iraqis beating the head of Hussein’s statue with their shoes was shown.
Here is the full transcript of Palmer’s Tuesday report:
7:00AM TEASE:
HARRY SMITH: Sock and awe. How the Iraqi shoe-thrower is now being hailed as a hero and drawing thousands of supporters.
7:12AM TEASE:
SMITH: Coming up, the journalist who threw his shoes at President Bush has become a hero in some parts of Iraq. We'll bring you the latest.
7:15AM SEGMENT:
SMITH: It's being referred to as the 'toss heard around the world.' In fact, many Iraqis are showering accolades on the journalist who threw his shoes at President Bush. CBS News correspondent Elizabeth Palmer has the latest.
ELIZABETH PALMER: As demonstrators across the Arab world called for Muntathar al-Zaidi's release, his stature as a folk hero was growing. An accredited journalist for a Baghdad TV station, al-Zaidi got into the Green Zone wearing his weapons and then threw first one, then the other, at President Bush. After he'd been wrestled to the ground by Iraqi security, local journalists apologized for his behavior.
GEORGE W. BUSH: Thank you for apologizing on behalf of the Iraqi people. It doesn't bother me.
PALMER: But in the Middle East, there is no bigger insult. When Saddam's statue was toppled, this is how Iraqis showed their contempt.
[FOOTAGE OF IRAQIS BEATING HEAD OF SADDAM HUSSEIN STATUE WITH SHOES]
PALMER: al-Zaidi using his shoes his shoes to disrespect America's president has thrilled the Arab world. The internet is brimming with shoe jokes and a Saudi businessman has offered a million dollars for Zaidi's shoe.
SHIBLEY TELHAMI [BROOKINGS INSTITUTION]: It's a reminder, and a reminder that we shouldn't forget that the vast majority of people, in the Middle East and around the world, still think Iraq is a huge failure and that the Iraq war was a big mistake.
PALMER: al-Zaidi's TV station announced today that not only are they going to give his family a house, but that his support extends beyond the Arab world. Another fierce critic of America, Venezuela's president, Hugo Chavez, has offered Al Zaidi permission to settle there, whenever, that is, he gets out of jail. Elizabeth Palmer, CBS News, London.
—Kyle Drennen is a news analyst at the Media Research Center.




















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It thrilled the Arab World
December 16, 2008 - 11:40 ET by mattmIt thrilled the Arab World almost as much as the election of B. Hussein Obama.
Thrilled
December 16, 2008 - 12:11 ET by DontFeedTheTrollsIt also thrilled the Arab world (and the MSM elite) almost as much as the murder of thousands of Americans on Sept. 11th, 2001.
Almost.
D
Keep the ILLEGALS out, join NumbersUSA to send free faxes to your reps.
Well, I don't know about that
December 16, 2008 - 14:06 ET by Smoking HotThe Iranian response to 9/11.
Of course these are Persians, not Arabs, but it's good to remember every now and again how few people there were actually dancing in the streets on 9/11.
Christmass present
December 16, 2008 - 17:28 ET by nathanbforresta circling c130 gunship over any and all militant raghead funeral processions, parades, etc.
never look a gift skunk in the tail
this is the same place that celebrates suicide bombers...
December 16, 2008 - 16:56 ET by UndercoverConservative...and car bombers and beheaders. Out of a population of millions, they refer to "thousands"...which seems to be about the proportion of militant murderous thugs to normal Muslims worldwide.
Again, just think of how "celebrated" this guy would have been had it been grenades instead...
"to call an illegal immigrant an "undocumented alien" is the same as calling a streetcorner drug dealer an "unlicensed pharmacist".
"You spend your money anyway you want and respect other's rights to do the same"
Oh, I'm Thrilled
December 16, 2008 - 22:11 ET by DoktorFrankenI'm just waiting for the other shoe to drop on this story.
''Odor-Eater, crammed with explosives, found in shoe. Shoe lace fuse was extinguished in flight when thrown.''
Of course he's a hero....
December 16, 2008 - 11:46 ET by Prester John....he put up more of a fight than:
The Egyptians, Syrians and Jordanians did in 1967
The Syrians did in 1982 in the Bekka Valley--Israeli Air Force 87, Syrian Air Force 2
The Libyans in 1981 and 1986
The Iraqis in 1991
The Taliban in 2002
The Iraqis in 2003
Shall I continue?
Yes, one more...
December 16, 2008 - 11:49 ET by mattmThe Republicans in 2006 and 2008
They just keep going and going
December 16, 2008 - 11:52 ET by ckbennetttnTheir repetition on this indicates their approval. Don't be shocked, but it also gives an insight into their views if perhaps something worse than a shoe was thrown. They are traitors and hateful to the President and to this country.They absolutely sicken me. Harry Smith deserves a spit in the face, punch in the eye, and boot up his @$$.
“I am the latte-sipping, New York Times-reading, Volvo-driving, no-gun-owning, effete, politically correct, arrogant liberal.” --Barack Obama
No where...
December 16, 2008 - 12:03 ET by BronxBomberNo where in the MSM is there even a hint that if it wasn't for George W. Bush this guy wouldn't dare to have raised his voice at an Iraqi Presidential press conference much less raise a shoe...
Un F'n believable!
We gotta find a new planet...
Same
December 16, 2008 - 11:58 ET by cvgbuckeyeThese are probably the same people that thought the planes being thrown at the World Trade Centers was terrific. I include the MSM in that parady.
On our local raido station, here in Cincinnati, WLW, they have a resident lib, in the morning, Jim Scot who always gives a spot to a lib reporter from ABC, overseas in England, Linda Albin. She is a typical ex-USA resident reporter, now living overseas, America hater. She is specifically a President Bush hater.
This morning she made the outrageous, moral equivilancy of the shoe thrower as the Middle Eastern Joe the Plumber. She claims that is what he has become known as overseas. She seemed very proud of that. I hope that the entire City of Cincinnati comes down all over Scot and WLW over her stupidity. But I guess that would conform to her obvious agreement with the Fairness Doctrine, now wouldn't it.
WLW has another local guy named Billy Cunningham. Maybe Billy will straighten her and Scot around.
Aren't you supposed to be reporting something?
December 16, 2008 - 12:00 ET by KC MulvilleThe vast majority of people, in the Middle East and around the world, are wrong. Iraq is no failure.
They got their false impression from the media, who were more interested in festering hate than in describing the situation accurately. When this guy should have been reporting about progress in Iraq, he was planning a childish tantrum.
They got their false impression from the media
December 16, 2008 - 14:02 ET by JDWVery true.
Freedom is new for these people and they must now learn it's responsibilities. A slow withdrawal will provide their military with a better means of permitting the government to evolve. Media is part of the process.
As far advanced as we are only cable and Internet are growing.
JDW
DAILY WAVE
I am with you in theory JD,
December 16, 2008 - 15:54 ET by Nortonalecbut you define responsibility like a conservative. You post here peacefully, and if you were to protest publically you would be respectful of poeple and property as well.
Contrast that with the hard left and their definination of protest and responsibility. Picture the mobs that beat drums and chain themselves to property or themselves, or in the case of ELF, burn equiptment and bury metal spikes in trees to harm loggers.
How do you get through to people like that?
"It's such a fine line between stupid and clever."~David St. Hubbins
MSM would only be happier if he had thrown a grenade
December 16, 2008 - 12:05 ET by SouthJersey1953The MSM can barely control their glee over this "attack." I honestly believe that the only thing that would have made them happier is if the guy had thrown a grenade at Bush.
We celebrate CHRISTMAS
Code Pink
December 16, 2008 - 12:14 ET by RackieTwo Code Pinkos held up signs at a DC area Iraqi/American kumbaya conference this morning "suggesting" that al-Zaidi be freed. Oddly, no shoes thrown, nobody ejected. Wait for "shoe throwing" to catch on with the left.
This SICKENS me
December 16, 2008 - 12:22 ET by choselife3xDo these schmucks not even realise how stupid they look making a Saddam reference in this context?!
So the Iraqis hated Hussein so much they beat his statue with their shoes, and now one of them throws his shoes at the man who liberated them from the dictator and he's an f'ing HERO?!!!!
Anyone that ungrateful DESERVES to be oppressed. Deport him to Iran.
In order to be pro-choice, one must first be born. Ah, the irony.
I wonder how he will get around
December 16, 2008 - 12:23 ET by auldsailor362when his feet are surgically removed by the Iraqi authorities, after all he didn't just embarass Bush he also violated the Koran as to the treatment of a guest and his country. But the other Arabs will laugh and dance, at least until his punishment is known.
what would just make my day
December 16, 2008 - 12:25 ET by seaniepwhat would just make my day is if one person in any sort of media, I will even take a wannabe pundit, would make mention of the fact that while shoe throwing is a huge insult in the middle east, NOT GETTING HIT BY A SHOE IS A VICTORY IN THE REST OF THE WORLD
I would also like to see dodgeball reinstated on playgrounds throughout the USA
Personally
December 16, 2008 - 15:25 ET by Spinningplates2I have never seen anyone from a Western culture trow a shoe so straight and so hard. I find myself wondering, if I were going to throw a shoe, could I even throw half as well. Would radical Muslim's taunt by saying, "You throw like an infidal!" if I was a bad shoe thrower?
At a saner time in our
December 16, 2008 - 12:27 ET by ConservativeRexAt a saner time in our history CBS would have been charge with sedition at the very least.
With all the major networks and most of the large newspapers openly expressing their Anti-Americanism it won't be long before we are fighting for our very lives between our coastlines.
Our enemies, of which I consider the media as being a large part of, watch our newscast, read our newspapers. If they think for one minute they can gain an advantage over us either covertly or with planes into our buildings they know they have an adoring media on their side.
Never in our history has there been treason on this level. But go ahead and sit back. American Idol's new season starts shortly, and then of course the football playoffs, college bowl games, the Christmas season. There's just too much going on to worry about our Nation.
There are people taking note of all of this, at this very moment. They are planning our destruction. They don't want to talk Mr Obami, they want us dead. CBS will gladly help them, as will the rest of the media.
After all, the troubles in this world are all America's fault. So the media says and our enemies believe. When are we going to take it back? Is there going to be anything left to take back? For our Grandchildrens sake, I intend to make sure there is.
TIME Magazine Announces "Man fo the Year"
December 16, 2008 - 12:31 ET by Priebleshttp://digg.com/worl...
TIME Magazine has announced the 2008
Man of the Year is Shoe-throwing Iraqi journalist Muntadar al-Zaidi, a
reporter with Cairo-based network Al Baghdadia Television. "It was
realy tough to top Vladimir Putin from last year, but we think Mr.
Al-Zaidi represents all of us that have an irrational hatred of Mr
Bush" said Managing Editor Rick Stengel.
(snark)
Harry Smith & the shoe thrower
December 16, 2008 - 12:33 ET by east tennessee johnHey Harry, you moron, which came first, the shoe thrower at Bush or the release from the perils of Saddam? Could you have had one without the other, you pompous jerk? Thousands may temporarily love the shoe thrower for his act of political theater, MILLIONS respect Bush for his resolve and THEIR FREEDOM you overpaid, self-righteous buffoon.
It's amazing to me, but I
December 16, 2008 - 12:46 ET by oilcanIt's amazing to me, but I really shouldn't be all that surprised. Yet, I'm very troubled that the MSM gleefully reports praise, admiration and adulation bestowed upon a person, a person who assaulted our President.
They seem to feel like it's a vindication, an affirmation of their disgust for George Bush, all done through the hands of a terrorist. I say terrorist because this person surely wouldn't hesitate planting a roadside bomb to kill Bush if he had the wherewithall to do it.
Too bad we can't resurrect Saddam...
December 16, 2008 - 12:55 ET by R D Helm...put him back in charge in Iraq, then round up every America-hating MSM employee and force them all to live there the rest of their miserable little useless lives.
At least it would get the bottom-feeding scum like Harry Smith the hell out of our country.
I am beyond sick to death of these treasonous people.
-Dave
Will work for beer.
BDS/Harry Smith,et al MSM
December 16, 2008 - 13:00 ET by merlin61God Bless George W. Bush !!! I pray to God that
we don't have another attack on our country
because we now will have an unknown future
with BHO.
Did I miss it, or did Harry and Ms. Palmer fail to mention...
December 16, 2008 - 13:36 ET by ThalpyDid I miss it, or did Harry and Ms. Palmer fail to mention our Secret Service's security breach in this incident? I'm sure that this shoe-thrower is the hero to all in the Arab world. Their reporting is a disgrace!
What to say about a culture
December 16, 2008 - 13:42 ET by dark_dsWhat to say about a culture that celebrates someone throwing a shoe at the man whom liberated their country. The same culture (Islam) that stood by and did nothing about Sadam butchering his own people. The same culture that elevates people blowing themselves and others up as heros. The same culture that celebrates 3000 innocents dying at the hands of terrorists. I realize that not all fall into these broad generalizations I have made but when I see this stuff it makes me think we should left the Iraqis to their own misery. We need to save money next time and dumb our bombs down.... our bombs should reflect the intelligence of the people in which we are bombing. In addition as I watched the coverage of this great heroic act of shoe throwing and witnessed the MSM's glee in covering it just further cements my distaste for these elite cretans. I cant keep swearing at my TV like this.
Sickos
December 16, 2008 - 14:24 ET by iveseenitallThe commentary of Harry Smith and others proves, once again, our "journalists'" lack of respect and immaturity. I've posted before that a man Smith's age should finally grow up. But he never will. Bob Dole asked about Clinton, "Where's the outrage?" But outrage certainly didn't come from the media; just the opposite. No outrage here either. Our president and our nation has been disrepected once again and all the "liberal" child can do is come up with catchy phrases, laugh a little, or claim that the perpetrator is some kind of "folk hero". As has been said so many times, "liberalism" is a mental disease. And the media around the world are infected with the contagion. They spread it every day. Stay clear away from them.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
Off Duty
December 16, 2008 - 14:40 ET by Off DutyOf course the solution for the Secret Service is that they should now require all journalists appearing before the POTUS to remove their shoes and outer layer of clothing. This will force media outlets to hire only attractive people, and who knows....their ratings might even improve.
Thrills the arab world
December 16, 2008 - 15:56 ET by EdhenryThrills the arab world = Bill Ayers bombings also thrilled all of America
Liberal Media #1 Enemy of USA
December 16, 2008 - 16:09 ET by AgentAmericanWe need to do something. Harry Hack and Olbydork need to be held accountable by the people...not the Government.
Hold them accountable. We have more power than they could ever imagine.
2010: A GOP Hill
Amen.
December 16, 2008 - 16:27 ET by andophiroxiaAmen, brother, amen.
“You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.” ~ Winston Churchill
Ha!
December 16, 2008 - 18:40 ET by RukusHey all you celebrating in the Arab world AND the MSM. Your punk a$$ shoeicide bomber missed! Bush dodged that idiot like he was tossing an underhand softball! Fools! Bush showed you up, bigtiime!! Ha ha ha!
Uncle Gary
"Bri is with Jesus now, we will meet again, just not right now. We love you Bri!"
So, if someone takes a whack
December 16, 2008 - 20:14 ET by jdhawkSo, if someone takes a whack at that basketball playing "magic negro" what say you propagandists of the drive by media?
open question
December 16, 2008 - 23:48 ET by lotrDoes anybody know just what exactly motivated the "lone shoeman" to his violent insulting protest?
And one by one dropped the revellers in the blood-bedewed halls of their revel, and died each in the despairing posture of his fall. -- Edgar Allan Poe