Gingrich Schools NBC's Curry on Liberal Media Obsession With Cain Controversy
By Kyle Drennen | November 07, 2011 | 10:41
Appearing on Monday's NBC Today, Newt Gingrich took co-host Ann Curry to task for grilling him on allegations against Herman Cain: "...when the news media goes and finds an anonymous report about an anonymous incident...and you decide that matters more than every other issue in the campaign, that may put your judgment in doubt, as you, being the institutional news media." [Audio available here]
Curry began the segment by wondering: "...to have a Republican nominee for president, with unanswered questions about sexual harassment, what would it do to your party's chances of defeating Barack Obama?" Gingrich shot back: "What does it mean to the elite news media that nobody in the country ever walks up to us and raises questions you all raise?" [View video after the jump]
Gingrich continued: "Herman Cain, I suspect, is getting far fewer questions from citizens about these kind of things than he is about jobs, about other things. And I just think there's a huge gap between the gossip that fascinates political reporters and the average person's concern about the price of housing, the availability of jobs, solving the budget deficit without crushing the middle class."
Curry devoted the first four questions of the five-question interview on Herman Cain. Similarly, on Friday, fellow co-host Matt Lauer devoted the first four questions of an interview with Michele Bachmann to the controversy surrounding Cain.
To Gingrich's point of the level of media attention paid to the accusations against Cain, as of Friday, the networks featured 63 stories on the controversy.
Here is a full transcript of Curry's November 7 interview with Gingrich:
7:00AM ET TEASE:
ANN CURRY: Meanwhile, new polls show support is growing for another GOP presidential hopeful, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. This morning he will speak out in a live interview.
7:14AM ET SEGMENT:
CURRY: Well, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is running, as we all know, for the Republican nomination for president, he's also the author of the new book called "The Battle of the Crater." Speaker Gingrich, good morning.
NEWT GINGRICH: It's good to be with you.
CURRY: Good to be with you as well, sir. Can Herman Cain not answer these lingering questions about sexual harassment allegations and still win the Republican nomination, in your view?
GINGRICH: Well, that will be up to the American people. If they conclude that anonymous allegations from people who don't want to be identified, involving purely civil activities, that the American people could well decide that they want a solution-oriented leader more than they want a scandal. I think it has probably surprised most professionals that Herman has done as well as he has over the last week, but we'll see if this has legs or not. I think he's got to handle it his own way.
I do want to say, by the way, that Matt Lauer's report brought back memories. Calista and I were in Namibia a year ago and it is a truly remarkable country, as you'll see during the show today as Matt takes people around to it.
CURRY: Well, that's really true and I'm glad that it – you're enjoying the reporting on that. Back to the topic at hand, if you are right, that it is possible that the American public could actually decide to overlook these allegations, what would it mean for the party to have a Republican nominee for president, with unanswered questions about sexual harassment, what would it do to your party's chances of defeating Barack Obama?
GINGRICH: What does it mean to the elite news media that nobody in the country ever walks up to us and raises questions you all raise? I went through two months in June and July where folks in New York and Washington said my campaign was dead, I was gone, it was all hopeless. Nobody in the country said that.
Herman Cain, I suspect, is getting far fewer questions from citizens about these kind of things than he is about jobs, about other things. And I just think there's a huge gap between the gossip that fascinates political reporters and the average person's concern about the price of housing, the availability of jobs, solving the budget deficit without crushing the middle class. A lot of things that, frankly, at a substance level are dramatically more important to most Americans.
CURRY: Your point is well-taken. However, it's not just the media that's asking these questions. Haley Barbour, the Mississippi Governor, as well as Jon Huntsman, a candidate, are also saying – they said this past Sunday, that Herman Cain must step up and be more up front in answering these questions.
GINGRICH: I'll let them argue with Herman Cain. I'll let you argue with Herman Cain. I'm trying to focus, at Newt.org, on a 21st century contract with America. I'm trying to develop a brand new set of proposals that really matter. I think the country's-
CURRY: But are you saying that questions about the character of a presidential candidate don't matter?
GINGRICH: No. Questions matter a lot. I'm saying that when the news media goes and finds an anonymous report about an anonymous incident, about which you have remarkably limited information, and you decide that matters more than every other issue in the campaign, that may put your judgment in doubt, as you, being the institutional news media.
CURRY: You – I want to get to your book about – which clearly shows a real interest in the presidency of Abraham Lincoln. In this book, Abraham Lincoln is facing a very difficult time, it's during the Civil War and Ulysses – General Ulysses S. Grant brings the battle plan to Lincoln in this one particular battle. And your book, the President tells him, quote, "Please, General, no mistakes this time, no politics, jealousies, rivalries or decisions based on blind prejudice." Is that sentiment possible in this current presidential campaign?
GINGRICH: It's probably as possible as it was for Lincoln. Look, it's always hard to lead a free people. As we indicate in "The Crater," you ended up with General Meade overruling General Burnside, probably out of pure personal dislike, and the result was thousands of casualties that were unnecessary.
"The Crater" is actually a fascinating novel because it's about the largest use of African-American troops in the Virginia campaign, it's an extraordinarily daring campaign that was developed by Pennsylvania coal miners and it is totally messed up by the personality fight of two generals.
I have to say, by the way, we're a pretty literary family. My wife, Calista has a New York Times best-selling children's book about American history called "Sweet Land of Liberty." So we now have sort of dueling family books out there.
CURRY: Well, we'll see which one wins. Well, congratulations to your family and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, thank you so much for joining us at this early hour this morning.
GINGRICH: Thank you.
CURRY: And I hope you continue to enjoy the reporting from Matt in Namibia.
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Comments
the words, your words -Newt-are perfect-
Submitted by JIMMY1660 on Mon, 11/07/2011 - 10:46am.
how would you like to be Sec of State forever.
Good to see
Submitted by oldfart on Mon, 11/07/2011 - 10:50am.
Good to see that people are not rolling over and playing dead for the lame stream media.
Those too stupid will come to fear
Submitted by hbnolikeee on Mon, 11/07/2011 - 3:44pm.
asking Newt such dumb crap. Newt has and will school them handily.
Newt's laying out the media bias consistently
Submitted by Blonde on Mon, 11/07/2011 - 10:54am.
....has really raised my estimation of him.
He does it in the debates, (that silly hands stuff, for one), he does it in interviews. I truly wish the rest of the Republicans in this country would follow his lead and challenge these silly "talking point" drones every time they try it. They'd stop if they were called on it every single time.
Good for Newt.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 138 (and Counting)
amen
Submitted by kinijane on Mon, 11/07/2011 - 2:10pm.
These so called journalists are more interested in who they can trash than the state of the Nation.
Like you I wish the rest of the GOP hand the guts to do the same, thats why I won't support the
most of them, Mr R for one who panders to them.
I agree, B....and I think it
Submitted by motherbelt on Mon, 11/07/2011 - 3:12pm.
I agree, B....and I think it might be time for Republicans to take another look at Newt as the one who can go head-to-head with Obama.
Oh boy, motherbelt
Submitted by Blonde on Mon, 11/07/2011 - 9:42pm.
I love reading what I think here, written by you!!!!!
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 138 (and Counting)
Won't be long now
Submitted by MOONSTRUCK on Mon, 11/07/2011 - 10:55am.
Until the LSM stops having guests that stand up to their pathetic liberal propaganda.
It is delightful watching these turds implode!
They don't want to give up the ghost.
Submitted by NeoKong on Mon, 11/07/2011 - 10:57am.
Cain escaped their ambush and still they try to keep it alive.
You da Man, Newt
Submitted by TangoUniform on Mon, 11/07/2011 - 10:58am.
Without a doubt, Newt school's the MSM every interview he does. Does this whole Cain fiasco remind you of anything? Can you think of another conservative African American that was hit the same way? Do the initials Justice C.T. ring a bell?
Newt b*tchslapping Ann Curry
Submitted by MCLANTIERE on Mon, 11/07/2011 - 11:01am.
SUDDENLY ... CHARACTER MATTERS AGAIN!! ... to NBC!! It didn't seem to matter when Bill was "getting his" under the desk, courtesy of Monica!
But of course .... since the Liberals don't make any claims about family values, it's right too assume they HAVE NO values ... and strangely, everyone's "OK" with that.
mclantiere
and newt could have knocked
Submitted by TruthMonger on Tue, 11/08/2011 - 12:42pm.
and newt could have knocked that one out of the park - bummer...
Congratulations Jimmy Carter!
The media, as we know it, is
Submitted by jessieH on Mon, 11/07/2011 - 11:07am.
The media, as we know it, is a dying dinosaur. They will all be obsolete, soon. Their treachery will not be forgotten.
Yes, Cain was unjustly ambushed
Submitted by Ashrak on Mon, 11/07/2011 - 11:13am.
and yes Newt is right about that.
However, Newt is playing Big Government when he plays the game regarding people looking to government solving housing and jobs troubles.
Rather than oppose that foolishness, Newt tries to be the winner of that game. On that level, he is just like the rest of the political elite in Establishment Washington D.C.
The Establishment GOP has "allowed" a cross section of conservativeness to run with good points coming from each declared candidate. This is a way to get folks under the big tent, but then they ram the Romneys of the world down our throats with East Coast progressivism in the voting "order" and we end up with John McCains. Progressives.
It is the old bait and switch. Add to it that "fear" card that if we don;t hold our noses and vote for that chosen progressive, it will be "worse" because Perot 2 or Obama reelection will take place. Well guess what, if the GOP is willing to impose a progressive upon conservatives, then this country DESERVES
Barry for another term and everything that happens as a result.
See, cuz just like Barry didn't do all that many things differently than a certain "Compassionate Conservative" did, Romney, or Newt or even Cain, won't do things very differently than Barry.
We The People are being played, again, by ALL the party, the Establishment, candidates and their parroting drones (many of whom reside in the Old Media).
The only way to remove the entrenched is to withhold our votes from them. For only via votes can they be elected. We hold the key and we bow to threats and unlock the corruption election cycle after election cycle based on the same old talking points.
It is time to leave the corruption locked up this time around. It is time to refuse to vote for those the Establishment chose FOR us. We must turn away on each and every one of them by denying them our votes.
liars, hypocrites
Submitted by ohio granny on Mon, 11/07/2011 - 11:13am.
Liars, hypocrites. Just another arm of the democrat party. All anyone needs to remember when listening to or reading any so-called MSM is there is no low to low for them to sink when covering for the racist, lying democrats. Pond scum all.
Yes, Cain was unjustly ambushed
Submitted by Ashrak on Mon, 11/07/2011 - 11:17am.
and yes Newt is right about that.
However, Newt is playing Big Government when he plays the game regarding people looking to government solving housing and jobs troubles.
Rather than oppose that foolishness, Newt tries to be the winner of that game. On that level, he is just like the rest of the political elite in Establishment Washington D.C.
The Establishment GOP has "allowed" a cross section of conservativeness to run with good points coming from each declared candidate. This is a way to get folks under the big tent, but then they ram the Romneys of the world down our throats with East Coast progressivism in the voting "order" and we end up with John McCains. Progressives.
It is the old bait and switch. Add to it that "fear" card that if we don;t hold our noses and vote for that chosen progressive, it will be "worse" because Perot 2 or Obama reelection will take place. Well guess what, if the GOP is willing to impose a progressive upon conservatives, then this country DESERVES
Barry for another term and everything that happens as a result.
See, cuz just like Barry didn't do all that many things differently than a certain "Compassionate Conservative" did, Romney, or Newt or even Cain, won't do things very differently than Barry.
We The People are being played, again, by ALL the party, the Establishment, candidates and their parroting drones (many of whom reside in the Old Media).
The only way to remove the entrenched is to withhold our votes from them. For only via votes can they be elected. We hold the key and we bow to threats and unlock the corruption election cycle after election cycle based on the same old talking points.
It is time to leave the corruption locked up this time around. It is time to refuse to vote for those the Establishment chose FOR us. We must turn away on each and every one of them by denying them our votes.
While I like the way Newt is spanking the MSM...
Submitted by Tidy Bowl Man on Mon, 11/07/2011 - 2:25pm.
He tends to really like currying their favor when he's not campaigning...
Curry interview with Gingrich
Submitted by Monica2 on Mon, 11/07/2011 - 3:34pm.
If the purpose of the interview was to showcase Mr. Gingrich as a candidate, why in the world did she focus on Mr. Cain? Ms. Curry is proof that a higher education does not produce logical thinkers, as she is incapable of it.
Curry interview with Gingrich
Submitted by Monica2 on Mon, 11/07/2011 - 3:34pm.
If the purpose of the interview was to showcase Mr. Gingrich as a candidate, why in the world did she focus on Mr. Cain? Ms. Curry is proof that a higher education does not produce logical thinkers, as she is incapable of it.
Just taking care of her man
Submitted by greydawg on Mon, 11/07/2011 - 3:40pm.
Don't blame Curry for trying to torpedo Cain. She's just doing what she can to praise her god, The Mighty O.
Curry is slut. We should
Submitted by buddyc on Mon, 11/07/2011 - 4:04pm.
Curry is slut.
We should contribute to a pool or money to investigate, document and expose her perverted sex life.
Newt should have been prepared to say to her what her record was on Weiner, Edwards and Clinton and ask her why Cain is now important but Weiner, Edwards and Clinton were not?
buddyc,
Submitted by motherbelt on Mon, 11/07/2011 - 4:16pm.
Personal insults of that nature are not the preferred method of argument here.
Did you really have to say what you did before you got to your accusation of Curry's double standards?
I'm not replying directly, to give you the option to edit your comment.
buddyc's comment (the first part of it)..
Submitted by greggy on Mon, 11/07/2011 - 10:17pm.
was deplorable, and should be deleted. That's no better than Ed Schultz, and I wouldn't be surprised if he was a troll, trying to make us look bad.
Reprehensible comment.
I've seen only a handful of people
Submitted by kata on Mon, 11/07/2011 - 4:29pm.
able to actually accomplish shutting down a line of questioning with a reporter. And for some reason, it never seems to be an elected official. He herded her into a corner and left her there. This kind of verbal akido needs to be taught to every conservative that goes onto the MSM shows.
my first money went to Bachmann...then a few Rhodesian
Submitted by Paarl on Mon, 11/07/2011 - 6:31pm.
dollars to Perry...thena krugerrand or 2 to Cain...I am now sending my rands, shekels ,dollars rubles
and swissies to Newt.....this guy has forgotten more than most people know about our country and the importance of leadership....I remember having read or heard criticism from Dick Armey about Newts leadership in the house after the glorious 1994 victory...Knowing Newt I think he has educated himself to his own leadership weaknesses and has taken steps to correct the issues....
I want someone who can stand toe to toe with Obama and slug him with facts knowledge accomplishment and outlook..
NEWT is the one...Romney for Treasury Secretary...
Paarl of Rhodesia (of Blessed memory )
Ann Curry - reporting for DNC..oops, NBC
Submitted by greggy on Mon, 11/07/2011 - 7:24pm.
"But are you saying that questions about the character of a presidential candidate don't matter?"
Talk about putting words in someone's mouth - he never said that.
On the other hand, that's EXACTLY what Curry and her media fellow travelers were saying, when Bill Clinton was in trouble. My memory isn't short enough to have forgotten:
"That's his private life".
When we learned that Bill Clinton was using the West Wing, indeed his office off of the Oral, I mean, Oval Office, to conduct sexual assignations with who knows how many women, we were told "That's his private life".
When we learned that Clinton kept Arafat waiting in the Rose Garden so could get a BJ in the West Wing (business and official quarters), we were told that was his private life.
When Clinton was doing strange things with cigars to a subordinate in his West Wing office, we were told that it was his private life.
When Kathleen Willey credibly claimed to have been sexually harrassed, we were told that it was his private life, and that it was "time to move on".
When Juanita Broaddrick credibly claimed that Bill Clinton had raped her, provided many specifics, and submitted to an NBC investigation that confirmed every detail she had provided, we were told that it was a long time ago, that it was his private life, and that it was "time to move on".
When we learned that Bill Clinton had used his connections with Vernon Jordan etc.to get Monica Lewinsky a job at Revlon to help keep her quiet about the "jobs" she had given him, we were told it was his personal life.
"But are you saying that questions about the character of a presidential candidate don't matter?"
No Ann, Newt didn't say that.
But you and your colleagues in the mainstream press were very much saying it didn't matter, when Clinton was President.
Gee - I wonder if the difference has something to do with Cain's being a Republican. Ya think?
CURRY: Your point is
Submitted by krendler on Mon, 11/07/2011 - 9:20pm.
CURRY: Your point is well-taken. However, it's not just the media that's asking these questions. Haley Barbour, the Mississippi Governor, as well as Jon Huntsman, a candidate, are also saying – they said this past Sunday, that Herman Cain must step up and be more up front in answering these questions.
You mean IN RESPONSE TO THE QUESTION BEING RAISED BY YOUR NBC COLLEAGUE, DAVID GREGORY, ANN????
Nice try, B--I--T--C--H
Cain is on Kimmel tonight..
Submitted by greggy on Mon, 11/07/2011 - 11:18pm.
not especially great timing.