NBC: Proposed 'Explosive' Jeremiah Wright Ad Would Put 'Race Front and Center'
On Thursday's NBC Nightly News, anchor Brian Williams decried a pitch to use President Obama's former radical left-wing pastor Jeremiah Wright in a campaign ad: "...there was an explosive headline this morning. The New York Times reporting that a Republican super-PAC was considering an expensive anti-Obama ad campaign that would have put the issue of race front and center in the campaign..."
Williams conveniently skipped over Wright's vicious anti-American rhetoric in several sermons, preferring to cast the story in racial terms. The only sound bite featured of Wright in the segment was brief and again described in racial terms, as correspondent Peter Alexander explained: "...the plan for a short film to publicize Wright's racially incendiary sermons, including this remark following 9/11." The sound bite that followed showed Wright ranting: "America's chickens are coming home to roost."
Alexander began his report by hyping the suggested ad as some sort of scandal for Republicans: "Mitt Romney tried to distance himself from a conservative super-PAC's proposal for a explosive $10 million ad campaign..."
Williams and Alexander also used the story to go after campaign finance. Williams warned: "...it's the latest evidence of the potential power of big money this year in politics." Alexander similarly declared: "On a day the Romney campaign wanted the focus to be on its raising more than $40 million last month, a reignited debate over how super-PACs can both help and hurt a campaign."
A sound bite was featured from Darrell West of the liberal leaning Brookings Institution: "Voters do not distinguish between ads coming from the campaign versus the super-PACs, so candidates run the risk of being held accountable for bad things that these super-PACs do."
On FNC's Special Report on Thursday, columnist Charles Krauthammer condemned the media's "appalling double standard" on the issue, given that it was "okay for the Washington Post to run a five thousand word front page story on a prank that Romney, at the age of 15, committed." A story which NBC and others happily promoted.
ABC's World News and the CBS Evening News made no mention of the Reverend Wright ad suggestion on Thursday, only Nightly News felt it warranted coverage.
Here is a full transcript of Alexander's May 17 report:
7:05PM ET
BRIAN WILLIAMS: In presidential politics, there was an explosive headline this morning. The New York Times reporting that a Republican super-PAC was considering an expensive anti-Obama ad campaign that would have put the issue of race front and center in the campaign and linked the President to some of the more controversial statements by his former pastor, Jeremiah Wright. Tonight, Republicans, including Mitt Romney, are trying to distance themselves from that strategy. But as NBC's Peter Alexander reports, it's the latest evidence of the potential power of big money this year in politics.
PETER ALEXANDER: Campaigning today in Florida, Mitt Romney tried to distance himself from a conservative super-PAC's proposal for a explosive $10 million ad campaign designed to renew attention on President Obama's ties to his controversial former pastor, Reverend Jeremiah Wright.
MITT ROMNEY: I want to make it very clear I repudiate that effort. I think it's the wrong course for a PAC or a campaign. I hope that our campaigns can respectively be about the future.
ALEXANDER: A leaked copy of the 54-page proposal, titled "The Defeat of Barack Hussein Obama," first reported in today's New York Times, was presented this week to the super-PAC funded by billionaire Joe Ricketts, whose family owns the Chicago Cubs. The proposal refers to President Obama as "the metrosexual black Abraham Lincoln" and reveals detailed storyboards that lay out the plan for a short film to publicize Wright's racially incendiary sermons, including this remark following 9/11.
JEREMIAH WRIGHT: America's chickens are coming home to roost.
ALEXANDER: In a statement to NBC News today, the super-PAC insists the ads won't air, adding the proposed campaign, "Reflects an approach to politics that Mr. Ricketts rejects and it was never a plan to be accepted." Still, on a day the Romney campaign wanted the focus to be on its raising more than $40 million last month, a reignited debate over how super-PACs can both help and hurt a campaign.
DARRELL WEST: Voters do not distinguish between ads coming from the campaign versus the super-PACs, so candidates run the risk of being held accountable for bad things that these super-PACs do.
ALEXANDER: Romney today tried to cast himself as the one taking the moral high ground, characterizing his new ad out tomorrow as positive and criticizing the Obama campaign for what he called "character assassination." Peter Alexander, NBC News, Washington.
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Comments
NBC is on-message and on-time
Submitted by Galvanic on Fri, 05/18/2012 - 11:40am.
As the commercial mouthpiece of the Obama Administration, NBC has thrown down the pre-emptive Race Card and made it look like it's Romney who played it.
DARRELL WEST: Voters do not distinguish between ads coming from the campaign versus the super-PACs, so candidates run the risk of being held accountable for bad things that these super-PACs do.
Actually, only Republican candidates run that risk, Darrell. Democratic candidates are rarely held accountable for anything that anybody on their side says, even members of their own party.
So, when Rush Limbaugh makes a unwarranted crack about a female law student, Romney is called on to explain why the GOP is conducting a War on Women.
But when Democratic Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren is exposed for fabricating her native American lineage for decades, no one asks a single Democrat why the DP is tolerating diversity fraud. They're not even called upon to demand she apologize for it.
Romney is a coward, obama has
Submitted by LAM SON 719 on Fri, 05/18/2012 - 11:30am.
Romney is a coward, obama has beat him again stand by for a repeat of '08 as another RINO goes down in flames.
Don't Shoot a Fly with an Elephant Gun
Submitted by libBuster on Fri, 05/18/2012 - 11:34am.
Right now, Romney need not fight this kind of engagement. Obama is perceived as taking the low road, and Romney leads in most polls. The prudent thing is to stand back a let Obama and buffoons like Williams continue to inadvertently make the case for Romney.
Romney is no where nearly as incompetent as John Maverick McCain. We are talking light years of difference here.
THIS, my friends is the next
Submitted by texastommy on Fri, 05/18/2012 - 11:40am.
THIS, my friends, is the next distraction.
Bets on what the next one will be?
As far as I have been able to
Submitted by killa37 on Fri, 05/18/2012 - 11:46am.
As far as I have been able to tell, 'race' has either been front and center, or hanging around the stage, since the last Presidential election cycle................perpetuated not only by the Obama REGIME, but also by the StateRun Media. Ahhhhh........but they have a problem if some conservative or Republican happens to use it against them.
Wright Ad
Submitted by mdgiles on Fri, 05/18/2012 - 11:54am.
Romney has done the smart thing. He has distanced himself from the ad - knowing full well, it will be public soon enough. This gives him the opportunity to tsk, tsk in public and sympathize with Obozo while the ad does what damage it can. I like it!
Wasn't it Rev Wright who put race front and center? . . in 2008
Submitted by Gary Hall on Fri, 05/18/2012 - 12:06pm.
First: Mr. Rickets, founder of the PAC, had already rejected this approach which was submitted to the PAC by Fred Davis, a Hollywood-based consultant. Why in the world is this a story?
Hang on a second. Did not just before the NYTimes broke this story, via the release of Ed Klein's blockbuster tell all,"The Amateur," in junction with the 3 hour interview awarded Mr. Klein by the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, put something far more pertinent to the moral qualities of our sitting President, Obama, on the table?
Seeing how the Super PAC story here, is a non-story, is it perhaps possible that the entire effort here is being run either out of the White House, or, on behalf of the WH, simply to preempt - to overshadow - what Rev. Wright disclosed? That being that candidate Obama, in 2008, secured a private meeting with Wright in order to convince him to keep his mouth shut until after the November election. That being followed by Wright's charges that a close confident of Obama contacted on of his congregation members, offering a bribe of $150,000 to convince Wright to clamp it? Wright also lays out the case that Obama isn't so concerned about that little thing called, "truth."
In 48 hours time, the national media has so impressed (or, at least sought to) the broad public with the distasteful approach of Republicans to drag up so called old wounds (really hardly covered the first time around) that even if some national media outlet might decide (and they won't) to bring to the public both the charges (Clinton stating that Obama is an amateur and an incompetent President) laid out in Ed Klein's book, and/or the charges by Wright, that folks will instantly be turned off by any such news, as only being right-wing propaganda?
The MSM has, once again, soiled the playing field.
Interestingly, in all of this broad coverage on the Super PAC, the MSM is not even finding room to bury the recent charges by Rev. Wright. They've been completely spiked - censored.
Secondly: It was Rev Wright who firmly put "race" in the Obama camp - back in 2008 - and that "race card," was levied out against Democrats - not Republicans:
The transcript, please:
Rev. Wright: Hillary is married to Bill and Bill have been good to us ["us" would be the black community] ? No, he ain't! Bill did us just like he did Monica Lewinsky! (video shows Wright pumping his pelvic back and forth -- darn clear as to what he is suggesting)
Congregation: (cheers)
Rev. Wright: He was riding dirty!
The video please, here.
(;~/ gary
Like the media, liberals and
Submitted by John21 on Fri, 05/18/2012 - 12:26pm.
Like the media, liberals and the Obama administration doesn't already have it from and center?
Well, the ad certainly will put race front and center
Submitted by CO2Maker on Fri, 05/18/2012 - 1:21pm.
If race wasn't already front and center.
For the last three and a half years, it's been a staple of the MSM and cabal news reporting and punditifying that any opposition to Obama's policies is based on white racial animus against Obama.
The super-PAC ad might place the focus on race, but race has always been there, thanks to the MSM, and it's the bright glaring interrogator's light shined in the face of any conservative politician.
Front and Center, as seen on NBC.
Submitted by CobraMan on Fri, 05/18/2012 - 3:23pm.
Yes, it would have put it "front and center," as you are doing all you can to make it happen even though the "ad" isn't even going to run. The "ad" doesn't even exist! It's hypothetical, at best! But that doesn't stop you from bring up the racial angle every chance you get, does it?
By the way, Brian, It's interesting that you chose the word "explosive" to describe something that doesn't exist, isn't it? It's kind of like describing your non-existent journalistic integrity as "impressive."
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.
Conveniently skipped over Rev. Wright's rhetoric?
Submitted by Jer on Fri, 05/18/2012 - 3:46pm.
Good grief. Is there anyone left in the entire nation who hasn't heard Wright's "GOD DAY-EM, AMERICA!!!" fulminations? The thundering rants have been viral on the internet and the blogosphere for years. The widely-covered controversy was the Central Crisis of Obama's campaign four years ago. But, what the heck, let's dredge it up again. If Republicans want to lose an election they have a good chance of winning, keep it up.
In the meantime, I notice NewsBusters skipped over the opening headlined story on NBC's Nightly News which was a lengthy report on the Zimmerman case that was so favorable to the defendant I thought the reporting correspondent may have been reading directly from the defense counsel's trial strategy memo.
Jer
"The thundering rants have
Submitted by NC Cop on Fri, 05/18/2012 - 4:22pm.
"The thundering rants have been viral on the internet and the blogosphere for years."
Interesting. I noticed you left out the network news, newspapers and magazines in your comment. Hmmmm.....
"I notice NewsBusters skipped over the opening headlined story on NBC's Nightly News which was a lengthy report on the Zimmerman case that was so favorable to the defendant I thought the reporting correspondent may have been reading directly from the defense counsel's trial strategy memo."
Yeah, it kind of sucks when all the evidence coming out now is giving a much more pro-Zimmerman look, when your network has been trying to stir up a race war to the best of it's abilities. Hate it when that happens.
Please cut out the "your" network bullshit, NC..
Submitted by Jer on Fri, 05/18/2012 - 4:37pm.
I torched NBC's Zimmerman/Martin reporting--especially the edited tape debacle. Just noting that the lead story last night was very pro-Zimmerman. Maybe it was a make-up call. Hopefully, there will be more.
As far as Obama's ex-pastor, are you suggesting those various news organs mentioned should air a weekly oldie but goldie "Best of Reverend Wright" segment?
Jer
In for a penny, Jer, in for a pound; but once again ---
Submitted by matthewdean on Fri, 05/18/2012 - 8:42pm.
you reserve the right to make the call on what you emphasize - without regard to how it may appear to those of us who disagree with your emphasis.
If you tend to side with polecats who inhabit the left side of the spectrum ---your protestations are most weak when used to support your occasional foray into calling a spade a spade; regardless of your fit of sanctimonious reproach aimed at NC Cop.
MD
No need to curse, Jer.
Submitted by NC Cop on Fri, 05/18/2012 - 8:59pm.
I didn't mean it as YOUR NBC. I meant it as in NBC itself, as if I was speaking to them, not you. I should have been clearer on that point, I apologize.
I do hope you're right about NBC, but I wouldn't bet on it. After all, this is the same network that edited the tape to begin with.
As far as Wright is concerned I was suggesting those news organs tried their best to ignore the Wright story (in much the same way the National Enquirer had to break the Edwards affair), but once Fox News started playing it, the rest of the networks had to follow suit.
Editing suggestion
Submitted by bradc on Fri, 05/18/2012 - 4:08pm.
The beginning of your second paragraph talks of "Wright's viscous anti-American rhetoric."
You don't want "viscous" (pronounced vis-kus) which refers to the thickness of a liquid. You want "vicious."
bradc ---
Submitted by matthewdean on Fri, 05/18/2012 - 8:45pm.
K. Drennen may have meant viscous as a measure of the thickness of the bs being spread by libs.
That'll work. :o)
MD
Too late. The limp wrists of
Submitted by RR GOP on Fri, 05/18/2012 - 11:58pm.
Too late. The limp wrists of the Republican Party should have done this four years ago...among other things.
Ah well. If nothing else, Romney can reminisce at parties and glory in being the RINO candidate once upon a time along with Bob Dole and John McCain.
"Under Capitalism, man exploits man. Under Communism it's just the opposite."
"All that Communism needs to make it successful is for someone to feed and clothe it."
Race War and the P.C. Media
Submitted by berlet98 on Sat, 05/19/2012 - 5:52pm.
Race War and the P.C. Media
DrudgeReport.com’s Friday headline, “Race Related Hate Crimes Up, Coincide with Obama Presidency”, seemed to confirm what most people who follow the news already knew, that since the election of Barack Hussein Obama, incidents of blacks attacking whites had increased wildly, maybe exponentially.
Not so.
First of all, it’s difficult to determine numbers since the MSM rarely notes the race of the alleged criminals, a description that could aid in their apprehension. Secondly, much of the media don’t bother to report black racist crimes at all.
In any event, the linked article from ABCNews referred to the reaction of “white supremacist groups” to Obama’s presidency, not to the proliferation of black violence.
Indeed, ABC never saw fit to mention that proliferation, instead focusing exclusively on the increase in the number of white militias–from 150 to 1,274 over three years–who are incensed over “changes in demographics” and resort to violence, while never citing a single instance of that violence. (http://abcn.ws/LjAC3H)
Correction: “what most people who follow the news already knew” should read, “what most people are oblivious of” since the mainstream media, often with the complicity of law enforcement, has long been engaged in a concerted effort to conceal the extent of black hate crimes.
There are various reasons for the MSM’s failure to fulfill their fundamental journalistic responsibilities to the public of reporting news objectively and honestly.
Some in the media claim they are striving to avoid stirring up dissension, although they had no problem distorting facts related to the George Zimmerman-Trayvon Martin case and causing nationwide upheavals with their proven misrepresentations.
Others claim black on white crime isn’t inspired by hatred of Caucasians but by poverty and discrimination which, in turn, somehow inspires blacks to attack whites in droves even though worse poverty and discrimination existed years ago and didn’t effect the mayhem we see today.
What most of the lamestreamers won’t admit is that they tailor much of the news to benefit Democrats and, especially, Barack Obama.
Featuring story after story involving black people assaulting, robbing, maiming, and murdering white people might awaken Americans to the reality that there is a one-sided race war in progress in America which could negatively impact Obama’s re-election chances.
Of course, First Lady Michelle Obama is on record as saying that every negative critique of her husband must incorporate a racist component, an odd opinion in light of Obama’s proclamation of a “post-racial America”, and an opinion that puts a damper on any implied criticism and automatically labels the critic a racist.
Lady O’s tactic is a variation on the theory that a great offense trumps any defense.
Noted African-American economist/philosopher/professor/prolific author Thomas Sowell is a keen observer of social trends in the United States. He is also fully cognizant of our race war and often goes on the offensive to illustrate the perils of that ongoing conflict. . .
(Read more at http://www.genelalor.com/blog1/?p=24164.)