Moments after President Obama’s remarks in the Rose Garden this morning, NBC anchor Brian Williams took a weird shot at the blogosphere as the “comic element of our society,” suggesting perhaps that Obama or the Nobel committee would face three days of mockery over what Williams in the same broadcast himself termed the “bizarre” selection of Obama as this year’s Peace Prize Winner.
In his typically overblown and convoluted fashion, Williams argued to White House reporter Chuck Todd that “the way our society and civilization is set up now,” the “comic element of our society -- the blogosphere, pundits, the opinion-based economy in the United States” would “just get a free shot and have at it for the next three days at least.” [MP3 audio available here]
For his part, Todd wanted no part of Williams premise, immediately pivoting to talk about the irony of Obama winning the peace prize on a day when he would meet with his “war council” about Afghanistan.
Here’s the exchange as it took place at about 11:23 ET during NBC’s live break-in to cover Obama’s award:
BRIAN WILLIAMS: And Chuck Todd remains at the White House. Chuck, the way our society and civilization is set up now, it's almost as if -- we're heading into a weekend now -- the comic element of our society -- the blogosphere, pundits, the opinion-based economy in the United States -- will now just get a free shot and have at it for the next three days at least.
CHUCK TODD: They will, but you know one other point that the President himself touched on that we ought to point out is the fact that the reality of his job really sets in today when he has yet another meeting of his war council to talk about Afghanistan....
—Rich Noyes is Research Director at the Media Research Center.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Gushing Good
October 9, 2009 - 11:15 ET by Jerry MackAccording to BW if you can not "gush good" about the Messiah, do not say anything.
Chuck Todd? As my mom used
October 9, 2009 - 11:16 ET by samhermanmdChuck Todd? As my mom used to say, "...you do and you will clean it up!"
Well, Brian Williams is a
October 9, 2009 - 11:16 ET by motherbeltWell, Brian Williams is a joke, so I guess he's an expert on comedy.
It won't be long...
October 9, 2009 - 11:18 ET by tim413The MSM is definitely headed in the direction of becoming "the comic element of our society."
Stop federal judges from foisting their notions of "fairness" on the States. Amend the 14th Amendment! - tim413
Arrogant Anchors
October 9, 2009 - 11:24 ET by AbraxosFrankly, I value the thoughts and observations of blogosphere "comics" far more than any network news reader. Brian just can't get over the fact that he and his elite circle of anchors are now irrelevant.
Stating the obvious...that
October 9, 2009 - 11:25 ET by gueinStating the obvious...that this was uttered on NBC is classic "the pot calling the kettle black".
Silly Americans! Your opinions are clownish!
October 9, 2009 - 11:26 ET by CobraManSo, the expressed opinions of ordinary Americans, as publicly displayed in blogs, tweets, and the like, is nothing more than a "comic element?" The unsolicited opinions of ordinary people is mere comedy? We, non-journalistic citizens are nothing more than clowns, hilariously pounding away at our keyboards in a futile attempt to appear relevant? Is that what you REALLY think, Brian?
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
No, no, no, no, Cobra!
October 9, 2009 - 11:28 ET by BlondeYou are agressively misunderstanding Brian the Idiot's remark. It was a harmless and well-intentioned remark, the problem is with you, who heard it improperly.
I hope he fails, too.
Cobraman
October 9, 2009 - 15:09 ET by NorthCoaster"I Guess We're All Bozos on This Bus"----We're in good company anyways.
H/T to Firesign Theatre
The joker calling the pot
October 9, 2009 - 11:29 ET by mattmThe joker calling the pot cracked.
Quick, tell Obama to call a press conference, Brian!
October 9, 2009 - 11:38 ET by CobraMan"will now just get a free shot and have at it for the next three days at least."
Quick, Brian, tell Obama to call a press conference, to interrupt previously scheduled weekend programing in a nationally televised speech, so that he can fire back at the clownish element before America awakes from it's three day slumber and returns to normality come Monday morning! God knows we don't want that clownish element time to warp the sensibilities of slumbering America over the weekend as they surf the web and be unduly influenced before you return to prime time to graciously inform us of the TRUE nature of this subject. Do we, Brian?
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
It is just jealousy
October 9, 2009 - 11:41 ET by richb313It is just jealousy. Sure there are plenty of nuts in the blogosphere where anyone with a keyboard can post his or her own silly world view. It exists and we all know it. What the remants of the MSM are upset about is that all of the blogosphere is not like that. The real investigative reporting is now on the web. The trick is to be able to tell the difference between the two. Most of us have enough experience surfing the web to be able to weed out the crackpots and I am sure the old MSM does too, even if they won't admit it.
The old MSM is just jealous that they have been caught not only slacking but making up stuff whole cloth on occasion and they are upset that they cannot use thier old bag of tricks anymore. It won't be long before the Major Networks remove news from thier broadcasts anyway because of the rapid desertion of viewers. They need those ad dollars more than they need a news division.
It's arrogance
October 9, 2009 - 11:59 ET by CobraManIt's more arrogance than jealousy. Brian believes that anyone who comments publicly on current affairs must have a journalist degree, or anchor a "major" news media outlet, in order for them to have credibility. If they don't fit his definition of credibility, they're merely the "clownish element" of pseudo-journalistic media.
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
Cobraman
October 9, 2009 - 15:13 ET by NorthCoasterI wonder if Brian knows how many founders were Political Science majors and how many pamphlet printers had Journalism degrees?
Cobra,
October 9, 2009 - 16:01 ET by UpNorththis is the same Brian Williams, who says in an ad for his nightly Obama/DNC telethon that, it's his "job to make sense" of the day's news and let us know what the sense is.
No, Brian, it's supposed to be your job to report the news as it is, and let your audience try to make sense of it. We don't need you to make sense for us, you can't do it, and you won't do it. Just stick to what your job is supposed to be. But then, if they did it that way, his lead in at 6:30 tonight would be, "After only eleven days on the job, someone thought it would be a great idea to nominate Barack Obama for a Nobel Peace Prize, even though he still couldn't find all the doors in the White House".
Latest blathering from the ill-informed and irrelevent....
October 9, 2009 - 11:49 ET by wnaegele...media cognosci.
It is jealousy and a
October 9, 2009 - 11:55 ET by TenebrousIt is jealousy and a delusional invincibility that lead him to down the Net. He has to know that people who are online much are exactly the demographic that his news show needs in order to survive -- and he thinks that he can turn us back into alphabet network viewers.
We'll all be cheering when NBC closes down its news division, while you'll be wandering around in a daze, Brian.
-----
Random-jumbled-thoughts.blogspot.com
NB is part of it
October 9, 2009 - 12:17 ET by StarAZI know they fear Newsbusters and don't think we are such a laff riot.
Well Brian, at least we can
October 9, 2009 - 12:24 ET by dscottWell Brian, at least we can be funny, you on the other hand along with the love of your life Obama are the laughing stock of the world.
Get a room! Watching you kiss Obama's hand and feet is just disgusting.
Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, starving the poor one gallon of ethanol at a time. Fill your tank with E85 and cull a village.
HeyBrian, How about these
October 9, 2009 - 13:46 ET by Antisocial-ismHeyBrian,
How about these comedic headlines for you.
JOKE PRESIDENT WINS JOKE AWARD!!
or
STOOGES REWARD FELLOW STOOGE!!
Brian Williams---Are you talking to me?
October 9, 2009 - 13:46 ET by RousseBrian Williams---Are you talking to me? Are you saying that my opinions and comments are not as important or worthy as yours? Are you saying that what I write is not reasoned, measured, or intelligent because of this medium?
I suppose newspapers took their shot at radio, and then radio and the print press criticized "television," but Brian, you need to step back and consider the magnitude of this new medium and re-think your attitude. Some might call your words "hate" speech, Brian. Ever heard of equal rights, Brian?
I don't know what your viewership numbers are, and I don't know what kind of readership comes to NewsBusters, but I do know this Brian---there is a strong stench of rot in your business, and it will kill off broadcast news if you continue to regard this blogging medium as something less worthy than your own.
Rousse... Amen! I'm with
October 9, 2009 - 13:51 ET by bigtimerRousse...
Amen! I'm with ya all the way...they are terrified of the blogosphere.
'Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea'~Breitbart
Excellent point on the
October 9, 2009 - 14:53 ET by dscottExcellent point on the broadcast medium, it's going extinct on the heels of the newspapers. Why should I pay for cable when I can watch the shows I want on the internet? Heck I can watch live streaming TV there to. Here is FNC on the web: http://wwitv.com/tv_... give it 15 seconds to load up.
So as this society is seeking to trim costs, Mr. Williams will go the way of the dodo bird because as the advertisers abandon him, so will the cable companies as well. No cable, no CNN, MSNBC, then no NBC in short order. BTW- if you really want to hurt Brian and his buddies, drop cable, the dish, etc.
Here you go, suffocate the MSM by deselecting them.
http://wwitv.com/tel...
http://wwitv.com/tel...
If you buy a new flat screen tv, make sure it has a "PC connection (VGA 15 pin)" (most new units do) in addition to the RCA connections and Coax cable. You can then use your new flat screen as a monitor for your PC, connect to internet and viola! You can do the same from your lap top, just get a cable.
Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, starving the poor one gallon of ethanol at a time. Fill your tank with E85 and cull a village.
dscott, I bought a big
October 9, 2009 - 14:57 ET by bassndudedscott, I bought a big screen, HD tv and use it for the tv and computer. Most of the time I use it to play games. Much better than that 17 inch thing. And.....I can do it from my recliner....ta da!
Save a SeAL, club a liberal!!
Oh my gosh, bassndude. I
October 9, 2009 - 15:01 ET by QueenMumOh my gosh, bassndude. I would never have guessed you were actually my husband posting here under an assumed name. LOL Just for the record, do you have a handy storage space in the arm of your reclinder to store/hide snacks?
Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys.
- P.J. O'Rourke
No QueenMum. I have a wife
October 9, 2009 - 15:09 ET by bassndudeNo QueenMum. I have a wife that brings them to me on a silver platter....:-) And don't you dare tell her I said that. I will deny, deny, deny!!
Save a SeAL, club a liberal/troll!!
Oops, I think I made a tactical error
October 9, 2009 - 15:28 ET by BlondeThinking this was a great solution to NO GATOR GAMES in Costa Rica, I sent a link to my better half....will this work with our new plasma in CR?
So he read your post, and is busily looking at the plasma monster in the living room (thanks bass for your suggestion, too....about the recliner). I was like "no, for when we live in Costa Rica".
To which the reply was, "I can play my GAME on it now" (Fallout III).
Like I said, Oops.
I hope he fails, too.
Oops Blonde....sorry, but
October 9, 2009 - 15:36 ET by bassndudeOops Blonde....sorry, but on the up side of that, you can split the screen into 4 equal parts, and watch House, Stargate Universe, Home and Garden and play Fallout, all at the same time. You do face information overload sometimes, watch out for that. Cure is a 6 pack of beer and/or stiff shot of burbon. Works everytime.
Save a SeAL, club a liberal/troll!!
The bad oops
October 9, 2009 - 15:41 ET by Blonde...is the recliner. I HATE recliners. Fortunately, I think he read this before you chimed in with your snacks on a silver platter comment. Because I know where that would have led....it's bad enough he wants the beers opened before I hand them to him!!!!
I hope he fails, too.
Hey Blonde...you know we
October 9, 2009 - 15:46 ET by bassndudeHey Blonde...you know we guys dont have finger nails for the pull tabs....the beers have to be open when we get them...else we might have to quit biting our nails...:-)
Save a SeAL, club a liberal/troll!!
I'm such a fool!
October 9, 2009 - 15:50 ET by BlondeI believed him when he said they taste better when I open them.
Thanks for clearing that up. :)
I hope he fails, too.
One person's oops is my
October 10, 2009 - 08:41 ET by dscottOne person's oops is my Muhuhahaha.
By the way if you want to watch any programs for other countries, even CR channels, here: http://wwitv.com/por...
Deselect the MSM, stop watching cable and ignore them to oblivion!
Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, starving the poor one gallon of ethanol at a time. Fill your tank with E85 and cull a village.
If Obama gets to have this
October 9, 2009 - 14:06 ET by athoughtor2If Obama gets to have this joke of an award for the rest of his life. 3 days of jokes is the least we can get.
Blogosphere is comedic element?
October 9, 2009 - 14:52 ET by jefflebowskiFunny, we bloggers believe the same of the MSM. However, our numbers are skyrocketing while the MSM's are tanking. Also, don't forget who is breaking the stories these days and doing real journalism! The Old Media is dead. Long live the blogosphere!
Angry White Dude
http://angrywhitedud...
The MSM and Brian Williams
October 9, 2009 - 15:06 ET by NorthCoasterThe answer to:
"What is a joke in todays journalism?"
Williams.. the comic element?
October 9, 2009 - 15:08 ET by Gary HallIndeed. Chris Matthews, Schuster, Olbermann, Maddow, Schultz, Dylan Ratigan, Lauer, etc., are all out there being comical..
(;`/ gary
Thank God Brian Williams
October 9, 2009 - 16:35 ET by Roger the ShrubberThank God Brian Williams doesn't do something stupid like blog.