Jaws dropped among NBC viewers just after President Bush's gracious White House speech today in the 10am hour of Today welcoming President-Elect Obama. NBC political analyst Chuck Todd accused Bush of looking like he "wanted to bask in the reflected glory of the history that was made...just like John McCain did last night." Todd also said it was striking since Bush was "the man who's probably more responsible for not just Obama's election but John McCain's defeat than anybody else." Todd also insisted Bush was "responsible" for all the GOP congressional losses. [audio available here]
Is this how NBC wants to greet two Republicans energetically offering gracious concessions? Trashing them for "basking" in Obama's glory? Here's a fuller transcript:
LAUER: Very gracious comments from the president during extremely difficult times for him this morning.
TODD: Incredibly gracious. I mean, it was as if he wanted to bask in the reflected glory of the history that was made. Very -- just like John McCain did last night. And it is more striking coming from the man who's probably more responsible for not just Obama's election but John McCain's defeat than anybody else.
LAUER: Not only the presidential level, but some stunning changes in the House of Representatives and the Senate, as well.
TODD: And that man was responsible, and he's going to be blamed for the problems of the Republican Party for months and maybe years to come.
Clearly, Bush and McCain are more gracious in defeat that NBC and Chuck Todd are in victory.
—Tim Graham is Director of Media Analysis at the Media Research Center.
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I'm sure I'm waaaay off
November 5, 2008 - 11:44 ET by balboaI'm sure I'm waaaay off base, but it seemed Todd was saying Bush was enjoying and appreciating the achievement of Obama along with those Americans who voted for Obama, not bashing the whole scene. He said Bush was "incredibly gracious."
You're right Bal
November 5, 2008 - 12:22 ET by IamTinmanYou're right Bal, You're waaay off base.
It makes no sense that he
November 5, 2008 - 12:26 ET by balboaIt makes no sense that he said "incredibly gracious" and then go on to say Bush was taking advantage of the situation.
Of course, hard to really tell the tone without seeing the video first hand.
delete double
November 5, 2008 - 12:47 ET by motherbeltdelete double
Yes, Todd did say
November 5, 2008 - 12:46 ET by motherbeltYes, Todd did say "gracious" but he immediately qualified it by accusing the President of an ulterior and self-serving motive: wanting to "bask" in Obama's reflected glory. Why else would he say "it was almost as if...."
President Bush doesn't need anyone else's "reflected glory."
Can you imagine what Todd would have been saying had the President NOT congratulated Obama?????
My thought about Bush's speech. was that, after Obama had bashed him shamelessly for 18 months, President Bush went out and congratulated him, and said nice things about him.
And I immediately thought : What a class act.
Chuck Todd could learn a lot from President Bush.
If this is change, I'll eat my hat.
November 5, 2008 - 15:34 ET by kg"Forget change, I want improvement!"
"Very gracious...almost as
November 5, 2008 - 20:55 ET by balboa"Very gracious...almost as if..."
Bush was gracious, almost as if he wanted to join in on the good feelings generated from the election.
What good feelings??? An
November 5, 2008 - 21:00 ET by Clear thinkerWhat good feelings???
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The good feelings the
November 5, 2008 - 21:20 ET by balboaThe good feelings the majority of Americans had last night.
you're right bal
November 5, 2008 - 12:27 ET by candanceBlaming Bush for every shift in the Senate was not partisan at all.
Nice to see we're all coming together so quickly. Republicans suck, Obama will clean up Bush's mess. Got it.
Chuck Todd is a putz.
November 5, 2008 - 14:35 ET by sam12663Chuck Todd is a putz.
Why would any decent person
November 5, 2008 - 11:49 ET by bradbenj5952Why any decent person would want to get involved in today's political environment is beyond me. I'm just glad there are still a few who do. Perhaps this is why good people on the right are conspicuously absent from politics today. Look what these same low-lifes did to Sarah, Newt, Reagan, Bush, and many, many others.
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." Acts 16:31
"and (Bush) he's going to
November 5, 2008 - 11:49 ET by MillerTimeWarp"and (Bush) he's going to be blamed for the problems of the Republican Party for months and maybe years to come"
Does it matter ? The Savior will be in charge for years to come. I just look forward to all those awesome young voters wondering next spring why their tuition bills weren't paid by Obama, or those folks expecting their mortgages to be paid this February.
Have talked to a few co-workers that voted for Obama. They indicated that McCain was too old. When I asked "what does that mean - too old" They couldn't come up with an answer.
The whole country has this "American Idol" mentality. Canada is looking good. . . . . .
I would rather be a Conservative nut job, than a Liberal with no nuts and no job
What will the lady from the
November 5, 2008 - 11:53 ET by bradbenj5952What will the lady from the video yesterday say when she still has to pay for her own gas and mortgage? Will she wonder if the one has abandoned her?
Re: Canada...I'm wondering what other socialist country in the world is the least socialist today? America has been gradually moving in that direction for nigh 100 years now.
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." Acts 16:31
Bradbenj5952
November 5, 2008 - 11:59 ET by Mica the MagnificentI'm sure after months of forwarding her mortgage bill to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, she'll be convinced Halliburton had something to do with it.
Can't wait to hear what The View has to say today. I'm sure the ladies are exausted from all those orgasms they had last night
Those last two sentences
November 5, 2008 - 12:01 ET by taterThose last two sentences should never be uttered ;).
www.theholyrosary.org
"There is no problem, I tell you, no matter how difficult it is, that we can not resolve by the prayer of the Holy Rosary." -Sister Lucia
Eeeeewwww!
November 5, 2008 - 20:16 ET by RukusA "Spew Alert" would have been nice... at least for the four that DID! LOL! The one that didn't, well... I'm a stinker tonight!
"Nuke 'em 'til they... oh hell, just shoot 'em!"
It's Bush's Fault
November 5, 2008 - 11:56 ET by allanfI think "It's Bush's Fault" will be the lament in the press for years to come when President Obama experiences problems.
Unpatriotic and stingy
November 5, 2008 - 12:24 ET by AndanteRe:
"...I just look forward to all those awesome young voters wondering next spring why their tuition bills weren't paid by Obama, or those folks expecting their mortgages to be paid this February..."
What, you mean Zero lied and I did the right thing by working three jobs to put myself through school and paying off a mortgage I could actually afford in eight years? That's a relief.
Seriously, when Zero fails his base he'll simply blame those evil Republicans for being "unpatriotic" with their tax dollars and too "stingy" to "spread the wealth around" to those who didn't win "life's lottery".
-------------------------------------
"A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury."
Canada isn't that good
November 5, 2008 - 12:53 ET by dans0622I'm living in Canada and would advise against a quick move north. Things here are quite a bit farther down the road to cultural and societal oblivion than in the US. After a few years of Obama et. al. things might be more equal. But, as of right now, the grass is NOT greener on the northern side of the border.
Canada
November 5, 2008 - 20:30 ET by RukusDidn't you guys just elect Stephen Harper as Prime Minister? He's conservative, right? Is Canada's conservative different than ours? I'm just asking because I looked at his win as a good thing. I don't know a lot about the policies of Canada, but I would think a conservative Prime Minister would be a good thing. I'm just curious as an American conservative.
"Nuke 'em 'til they... oh hell, just shoot 'em!"
rukus
November 5, 2008 - 20:36 ET by candanceWhen people in Canada and Europe talk about conservatives, think Bill Clinton.
I'm a typical white person.
better than the alternatives
November 5, 2008 - 22:12 ET by dans0622Well, I'm from the US and have only lived in Canada for a little over a year and had nothing to do with the Conservatives' success. Anyway, as "candance" said, conservative here is not like conservative there. So, here there is the conservative party, then left of that is the liberal party, left of that is the NDP party, left of that is the green party, then there might be some fringe parties even farther left. Thus, "conservative" is certainly a relative term.
Mark Steyn knows all about the troubles of Canada and it's far-left tendencies. Taxes are high, courts are activist, free speech is not so free, abortion-on-demand with no public debate about it...Anyway, go to www.steynonline.com and check out what he says about the human rights commission.
NBC: adding insult to injury
November 5, 2008 - 11:51 ET by Mary Louise TurnerNBC is not just content with having "The One" win the election. It has to add insult to injury, as I feared would happen! (It makes you sick, doesn't it?) Does this nutwork have any soul? Oh, yeah, I forgot - NBC sold it to the devil decades ago.
The media successfully brainwashed millions of idiots into thinking it was all the Republicans' fault that the economy tanked. Of course, Democrats skated (see John Murtha). Fortunately, they didn't quite get what they really wanted: the pre-1994 days when Democrats held total control.
Basking?
November 5, 2008 - 11:54 ET by allanfI think George Bush wants to get out of town as quickly and quietly as possible.
What change?
November 5, 2008 - 11:56 ET by acumenI see BDS is still a winning ticket in the Obama state run media.
Prediction - Ten years from now these obamanoids will still be blaming Bush for their failures. Some change.
NBC
November 5, 2008 - 12:05 ET by merlin61Yes, NBC has BDS. George Bush and McCain
have more class than these people will ever have.
Both men gave very considerate and kind
statements and were not basking in anything to
take away from the Obama win. Will Obama
have half the class of either of these great men?
I doubt it. Neither George of John would
put their third finger up against their face in
answer to any question posed to them like
Obama did. First to Hillary then to John McCain.
Its history recorded what he did.
Do these news people
November 5, 2008 - 12:12 ET by ConservativeRexDo these news people think they are unidentifiable? They have to be out on the street at some point. A few are subject to have their teeth knocked out by some very upset people.
Bragging, gloating and such is not taken well by someone who has just lost.
Todd and others like him may want to just STHU for a while and let emotions settle down. But that's up to them I guess.
Chuck Todd and NBC
November 5, 2008 - 12:23 ET by GeneralAlDear Chuck,
Let me tell you a little story. We are not going to blame George Bush, we're going to blame YOU as rightly we should! You two faced lying imbeciles in the press did it! You brought down President Bush's number by constantly over emphasizing any mistake he made. You hated him from the start. Heres something else Chucky Poo! George Bush is one hundred time the man you and your liberal pals are! You will be held responsible for every mistake your party [Communist if you can't remember!] makes. In the meantime, as GW returns to Texas, he will have the last laugh as he watches you idiots stand there grabbing your ankles for the Messiah! Just don't sit there on your lazy liberal butt and speak your lies regarding whom we will blame! Even though you think you know us, you don't! That is your big problem. You never bother to ask us, you just assume. Remember, Ass u me!
My respect and adulation of
November 5, 2008 - 12:21 ET by oilcanMy respect and adulation of Chucky boy has waned into extinction. He's become more opinion driven in his pieces and guest appearances and his lefty bias is beginning to grow. Ever since his godfather Tim Russert passed away, Chucky has fallen under the influence of the MSNBC talking heads and is now becoming a mirror of those short sighted pundits.
Talk about hubris. It was
November 5, 2008 - 12:34 ET by rbosqueTalk about hubris. It was the Democrats who have been talking the economy down since he got into office and are the ones who started the sub-prime mess to begin with.
Nice way to get elected, by convincing enough morons it's all Bush's fault. Way to go media your sock puppet is in.
NOW THE HARD PART 4 OBAMA!
November 5, 2008 - 12:43 ET by reelman46OBAMA (Xerxes I): NOW THE HARD PART
Its
always the same with the secular socialists. They campaign on fantasy
phrases. They promise everything to everyone. They will make the nation
“fair”. They avoid reality. They avoid history. They avoid economic
laws. They will change the foreign dictator’s minds.
Then the socialist borg start passing laws…then they start having to
BE RESPONSIBLE for more than verbal intentions…now its outcomes!
Liberal outcomes have a very bad track record. Often they only make a
problem worse. The general trend is never to solve anything so you have
something to run on (promise) the voters next time. Pick an issue. Any
issue. In fact, look for Welfare Reform to be trashed so those 40% who
went to work in the late 1990s will be urged to get back on the
dole…back on the porch. Uncle Sugar will send you a nice check for your
vote.
Socialists love dependency. It creates votes than insure power down the road.
We have the history in Jimmah Carter (aka democrat for change). Look it
up. He and the democrat congress trashed the economy to a 1930 level.
Interest rates hit 22% while inflation hit 13%. Iran took our hostages.
He sat on his hands as the world watched us shamed. Look it up.
Voters can expect to hear a few key excuses for radicalization or
failure or heavier taxes…such as “we did not realize what a mess we
inherited” and “its gonna take more time and funding or understanding”.
The network media will do a ” one eighty” and be the biggest spinners
and fawners and excuse makers you have ever seen. Its gonna be happy
face time 24-7. Its gonna be “splain away time”. The TV libs will be
restless without the ability to trash a president. They will have to
find another strawman since the socialists will be running the country.
No problem, they will.
When the most successful start laying off workers to offset the new
punishing taxes (despite the USA having the 2nd highest corporate taxes
in the world) the spin will be to blame the “mean” businessman or
woman. The new taxes of Xerxes I will not be blamed.
When Wal-Mart is forced by the new Xerxes I union law to accept unions
and your shopping cost jumps $50-75 a month the spin will be “how
selfish” those evil corporations are but not a word about how the
economy actually works.
When gas gets back up to over $4 a gallon and the socialists refuse to
allow offshore drilling and punish the oil companies (that paid record
taxes in 2008) with new taxes the spin will be “Big Oil is so greedy”
and not a word about the realities of what it takes to get you tank
filled.
When “talk radio” challenges to socialism are muffled or forced off the
air…you will better understand the mind of the radical socialist.
When you hear the serial “apologies for your country” and “you are not
paying-doing enough-caring enough” litany…you will better understand
the mind of the radical socialist.
When you hear the gov-ment is “going to” dozens and dozens of times as
it invades your life…you will better understand the mind of the radical
socialist.
When you hear the socialist borg talk about “reforming Social Security”
or “Your IRA”…beware…you will better understand the mind of the radical
socialist.
When you stop hearing about “the debt” or “the overspending” or “the
pork” or “govt reform-efficiency-bloat-waste”…you will better
understand the mind of the radical socialist.
Whe you see your paycheck cut after the socialists let the current tax
cut expire…you will better understand the mind of the radical socialist.
When you see homosexual marriage and unrestricted abortion mandated by
laws…you will better understand the mind of the radical socialist.
When you see the courts packed with radical secular socialists and the
states with U. S. Attorneys concerned with radical issues…you will
better understand the mind of the radical socialist.
When you see 12 million illegals given amnesty and full social services
on your credit card…you will better understand the mind of the radical
socialist.
There is no reason to believe the liberals under Carter are any
different than the radical liberals under Xerxes I. If and only if the
Senate Repubs block nearly all of the bills they can by any means (like
democrats do if necessary) will the tide of expensive smothering
radical socialism be reduced. You think PETA is radical? The modern
democrats are the “political PETAS” that now get to run your country
and your life.
They will have no mercy.
Perhaps by 2010 you will have enough cultural and economic scourging
to cry out at the congressional polls. If not, expect a generation of
lingering damage. That is what happens whenever a country embraces the
secular socialist virus.
Read your history book…before its again rewritten to avoid truth. Secular socialism is not the answer.
Doug Schexnayder, Ph.D. (theconservativecrawfish)
Exactly Doc,
November 5, 2008 - 13:18 ET by IamTinmanRight now is not too soon to launch a conservative campaign to recover the House in 2010, and promote a conservative ticket for 2012.
Barack and the DNC have promised a future that they cannot deliver and a couple years of stagflation and massive unemployment will shake loose the folks that today have idolized BHOs phoney vision of hope and change.
We have excellent conservative candidates in Palin, Jindal, and Steele for the 2012 campaign, but we need to find exciting candidates for the house races and get behind them early.
Forget about help from the RNC or the current Senate republicans, they're too busy being collegiate or feathering their own nests, to worry about actually being the party of Lincoln. This is going to take a local bottom up effort, (Worked pretty well for Barack Obama didn't it?) but with some national coordination so resources can be focused where they can be best used.
Correct
November 5, 2008 - 12:47 ET by MCPO AirdaleTodd is correct about the losses being laid at the feet of Bush. the "basking" comment was just piling on.
Chuck Todd a washed up Idiot!
November 5, 2008 - 12:47 ET by sembyYou know back in the Clinton days they had the phase "it's the economy, stupid".
We now have a new battle cry...."it's the media, stupd"!
The media has lost all credibility, including but not limited to, NBC/MSNBC.
semby
November 5, 2008 - 21:23 ET by TN MomWe now have a new battle cry...."it's the media, stupid"!
I want this bumper sticker for my car, with a pic of a peacock belly-up!
Even in victory
November 5, 2008 - 16:34 ET by sawing battathe liberals show no class.
what a shame.
Chuck Todd
November 5, 2008 - 17:01 ET by eclaire"LAUER: Very gracious comments from the president during extremely difficult times for him this morning.
TODD: Incredibly gracious. I mean, it was as if he wanted to bask in the reflected glory of the history that was made. Very -- just like John McCain did last night. And it is more striking coming from the man who's probably more responsible for not just Obama's election but John McCain's defeat than anybody else.
LAUER: Not only the presidential level, but some stunning changes in the House of Representatives and the Senate, as well. "
Regretably, by Matt Lauer adding that line, he is agreeing with Todd blaming Bush for McCain's defeat "Not only the presidential level, but some stunning changes in the House of Representatives and the Senate, as well."
A pox on both their houses! It's the economy, stupid!
Chuck Todd
November 5, 2008 - 18:35 ET by eclaireIt is my hope when the Obama pedestal crumbles and everything starts coming down around him -- as I'm certain it will -- that the conservatives are much more respectful of the Office of The President than our disgraceful Democrat predecessors were to President Bush.
Chuck Todd your jumbo-sized
November 5, 2008 - 23:05 ET by TN MomChuck Todd your jumbo-sized glass of kool-aid is almost empty, maybe your NBC co-horts could refill it for ya? Don't worry, they have plenty to share.
Chucky needs a t-shirt that reads: I am a Reporter Supporter for obama!