Assembling a panel to discuss how the presidential contenders' marital histories may affect their candidacies, "Today" resorted to one of its favorite tricks this morning -- faux balance, in which a loyal Dem is which is matched with a renegade former Republican. Former Clinton press secretary Dee Dee Myers was paired with Bay Buchanan, who served as her brother Pat's campaign manager when he left the GOP and ran against George W. Bush as a third-party candidate in 2000.The strategy paid dividends from NBC's perspective, as two of the roughest shots at the Republicans were taken by Bay. Consider these two bombs Bay dropped.
Regarding Rudy: "If they [responding to a question about Rudy] will treat their wives this way, with such disregard, their children, allow this kind of marriage to collapse in a public way, the voters don't have a prayer of a chance. You can't believe a word the man says."
Regarding Newt: "His first marriage, divorce, is going to be very critical, he delivered the divorce papers to his wife who was in a hospital bed being diagnosed with breast cancer. I can't find a lot of women who are going to vote for a man who did something like that."
View video here.
That's odd. When Bill Clinton was lying to his family, to the country and while under oath about his extramarital activities, wasn't the official Dem/MSM line that "lying about sex doesn't count"? But suddenly, in MSM eyes, a man's marital peccadilloes call into his question his fitness to lead. Let's see, what's changed?
Aside: Bay did also speculate as to whether Bill Clinton could keep himself "clean" over the course of the campaign, and how new "bimbo eruptions" could hurt Hillary's chances. She pointed out that Dems have been thinking the same thing. We know that Chris Matthews has worried long and hard along those lines.
Contact Mark at mark@gunhill.net—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
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Mark--'spokesperson'?!Let's g
March 13, 2007 - 07:06 ET by ncstevemMark--'spokesperson'?!
Let's get the language correct--it's 'spokesman'. NB is one of the last places I'd expect PC terms.
I hear you, but "spoke
March 13, 2007 - 07:11 ET by Mark FinkelsteinI hear you, but "spokesman" just sounds odd to my ear in the context. I've changed to "press secretary."
Bimbos
March 13, 2007 - 07:07 ET by PawpawNI loved the part when she chimed in with Bill Clinton having to try and not getcaught with any more "BIMBOS" while Hill is trying to mount(nice use of word) her campaign. Seems the anchors didn't know what to do with that statemen so quckly went to another story looking dumbfounded! & who in the Repubs considers Buchanan a Repub anymore, and his wife ever one.
Out of Script
March 13, 2007 - 08:17 ET by allanfYes that was an "uncalled" for deviation from the script. Bay had best be careful or her solid "Republican" credentials will be held suspect by the bookers of the Today Show.
Pawpaw- I think Bay Buchana
March 13, 2007 - 10:46 ET by Tim the EnchanterPawpaw- I think Bay Buchanan is Pat's sister- not his wife.
Does working on a third-par
March 13, 2007 - 07:18 ET by sarcasmoDoes working on a third-party effort -- even once, and in this case for one's own family -- cause a person to forever-become a "former Republican"? (Might explain some of the obvious media bias I've shown here against Dr. Paul....)
JMR
Let's see sarc... I fought with your army, then against it, now?
March 13, 2007 - 07:26 ET by acaiguanaLet's see sarc... I fought with your army, then against it, now?
I'm fighting for it?
Right...
ACA
...
Quoted from: 'Acaiguana Notes from the Bomb Shelter' (soon to be a movie at theaters near you)
"My" army??? I do
March 13, 2007 - 07:29 ET by sarcasmo"My" army??? I don't get it...And she helped her brother. "Blood is thicker than water."
JMR
My point is pretty clear, sarc.
March 13, 2007 - 07:33 ET by acaiguanaMy point is pretty clear, sarc.
Buchannan ran outside the lines. Now he is hearalded as a 'Republican' commentator everywhere he shows up. But he isn't a Republican. The Republicans don't want him, don't recognize him and as for me, don't like the guy.
Maybe Dr. Paul, in addition to being a total idiot on the War on Terror and Iraq has the same problem?
ACA
...
Quoted from: 'Acaiguana Notes from the Bomb Shelter' (soon to be a movie at theaters near you)
If he's "a total idiot
March 13, 2007 - 07:39 ET by sarcasmoIf he's "a total idiot" he'd make good TV instead of good blackout, and you know it.
JMR
Ugh, an isolationist
March 13, 2007 - 20:50 ET by UnsaneSorry, sarc (a shocker! I disagree with you about something!), but I want a President who will at least acknowledge that there is a world beyond the coasts, the 49th Parallel and the Rio Grande...
"HAV3 TH3 BRIDG3S OF INSANITY B33N CROSS3D AND FOR3V3R R3TRACT3D???." - Meshuggah, "3ntrapm3nt", from Catch Thirty Thr33 (2005)
Pat and Bay have their own
March 13, 2007 - 07:27 ET by Mark FinkelsteinPat and Bay have their own movement and website, The American Cause. See if you find anything there that identifies them as Republicans, or if you can any instance of them identifying themselves as Republicans anywhere else.
Well, they don't seem to id
March 13, 2007 - 07:36 ET by sarcasmoWell, they don't seem to identify themselves as anything-else either, do they? I looked at the page and found a paen to Scooter Libby first-up, am I supposed to think they're Democrats from that because he's also against the war? And digging-further, does their "about" page look very anti-Republican? Not to me! IMO it even soft-pedals the free-trade issue, which is the one difference I recall besides the Iraq War between him & Bush!
JMR
Pat
March 13, 2007 - 10:10 ET by iveseenitallPat and Bay. More of the same disloyaty shown by so many "Republicans". They take what they can until they are asked to be part of a team effort. Then their egos get in the way. They epitomize what causes Republican defeats at the polls. Demos don't do this; I'll give them that much.
NEVER,NEVER trust a liberal
Thanks Bay, I blame you for giving us Bill Clinton, NOW SHUT UP!
March 13, 2007 - 10:22 ET by LibraryLadyBay Buchanan is a loud mouth annoyance and no Republican. She did her best to destroy Bush 41 and we ended up with Bill and Hillary because of it.
Now she's back at it again. Shut up Bay.!!
The Buchanan Brigade at it ag
March 13, 2007 - 10:55 ET by bigtimerThe Buchanan Brigade at it again...carrying their pitchfork everywhere they go, sticking it in the eye of the Republicans every opportunity they get.
I m past tired of them, I am past tired of the msm using them as shields portraying them as the spokesmen for the conservative side of the aisle so they can claim balance on their shows...they are nothing, I mean nothing but over-paid shrill shills.
The Buchanan's have the same
March 13, 2007 - 11:01 ET by MidAmericaThe Buchanan's have the same problem as Jimmie Carter. They cannot accept they lost. Now like spoiled children they are going to make everyone pay. I fear if John McCain loses we'll have another 'Republican' out there trash talking whatever his party is trying to accomplish.
Am I missing something?
March 13, 2007 - 12:01 ET by bravefacariI don't ever watch ABC, but I have to tell you guys, I agree with Bay if its true. I will not vote for Newt, even though I think he's brilliant, because of his personal infidelities. I won't vote for Rudy, even though I like him because he behaved so badly during his second divorce. I'm not saying divorce is the reason, its really not, at least not for me. Its the way in which they went about it. Both had relationships outside of the marriage before leaving their spouses. That is intolerable to me. Newt & Rudy really let me down as fellow conservatives. If I have no other choice, well then, I will pick among them. But right now, we do have some other choices, and so I will hope they lend their expertise and support to the conservative political machine, but I don't want to vote for either one of them.
Hypocrisy to the Max. Viera i
March 13, 2007 - 12:46 ET by midnight cowboyHypocrisy to the Max. Viera is so concerned about Rudy's infidelity. If BJ clinton could run again, the press would be drooling over him.
Let's not forget Rudy was never accused of rape. Rudy wasn't brought to court over sexual harasment charges. Rudy never had bimbo eruptions. Rudy wasn't caught in South America buying a string bikini. (we know it wasn't for the Hildebeast, and he is sicker than we thought if he bought it for his daugter). Rudy nevers groped an administration aide. Rudy never preyed on interns. Rudy never hid behind a woman's skirt to avoid taking the heat. And if Hillary wasn't so power hungry, a normal spouse would have dumped the load of trash years ago. So on balance Bill is technically a divorced man. This is the stuff that is out in the public. Can you imagine what the press is keeping the lid on.
"If they [responding t
March 13, 2007 - 16:29 ET by AtheistRepublican"If they [responding to a question about Rudy] will treat their wives this way, with such disregard, their children, allow this kind of marriage to collapse in a public way, the voters don't have a prayer of a chance. You can't believe a word the man says."
Please, how does how he treats his wife mean he is dishonest? Doesn't the public nature of it show honesty since he didn't try to hide it. Say what you will about Rudy, but he is not dishonest, look, he isn't even willing to budge on so many of his liberal positions to get the party nomination. He may be one of the most honest politicians in modern America, not that that means much considering the current crop...
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