Katie Couric During Ford Funeral: Billy Graham Was 'Remarkably Partisan'

Photo of Tim Graham.

Billy Graham may seem like an American icon to some, but not to Katie Couric, who scorned him during live Ford memorial service coverage on CBS Tuesday morning. She complained about him for writing a "remarkably partisan" letter comforting Gerald Ford after he lost to her hero Jimmy Carter in 1976. Who is Couric to judge "remarkably partisan," since she leans exactly the other way when it comes to her hero, President Carter? At about 10:40 am, Couric talked with liberal Carter-boosting historian Douglas Brinkley about Ford's religious faith, which brought out this exchange about Ford's relationship with the evangelist:  

Brinkley: “He was a man of deep, deep religious faith. Many people associate Jimmy Carter with born-again Christianity, but he was a very churchgoing man, Gerald Ford, and he developed a great friendship with the Rev. Billy Graham. One of the interesting new documents to come to light are the correspondence between Billy Graham and Gerald Ford. In fact, when Ford lost to Jimmy Carter, Graham wrote an extraordinary letter to Gerald Ford saying that during the election, I prayed constantly for you,  and for some mysterious reason, unknown to us, Mr. Carter won. And he went on to say that he just can’t figure out why  God did that to us, that I wanted you, Gerry -- a very nice letter. It meant a lot to President Ford to receive that."

Couric: "Of course, Billy Graham became very close to Jimmy Carter and has been close to every president. But that was a remarkably partisan letter from someone who –" [awkward pause] 

Brinkley: "Tells you how close -- "

Couric: "-- prides himself on being nonpartisan and a friend to all presidents."

By the way, Associated Press caught the culture-war segment of the eulogy from Ford's pastor in Palm Desert, California on the split between Episcopalians over gay Bishop Gene Robinson. Ford took the liberal view:

In his homily, Episcopalian minister Robert G. Certain touched on the fractious debate in the church over its growing acceptance of homosexual relationships, and said Ford did not think the issue should be splitting Episcopalians. He was Ford's pastor at St. Margaret's Church in Palm Desert, Calif.

"He asked me if we would face schism after we discussed the various issues we would consider, particularly concerns about human sexuality and the leadership of women," Certain said. "He said that he did not think they should be divisive for anyone who lived by the great commandments and the great commission to love God and to love neighbor."

—Tim Graham is Director of Media Analysis at the Media Research Center.


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Couric

I'll bet Couric never even read the letter. If she did, she didn't understand it. Couric--what an ignoramus!

NEVER,NEVER trust a liberal

Perhaps it is my inherent f

Perhaps it is my inherent faith and trust in humanity, the basic assumption of goodness and honesty that has prevented me from seeing a basic truth about Katie.

She really believes that hers is the "right:" view of... everything! There is no doubt, no investigation, no discourse, discussion, review, reflection... nothing!  She cannot even imagine that there might be another opinion with validity and thought behind it.  She's got it nailed and that's it.

Must be nice to be omniscient, and near-omnipotent.

And the sad thing is, she doe

And the sad thing is, she doesn't even know anything, so she has no basis for her viewpoint. 

Case in point:  Billy Graham talks to every president, at their invitation, because he is seen as the "nation's Pastor."  This implies nothing with regard to his politics.

Little Kate shows herself to be what Rush calls a "glittering jewel of collosal ignorance" everytime she opens her yap.

"...she has no basis for

"...she has no basis for her viewpoint..."

Au contraire mattm, she has a huge basis for all of her viewpoints.  She follows the teachings of the allmighty MSM paycheck!

I stand corrected.

I stand corrected.

And for proof - http://greate

And for proof - http://greaterboston.tv/features/feature_images/btp_couric_121401_b.jpg

There is no sense in being stupid, if you can't prove it! - my dad

 That wasn't fair.  You sho

 That wasn't fair.  You should attach a huge WARNING label to that link.  Scared the bajeebers outa me!

Nothing is sacred with these

Nothing is sacred with these anchor-twits in the MSM. On Saturday night on MSNBC, Brian Williams - in speaking about Betty Ford during the ceremony at the rotunda - referred to her as "the former Martha Graham dancer" and then began to recount her battle with alcoholism.
This as the former First Lady was standing by her husband's casket - the picture of American grace and dignity. How dare this idiot be so disrespectful? What is wrong with these people? Are they so blinded by their bias that any Republican is fair game for their antics at any time? This was way beyond the pale . . . but consider the source - the self-absorbed egomaniac, aka Brian Williams.

Oh Yeah, all you NB'ers - her

Oh Yeah, all you NB'ers - here's what I think of you! - http://www.rightsided.org/images/Katie_Couric.jpg

There is no sense in being stupid, if you can't prove it! - my dad

FE,Not If I were stranded wit

FE,

Not even If I were stranded with her on some deserted tropical isle without the faintest hope for rescue.

She'd make good bait.

She'd make good bait.

Not even If I were stranded

Not even If I were stranded with her on some deserted tropical isle without the faintest hope for rescue...

Oh, c'mon. She's hot! You think she got to where she is on the basis of intellect or personality...?


VOTE DEMOCRAT!

(It's easier than thinking)

Ed Katie's pic

Ed  Katie's pic. I call it "hey world here's my IQ. She is such a lightweight.

Well, she would know about

Well, she would know about being partisan .

Katie C. working her hardest

Katie C. working her hardest to keep CBS Number Three!

You go girl!

"If we ever forget that we are a Nation Under God....then we will be a Nation Gone Under."  Ronald Reagan

You know I work in Palm Deser

You know I work in Palm Desert.  I heard that Pastor's comments.  If he meant that a church should support gay pastors and gay rights, then he lost me totally as Ford did 30 years ago.  (To my utter disgrace and regret I voted for Carter because I could not stand Ford). 

What would this paster do if a group of adulterers or child molesters wanted to have equal rights and to be able to be pastors?  Personally i merely regard homsexual activity as a sin no worse nor better than adultry.  The bible is clear that homosexuality is a sin, just like adultry. 

Why would you promote an adulterer as a pastor?  Would they?  I doubt it.  It is important to forgive and to not judge but it is also important to seek out religious leaders who try to live what they preach.  Could a pastor who is an open homsexual really talk to his congregation about the sin of adultry?   Could he really talk about obeying any commandments?? 

These guys are so politically correct they have lost touch with what the bible says.

I doubt they read the Bible.

I doubt they read the Bible.

Katie S-P

This is the first time I have ever agreed with Andy Rooney,

"Welcome to CBS. Now get out."

pizza deliever

what do want from somebody who needs a G.P.S. to get out of the ladies room, plus didn't she work over time delieving pizza to the ex pillager an cheater..

Sorry to have to say this, bu

Sorry to have to say this, but my kid's pet hamster has a higher IQ than Katie Couric.  Talk about Kool Aid drinker!

Yeah, Michael, you really body slammed that hamster there.

Yeah, Michael, you really body slammed that hamster there.

ACA

...

Acaiguana says:  "Which city is next?"

no more of these guys

Couric, Mathews and Olberman are just too crazy and biased to pau attention to any more.  I used to read them and chuckle a little, sometimes laugh out loud.  Now, when I see an item with their name on it, I just skip it because you know two things; it's going to be liberal, it's going to be biased.