THE TODAY show calls out President Obama for getting called out on 60 MINUTES for giggling?

[wndycty]

Let's get ready for another MANUFACTURED controversy. On the TODAY SHOW, Meredith Vieira just pointed out President Obama got called out by Steve Kroft of 60 MINUTES for his uneasy giggle during his interview las night. Does ANYONE really believe that President Obama is laughing at the financial crisis and not taking it seriously? Come on folks, as Obama said during the primary SILLY SEASON is over.

[AndyA]

1. Write to them. Ask them where they were when Bush was lying to everyone.

Where was NBC when Bush slurred his words so badly that he seemed to be drunk?

Where was NBC when Bush couldn't put together a logical sentence, even though it was written down for him, all he had to do was read it?

Tell them you are tired of the hypocrisy, and will not continue watching their network. Then let their advertisers know. It's the only way to get the point across to them, you have to hurt them where it matters, in their pocket book.

[Thrill]

2. First he was too somber and talking down the economy.

Now he's too cheery

[Supersedeas]

35. looking more and more like the Corp Media Establishment has someone to root against

and fight with -- NO MATTER WHAT POSITION IS TAKEN

[ErinBerin84]

3. oh whatever Meredith

It WASN'T uneasy giggling. This is really what Obama acts like in all of the interviews, calm to the point that it stands out to the interviewer. Most people who have interviewed him have pointed this out. Kroft was basically like "So, Mr President. Nobody likes your bank plan. Warren Buffet,who formerly supported you, doesn't like it. Wall Street doesn't like it. Congress doesn't want to give more money to the banks. Not to mention, the auto industry, which only 19% of people want to give money to." and Obama's response was more like "Yeah, Warren Buffet still supports me by the way. The banks have certain interests. Congress has certain interests. Wall Street has certain interests, and the public has certain interests. Our job is to reconcile all of their different interests" while sort of laughing. Sometimes I think that Obama laughs at the absurdity of some questions (I mean, "former supporter Warren Buffet"?), kind of like how he laughed during the McCain debate when McCain called ACORN the biggest injustice, or what have you. But if you listened to his answers , he wasn't being dismissive or flippant. And it DEFINITELY wasn't "uneasy" giggling. If anything, it was easy. But he does this in most interviews. And obviously, he wasn't like that for the whole interview.

[City Lights]

4. Refuse to participate in their bullshit. Turn it off. Let their ratings die.

Fuck GE-TV.

[Loge23]

6. Really - this is Meredith Viera for chrissakes!

Please, this is the looney tunes of all Morning shows.
The Litle Rascals have more crediblity than Today!
Turn them off! You will be a better person for it!

[graywarrior]

28. The Who the Fuck Wants to be Meredith Viera Game Show

[mucifer]

5. Front page story in the chicago suntimes and tribune. I don't remember them making

fun of bush for doing the same thing.

[ErinBerin84]

7. I guess they

would rather him act defensive and look pissed off through the whole thing. You're right, he can't win. Before they were saying that he was too somber, now they are saying he's too silly. Fuckers.

[Clio the Leo]

8. Yep, write to them, here's their email addy....

[email protected]

[otohara]

29. Thanks

I haven't watched TTS for at least 12 years and after reading this thread I'm reminded why and what I'm not missing.

[fugop]

9. Fantastic

I think it's fantastic. FANTASTIC! Seriously, it seems to me that the more the media tries to blow up comments into stories of outrage, the more people tune them out as irrelevant. Look back over the past year at how many times the media took one quote or one tiny action and spazzed over it for days on end. Did it hurt Obama? Nope. Because it's the boy who cried wolf, at this point, No one trusts the media anymore, because most people see them for what they are: ratings whores, pure and simple. So in the words of Dubya: Bring. It. ON!

[GoCubsGo]

12. I tuned out myself.

I usually watch the "Toady Show". Not this morning, however. Didn't watch "Morning Joke", either. And, I feel so much better for it. The only problem is that I understand I missed Bob Shrum riping Joke a new one.

[fugop]

14. Really?

Do tell. I don't watch Joe because the whole group drives me crazy. I tune in if Lawrence O'Donnell is on, but that's about it. But any time someone lights into Joe is a good day, as far as I'm concerned. What did he say?

[GoCubsGo]

22. I didn't see it....

I'm just going by what I read in other places. Some of the folks commenting at HuffPoo were saying that Shrum really had Joke and Mika sputtering. Hopefully, they'll have the video up either here or on the show's web site later today or tomorrow.

[Pirate Smile]

10. How dare he say - "well, if you think bank bailouts are unpopular, take a look at how popular an

auto bailout is. Lordy, Lordy, what a mess." (paraphrase)

No ironic detachment allowed, Mr. President. You need to say it and then detail the economic consequences of 100% unemployment and the main food source being grass and bark following letting everything fail. How dare you try to maintain your sanity. The media wants you naked and weeping on the White House front lawn every morning.

[Solomon]

11. They were doing the same thing on Morning Joe.

Silliness like this makes it obvious that talking points are distributed every morning.

[givemebackmycountry]

13. It's today's talking points don't cha know?

Contessa Brewer is now discussing this important issue with Chuck Todd as they kick off the 9:00 hour on MSNBC.

[Apollo11]

15. I also suffer from inappropriate smiling and laughing when I am nervous or uncomfortable

I have to work hard to control it in situations where it might distract from what I am trying to achieve.

I think President Obama should try harder to look serious when he is talking about serious issues.

That is - if he wants to be taken seriously (beyond the Barack fan club members you will find here on DU).

[Jennicut]

16. This is fast becoming hysterically funny. Bush could barely make it through a sentence.

Obama is excellent in speeches, interviews, press conferences and town hall meetings. They are trying to find anything to take him down with. Its not working as shown by his 65% approval rating per Gallup.

[ErinBerin84]

19. it's like the NY post cover the other day

"Obama yuks it up while the ECONOMY BURNS!" Uh, right NY Post. I mean, I could understand why the special olympics comment got attention, but this 60 minutes stuff is ridiculous. To me, Obama had the same attitude last night that he does for all of his interviews. Candid, disarming, friendly, and he wasn't "giggling" through the whole thing. Just for like two questions. The press always says Obama isn't funny, he's dull, no he's too somber, now he's laughing at our problems. What tools. Their agenda could not be more obvious.

[Jennicut]

21. Seriously....he was such a "downer" before. Oh noes! Now he is laughing.

Its too much for them that we have a sane normal President.

[Phoonzang]

17. I don't know how the President is going to hold up under this constant bombardment.

He's shrugged it off for 60 days, but after a couple of years... He's like the Galactica, he can take numerous point black blasts by nukes, but eventually even that tough old ship started to fall apart. Of course that's when it went out in it's blaze of glory saving humanity from the Cylon menace.

Um...sorry....not enough coffee this morning.

[dbonds]

18. Giggling is the daily distraction from the message, can't let real message through you know.

[sfam]

20. Amazing. Obama should to ignore these idiots. Act Human Barak!!!

The MSM is probably the last group of people to determine how best to act on any event. The fact that this is their latest outrage just shows how out of touch they are.

[CJCRANE]

23. Just look at the MSM as froth

on the surface.

It doesn't reflect reality.

[kstewart33]

24. My letter to NBC.

Dear NBC,

I was disgusted by the Today show's coverage of Obama's laughter during his 60 Minutes interview.

How is this news?

A few weeks ago, the media (NBC included) reported on Obama being too serious (he's being a real downer!) about the financial crisis. Now, he laughs too much and inappropriately. Either way, the president is roundly criticized.

Perhaps for the interim, he should show no emotions at all. But of course that wouldn't work either. Imagine the media's collective carping: Obama's brain dead!

And you wonder why the media has the public respect of say, ambulance chasers?

Signed,

XXX

[NYC_SKP]

25. WTF!!!??? He giggled? How DARE he GIGGLE while the economy is in taters!!!!

Today show = Freeper show, or sugar-coated version thereof.

[xenussister]

34. Mmmmm, taters, uh huh. French fries, hash browns, tots, baked, scalloped...

Sorry, I couldn't resist. Your post made me hungry.

The MSM are ridiculous. Luckily, the American people seem to know it now.


(edited to add tots! how could I forget tots??)

[Bread and Circus]

26. This is a good thing... the more the media goes to extreme and absurd lengths to...

make Obama look bad, the more people will reject the media's bullshit framing they are trying to harangue Obama with.

Everybody laughs, even in the worst of times, and people can tell and insensitive laugh from someone just trying to cope. People are smarter than the asshat media and the games it is playing.

[Vinca]

27. They didn't get what the giggle was.

It was Obama stifling roaring laughter about the stupid shit people are asking of him and saying about him. My favorite talking head remark: "He's doing too much," followed by "Why isn't he addressing social security?"

[wndycty]

30. I'm glad Shuster called the media out on this tonight on COUNTDOWN

:kick:

[Cha]

31. David Shuster deserves the

Wings of Justice Award~ Anytime someone in the media points out the rabid jackal "feeding frenzy time at the zoo" mentality of the corporatemedia..they should be commended!

[mitchum]

32. Go air it out some more Meredith

[Hansel]

33. Where was the media when Bush did his repulsive Looking for WMDs skit?

Oh, that's right. They were all at the Radio and Television Correspondents Association's dinner, laughing at him. Morons.

[tsuki]

36. The Jackals of Journalism, can't ask relevant questions or discuss

policy, so they attack, attack, attack.