Noonan, Brzezinski mischaracterized Clinton's 60 Minutes response about Obama's religion
SUMMARY: While discussing Sen. Barack Obama, The Wall Street Journal's Peggy Noonan said, "Remember that thing Mrs. Clinton said where she was asked, 'Do you think he's a Christian?' And she said one of those formulations like 'Oh, as far as I know, look into it.' " MSNBC's Mika Brzezinski replied, "Wink-wink, yeah." In fact, during an interview on CBS' 60 Minutes, Clinton was not asked, "Do you think he's a Christian?" -- when asked, "You don't believe that Senator Obama is a Muslim?" she immediately responded, "Of course not." Moreover, she compared "ridiculous rumors" circulating about her to rumors about Obama, making clear that the Obama rumors are false.
On the March 14 edition of MSNBC's Morning Joe, while discussing Sen. Barack Obama, Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy Noonan said, "Remember that thing Mrs. [Sen. Hillary] Clinton said where she was asked, 'Do you think he's a Christian?' And she said one of those formulations like 'Oh, as far as I know, look into it.' " Co-host Mika Brzezinski replied, "Wink-wink, yeah." In fact, during an interview on the March 2 edition of CBS' 60 Minutes, Clinton was not asked, "Do you think he's a Christian?" -- when asked, "You don't believe that Senator Obama is a Muslim?" she immediately responded, "Of course not," as Media Matters for America has repeatedly documented. Indeed, it was in her fourth separate response to Steve Kroft's repeated questions about Obama's religion that she asserted that Obama was not a Muslim "as far as I know," and Clinton followed that statement by noting that she, too, has been the victim of "ridiculous rumors" -- making clear that she knows the Obama rumors are false. Further, Clinton did not, in her interview, tell Kroft to "look into it."
From the March 14 edition of MSNBC's Morning Joe:
NOONAN: I think Obama -- you know what he really has to do? Remember that thing Mrs. Clinton said where she was asked, "Do you think he's a Christian?" And she said --
BRZEZINSKI: Right.
NOONAN: -- one of those formulations like --
JOE SCARBOROUGH (co-host): Right.
NOONAN: -- "Oh, as far as I know, look into it."
BRZEZINSKI: Wink-wink, yeah.
NOONAN: You know, what I think Obama has to do is make a speech or make remarks, not manipulative, not creepy, just honest, about what his religious views are and what his Christianity is and how it informs his life. Just go and do it now. He didn't put this on the table. Somebody else did. But I really think he ought to address it.
Keith Olbermann also said this the other night, but yet no MMFA thread about this ? Why? It is about time the partnership or secret deal between MMFA and Olbermann be exposed, it is hurting MMFA legitimacy.
Worse yet, after what President Clinton said during the South Carolina primary, comparing the Obama and Jesse Jackson campaigns, a disturbing but only border line remark, after what some in the black community have perceived as a racial undertone to the 3:00 a.m. ad, a disturbing but only borderline interpretation, and after the moments hesitation in her own answer on “60 Minutes” about Obama‘s religion, a disturbing but only borderline vagueness—
There is no double standard. Why does MMFAs mission statement need to be show to you guys again and again?
Media Matters for America is a Web-based, not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) progressive research and information center dedicated to comprehensively monitoring, analyzing, and correcting conservative misinformation in the U.S. media.
If Olbermann were a conservative commentator, they'd be on him as well. He's not, so they're not. No double standard at all.
I agree Sue, as hard as that may be to believe.
This passage from Olbermann and MMFA's neglect of it (so far) really makes all the trantrums over the WPITW mentions seem trivial by comparison.
There is no question that MMFA watches Olbermann intently. They need to show that they don't ally themselves with or live in fear of any member of the MSM no matter how much they may source MMFA's material, and this the best opportunity in my recent memory for them to do it.
Sueeld I could not agree with you more.
Well said. And great research on your part.
And I'm not one to gloat, Gov.
I've been coming to this site for a long time defending MMFA's "Worst Person In The World" mentions by pointing out that MMFA brings up any and all mentions of MMFA's name or their material that subsequently pops up in the media, and that Keith's throwaway segment is just another example of it.
But this is MMFA's time to shine, and they're really blowing it. They've had a day and a half to analyze and expose it and so far we've seen nothing.
Our resident MMFA detractors are likely going to give me a lot of grief for me only just beginning to figure this out. The only explanation I can muster would be that my political persuasion has made me more ambivalent about this and it took such an obvious gloss over on the part of MMFA to make me come around.
So to all those detractors I've been at odds with over the WPITW mentions, go ahead get your shots in at me, I can take it. This truly looks like the tipping point for me.
It's complicated stuff, though. KO's Clinton comment was not exactly "conservative misinformation". He accused her of being 'one of them' so to speak. Yes, you can pull from his 1700 words a snippet or two that reads like "conservative misinformation" but what he said 2 nights ago does not advance some conservative agenda.
I agree with you, Sue, Olbermann was out-of-bounds with that one. Furthermore, who in the black community thought of Clinton's 3am ad had racial undertones? That's a new one to me. Fear mongering, yes, but racial undertones?
After this election season, I think the American public will be so fed up, it will be a LONG time before we make a black man or woman a nominee again. We'll stick to electing white men, it's less emotionally draining. Well, for me, at least.
You probably missed the story. I wish I had. It was really stupid.
In the 3 AM ad one of the children has "GOOD NIGHT" all over his pajamas. In one extremely small clip the letters NIG are visible and slightly isolated.
It created a small amount of internet buzz for a small amount of time. Both small amounts were more than it deserved.
And she said one of those formulations like 'Oh, as far as I know, look into it.' ".
I think the use of an false indirect quote rates a mention whereas opining that she hesitated and was too vague does NOT rise to that level. The "look into it'" phrase is especially imaginative, fictional, and offensive. If Noonan had said she hesitated in her answer, she wouldn't have got a mention. Her statement clearly mis-characterizes what HRC actually said. KO offered an opinion about the way she delivered the answer and said he didn't like it. Fair enough. Noonan is out to lunch on this one.
"Keith Olbermann also said this the other night, but yet no MMFA thread about this ? Why? It is about time the partnership or secret deal between MMFA and Olbermann be exposed, it is hurting MMFA legitimacy."
I detest Olbermann too, but there's no conspiracy.
MMFA's charter is to expose conservative bias, not just bias in general. He doesn't fit the role.
But he has become despicable. Daily Howler is starting in on him-- it's a pretty good nailing...
Remember, this is a 47 year old guy who has a need to refer to good looking 20 year old girls as "sluts" and "tramps."
Thank you, Sue. MMFA is not doing a good job of cleaning up behind Olbermann. His bias toward Obama is hardly subtle. Does anyone know if there has been any study to see if a correlation exists between the demographic of Obama supporters and Countdown's new/increased viewership? Is this a true bias he has, or is he pandering to his audience?
Does this make anybody else think that they're playing the game "let's you and him fight?"
As a journalist is she not compelled to be accurate and truthful?
Nope. And as a right-wing hack, she's incapable of being accurate or truthful.
BTW, have we ever in our history had a Jewish President?
I didn't think so...
With all due respect to MG, what are the ridiculous rumors circulating about Sen. Clinton? If, as you say, the proof of her sincerity is that she repudiates similar attacks against her (ignoring the illogic of this correlation), then you must be able to point towards some examples of these "ridiculous rumors" of which she has been a victim. For my part, i don't recall any rumors suggesting that HRC is a Muslim.
And, before anyone says it, calling her (or her campaign) racist or over-emotional or dishonest or devious or calculating, aren't examples of rumors. They are attacks. Attacks which may or may not be accurate... as far as I know.
Hey Peggy what's your position on sex, missionary or what? Yes, I know it's personal but hey so is someone's religion and you want to know about that! People it is none of our business if he is a Muslim, Christian or Pagan (he is half African so I wouldn't be surprised if the wing-nuts trot this one out)
I watched 60 minutes on the night in question Mrs Clinton was badgered by the announcer she kept answering him and he kept on asking her over and over if Obama was a Muslim.
She said 'of course not'
She said 'If Barak says he is not then I believe him'
She answered over and over, until she said as far as I know he isn't.
Make them apologize!!!!!!!!!!!!