Charlie Rose of PBS, two days ago, interviewed Tom Brokaw, the legendary newsman from NBC. In this interview Brokaw admits there is quite a bit we don’t know about Barack Obama.

Frankly, it’s astounding. Five days before an election one of the giants of the news media admits we don’t know much about Obama and his worldview.

How can this be?

This is Brokaw’s job! This is the news media’s job!! They are supposed to look into this sort of thing, report it to us and let us decide. Why didn’t they try to find out?

They have failed miserably.

Not only have they failed miserably to perform their basic function in American society, but they have actively worked to ensure Obama’s election.

When you go to vote, consider that what we don’t know can often be more important than what we do know.


The shortened YouTube version here.
You can see the whole interview at Charlie Rose’s website here.

__________________
Andy
Cynical Optimist

Some time ago, I commented that the media's carrying an undue and unhealthy influence on this election. I also said that I'd been told by a very senior media commentator that "the media will decide who the next President will be".

Apparently, I was not wrong.

__________________


Great Quotes from Great Americans:

"With regard to the words 'general welfare', I have always regarded them as qualified by the details of the powers connected with them. To take them in a literal and unlimited sense would be a metamorphisis of the Constitution into a character which there is a host of proofs was not contemplated by its creators."James Madison, Father of the Constitution

Hmmmmm..... Conservatives bitch and moan about the mythical boogeyman of the 'liberal media', and then when there is one instance of two media figures expressing lack of knowledge about a candidate, this instance becomes something of major importance, both in that they don't know, and they've failed to inform us.

Thanks for the laughs.

I'm glad you think it's funny. Personally, I find the actual existence of the liberal media and their determination to forcefeed Obaaama down the nation's throats kinda scary. And even more scary that you don't see it.

__________________


Great Quotes from Great Americans:

"With regard to the words 'general welfare', I have always regarded them as qualified by the details of the powers connected with them. To take them in a literal and unlimited sense would be a metamorphisis of the Constitution into a character which there is a host of proofs was not contemplated by its creators."James Madison, Father of the Constitution

What a BS thread.

This transcripst quoted by the OP was lifted by Rush Limbaugh, who put different phrases together, out of context.

When Rose asked Brokaw about whose advising him, Brokaw responded: Susan Rice, Colin Powell and others. The question about the "universe of his foreign policy" was in response to McCain's ideas about a "League of Democracies".

Those lines were said, but they were not said in that order or in the context that the OP put them in.

Here's a link to Charlie Rose.

I would suggest that people watch it for themselves. It's the height of desperation when you have to cull different snippets of conversations and then edit it to make it seem like they actually said that in that way.

Brokaw even went on to say that Obama was reaching out to even the right-wing think-tanks in Washington on foreign policy.

A conversation with Tom Brokaw - Charlie Rose

__________________
“The America I know and love is not one in which my parents or my baby with Down syndrome will have to stand in front of Obama’s ‘death panel’ so his bureaucrats can decide, based on a subjective judgment of their ‘level of productivity in society,’ whether they are worthy of health care. Such a system is downright evil."-Sarah Palin, not having a clue once again about what she is talking about.

I'm puzzled by your concern. For decades, there has been a liberal bias in the press and yet the country tends to lean to the right of center. Also, we've elected more conservative Presidents than "liberal" ones. Why is it necessary to attribute the success of Obama to the bias of the press rather than accepting that the American public has the ability to choose the right person in spite of the press? Is it that hard to accept that your political views may be out of step with those of the majority of your countrymen?

One of the principal characteristics of this campaign has been the consistent manner in which McCain's supporters have distorted and misrepresented every issue.

It's hardly restricted to McCain supporters - Obama is to this very day running a commercial containing a distorted and misrepresented account of McCain's policies on Medicare and Senior benefits, a commercial which factcheck.org has discredited.

As to the transcript of the Rose / Brokaw interview, Jason is completely correct - the actual interview is much different.

Matt

Why is it that when an OP seems "unbelievable", it's usually the case that it's a fabrication?
Put this down with "Obama Supporter cuts "B" in McCain Campaign Worker's face".

__________________
“ The subjects of every state ought to contribute towards the support of the government, as nearly as possible, in proportion to their respective abilities; that is, in proportion to the revenue which they respectively enjoy under the protection of the state.”

Adam Smith , The Wealth of Nations 1776

"We have always known that heedless self-interest was bad morals; we know now that it is bad economics"
FDR's second Inaugural Address

In spite of the press ? Thats a joke, right ?

__________________
Socialism doesn't create a rising tide that lifts all boats. It drains the lake and teaches the boat riders not to help themselves by rowing.

Jesus loves you, allah wants you dead

"Every government interference in the economy consists of giving an unearned benefit, extorted by force, to some men at the expense of others."

Ayn Rand

It's unbelievable to me how childish the GOP side got this fall.

You know, conservatives could have begun a very serious discussion about national security, after McCain had maybe chosen Kay Bailey Hutchison two months ago, and completely attempted to neutralize Obama/Biden.

From an acting perspective, I look at things like a law student at times, trying to get into the head of people with opposing views. How would I have represented McCain if I were leading his campaign. With an "Experience First" message carrying through the entire summer and sticking with folks, it's simply stunning how childish and absurd the McCain campaign got.

Yes, both sides engage in shenanigans. But the McCain campaigns mistakes were the sort that you'd expect from the less experienced of the two candidates.

__________________
“The America I know and love is not one in which my parents or my baby with Down syndrome will have to stand in front of Obama’s ‘death panel’ so his bureaucrats can decide, based on a subjective judgment of their ‘level of productivity in society,’ whether they are worthy of health care. Such a system is downright evil."-Sarah Palin, not having a clue once again about what she is talking about.

me too , but remember these liberal posters on here still are stuck on the fact that the media has it in for blowjob boy when they reported he got blow jobs in the white house, and he said he didnt, then he said he did, but he said it wasnt sex all the while the media reported it cause it was some craZy ass shit

And the "Hardcore Texas Republican Denounces McCain, Bush" that didn't know the history of Texas...or the Republicans.

__________________
"The most important single central fact about a free market is that no exchange takes place unless both parties benefit."
- Milton Friedman

"The quickest way of ending a war is to lose it."
- George Orwell

Perhaps you've nailed how Bush was able to beat McCain back in 2000. McCain isn't a good campaigner. He won his races thus far mainly on his Vietnam record, maverick credibility, and leadership experience as a high-ranking Naval Officer (and awards).

When it comes down to it, McCain sucks at bullshitting people. Instead of trying to con you with a silver tongue, he'd rather just say "Go f*ck yourself!"

__________________
"The most important single central fact about a free market is that no exchange takes place unless both parties benefit."
- Milton Friedman

"The quickest way of ending a war is to lose it."
- George Orwell

Relevant issues called. Didn't leave a message.