Was Matt Lauer fed questions by the White House?

[Bozita]

Keith Olbermann told how his staff was sent questions-to-ask former Ambassador Joe Wilson. Seems the WH wanted an extremely aggressive interview. Olbermann instead spoke of the attempt to influence.

The WH certainly knew about Moore's appearance on Dateline. Did they do the same thing with Lauer?

[lovedems]

1. Moore did an excellent job of calling Laur out on his questions.

(Paraphrasing) "If these kinds of tough questions were asked of the aministration before the Iraq war,maybe we wouldn't have an Iraq war!".

Damn straight!

[hlthe2b]

5. Yes... bless Moore... he gives their shit right back to them...

I can't believe I ever even remotely liked Lauer... It wasn't his questions-- it was his nasty attitude.

[Ishoutandscream]

7. Exactly. And from the very start

He already had his mind made up, if not given marching orders from GE and/or the White House. I can't recall seeing such a "respected" interviewer being so hostile from the start in an interview.

[Warpy]

11. Lauer is as dumb as a box of rocks

He was likely "prepared" for this interview by a bunch of corporate guys who primed him with the notion that Moore's film was pure propaganda with no basis in fact and was solely aimed at besmirching their little tin Jesus in the White House. The nasty attitude is uncharacteristic of him, and is undoubtedly the result of a lot of "preparation" for the particular interview.

Moore is not as dumb as a box of rocks, and deflected the nastiness very neatly, while coming across as a much nicer guy (which he probably is).

Lauer shot himself in the foot with this one.

[wndycty]

2. No dammit. . .

. . .when will people get it through their heads that Moore's movie is a controversial documentary critical of the the president during a time of war and during re-election, Laurer has a responsibility to ask the tough questions. This is not "Shrek 2." The press deserves a lot of criticism but Laurer's interview of Moore is not deserving of such.

[Eric J in MN]

4. They shouldn't have given 5 times as much time to the notion

They shouldn't have given 5 times as much time to the notion that flying 140 Saudis out of the counrty on September 13, 2001 was hunky-dory as to the notion that it was a bad decision.

[hlthe2b]

8. I agree with the tough questioning... just not the nasty attitude...

Lauer was so condescending and pious, it was nauseating...But, while I take your point and largely agree with your point, the inconsistency of Lauer and others with regard to the multitude of RW books, movies, and especially administration staff interviews (that should also receive intense tough questioning) makes a defense of Lauer's "critical journalism responsibility," a little hard to sell. That's why Moore's comment was so apro pros: (paraphrased) but underscored the point that had Lauer questioned the admin in the time running up to the war the same way he was now going after Moore and his movie, perhaps there would not have been a war.

[AntiCoup2K4]

10. I could agree with that statement, if the media whores....

...had been even half of critical of Bush, PNAC, and their stupid fucking war, as they are of Michael Moore and his movie. Lauer is a whore who might as well be working for FAUX

[Skip Intro]

13. As Moore said - If the media had been as tough on bushco

during its escalation of the conflict and the run-up to the invasion/occupation, there probably wouldn't have been an invasion/occupation.

And I think Moore gave ML something to think about by pointing out that hypocrisy.

[Cat Atomic]

15. I'm all for tough questions, but Lauer's were deceptive, subtly

parroting the administration's line.

The editing was also inappropriate. The final words were from Lauer, basically suggesting that Moore's claims have been proven wrong by the 9-11 commission, which they have not.

[LittleApple81]

3. Do chickens have lips? Is the Pope Catholic? IT GOES WITHOUT

saying. Lauer is not "smart" enough to come with those "questions" on his own. He is dumb as a rock!!! He cannot even try to "play" to be having an original idea between those ears without the whole thing becoming so obvious..

[TexasSissy]

6. Sounds likely. But Moore was great.

[Hailtothechimp]

9. seemed like Lauer wasn't ready for MM to return fire.

He seemed a bit chastened at the end. And he deserved it.

[wtmusic]

12. When was the interview? n/t

[mitchum]

14. Matt Lauer has as little in his head as he does on top of it...

the questions were obviously prepared by corporate master GE