This morning, the TODAY SHOW hosted an interview with Kitty Kelly on her new book trashing the George W. Bush family. Kelly is a gossip writer, and she makes some embarrasing little suggestions that Dubya used cocaine while his daddy was in office....go figure. NBC tried to stop the interview, and Matt Lauer was openly hostile with Kelly, while sparing no efforts to help Kelly's source, Sharon Bush, distance herself from what she allegedly saw taking place at Camp David...Dubya and his brother powdering thier noses.
Here's my little letter:
I am writing to express my extreme displeasure with Matt Lauer's pathetic attempt at an interview with Kitty Kelly. I really enjoy the Today Show. I usually think it's one of the best morning shows, but Mr. Lauer's attitude and antagonistic attitude was offensive to watch. I find it interesting that he had the audacity to challenge Ms Kelly's journalistic methods and biases considering his obvious absence of impartiality. I've never considered anything Kitty Kelly has written to be more than gossip column filler, but I'm beginning to think that Matt Lauer reportage is rapidly falling into the same category.
Compared to his subsequent interview with Sharon Bush, I question Mr. Lauer's journalistic methods. I don't think he could have been more blatant in attempting to destroy one accusation concerning the President's alleged cocaine usage at Camp David, and trying to tie Ms Kelley into some strange relationship with the publicist at the Kelley/Bush meeting. I went to college in West Texas, and although was familiar with the younger Bush's alcohol abuses, was very surprised to hear stories of his cocaine abuse, not from one person, but several Midland-area residents. Like the Bush twins party habits, their father was not circumspect about using illegal drugs. Based upon what I've learned about George W. Bush's family, I don't doubt that Bush used cocaine. Simply having a "conversion" experience doesn't negate the strong addictions of cocaine or alcohol. I respect Mr. Bush's religious beliefs, but find him far from perfect. He was a terrible governor in my home state, and his presidential record has not been much better.
I'm also a little upset with the positive spin NBC tried to cast over the Bush twins at the Republican National Convention. These women are not children, but the media seems to believe that by constantly casting them as some sort of political Olsen Twins creation. If Chelsea Clinton had engaged in illegal, underage drinking, or went to the late-night college "thrash" parties that the Bush girls seem to enjoy, I doubt that the TODAY SHOW hosts would have painted her in such a favorable light.
The fact that NBC had concerns about the interview with Ms Kelley and tried to prevent the interview also makes me seriously rethink my loyalty to NBC and its news programming. Mr. Lauer's interview and the NBC complicity with the White House also seem to conflict with the role of the press. Perhaps you have decided to fall in line with Fox News and their "balanced" reporting. In fact, at least they’re honestly biased, and make no attempt to hide behind some pretended impartiality.
