Brian Williams? Really?
So this past week the NBC news anchor Brian Williams came out and admitted that he "conflated" his story about being in a military helicopter that took RPG and small arms fire in 2003. His admission was that he was not in the helicopter that took fire at all. He came in a later helicopter. Some reports say that he was in a helicopter immediately behind the one that took fire and others say he was in a helicopter that was as much as an hour behind the one that took fire.
Hummm, where do I start with this one? It is first important to note that the only reason that he came out with this is that a military magazine was about to report this story. Otherwise, it is safe to assume that he would have continued with the LIE that he has been telling and the career that he has built upon it.
Conflated? WTH does that mean? Conflated is the blending of two subjects or issues into one event or story. I'm not sure about you but conflated sounds like a 'politician speak' for a straight out LIE! This man is one of the most trusted people in America. He is actually rated as the 23rd most trusted person in the country by the celebrity index of The Marketing Arm, a research firm. I trust him, or should I say trusted him.
I know that these days there are many (maybe even mostly) unworthy, inaccurate, non-fact checking news sources in the world today but the anchor and managing editor of the NBC Nightly News should never be one of them. News anchors can have drug scandals, sex scandals or any other kind of scandal as long as the accuracy of the stories is never put in question. Viewers develop opinions based on the stories that anchors like Brian Williams reports to us. Now that this 'last' resource is questionable who do we turn to for accurate information. I have always told people to "search for your own truth on issues that matter to you" but now we are getting to a point where we don't know which resources to trust.
I trashed President George W. Bush in this very blog on his handling of post Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans partially based on Brian Williams reporting from the city. Jay-Z used what sounds like Brian Williams voice, reporting from New Orleans after the storm, in one of his songs. All of his work is now in question. NBC has rightfully launched an investigation into all of his big stories. He said he witnessed someone commit suicide in the New Orleans Superdome due to the conditions there after the hurricane. All of that is questionable now.
The fact that all of his work is now called into question begs the question......Is it worth it to do such a thing? While my answer is still an absolute 'no' I can see the hunger to move up, the drive to win at any cost personal/professional insecurity causing a blurring of the lines. When we add the money on top of that it can be an intoxicating mix.
Brian Williams contract was renewed in December for $10 Million a year. So maybe to reach $10 million per year it is worth it. It seems now that many are willing to lie, cheat and steal their way to the top because the money is so great that once you get caught you have gathered enough wealth and power that you can ride off into the sunset because you have your money from a career that you have built upon LIES. Not conflation, or out of context, or misremembered........LIES.
At this point Mr. Williams has removed himself from his Nightly News chair and NBC is investigating. They have invested heavily in his brand and that is likely to be one reason they have not fired him. Another major reason is that there is not anyone who has been groomed or who has a strong enough brand to take over. At this point I am not sure what his brand is worth.
I am sure the spin doctors will find a way to turn this and manipulate us into feeling sorry for him. So his brand will take a hit and then bounce back stronger than ever. America loves a comeback right?
They can spin it however they like but at the end of the day Brian Williams showed blatant disregard for the lives of all soldiers that have risked and given their lives for our great country. Families of soldiers have suffered and continued to suffer while Williams built a career on their stories. Shameful!
Mr. Williams may be back at the desk one day but I will not!
That's All I Got!
I'm Out!
44Black
Hummm, where do I start with this one? It is first important to note that the only reason that he came out with this is that a military magazine was about to report this story. Otherwise, it is safe to assume that he would have continued with the LIE that he has been telling and the career that he has built upon it.
Conflated? WTH does that mean? Conflated is the blending of two subjects or issues into one event or story. I'm not sure about you but conflated sounds like a 'politician speak' for a straight out LIE! This man is one of the most trusted people in America. He is actually rated as the 23rd most trusted person in the country by the celebrity index of The Marketing Arm, a research firm. I trust him, or should I say trusted him.
I know that these days there are many (maybe even mostly) unworthy, inaccurate, non-fact checking news sources in the world today but the anchor and managing editor of the NBC Nightly News should never be one of them. News anchors can have drug scandals, sex scandals or any other kind of scandal as long as the accuracy of the stories is never put in question. Viewers develop opinions based on the stories that anchors like Brian Williams reports to us. Now that this 'last' resource is questionable who do we turn to for accurate information. I have always told people to "search for your own truth on issues that matter to you" but now we are getting to a point where we don't know which resources to trust.
I trashed President George W. Bush in this very blog on his handling of post Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans partially based on Brian Williams reporting from the city. Jay-Z used what sounds like Brian Williams voice, reporting from New Orleans after the storm, in one of his songs. All of his work is now in question. NBC has rightfully launched an investigation into all of his big stories. He said he witnessed someone commit suicide in the New Orleans Superdome due to the conditions there after the hurricane. All of that is questionable now.
The fact that all of his work is now called into question begs the question......Is it worth it to do such a thing? While my answer is still an absolute 'no' I can see the hunger to move up, the drive to win at any cost personal/professional insecurity causing a blurring of the lines. When we add the money on top of that it can be an intoxicating mix.
Brian Williams contract was renewed in December for $10 Million a year. So maybe to reach $10 million per year it is worth it. It seems now that many are willing to lie, cheat and steal their way to the top because the money is so great that once you get caught you have gathered enough wealth and power that you can ride off into the sunset because you have your money from a career that you have built upon LIES. Not conflation, or out of context, or misremembered........LIES.
At this point Mr. Williams has removed himself from his Nightly News chair and NBC is investigating. They have invested heavily in his brand and that is likely to be one reason they have not fired him. Another major reason is that there is not anyone who has been groomed or who has a strong enough brand to take over. At this point I am not sure what his brand is worth.
I am sure the spin doctors will find a way to turn this and manipulate us into feeling sorry for him. So his brand will take a hit and then bounce back stronger than ever. America loves a comeback right?
They can spin it however they like but at the end of the day Brian Williams showed blatant disregard for the lives of all soldiers that have risked and given their lives for our great country. Families of soldiers have suffered and continued to suffer while Williams built a career on their stories. Shameful!
Mr. Williams may be back at the desk one day but I will not!
That's All I Got!
I'm Out!
44Black
posted by 44Black at 7:01 AM
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