Brian Williams Brings Left and Right Together

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Media
Posted on Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 05:35:50 PM EST
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Brian Williams is a uniter, bringing Dean Barnett of Hugh Hewitt's blog, Andrew Sullivan, Atrios and now me together. Here is why:

"You're going to be up against people who have an opinion, a modem, and a bathrobe. All of my life, developing credentials to cover my field of work, and now I'm up against a guy named Vinny in an efficiency apartment in the Bronx who hasn't left the efficiency apartment in two years" -- Brian Williams, anchor of the "NBC Nightly News," speaking before New York University journalism students on the challenges traditional journalism faces from online media.

He opened the credentials door and Barnett walked right through:

How unbelievably rich is that? . . .[T]his Catholic University drop-out still thinks the blogosphere consists of shut-in half-wits. Perhaps Williams would enjoy matching résumés with Hugh to prove his point. I especially enjoy the risible self-regard of a guy who refers to his tireless development of “credentials to cover my field of work” when said “field of work” primarily consists of reading words off a teleprompter.

For the record, I graduated from college AND law school. Also did a bit in the Media. No teleprompter reading I'll grant you. Williams has me there.

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Brian Williams Brings Left and Right Together | 19 comments (19 topical)

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What an arse.... (5.00 / 2) (#1)
by kdog on Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 05:39:41 PM EST

Williams is. I'll take talent and imagination over "credentials" any day. Maybe "Vinny from the Bronx" is a better journalist in his bathrobe than Williams and all his high and mighty credentials.

: I liked this part from Barnett's piece (5.00 / 1) (#4)
by TexDem on Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 05:44:46 PM EST

This quote proves again why Shepherd Smith will be the Cronkite of the 21st century. Practically alone amongst network anchors, he has the good sense to not take himself too seriously.

Shepherd Smith, heh.

Williams is just jealous because he (5.00 / 3) (#2)
by oculus on Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 05:39:57 PM EST

has to dress up for work.

Credentials are over-rated. (5.00 / 1) (#3)
by Carolyn in Baltimore on Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 05:43:11 PM EST

Quality will tell.

: Talent and quality (none / 0) (#5)
by TexDem on Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 05:47:13 PM EST

always show through. I'd tell a story about it but it's too long.

Ever see (none / 0) (#6)
by Warren Terrer on Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 06:29:16 PM EST

lazydork over at YouTube? He's a guy who's always in his bathrobe. And he's got more credentials than Brian Williams, i.e. he's a lawyer. An empty suit and tie just ain't what it used to be, Brian.

: You say "he's a lawyer" like that's (none / 0) (#7)
by oculus on Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 06:35:05 PM EST

a good thing.

Looking good is hard (none / 0) (#8)
by aztrias on Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 06:35:36 PM EST

Brain Williams puts a lot of effort into managing his appearance and facial expressions so he cna bring us "The News".

News anchors work hard on looking smart, engaged and reacting correctly. Imagine the long hard hours spent alone with bathroom mirror and on home video tape rehearsing expressions, inflection.
They report from hurricanes and often travel to exotic locations to bring us the News.

He has to know what color schemes work and how he looks with lighting, and has to keep his skin clear while traveling to privative and exotic locations.

Bloggers don't have any such burden or requirements. It's not fair - Vinny is probably an ugly guy who is unfairly judged only by his on-line character and content, not his appearance.

Got to keep the L.L.Bean jacket ready for (none / 0) (#9)
by oculus on Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 06:43:46 PM EST

on-the-spot disaster reports, unless, of course, the Northeasterner slicker is called for. When to roll of the sleeves, wear khaki pants, etc.

The best part of all this is the hypothetical blooger named "Vinny" [as in "my cousin"?].


: I agree.... (none / 0) (#13)
by kdog on Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 07:30:38 PM EST

I hope there is a Vinny living in a studio in the Bronx plotting right now to put Williams' credentials to the test...

I've been thinking (none / 0) (#10)
by andgarden on Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 06:51:12 PM EST

about Broadcast News recently.

Brian Williams (none / 0) (#11)
by Big Tent Democrat on Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 07:01:19 PM EST

will do that to you.


Actually started (5.00 / 1) (#12)
by andgarden on Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 07:24:12 PM EST

with Katie Couric's plagiarized essays.

YOU make me think of the following quote from the move, though:

PAUL
        It must be nice to always believe
        you know better. To think you're
        always the smartest person in the
        room.
                JANE
            (from her depths)
        No, it's awful. Oh my, it's awful.

Nah (none / 0) (#14)
by Big Tent Democrat on Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 07:32:16 PM EST

It's not awful. It's great!


Then what you need (5.00 / 1) (#15)
by andgarden on Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 07:35:22 PM EST

is a radio show. I hear CBS is hiring. . .


And I can do clean (none / 0) (#16)
by Big Tent Democrat on Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 07:44:59 PM EST

as Jeralyn can attest . . .


: Indeed. (5.00 / 1) (#17)
by andgarden on Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 07:55:57 PM EST

</resists Gwen Ifill joke>.

Where's your billboard? (none / 0) (#18)
by Sanity Clause on Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 08:20:55 PM EST

Brian has his six-foot high mug plastered on a sign in Elmira, NY (his birthplace, and mine). Right next to Mark twain, Eileen Collins, and Tommy Hilfiger. Who needs a frackin' resume?

: Heh (none / 0) (#19)
by Big Tent Democrat on Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 08:24:47 PM EST