Like Rachel Dolezal, Brian Williams Addresses The Complexity Of His Own, Uh, *Truth*
[guest post by Dana]
In light of the announcement this week by NBC that Brian Williams will not be returning to “NBC Nightly News”, but will instead be relegated reassigned to the “network’s little-watched cable channel, and will serve in a vaguely defined role as a breaking-news anchor,” Williams is making the talk show rounds in a quasi-apology tour.
Following a recent appearance by that other pillar of integrity, Rachel Dolezal, Williams appeared on the Today Show yesterday and was interviewed by Matt Lauer:
In his first public comments since being suspended by NBC in February, Williams told co-host Matt Lauer that “what has happened in the past has been identified and torn apart by me and has been examined to death by me. I’m responsible for this and I’m sorry.”
But under prodding by Lauer, Williams would not admit that his serial exaggerations constituted lying. Instead, he said, it was “my ego getting the better of me” and “came from a bad place inside me” when he told stories about himself that were “wrong.”
Further:
In the “Today” interview, Williams came closest to conceding he lied when he told Lauer, “I said things that were not true.” He blamed “a sloppy choice of words” and said some events “got turned around” in his mind.
He added, “I got it wrong. I own this and I own up to this.”
The Washington Post described “a visibly sweating Williams” as saying his story should be described as: “A chastened and grateful man, mindful of his blessings [and] mindful of his mistakes, returns, hoping for forgiveness and acceptance.”
No comment from MSNBC’s on-air talent about Williams becoming a part of the line-up and what that says about MSNBC, given that he is no longer worthy of the high standards of NBC Nightly News – where integrity matters.
Williams wants everyone to be reassured about his seriousness:
“What has happened in the past has been identified and torn apart by me and has been fixed, has been dealt with. And going forward, there are going to be different rules of the road,” he said. “I get this. I’m responsible for this. I am sorry for what happened here. I am different as a result, and I expect to be held to a different standard.”
–Dana
Hello.
Dana (86e864) — 6/19/2015 @ 9:32 amit’s a poetic sort of justice that he’s being exiled to MSNBC…
redc1c4 (269d8e) — 6/19/2015 @ 9:37 amredc1c4 wrote:
For between $8 and $10 million a year, you can exile me to MSNBC, too!
Maybe he has to give Rachael Maddow the occasional foot rub.
The much poorer Dana (f6a568) — 6/19/2015 @ 9:43 amwith his tongue?
😎
redc1c4 (34e91b) — 6/19/2015 @ 9:53 amcomcast is a scummy low-class operation i wouldn’t want to work for them
i guess he feels like he doesn’t have any real options
this is what happens when you lie
happyfeet (a037ad) — 6/19/2015 @ 10:30 amThat’s just rude.
But funny!
Steve57 (48418e) — 6/19/2015 @ 10:36 amYou can’t undo the past, Mr. Williams. Fixed and dealt with, sometimes.
I will hold you to the same standard you failed to meet before. Most of us fail to completely meet that standard, including me.
You may want to consider this example apology; eight sentences, thirty-four words:
I hurt you. I was wrong. It was my fault. I will not do that again. I am sorry. I have restored what I can. I offer you my apology. I beg your forgiveness.
htom (4ca1fa) — 6/19/2015 @ 10:43 amUmm, no. I think it will involve more than that. I’ve seen how Lena Dunham has used his daughter.
The negotiations will probably result in:
Brian Williams walks into a bar. He says, “Line up ten tequilas.”
The bartender asks, “What’s the occasion?”
Wilson says, “I just had my first oral, uhh, experience.”
The bartender says, “That’s something worth celebrating. Let me give you one on the house.”
Wilson says, “No, if the first ten don’t get the taste out of my mouth another won’t help.”
Steve57 (48418e) — 6/19/2015 @ 10:44 amI understand one falling short of the integrity mark. The natural man is not particularly inclined toward truthfulness, and when there is vast power and money involved, it is even less compelled to be so.
I also believe in second chances. Because at some point, most everyone needs one – be it in personal relationships or or simply forgiving oneself for a momentary character lapse.
However, when the character lapse is habitual and involves the usury of millions who have put some sort of trust in the person, then I think it’s an entirely different animal. Had Williams come out immediately and kept it honest and simple: I have habitually lied to you. I am not a person of integrity like you believed me to be. I am sorry for this and ask your forgiveness.” Fine. You want forgiveness and understanding that you screwed up? Demonstrate it by understanding that your actions have disqualified you from holding that sort of position again. If he had real integrity, he would never presume to report news of any kind. Except maybe the weather…
The thing is, the public doesn’t need him on the air. America will keep right on humming along as always without his presence. It is Williams that needs Williams on the air and that is only to feed his ego and feel relevant. Why not go write a book, start a consulting firm for high-end players and how to successfully navigate the gray waters of truth and lies, etc. That he thinks he should be on the air doing what he loves tells me he doesn’t fully grasp what he has done.
(That NBC/MSNBC are putting him back on the air also tells me alot about their organization)
Dana (86e864) — 6/19/2015 @ 11:07 amSo now we know. If you’re a lying self aggrandizing leftist media type like Williams you’re worth between 8 and 10 million. If you’re a lying self aggrandizing leftist politician like Hillary! you could be worth up to 200 million. Williams needs a career change. But either way the worse a leftist is as a person the more he/she/it seems to get paid.
Rev. Barack Hussein Hoagie (f4eb27) — 6/19/2015 @ 11:13 amFrom Brian Williams: I told the story correctly for years before I told it incorrectly.
Dana (86e864) — 6/19/2015 @ 11:14 amThe much prettier Dana wrote:
Kind of makes me wonder what he has on some people; NBC could have terminated his contract and saved a clear pile of money. Was there no one, no one at all, who wouldn’t have been both less expensive and not have credibility issues in his past?
The snarky Dana (f6a568) — 6/19/2015 @ 11:17 amlook this an organization that hired Ed ‘I’ll burn the studio down’ Schultz, Sharpton, his crony Joy Reid, Harris Perry, the creepy Brit, name escapes me, now,
narciso (ee1f88) — 6/19/2015 @ 11:19 amSnarky Dana,
I hadn’t considered that…
narciso,
Yes, but don’t forget that Maddow is adored and revered by the left.
Dana (86e864) — 6/19/2015 @ 11:22 amwell I left her out of the rich vein of crazy,
narciso (ee1f88) — 6/19/2015 @ 11:24 amThis liar is no worse than fox news – turd of the tongue – geraldo rivera.
mg (31009b) — 6/19/2015 @ 11:54 amfacts are not her strong suit:
http://hotair.com/archives/2015/06/19/video-former-top-diplomat-gets-reporters-name-wrong-twice-in-interview/
narciso (ee1f88) — 6/19/2015 @ 12:05 pm“What has happened in the past has been identified and torn apart by me…”
– Brian Williams
Preeeeeety sure it was torn apart by other people, bud.
Leviticus (f9a067) — 6/19/2015 @ 12:37 pmI heard Brian Williams died… defending the Alamo.
Guess he got better.
papertiger (c2d6da) — 6/19/2015 @ 1:00 pmIronic. He started out on MSNBC. Now he’s back. With a “slightly” larger salary, to boot.
navyvet (c33501) — 6/19/2015 @ 2:09 pmKind of makes me wonder what he has on some people; NBC could have terminated his contract and saved a clear pile of money.
I have it on good authority [read: I just made this up] that NBC has to keep Brian Williams along because they are developing a prime-time sitcom featuring his daughter Allison as a sexually-frigid career woman who falls in love with Ronan Farrow, playing a suave proctologist who. . . .
No, I just don’t have the heart to finish that joke.
JVW (8278a3) — 6/19/2015 @ 2:44 pmYes, much. He’s doing better So much so that FDR had to order him out of the Philippines, and NBC, shortly before Corregidor fell.
If you recall his last final glorious broadcast, he promised the people of the Philippines, “I shall return.”
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c170/Militarymemorial/macarthur_wading.jpg
Steve57 (48418e) — 6/19/2015 @ 2:46 pmBrian Wilson,
Battle of Flamborough Head
https://pab58.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/bonhomme-richard-engaging-the-serapis-in-battle-paul-walsh.jpg
Steve57 (48418e) — 6/19/2015 @ 2:50 pmI think all the photos of Brian Wilson flying in China as a member of the American Volunteer Group, the Flying Tigers, have been destroyed. Since he later fought behind the lines with the Burmese as part of the fledgling OSS. The forerunner of the the CIA.
Steve57 (48418e) — 6/19/2015 @ 2:58 pmhttp://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/ff/90/ce/ff90ced4d3a69df4fcef426ccfa7019d.jpg
Brian Wilson’s personal P-40 Warhawk, second from left.
Steve57 (48418e) — 6/19/2015 @ 3:08 pmAgain, MSLSD is a good fit… http://t.co/LBdmt7XdHa
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 6/19/2015 @ 3:34 pmBrian, the boy they call Brian.
felipe (56556d) — 6/19/2015 @ 3:51 pmHe needs psychiatric intervention.
slp (347e33) — 6/19/2015 @ 4:32 pmhe needs to be with his own kind
happyfeet (831175) — 6/19/2015 @ 4:51 pmThen there’s that time Brian Wilson won the World Series with phenomenal pitching.
Oh crap this one’s real.
I though you were talking about the Beachboy.
papertiger (c2d6da) — 6/19/2015 @ 5:55 pm# 20.Ironic. He started out on MSNBC. Now he’s back. With a “slightly” larger salary, to boot.
I did not know this. It explains so much, doesn’t it? Lay down with dogs; get up with fleas.
Bill M (906260) — 6/19/2015 @ 6:15 pmBrian Williams* should find out the name of some soldier who was on the helo that was actually shot at, and just say he identifies as that person, and he’ll be hailed as a hero.
It would also be helpful if he declares himself transracial. And perhaps transsexual. Then he could have his own Brandy Williams News Hour.
*I guess I had the Beach Boys on my mind earlier.
Steve57 (48418e) — 6/19/2015 @ 6:55 pmGreetings:
All this will probably be problematic for Pope Francis (of recent Liberation Theology 2.0 fame).
While most Catholics are all about that “firm purpose of amendment”, they also like a bit of avoidance “of the near occasions of sin”.
11B40 (0f96be) — 6/19/2015 @ 7:26 pmpope francis lol
happyfeet (831175) — 6/19/2015 @ 7:48 pmI hate to agree with Mr. feets, but:
It’s side splitting funny to watch the likes of people like those at the NYT who have condemned the Holy See for Galileo now hailing the Holy See as a scientific authority.
Steve57 (48418e) — 6/19/2015 @ 9:26 pmFor all the wrong reasons. When they convicted Galileo, they were going along with what was then the scientific consensus.
And now, the Holy See is going along with the idea of scientific consensus again.
Making the exact same mistake.
And our “betters” applaud.
Steve57 (48418e) — 6/19/2015 @ 9:29 pmThey’re going to pay this psycho-fabulist 8-10 mill a year to read a teleprompter.
They obviously have too much money lying about.
mojo (a3d457) — 6/19/2015 @ 10:22 pmTranslation:
“I wasn’t lying… I actually convinced myself to believe that bullshit.”
IGotBupkis, "Si tacuisses, philosophus mansisses." (225d0d) — 6/19/2015 @ 10:52 pmLiterally, as well as figuratively…
IGotBupkis, "Si tacuisses, philosophus mansisses." (225d0d) — 6/19/2015 @ 10:53 pmWell, we know he’s a liberal. From that and his… ummmm… “lack of veracity”, it’s pretty obvious he’s transcranial.
IGotBupkis, "Si tacuisses, philosophus mansisses." (225d0d) — 6/19/2015 @ 10:55 pmIf you were a shareholder, what would you do?
Gazzer (be559b) — 6/19/2015 @ 11:08 pmThe WaPo wonders why journalists caught fabricating stories are treated differently. Clearly not all fabulists are equal:
Dana (86e864) — 6/19/2015 @ 11:32 pmEven well meaning fools like Hannity, WANT to give Brian Williams a “second chance”. WHAT THE FOCK??? Brian Williams is/was nothing more than a LIBTARD who READ the BIASED LIBTARD “NEWS” that FUKTARD NB-FOCKING-C reported.
Gus (7cc192) — 6/20/2015 @ 12:03 amIN SHORT. Brian Williams have NEVER BEEN ANYTHING MORE, than a BIASED LIBTARD PROPAGANDIST.
WHY ON EARTH WOULD ANY…..conservative, wish him well?????? I do not HATE Brian Williams. IN FACT BRIAN WILLIAMS IS A FOCKING ……..MULTI-MILLLLLLLLLLIONAIRE. HE IS ALSO A LYING LIB HACK.
Again WHAT THE FUK IS WRONG WITH US??????? Brian Williams has LIED and WORKED AGAINST ..us AND the truth. WHY ARE WE FEELING SORRY FOR THIS….LIBTARD MULTI-MILLIONAIRE…LIAR??????
But contemporary disciplinary measures appear to be kinder and gentler. And sometimes, nonexistent.
The world of liberalism run amok, when cheap, two-faced compassion is deemed as the only virtue worth holding.
Mark (a11af2) — 6/20/2015 @ 12:09 amThe much better looking Dana quoted the Post:
If NBC had simply fired Brian Williams, who would have picked him up? What competition could they really have feared from that?
The article itself noted that Janet Cooke, Jack Kelley, Stephen Glass and Jayson Blair never got another journalism job; why should NBC have feared that Mr Williams would be hired by someone else. There just has to be more to the story here, because what we have now makes no sense.
The journalist Dana (f6a568) — 6/20/2015 @ 3:07 amDon’t hold back, Gus; tell us how you really feel! 🙂
The amused Dana (f6a568) — 6/20/2015 @ 3:08 amHe’s untrustworthy. And that’s end of that.
SarahW (6f3980) — 6/20/2015 @ 7:03 ambecause what we have now makes no sense.
Perhaps, but we’re also dealing with increasingly amoral big-business entities such as GE/Comcast/NBC/MSNBC/Universal, who prove on a regular basis that Stalin was not too far from the truth when he said that capitalists would sell them the rope with which they’d be hanged.
Mark (a11af2) — 6/20/2015 @ 8:33 am@13
“look this an organization that hired Ed ‘I’ll burn the studio down’ Schultz, Sharpton, his crony Joy Reid, Harris Perry, the creepy Brit, name escapes me, now,
narciso (ee1f88) — 6/19/2015 @ 11:19 am ”
and our next savior, Chelsea
Angelo (ff88c3) — 6/20/2015 @ 8:43 amI generally enjoy a well fabricated tale, but I draw the line at stolen valor.
steveg (fed1c9) — 6/20/2015 @ 1:48 pmI consider tall tales about war exploits to be diminishing towards those who have risked their lives.
Compare Brian Williams celebrity war correspondent and his tales, to Vietnam combat veteran Bing West who embedded with Marines during the assault on Fallujah. Or compare Williams to novelist Senator James Webb and his tales told from the experience of combat during the Vietnam war.
martin bashir, I had purged his name from my memory, also Jesse Ventura, before he went completely nazgul,
narciso (ee1f88) — 6/20/2015 @ 6:20 pmCan I be transtruthinal? Is that spelled with two “l”s? Or would it be transtruthy? Is that something different?
htom (4ca1fa) — 6/21/2015 @ 8:14 am