Videos: Lauer softballs Clinton, accuses Romney of being a millionaire liar
posted at 12:30 pm on January 8, 2008 by Bryan
Via the Corner, take a look at these two clips. They aired within a few minutes of each other this morning on Today. Same show, same interviewer, totally different treatments of the interview subjects. Compare and contrast. Here’s how Lauer treated Hillary. He asks a couple of tough questions but gives her eternities to answer them, and asks more about her emotions than he asks of Romney later.
And here’s how he treated Romney. A little more hostile framing, more skeptical set-ups, more aggressive overall.
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Gawd…plenty of mini-cackles there.
MadisonConservative on January 8, 2008 at 12:33 PM
The liberal media has been pushing hard against Romney because they know he would be the most conservative of all Republican candidates with the ability of beating either Hillary of Obama.
davenp35 on January 8, 2008 at 12:37 PM
Romney wasn’t treated too badly…
Yoosaion on January 8, 2008 at 12:38 PM
Sorry, I don’t see any mistreatment of Mitt. There’s plenty of evidence that the MSM favors democrats, but most conservative talk shows would have been tougher with Romney. It would probably help him if he didn’t always sound so fake.
cameron on January 8, 2008 at 12:41 PM
Anyone with eyes can see that the media has puffed up Huckabee and McCain, especially when they stood a chance at beating Romney.
davenp35 on January 8, 2008 at 12:41 PM
There’s a reason why everyone attacks Romney, including the liberal leaning Republican candidates, Huckster and McCain.
Davenp35 summed it up nicely.
Matt Lauer is ridiculous.
iamse7en on January 8, 2008 at 12:42 PM
Just being “fair and unbiased” in the eyes of the LameStream Media.
Like we aren’t supposed to figure out where he’s coming from. Pathetic.
libhater on January 8, 2008 at 12:42 PM
Can they make it anymore obvious how much they fear Romney has a very viable and articulate Republican candidate? It’s almost laughable.
therightwinger on January 8, 2008 at 12:44 PM
You’re missing the point here- by a few miles.
It isn’t how Romney was treated nor is it how Hillary was treated. It’s the fact that Hillary was treated to her usual round of softball questions while Lauer was almost hostile to Romney. Same interviewer, same day, almost back-to-back. The bias isn’t just unprofessional, it’s offensive.
highhopes on January 8, 2008 at 12:46 PM
I haven’t watched Ly-er in years, now I have been reminded why.
The little snip hasn’t changed a bit.
leanright on January 8, 2008 at 12:48 PM
Y’know…
Does anyone else notice, y’know, how often Hillary, y’know, says “y’know”?
Y’know?
Typhoon on January 8, 2008 at 12:50 PM
?
Gifted used car salesman.
RobCon on January 8, 2008 at 12:50 PM
I think a lot of people underestimate Romney’s chances in the general. The media knows that he has the potential to beat Hillary or Obama, so they push for McCain and Huckabee. If either of them get nominated, the Dems win defacto. Either way they get a liberal in the general. Mitt is the best option for conservatives, because he can win and he would actually govern as a conservative, unlike Huckabee and McCain.
davenp35 on January 8, 2008 at 12:50 PM
The dirty little secret here is that women of all political stripes will vote for Romney over Mrs. Clinton.
EJDolbow on January 8, 2008 at 12:51 PM
Oh !! Yes he has. . . He shaved his head or something
close to it. But he’s still a idiot. Why isn’t he
conducting these interviews from somewhere in the Artic
or a freezer.
Texyank on January 8, 2008 at 12:53 PM
I like Romney. I like Fred more. That’s my order, you know?
tgillian on January 8, 2008 at 12:55 PM
Matt was afraid to have the ‘smartest, toughest, most experienced’ woman in the world tear up on him.
He’s no match for her tears.
jukin on January 8, 2008 at 12:56 PM
I thought Mitt handled the metrosexual’s questions very well…
d1carter on January 8, 2008 at 12:56 PM
What a snearing little creep. I think if I were ever introduced to him I’d smack him just on principle.
peacenprosperity on January 8, 2008 at 1:01 PM
Guys and gals, watch the media tonight. McCain is going to edge out Romney in NH and then the long knives are going to come out against Romney. They will ignore Clinton and they will ignore Fred Thompson the best they can. The talk will all be about Romney and when he’s going to drop out. The reason for this is clear. They can’t wait to see 3 liberals at the top of the Republican ticket. They cannot wait.
Zetterson on January 8, 2008 at 1:01 PM
Matt Lamer Lauer represents the worst in MSM crap interviews.
The bias is unpalatable.
Kini on January 8, 2008 at 1:03 PM
If Mitt gets 2nd, that’s exactly what will happen…and why. Notice how they just ignore that he has the most money, has the most delegates, has the most individual votes (or will after NH), is placing well in every state, and is polling well nationally. Go Mitt!
davenp35 on January 8, 2008 at 1:04 PM
That was pathetic. With Hilly it was like a coffee talk type chat. And the cackling started before he even asked her anything. Was Carville out of frame with a feather? Then Mitt tried to make small talk and Lauer just ignored him and jumped right in. At the end he even gave a little smug look. Or does he always do that? Maybe Cruise was right. Glib.
PowWow on January 8, 2008 at 1:09 PM
No I’m not. I understand the point. I just disagree that “Lauer was almost hostile to Romney.” I thought that, after perhaps a bit of aggressiveness at the beginning or Romney’s interview, Lauer was pretty fair. I think a mountain is being made of a molehill here.
Yoosaion on January 8, 2008 at 1:09 PM
Matt Lauer is practically a woman.
D2Boston on January 8, 2008 at 1:09 PM
Texyank on January 8, 2008 at 12:53 PM
He shaved his hair because Bush got elected and will wear it that way until a lefty wins the W.H., you know, like the little brat that held his breath till mommy bought him what he wanted.
That’s what I mean, he hasn’t grown up in all these years. With spokesman like him, it’s no wonder the lefties can’t act like decent human beings. They have nobody worth looking up to.
leanright on January 8, 2008 at 1:11 PM
They’re all a bunch of pandering, political pigs in perpetuity.
They all make me want to vomit. But the ones who make me want to vomit the most are the ones who are currently holding political offices, and who are being floated, by the taxpayers, while they go from state to state – pandering to the masses. The same masses who don’t seem to give a damn that these pigs are being paid and NOT performing the jobs that they were elected to perform.
That we accept this conduct – this fraud – is nauseating.
OhEssYouCowboys on January 8, 2008 at 1:11 PM
Don’t see it
Wade on January 8, 2008 at 1:12 PM
So what am I missing here? Why is it okay in your books that Lauer can be “agressive” when interviewing one candidate and fawning when interviewing another candidate for the same office? Wouldn’t you agree that journalistic ethics dictate that the journalist (used loosely in this case) not be so blatant in showing support for one candidate over another? I mean, it’s not like he even made any pretense of grilling Hillary.
highhopes on January 8, 2008 at 1:15 PM
Romney, a “millionaire liar?” No… Well.
He is a millionare and a lot of his attack ads have been proven to be untrue and he’s singing a totally different song now then he did a governor. So…um…maybe…yeah.
It’s awe-inspriring how quickly some bring up McCain & Huck’s records as “proof” that they are liberal but turn an intentionally blind eye to Romney’s past. And, as for Romeny being the only Rep. that could win the general election, that’s not supported by facts either. McCain has the highest approval rating among national voters (in fact, I think he’s the only one over 50%) and he hasn’t even started his national campaign yet.
29Victor on January 8, 2008 at 1:15 PM
Lauer is the one who told Gore he could save the planet, is he not? Zzzz…
Seixon on January 8, 2008 at 1:15 PM
Who vetted her??
Notice how Lauer just softly threw that out there. It looks like he’s doing what he can to build some buzz for it. I doubt if many Democrats know how to defend their subconscious from MSM embeds.
snaggletoothie on January 8, 2008 at 1:17 PM
The MSM always brings up the facto that Mitt is from the neighboring state and has a summer home in NH – like Mitt is automatically NH’s favorite.
People I know from NH refer to people from MA as Ma$$holes.
rockbend on January 8, 2008 at 1:19 PM
Matt Lauer and his pseudo-lisp annoy me. He probably has posters of Hillary Clinton in his room.
mattyj86 on January 8, 2008 at 1:20 PM
Lauer’s treatment is a ringing endorsement for me to vote Romney. I like how Romney got about half the airtime of Hillary.
Also, Romney has a point. He came in 2nd in Iowa to Huckabee and McCain finished technically 4th to Thompson. Now in New Hampshire Romney may finish 2nd to McCain, with Huckabee in 3rd at best. So far, this tells me Romney has steady support in these first two states where the others don’t that steady turnout. How can that be bad for Romney if he is finishing no worse than second, where the other candidates are switching between finishing first or third or fourth?
Guilianni scares the heck out of me because he is not even showing up in a poll in either state due to the lack of campaigning in those states. I’m sure he has planned it that way so he can hit the bigger states and concentrate on them, but it still looks bad for him regardless.
Planet Boulder on January 8, 2008 at 1:23 PM
Lauer, soft, balls Clinton.
saint kansas on January 8, 2008 at 1:29 PM
That’s what I call Kerry/Kennedy/Frank/Mumbles Menino et al. I share their sentiment. (Among other things such as traitor, murderer, clueless hypocritical pervert, and moron respectively.)
BKennedy on January 8, 2008 at 1:33 PM
Ma$$holes, Taxachusetts. Massachusetts is a political joke. We have Kennedy, Kerry, (nuff said but I’ll continue) Cadillac “Together we can” Patrick, Mumbles Menino, Barney Frank, ughhh.
The fact that Mitt could do anything in this 95% Dem state is a miracle.
I moved to RI a few months ago.
Geronimo on January 8, 2008 at 1:42 PM
Did you know Mumbles had a phone message going out this weekend asking people to go up to campaign for Shrillary? Someone I know who’s registered U got a call.
PowWow on January 8, 2008 at 1:52 PM
I’m no fan of Lauer however I thought he wasn’t as biased in his two interviews as perhaps he would like to have been.
In fact, the Obama voice-over while Hillary was speaking was not an act of deference to her.
CliffHanger on January 8, 2008 at 2:08 PM
Matt was afraid of making her cry and wouldn’t want the Clinton machine to go after him. Not a big fan of Romney either, but if only he and she were left, I’d have no other choice. I definately don’t want another HilBil back in DC.
girliecue on January 8, 2008 at 2:15 PM
I like Romney. I like Fred more. That’s my order, you know?
tgillian on January 8, 2008 at 12:55 PM
– ditto
sleepy-beans on January 8, 2008 at 2:16 PM
interviews were filmed on different occasions. Matt has on different shirt and tie in each. maybe his was in a better mood one day than the other.
kara26 on January 8, 2008 at 2:32 PM
Mitt is very good in the interview.
MarkB on January 8, 2008 at 3:03 PM
I don’t see any differance in Lauer’s treatment of the two candidates.
Wise Golden on January 8, 2008 at 3:39 PM
Who’d of thunk it – a politician that lies. Gimme’ a break. Some people commenting should do a little research, like the 1800 presidential election. Campaigns were outright defamation.
But to the subject at hand: I though Mattie went easy on Mitt. IT was obvious he showed more ‘affection’ for Ms. Rodham. But otherwise I didn’t see the usual Snerdly Whiplash behavior normally associated with questioning a Repub.
Give me Liberty…or free healthcare/car/home/work/food/Wii…
mksmithwriter on January 8, 2008 at 3:42 PM
I thought Lauer had more rapport with Hillary, so it felt more like a conversation than an interview. With Romney he was more or less respectful, but stilted.
My guess: it’s the hair. Matt has buzzcut remorse.
sulla on January 8, 2008 at 5:03 PM
Wow, I have certainly seen better examples of extreme differences in interviews than this one. If you want to see Matt go off on an interview just mention GWB in a way other than him being a traitor, criminal, or whatever. He can’t control himself. But this one really isn’t bad at all. Sorry MM.
JeffinOrlando on January 8, 2008 at 5:46 PM
Ditto that. There have been worse Lauer interviews that made my blood pressure rise. This wasn’t one of them.
Mitt came off quite well. I frankly would not be uncomfortable with him leading our nation over the next several years.
Captain Scarlet on January 8, 2008 at 6:30 PM