Our dangerous macho delusions: Brian Williams’ fraudulence — and our own

[xchrom]

http://www.salon.com/2015/02/09/our_dangerous_macho_delusions_brian_williams_fraudulence_and_our_own/


Brian Williams with U.S. Special Forces in Afghanistan, June 12, 2008 (Credit: NBC/Subrata De)

Comes now Brian Williams, documented liar, contrite anchorman, and national scapegoat.

As the whole wide world knows at this point, Williams was not actually aboard a helicopter that was downed by rocket-propelled grenades during the early days of the Iraq War in 2003. That was just something he told national audiences in order to appear intrepid.

At this point in articles of this ilk, the standard move would be to quote Williams talking about his fake experience then to froth about what a disgrace it is that such a prominent journalist could lie about such a thing, and how he has betrayed our soldiers and the public trust and blah-blah-blah.

I’m not going to do that because such sermonizing misses the point, which is that, as Americans, we are totally hung up on notions of physical courage to the near exclusion of moral courage.

I’ll elaborate in just a second, but let’s begin with two smaller points. The first is that Brian Williams, whatever else he might be, is primarily a television star. Every night, he sits on an elaborate set with his hair and makeup just so and he reads the news. To consent to the idea that he embodies the journalistic integrity of NBC News and its affiliated reporters is sort of like judging a deodorant based on how its pitchman smells.

[KG]

1. it would be healthier if the apologists stop pretending he 'misremembered'

[Ichingcarpenter]

2. Digby on the Brian Williams story

How Is This "Mistake" Different?

Journalists and "journalists" get called out all the time by groups like Media Matters and comedians like Stewart and Colbert. Sometimes the media address their "mistakes," often the critics are ignored.

What is different about this story is that it forced Williams (and NBC) to acknowledge his lie. The reason it wasn't ignored is because it came from another serious media player, Stars and Stripes. Especially interesting is that this player might not have run the story at a different time under a different administration.

I want to encourage more of this kind of work, especially if it is used to improve the quality of our media. What will it take?

Why Was this False Narrative Encouraged For So Long?

Some have asked, "Why wasn't this corrected sooner?" That's easy to answer, William's fabricated close call with a RPG on a chopper was part of the narrative about the war that the media created for itself and for Americans at home.

They were assisted by the military brass who knew a good story when they heard it, therefore they didn't take steps to correct the record. As they say, "Never let the truth get in the way of a good story."

The lie about William's getting shot down reinforced several ideas and narratives.

1) Iraq is a scary place and needs control. Reporters need to be embedded with "the troops" for their own protection. The green zone briefing tent gives the media what they need to know. Shorthand for staying put? "Remember what happened to Brian Williams."

2) We need to fight these people, they are fighting us.
"They aren't throwing flowers and sweets at us you peace-loving hippies! They SHOT AT BRIAN WILLIAMS! Of COURSE we had to kill everyone in the area!"

3) People with "skin in the game" sell the war better. Some in the military knew it was a lie, but why spoil Williams' great story? "Let the baby have his bottle."

4) Excitement! Ratings! Stories about people trying to kill rich innocent journalists are exciting! People at home can feel better about killing Iraq's when America's Favorite 30 Rock guest star is almost killed.

Getting the perspectives of the poor innocent Iraqis is boring and makes people at home feel bad. I'm falling asleep just typing that sentence.

5) The biggest relate-able celebrity is always used to pitch the story. Want to tell a story about the massive tsunami in another country? Tell the story of the white supermodel caught in it.

6) Use the "missing white woman" story for war. The decision by NBC and Williams to co-opt a real person's experience was useful to get the public's attention and empathy using someone they could relate to.

NBC and Williams might even have justified the lie saying it was representative of others' real story that wouldn't get covered without celebrity.

Who Kept This Narrative Going?

That the truth got out at all is rather astonishing, and I'm glad it did. Imagine if this encouraged other people to come forward to tell real war stories vs. the narrative myth created for positive public consumption?


http://digbysblog.blogspot.dk/2015/02/brian-williams-rpg-mistake-in-iraq-was.html

[malaise]

5. Excellent read

Especially interesting is that this player might not have run the story at a different time under a different administration.

This line is oh so real

[marym625]

3. I am a little disappointed on the continued vilification of Williams

Last edited Mon Feb 9, 2015, 09:08 AM - Edit history (1)

Besides the point you made, I believe it was an honest mistake, albeit stupid.

We tend to embellish our memories. We remember incorrectly and are positive of what we think happened. Though he should have refreshed his memory prior to bringing it up, the fact it was so easily checked, and he knew that, tells me he just truly remembered it as he told it.

My uncle died in 2007. Two aunts, my father and I were sitting vigil most of the day. My aunts decided to go to 5pm mass, both to pray and believing my uncle might be waiting to be alone. My cousin and his wife were on their way to the house at that time. So my father and I sat very quietly, alone, with the lights low, by my uncle's bedside. It wasn't long after that quiet that we lost my uncle as my dad and I held his hands and told him not to be afraid.

My father immediately jumped in his car and drove to get my aunts from church. About 10 minutes later my cousin and his wife showed up.

I can't tell you how I am positive it happened this way or that I was alone in the house for those 10 minutes, but I am.

Just a little over a year ago, my cousin and his wife, at my father's death bed, my cousins got in an argument about who was with my uncle. They insisted I had gone outside for a smoke and that they were alone with him. We didn't keep the argument up long, thankfully, but I was blown away by their memory and insistence they were not just there, but alone with him. I know they truly believe this. I know they are completely wrong.

People just remember things incorrectly over time and they do it without malice. I believe what Williams did was just that. Stupid not to check but still, an honest mistake.

We can vilify him for a great deal of things. This, I believe, is being over dramatized.

[WhiteTara]

4. What?

He made a mistake in being in the helicopter and not being in the helicopter? No, that was a lie. It would not matter except he told MILLIONS of people and never bothered to remember correctly. At best he is sloppy. At worst he is a liar in many things, not just being shot at in a helicopter.

[marym625]

6. I am not excusing him.

There is no excuse. I didn't mean that. Sorry I wasn't clear.

I'm talking about harping on it like it's the worst thing MSM actors (and that's pretty much all he is) do and have done. His career is over. Thankfully, he was busted. But there are so many more lies from MSM that should be called out, many worse than this.

I don't think we should forget about it but I also don't think that it was along the same lines as the lies that helped get us into illegal wars.

I truly believe that this particular lie, that was so easily refuted, was more of an error in his memory. He believed his own propaganda and like the big fish my grandfather caught, became bigger each year.

I am not justifying it. He should have been called out. He should lose his career. That's happened.

[WhiteTara]

10. It is exactly like lying us into war

He lied that he was in a nasty little war and he was the victim. We are/were the perps in this war and he helped push us in and then lied while he was at it.

But to some, I guess this is just a little lie and should be excused...yes, excused so he can keep on lying. Glad he's gone.

[marym625]

12. I never excused him.

I never said it was "a little lie."

There are over 50 posts just in GD about this one thing. This is while there are continuing lies by MSM daily. There are still plenty of anchors on air that lied about the war. The perpetrators of the war walk free, not even charged for their war crimes.

I'm as entitled to my opinion as you are to yours. He lied. He got caught. He's gone. Let's work on getting rid of the rest of them.

[WhiteTara]

18. Let's go for Dead Intern Joe. nt

[marym625]

20. I'm game!

[brush]

35. He also lied about seeing a body floating by during Katrina . . .

in the French Quarter in New Orleans — an elevated part of the city that only had a few inches of flooding.

That never happened either.

Seems there's a pattern of embellishment.

Or, if we get away from the euphemism, he LIES, and a journalist who you don't know if he's telling the truth has no future as a journalist IMO.

How can NBC put him back in the anchor chair now when the country knows he has a history of lying?

There should be an statement coming soon from the network.

[marym625]

39. I don't think he will be

I don't know if they will drop him completely or just keep him behind the scenes. I highly doubt we'll be seeing him at an anchor desk again

[marym625]

7. I also should have said "continued vilification"

Not just "vilification."

[WhiteTara]

9. Curious. How is stating fact

(he lied and did not correct himself until he was caught) "Continued vilification"

[CTyankee]

16. Now that I am so much older I find myself asking "did this really happen."

It's a real phenomenon. I sometimes wonder if something was dreamed, thought up or real. Not a lot of the time, but only when I think way back in the past.

My own take is that Williams just remembered the way he wanted it to be and just re-arranged a few bothersome details. It "could" have been his helicopter that sustained the fire of the enemy.

But let's remember that sometimes over many years, we can always forget something that was crucial in our lives...I get the "in the fog of war" as I have had "in the fog of disillusionism or pain or hurt."

[marym625]

17. That's what I think

And I think with this, he should have been called on it. He was. He's gone. Career down the toilet.

Let's get the other offenders and move on.

[merrily]

32. +1

[former9thward]

22. If that was the only "misremembering".

It wasn't. He claimed he was in a copter in Israel that came under rocket fire from Hezbollah. He claimed he was in the Super Dome during Katrina when "people I was with died" and he saw a suicide there and he saw a body float by in the French Quarter when the French Quarter was not flooded. He claimed that gangs in Katrina invaded his hotel. Never happened. He claimed he was robbed at gun point when he was a kid. No police report.

A "few bothersome details"? No, totally invented stories.

[CTyankee]

24. then there is something very wrong with him.

He is very delusional.

[merrily]

30. Not always an obstacle in journalism, apparently, esp. at NBC News.

Not always an obstacle in journalism, apparently, esp. at NBC News.Mike Barnicle made up stories in Boston. Real tear jerkers. I don't know if he was delusional or just lazy or out to manipulate emotions, but it doesn't matter. It was a fairly big scandal at the time. Nonetheless, he has a relatively cushy spot on Morning Joe, supposedly representing the "liberal" view, just like his fellow fawner, Mika.

NBC News also let Pat Buchanan serve as its political expert--and especially its supposedly liberal station---years after his racism had become painfully obvious to everyone who cares, even a little, about racism. And Chuck Toad is a partisan disgrace, just like Gregory was and just like Russert was, only Russert knew how to be sneakier about it. (Ditto Matt Lauer.) They did not get rid of Buchanan until they could no longer pretend he wasn't racist. (Yet, he continued on the McLaughlin Group at PBS!!)

Even if Williams doesn't need a comeuppance here--and I fully believe he does--NBC News sure needs a massive one. Maybe media in general.

[merrily]

27. You are recounting a time of severe personal grief and family trauma. And, unlike journalists, it is

not your job to get things right. You did not show up at the vigil, getting paid millions of dollars, for the sole purpose of getting the story right so that you could convey it to America correctly. Moreover, if I am to believe Williams lies were nothing more good faith mistakes, someone has to point out to me the times his good faith mistakes made him look like less of a hero in the situation that he actually was. Otherwise, he fails my honest diner test.

This is my honest diner test. Let's say, I go to the same diner often. And, not every single time, but often enough to raise questions, they get my check wrong. Up to this point, they could just be human, right? Diners get busy, wait staff may not be great at math, whatever. If the diner's math mistakes are sometimes in my favor and sometimes in favor of the diner, I'm cool with continuing to believe that the diner is honest, but simply messes up sometimes, as do all human. But, if the diner's math mistakes are all in favor of the diner, I'm pretty sure they're not mistakes, but quite calculated (no pun intended).

When mistakes come to light showing Williams was some swashbuckling hero in real life, but failed to report that or played it down on occasion, I'll be more inclined to believe that he made honest mistakes. Even then, though, a journalist's job is to get the story right--and not become the story himself or herself.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/02/09/questioning-the-ritz-carlton-gangs-that-brian-williams-said-terrorized-him-during-katrina/

[marym625]

38. yes, I agree

Again, I am not excusing him. Whether an outright liar, which he seems to be, or just mistaken because he's more important in his head than in reality, he's busted, he's gone. Let's move on

Maybe we can start a campaign and go after them one by one. With all of us going after a particular liar, someone suggested dead intern Joe, we'll have enough shit on each one until they're all gone.

I just don't think continuing with the Brian Williams stuff is worth it when the goal has been accomplished.

[JEB]

8. "The News" as presented in the mainstream

deserves a large dose of skepticism. Corruption and greed taint more than a bit of what you see on the TV.

[yuiyoshida]

11. You know I wonder

Why he said what he said. Surely he doesn't lack self esteem?? Was he bragging and for what reason? Guess we will never know, but its hard to believe that someone who is on a huge TV Network and with a kind of Celebrity status, would need to further prop himself up?

[former9thward]

23. He feels guilty he is making millions and was never in any real danger

unlike many of the people in stories he has covered. So he had to invent 'danger cred' for himself.

[yuiyoshida]

25. makes sense

So he has guilty feelings... Guess He would feel uncomfortable working at FOX... OR ... maybe not.

[merrily]

33. Follow the money.

The man's career is very much linked to sponsors and sponsors are very much linked to ratings.

Who would many Americans rather tune into? The news guy who has had exciting experiences and narrowescapes or the guy who stayed at the Ritz Carleton during Katrina. wearing waders for the camera, even though he was standing on where there was not enough water to wet the tops of his shoes, making up stuff about having witnessed a suicide and bravely waving away an IV because he did not want to "pull rank." (What the hell is his rank anyway?). Or the guy to whom nothing exciting ever seems to happen, the one who just reads off the teleprompter in the studio?

Usually, exciting things, good or bad, happen to people who take big risks. Staying at the Ritz Carleton during Katrina wasn't much of a risk. Williams wanted the ratings/moneyglory without taking the risks. His way was lying.

[pinboy3niner]

13. What's all this fuss about Brian Williams’ flatulence?

Oh, wait...well, that's very different!

[merrily]

28. I enjoy your sense of humor.

[libtodeath]

14. Did Brian Williams cost the world millions of lifes

billions and billions of dollars and create more terrorists?

Didnt think so.

[merrily]

31. Was Williams among the few in mass media who was NOT complicit with Bushco when it came to

trying to trying to convince America that invading Iraq was absolutely necessary to stop the smoking gun from becoming a mushroom cloud somewhere in the US?

Didn't think so.

Many Americans will knee jerk when they hear that the nice guy to whom they tune in most evenings, the charmer they enjoy slow talking the news on the Tonight Show so much, got shot down by them furriners for no good reason.

[bulloney]

34. Did Brian Williams cost millions of lives and billions of dollars and create more terrorists?

I think Williams, his employer and the other MSM in this country are all complicit. They tripped over themselves making this Iraq war invasion into some glorious, star-spangled sporting event. It was NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN from the "news" world and Faux Snooze from the RW clown car world.

As an earlier poster stated - Follow the money. NBC is owned by General Electric, the world's largest defense contractor.

[AZ Progressive]

15. Brian Williams is just another example of the sickness of a culture that trivializes ethics

[elias49]

19. Jon Stewart just opened his show tonight with Brian's story

You MUST catch it on the interconnected tubes.

[Oilwellian]

21. It was a thing of beauty

It was a take down of all of our lying teeeeveeee newz guyz. Truly, a wonderful segment. Stewart knocked it out of the park.

[merrily]

29. Given how much Stewart has mentioned Williams cordially and has obviously

enjoyed having him as a guest, Stewart deserves kudos for this, as he does for so many other segments.

[merrily]

37. All of our lying newz guyz, but not Williams.

I just caught the show on On Demand. I misunderstood your post and that of elias49. I had assumed that Stewart had a problem with Williams lying that Stewart surfaced during his show and based my first post on that assumption. Having viewed the show, it seems Stewart's problem was with those who accused Williams for lying. So, apparently, my first post was way off the mark.

[merrily]

36. Deleted. Wrong spot.

[merrily]

26. I'm to blame because Williams lies again and again? Geez, I'm so ashamed of me. Of him? I promise

to clean up his act. My act? His act? Whatever.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/02/09/questioning-the-ritz-carlton-gangs-that-brian-williams-said-terrorized-him-during-katrina/

[elias49]

40. Relax. You're trying too hard!