"Today Show" Hires Jenna Bush

[indimuse]

Source: Associated Press

(edited for copyright purposes-proud patriot Moderator Democratic Underground)

NEW YORK — NBC's "Today" show has hired someone with White House experience as a new correspondent – former first daughter Jenna Bush Hager.

Hager, a 27-year-old teacher in Baltimore, will contribute stories about once a month on issues like education to television's top-rated morning news show, said Jim Bell, its executive producer.

The daughter of former President George W. Bush said she has always wanted to be a teacher and a writer, and has already authored two books. But she was intrigued by the idea of getting into television when Bell contacted her.

"It wasn't something I'd always dreamed to do," she said. "But I think one of the most important things in life is to be open-minded and to be open-minded for change."

She'll essentially work two part-time jobs as a correspondent and in her school, where she will be a reading coordinator this year.

Bell said he got the idea after seeing Hager in two "Today" appearances. She was on the program two years ago to promote her book about an HIV-infected single mother, "Ana's Story: A Journey of Hope," and it went so well that a short interview was stretched to nearly a half hour. She and her mother, Laura Bush, also co-hosted an hour of "Today" around the time their picture book came out.

(snip)

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/30/today-show-hires-jenna-bu_n_272220.html

---

Hmmmmmm..

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. No Jenna you are not normal

You are a snotty little bitch from an evil family.

[saigon68]

17. Pierce Bush has more class

They should have hired him

[medeak]

50. her first guest is Liz Cheney

with Megan McCain and Luke Russert ;-)

[robo50]

52. Are you serious? Is this serious stuff? I don't know what to think

about this whole news item, in the first place.

Jenna Bush, now she has something to say that would be informative?

I seriously doubt it.

[sunnybrook]

89. Isn't this the same network that hired Limbaugh?

However MSNBC came out of that I do not know

[Rage for Order]

53. Wow, petty much?

Certainly George W. Bush deserves all of the scorn you can heap upon him, but I've seen nothing from his daughters that justifies the transference of your hate from father to daughter. You know practically nothing about her, yet you are certain that she is both evil and a snotty little bitch. Stay classy.

:eyes:

[proud2BlibKansan]

57. How the hell do you know what I know about her?

You don't.

Great response when you start out calling ME petty. LOL

And yes, she is a bitch.

[wickerwoman]

60. What do I know about her?

She blew off her first teaching job two weeks before school started (leaving the low income kindergarten where she was supposed to teach scrambling to fill the position) so that she could campaign for Daddy because apparently she wasn't aware that he was running until mid-August.

She used to ditch her secret service detail, people who were paid to take a bullet for her spoiled ass, so that she could party without the hassle. They also took one of her boyfriends to the ER after he overdosed.

While girls with less fortunate parentage were being shot at and killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, she was running around naked in hotels in Brazil.

That's enough for me.

She shouldn't get a free pass because her parents were famous either, especially now that she's forging her own career.

[rocktivity]

82. It's all the people who wasted their time and effort on journalism school

who I feel sorry for.

:headbang:
rocktivity

[Dr_Willie_Feelgood]

76. People with Right Wing parents need to shut up...

...and hide themselves away!

Right, Ron? Right Stephanie? Right, Hillary? :sarcasm:

Is she a hard core irredeemable right winger, or is there any chance she might grow and learn?

[immoderate]

78. Excellent!

I haven't heard much from Jenna, except that interview in 2008 where she said she hadn't decided whom she would vote for. If I had to guess I would say Obama. I wouldn't say she deserves that opportunity, but getting in the door is not exactly a merit system. She doesn't deserve to be black balled either.

Maybe she is an idiot -- but then we'll soon surely know it. And then she might have hidden talents.

You are so right -- Ron and Steph are first class talent. Apple ... tree ... far!

--imm

[Berry Cool]

85. I believe Ron, Stephanie and Hillary all worked hard to get where they are now.

Remember when Ron tried his stint as a ballet dancer? The guy knows the meaning of hard work in more than one field. He didn't expect the path to be smoothed for him by his dad.

Stephanie did acting and comedy and served as a sidekick to morning DJ's for years. I don't think she was playing the role of "Sister Sleaze" to "Brother Wease" on the radio show I listened to back in Rochester, NY in the '80s because of who her dad was.

As for Hillary...yeah, she got to be where she is today because she's Hugh Rodham's daughter. :rofl: Hell, she didn't even get to where she is today merely by being Bill Clinton's wife.

The point is not that Jenna is a right-winger. The point is, she got her job purely through being who she is and not on merit.

[SpiralHawk]

2. The No-Daughter Left Behind gambit of corporate media

America needs another smarmy, Republicon nepotism princess, like it needs another 8-years of Republicon FAIL>

[LuckyLib]

3. You can start by using appropriate grammar, as a budding media specialist, Jenna.

"It wasn't something I'd always dreamed to do" is not grammatically correct, Jenna, nor is it any form of regional dialect. And as for being an expert in education, litercy, and women's issues? Oh, please. How long have you been teaching? Give me a break!

[Wizard777]

14. I'm from Bal'mer, Anyone even attempting to use proper grammar will be run out of the City.

Most likely with a hail of bullets on their tail. In Bal'mer proper grammar is everything fighting words is made of. Bal'mer was Larry The Cable Guy fans way back when he used to begin his routine with "What is this Rushie?" Larry can end a sentence in 8 prepositions. He undoubtedly picked that up in Bal'mer. So :P

[calimary]

44. And... um...

this is a good thing?

Just asking...

Sorry, I'm kind of a grammar nazi.

[dbonds]

45. There was a movie about this, called Idiocracy

[waiting for hope]

16. She's been teaching in a Charter School -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jenna_Bush#Teaching_career

Go figure ... :eyes:

[MBS]

4. Good God. n/t

[Loge23]

5. She'll fit right in there.

With that bunch of morons, spokesmodels, and flacks.

[zonkers]

6. Let's give the girl a chance. Yeah, she partied and she's a daddy's girl but who knows? Surrounded

by forward thinking people and exposed to a range of experiences, she could surprise us. People change people grow. Life is funny. I wish her luck.

[jmondine]

11. I agree. Look at Ron Reagan

[Javaman]

81. Yeah, but also look at Ron's brother. He's an ultra right winger. nt

[jmondine]

88. Well then, guess she's got a 50/50 chance

[No Elephants]

13. So, when will Today be hiring forward looking people to surround her?

[zonkers]

15. I think being in N.Y. with all its multiculturalism will have a positive effect on her sensibility.

[madamesilverspurs]

18. And if that's the case

she'll keep it to herself. Wouldn't want to get herself cut out of the will, doncha know.

[lib_wit_it]

21. Zinnnng!

[muffin1]

23. Hellooooo!!!!!

Kathie Lee Gifford is not just a pretty face!!!!11!!:shrug:

[NashVegas]

37. And Prop Her Up?

Good question. I hope it pays well.

[Name removed]

26. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ShortnFiery]

28. Let "the girl" who, merely by birth will be moved to the front line of Journalism.

We are losing our democratic republic if anyone here thinks this move is A OK? :grr:

[City Lights]

38. +1!

Doors will open for Jenna that would remain locked for most of us. The same is true for Luke Russert. Both may prove themselves worthy in the end, but the doors were opened for them simply because of their parents.

[NashVegas]

36. Yeah, Fuck All Those Columbia Journalism Grads From Non-Connected Families

Or, for that matter, State University of Washington or any other "college" where people spend up to $120 k for a diploma that's never going to open the doors that get thrown wide for children of the rich & famous.

[robo50]

54. Screw them all, NBC wants to kiss stupid Republican butts.

I say SCREW NBC.

Luke Russert is bad enough, but at least he had a father with a brain.

[MichiganVote]

39. You're kidding right? A girl who has worked part time as a reading specialist in

a charter school is now going to report on education? To whom? It won't be seasoned teachers I can tell you that. All this consists of is another PR move for the Bush family and not a very good one.

Gag me.

[sabrina 1]

46. Anyone who allows themselves to believe

that this woman could 'surprise us' or 'grow' beyond what we already know about her, doesn't realize that this country is in a state of emergency when it comes to the 'fourth estate'. The media needs to be given back to the people, not handed to plants from the elitists who were part of the take-over of the media.

There are far too many problems to solve regarding one of the most important elements of any democracy which is how the people get their news, for us to have time to give chances to people like this. Haven't we learned anything?

How about we give a chance to some real journalists, including some who as a result of her father's mob, lost their jobs fro attempting to tell the truth about his illegal wars. Ashley Banfield, eg.

Sorry, I do not fell charitable towards anyone with the name 'Bush'. My sympathy is reserved for their many, many victims, such as those who lost years of their lives in Bush/Cheney torture chambers and have yet to receive even an apology, let alone any kind of justice. Please, asking to hlep out a member of that family who have enough stolen money to last several generations, is an insult to all those who have NO lives because of them.

The day she disowns them maybe but so far that doesn't seem likely.

[UpInArms]

7. I am now grateful that I live in an NBC free zone

I don't even have to worry about running into her tripe and being sullied by her crap.

[JackintheGreen]

8. So she has to work multiple jobs to make ends meet?

Probably not. But it's as close as she's likely to come to the reality for many teachers.

[True_Blue_KY_Dem]

9. Oh please!

Not another one. Faux News has plenty of "airheads", guess NBC is trying to play catch-up, huh?!

LOL!

[Doctor_J]

10. God, I hate Big Media

Filthy, propaganda-spewing right wing fascists. They make me literally sick to my stomach. Where does the right-wing government end and the right-wing media begin? Let me know if you can figure that out.

[KamaAina]

12. Somewhere a shark is looking up

and watching the Today Show sail over its head. :eyes:

edit: header

[JerseygirlCT]

19. Like that awful Jenna Wolf wasn't bad enough. (Not to mention Kathy Lee) Now we're going

to have to deal with this person?

[47of74]

20. I get a headache between and behind by eyes just thinking about her

[proteus_lives]

77. That's a great pic!

:rofl:

[newspeak]

22. I already turn it when the Bush cousin comes on

I'll never forget "cousin" Bush calling the election for his Uncle on Fox--never forgive either. Come on networks, keep hiring Bushies and I'll finally have an excuse to get rid of the telly!!!!! Ya know it's football for my hubby and baseball and golf and tennis.

[truthisfreedom]

24. Wow, she's changed. She looks like her dad with a hippie wig now.

Eww.

[Name removed]

29. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[buff2]

35. Hot???

She has her (murderer) mom's cheeks and eyes....her skanky father's mouth. Yeah......that's one helluva combination alright! Doesn't make her "hot" though. Better get your eyes checked. :puke::puke: :puke:

[Name removed]

64. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

68. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[krister]

70. Uhhhhhmmmmm

:puke:

:puke:

:puke:

The spittin' image.

[DBoon]

73. What's with the strangely crooked smile? nt

[catzies]

84. Hate the new look on her & the resemblance to her dad is quite eerie

Liked her better as a blonde.


Look at those eyes. She's a chip off that block for sure.

[BlueIdaho]

25. Well, somebody has to get the coffee... nt.

[ShortnFiery]

27. Thugs and Traitors!

Corporate M$M never fails to hire the imbeciles and/or the scum of the earth to whore for the upper 1% of the planet. :puke: :grr:

[LibDemAlways]

30. All across the US journalism majors are struggling to make tuition payments

in hopes of one day graduating and being hired by some station in Podunk to fetch coffee and maybe, over many years, to work themselves up to a position of some sort of responsibility. And along comes a young woman with nothing going for her except her name and connections and woosh....she's hired onto a morning network show. As an old friend of mine was fond of saying, "There is no justice." And as my mom frequently intones: "It isn't what you know. It's who you know." Truer words.....

[Berry Cool]

86. That's roughly what I said when The Weather Channel and WNBC hired Keith Olbermann's girlfriend

and I love Keith, but I don't think sleeping with him should qualify anyone for a job working at his network when her biggest qualifications appear to be that she spent a couple of years covering local news in New York (which she probably could not have afforded to do were she not living rent-free with Keith) and that her parents were pioneering chopper news reporters in LA with their own news agency and she used to do a little work for them when she was a teenager. I mean, she's either getting jobs because of Keith or because of who her parents are, but it's preferential treatment either way.

Meanwhile, I, who would gladly sleep with Keith for free :rofl: , have two J-school degrees and am currently looking for work.

So, you see, it's not just the politics that are the problem. It's the favoritism. Stuff like this just spits in the eye of everything we were told as kids about America being a place where anyone could achieve anything based on merit.

[fascisthunter]

31. it must be nice being uppercrust... without qualifications, just a name

[Lagomorph]

63. That's all it takes.

The "correct" last name, the "correct" connections and the ability to read the script.

The "correct" population of America is far less than a million.

The rest of us are livestock.

[donco6]

32. It was bad enough already.

Lead story: Michael Jackson: Still Dead

And a follow up by Jenna - How I've Been Touched by Michael

[jmowreader]

33. It might work...

This isn't Edward R. Murrow, Walter Cronkite and Dan Rather's journalism business anymore. The people you see on camera on your favorite news program are paid to wear makeup, not to create news. News shows have writers now. Keith Olbermann and Jon Stewart are two of the exceptions to the rule, and there aren't many more. I think Jenna Hager can read off the screen of a teleprompter at least as well as anyone on Faux and Friends can.

[Rocky Sullivan]

91. Jon Stewart is a comedian, not a journalist. n/t

[Quasimodem]

34. So much for the hope . . .

. . . that Jenna might stop and consider what happened to her father whenever he got in over his head.

Or, Today Show executive producer, Jim Bell, would consider what happened to all those other businesses concerns after they committed the folly of hiring Jenna’s father.

[onager]

40. Another freebie for America's First Family of Freeloaders.

Anybody else remember when Poopy Bush and Mrs. Lamia finally slithered out of the White House in '92?

Why, they just opened their claws and money RAINED down from the skies! Including a huge gratuity from the Korean Baby Jesus, Sun-Myung Moon.

Then they had the unmitigated gall to criticize Bill Clinton for making paid speeches after G.W. stole the White House.

If I never heard another word about any member of this litter of overrated and incompetent grifters, it would be too soon.

[Joe Bacon]

41. Yet another reason not to watch Today.

She's just another joker shuffled into a crooked deck of cards.

[robo50]

55. Yes, I love that! Today is trash TV starting at 7 AM... that's all it

can ever be, now that the person responsible for hiring has proved to be absolutely without ethics and journalistic management skills.

[GinaMaria]

42. What does this quote mean?

"I hope to focus on what I'm passionate about because I think I'd do them best job on them – education, urban education, women and children's issues and literacy," said Hager

[robo50]

56. It means any semblance of intellectual merit and ability the master the

English language grammar.

[GinaMaria]

66. She's smart, like her dad n/t

[Blandocyte]

43. She could be tequila correspondent

[benld74]

47. Another Talkin head for the masses to consume

[Historic NY]

48. I saw an old bumper sticker this weekend...in PA.

its said elect Hillary a real Bush to the WH. So I would say why get a phony Bush find a real one.

[crim son]

49. I don't do that show, or any other talk or "news" shows.

Now I have one more reason.

[Zorra]

51. How many deserving, talented people were passed over so the privileged little rich girl

could get that job?

It would be very interesting to see who was pulling the strings here.

[robo50]

58. The best piece of investigative journalism would probably be to

investigate this hiring and the strings behind it.

Heck, investigate the Today show and all their staff completely.

[GinaMaria]

65. There might not have been a job. Likely this was created

just for her.

[fishnfla]

59. good for her

she's got small shoes to fill

[MetaTrope]

61. Will she wear her formal courtroom attire?

Pink capri pants, skimpy black tank top, flip-flops and a toe ring?

[mulhollanddriven]

62. Ugh

It doesn't help that her father was a dead ringer for Ted Bundy....now we get to look at a female Ted Bundy in a wig....shit gives me the creeps.

She's perfect for the Today Show audience....vapid, insipid, spoiled, uncurious, shallow, did I mention vapid?

[Algorem]

67. hate to see our liberal media get infiltrated like this

this could threaten the success of our socialist revolution

[Ms. Toad]

69. Kinda makes me glad the digital conversion

wiped out my ability to watch the Today show. Since all I get that time of day are random pixels (at most), I'm not likely to accidentally stumble into one of her pieces.

[Dinger]

71. Bet She Loves Arne Duncan

and his bullshit.

[hyphenate]

72. The first time I saw that headline

I thought it said "The Daily Show" and I was intrigued to think that the daughter of one of the crookedest politicians in history was going to be a "reporter" on the one TV show that skewered her father the most. THAT would have been one of the best decisions ever, to see the first daughter creaming her dad and Dickhead on TV.

But it ain't so, unfortunately. Instead, she will be Miss Shiny Newpants filled with bubbles and little else. Oh, well.

[maddogesq]

74. I must borrow an immortal line from the movie Fargo:

"Oooooh, I think I'm gonna barf!"

[llmart]

75. One more reason.......

why I won't watch that piece of shit show. Matt Lauer makes me barf.

As others here have said, just like her old man she's handed everything. Doesn't have to work for it. She needs a job like she needs another drink. There are probably many, many young people who would be so much better and have worked harder to get through school, but no. This bimbo gets it handed to her on a silver platter.

[yellowwood]

79. No More Morning NBC

Under no circumstances will I watch NBC in the morning from now on. I boycott.
Why does being the daughter of the worst President in history entitle her to a job?

[windowpilot]

80. Hire her,

or will anthrax your ass.

[tonekat]

83. Yet another reason to not watch NBC

Especially the "Today" infomercial show or whatever it's become.

[DebbieCDC]

87. Just reinforces my decision 10 years ago to stop watching that drek

RW bullshit spewing from the TeeVee first thing in the morning? No thank you. Tried NPR instead but now it's nothing more than RW radio. So I watch the local channel for weather, traffic and headlines and then turn it off until Keith comes on.

[crazyjoe]

90. wow, hate much?

[Quasimodem]

92. Keep it in perspective.

". . . Bush will contribute stories about once a month . . ."

So that means that once a month you will have to go to the bathroom during the show, and stay away until the following commercial break begins.