Today Show: Reeve Fights on for Kerry; Inspiring Interview with Afghan President Karzai
The Today Show
Posted on 10/11/2004 4:51:50 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest
freerepublic.com
It could have been worse. The exploitation of Chris Reeve's death for political purposes, that is. If it had combed its archives, Today could probably have displayed footage of Reeve with Kerry, and certainly could have aired a clip of W expressing his opposition to federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. It did not.
In fairness, Today tiptoed to the edge of exploitation but did not quite cross over. That being said . . .
First, there was the red-eyed and distraught Katie. I'm not sure I've ever seen her so sad, up to and including 9/11 or even the day the Supreme Court ended the 2000 recount.
We were treated, not once but twice, to the same clip of Reeve from the 1996 Democratic National Convention, saying "America does not let its neediest fend for themselves," as a man in a wheelchair looked on. Got it.
It was recalled that Kerry referred to Reeve in the Friday night debate. Check.
And when Katie interviewed two of Reeve's doctors, one of them said that Reeve would be so interested to know everything that occurs over the next few weeks with the election, etc. And we all know what that means.
Just in case anyone was still wondering where Chris was coming from, here was a clip of him saying "it gets lonely sometimes to say 'come on, let's get more progressive.'" Yes, that's the problem with America. Not liberal enough.
The message could not have been made too much clearer. Honor Chris Reeve: vote Democrat!
Then it was on to an inspiring interview with Afghani President Hamid Karzai.
A news segment at the top of the hour had done its best to undermine the significance of the election, focusing largely on the snafu with the ink used to ensure that people could only vote once. In fairness, Today did air a clip of an elections inspector stating there was no evidence of fraud, or evidence that any one candidate benifited from the ink mix-up.
But there was no stopping, and no mistaking, the incredibly emotional interview with Hamid Karzai, and to his credit, interviewer Lester Holt (sitting in for Matt and doing, as is his wont, a much fairer job) did nothing to undermine the moment.
Looking strong and confident, dressed in bright green robes, Karzai called the election "a huge step on way to democracy,' and added "the numbers and enthusiasm both were very, very great. It was a day of celebration for the Afghan people. A victory of the Afghan people over terrorism."
It was clear that he was deeply moved by this moment in Afghan history. He went so far as to say that he is more pleased by the fact that Afghanistan has taken this step than he is concerned by whether he wins or loses the election.
Although surely he must have the instincts of a politician, he actually seemed sincere. His joy at presiding over this historic moment was clear and unbridled.
He also stated, in response to a question about the availability of any new intelligence regarding the whereabouts of OBL, that the election sends a message to him that the Afghani people reject him and welcome freedom and democracy, that he will be found sooner or later and that in the meantime he must hide in an even tighter hole.
Karzai went out of his way at the conclusion of the interview to say: "I want to thank the people of the United States for their great help that made this day possible." |
