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The Daily Nightly began on May 31, 2005. As Brian wrote in his first post it aims to provide a narrative of the broadcast day and a window into the editorial process at NBC Nightly News. Brian weighs in every weekday and NBC News correspondents and producers post regularly.

Brian Williams became the seventh anchor and managing editor in the history of NBC Nightly News on December 2, 2004. Read his full biography.



About last night

Posted: Tuesday, January 08, 2008 6:17 PM by Barbara Raab
Filed Under:

By Brian Williams, Anchor and managing editor

I see from a tour of the web that we find ourselves in the position of having our own words and reporting turned back around on us, and I wanted to clarify something we posted yesterday.

During my day with the Obama campaign, I took Lee Cowan aside for a brief interview. Lee covers Obama for us, and we're lucky to have him on our roster... he is one of the very best in the business. In the interview, which you can see right here, Lee admits "...it's almost hard to remain objective..." which as he implies is our goal in our work every day. He's referring to what all of us who have covered campaigns have felt from time to time: it's impossible to get the long view...the view from 40,000 feet...while operating at sea level, and inside the bubble.

Lee was talking about the swirl of excitement that has hit the Obama campaign after Iowa -- the crowds, the hoopla -- all of it. Today we learned that rival political efforts were spinning this as some kind of "bias" on the part of either Lee, or me, or this News Division, and that's just ridiculous. My response is as it always is in these situations: look at it again, listen to what's being said, and judge us by the quality and fairness of our journalism.

 

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Dear Brian: I imagine you've had time to read the large number of well-versed letters to you indicating that MSNBC and NBC News fell to new lows last night in their coronation of Obama and bashing of Clinton.  If you are truly the MANAGING Editor of the News Dept., please take a look at your house.  It's become a frat boy club of nearly indistinguishable voices; all of them ranting.  Perhaps a look at the following article may prove insightful; because clearly, you are unaware of how your news organization is now viewed by even those who did not intend to vote for Ms. Clinton.  
http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/2008/01/09/hillary_nh/

Nancy Kay, Red Lodge MT (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 4:51 PM)

Oooh boohoo, boohoo, it's almost hard to remain objective, Cowan says.
Yeah, and when will it become hard to remain objective?  And when will Cowan
just melt and go googooly eyed and lose all objectivity.
All professions require that professionals keep up their skills and their ethics if they are going to serve the public in a trustworthy manner.  
Heros and tyrants can be very pursuasive, very charming, very captivating.  Hopefully, "jounalists" should be able to employ their objectivity to determine which is which.  
Maybe Cowan needs inservice or something.

As for Chris Matthews he has always been biased and unreliable.  But now that he is attacking H. Clinton some people start to notice.
Still, I like to watch him because he is like a little kid, he gets very energetic and happy about things.    

zqll zqll, Dallas, Texas (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 5:20 PM)

Last night was a beautiful thing for America. Yes, we should have more dialogue and everyone should be totally vetted.

But let's not forget how bitter and terse the Clinton comments, both Bill and Hillary, were before the win.

Let's not forget "farily tale" and blaming the media. When their backs were up against the wall, they showed their true colors.  

The Hillary win seems to have overshadowed the poor behavior our former President displayed and it gave a clear display as to why people just don't like Hillary.

If people are realistic, they know she can't win the general election.  She can't get over fifty percent of the popular vote because she already has so many negatives and is such a dividing figure.

I am a registered democrat and I never voted for Bill and I will never vote for Hillary.

Steve

Steve O. Sinclair , Waldorf, Maryland (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 5:37 PM)

I am really surprised that some commentators blame Obama's "loss" on racism.  I was thrilled to see all the whites cheering for Obama in  both Iowa and New Hampshire!  Although he did not "beat" Clinton, he did very well, in a state with a very small black population.  He may well win the nomination.

There are many reasons why voters, especially women, would have chosen Clinton during the last 1.5 days before the voting.  Many alsoi chose Edwards, my personal favorite because of his clarity on the effects of the power exercised by big money and big corporations on our government and our country.

If Obama does not win the nomination, it would be a shame if people, of any color, attributed that to racism, instead of understanding the many factors that attract people to the other candidates.

Norma J. Hart, New York, NY (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 5:41 PM)

I stopped watching NBC in March of 2004 when the Nightly News featured an Egyptian woman who declared Rumsfeld a Nazi in a ridiculous piece. Not only did I invoke Godwin's Law but I joked that NBC didn't have to go as far as Egypt, I mean what's wrong with Soho? However that story concerning the Obama campaign is a good piece, the public should know how the reporters covering the story feel, however it may reflect on the candidate or the reporter. I should also add that the reporting shouldn't be a shock, you should read the political reporting that has gone on for the last four years here in Chicago, even considering Obama's association with Toni Rezko and Alexi Gianoulias it's mostly been a love-fest. It's been four years since I've watched NBC News so after seeing the somewhat ballsy (you had to know that you would get grief) reporting on this story I think that I will give NBC a try tonight. Break a leg.

El Rider, Chicago, IL (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 5:45 PM)

WHAT QUALITY and FAIRNESS??? You wear your bias on your sleeve and practice it with every word you choose to describe liberals glowingly and conservitives desparingly. you toss softballs to Dems with no follow up and only ask hard questions to conservatives. GIVE ME A BREAK!

Lance Johnson, Atlanta, GA (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 6:02 PM)

I hope Chris and Keith are out looking for jobs elsewhere, by necessity.

Marilyn Penick Lake Almanor, CA (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 6:29 PM)

The media, including NBC has determined the results in the campaign since only Obama and Hillery are covered.  Another person came in 2nd in Iowa but you seem to have forgot that; his name is John Edwards. Please give him additional coverage; he has a message.

Brenda Stone, Millwood, NY (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 6:57 PM)

New Hampshire as a dire mistake? Be consoled, it's  nothing compared to your 2000 declaration that Al Gore had won the presidency (if only you had been right then!)

Steven Cronig, Miami, Florida (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 7:03 PM)

People didn't lie to the exit polsters because of racism. People truly like Obama. Many people who voted for Hillary lied about it because a significant portion of their friends and family members have such negative attitudes towards the Clintons. Both generate real animosity among certain people. Its much easier to lie those who possess such animus than suffer their over the top reactions.

David Sincerbox, Knoxville, Tennessee (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 7:06 PM)

I would like to disabuse at least some people of the notion that all or most baby boomer women are stronly supportive of Hilary Clinton.  I am a 52-year-old, white, middle-class, professional woman who simply cannot abide Ms Clinton.  I have no political party affiliation, I am registered in Pennsylvania as "no affiliation", in other words independent.  I am quite disappointed in so many of my peers who want a woman president at all costs, regardless of what policies the candidate proposes and how divisive she is.  When women, or white people, or African American people, or rural people, or urban people, or Democrats, or Republicans...whatever "classification" can be made, blindly support someone who is of that same classification on that basis alone, we will never solve the many serious issues facing this country.  I just felt that I needed to go on some kind of record as speaking up for the concept of thoughtfully considering each candidate, and not being lumped into an assumption of whom I support simply because of what "classification" I might fit into.

Michele Stefanides, Wellsboro, Pennsylvani (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 7:06 PM)

Brian, I'm amazed about MSNBC covering how Hillary was crying and how it might have scored her points in the primary.

Did NBC or MSNBC cover in lenght the way all the women who charged Bill Clinton with sex charges when they cried, why did Hillary ignore their tears, when Monica cried she said it was " the right wing conspiracy" where was the media and the public out pouring of emotion for them?.

one thing is for sure, if Hillary gets the democratic nomination for president, WE WILL ALL CRY.

as a Jewish voter in New York, once she Dumped Sen. Joel Lieberman (D-CT) for and unknown Net LeMont she showed me what a phony she is.

Isaac Abraham (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 7:13 PM)

The coverage overall from all the Networks to seemed superficial and biased not only to the candidates but to the American people.The majority of us are not a bunchy of Lugheads who follow your every word and don't do our own research and thinking.I as a woman take offense at the Medias presumption that Hillary represents the American woman.All that SHOW of emotion was DIFFERENT from her MALE counterparts in our government... BECAUSE SHE WAS CRYING ABOUT HERSELF!!!!! POOR thing! The many occasions I have seen the President and others, they were crying about a horrific event or nostalgic moment that anyone with a heart or deep empathy would understand. YOU THE MEDIA MISSED THAT SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE!!!!!The NOT REPRESENTING OF US WOMEN, HILLARY,will again get a FREEE PASS. Notice her speeches they are allways full of "I" NOT WE.This comment is written by a Democratic Woman, ME ,who wants ALL the candidates completely scrutinized for the most important JOB in the land. ISSUES<ISSUES<ISSUES!!!! Do YOU get it!!!! I don't know yet who I will be voting for but one thing I know for sure... It won't be for the Clinton Machine all two of them. God Bless America we need it. And FINALLY DO YOUR JOB>>>BE JOURNALISTS ...GO BACK TO THE JOURNALISTIC PRINCIPALS!!!!!

A.Azcuy,Coral Gables,Florida (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 7:14 PM)

Did anyone find it interesting that after Iowa and Senator Clinton lost and was percieved as cold and calculating she suddenly has a moment where she appears to be kind and caring. Why has it taken so long for this to happen. It certainly was timely if not calculated.

Sam Smith, Bryan Texas (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 7:14 PM)

About Ms. Clinton`s showing a soft spot on Saturday, She should recive an academy award. She did that just because she wanted people to feel sorry for herself. My wife  and I did not feel sorry for her. My wife was the one who said that it was definately an academy award moment as Ms. Clinton wanted people to feel sorry for her. Besides she never did answer the question that the 70 year old lady asked her. She is like her husband, never answering a guestion with the answer taht the person was looking for.

Brian Bade, Brainerd, MN (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 7:17 PM)

Pretty good show.I Haven't watched the Nightly News for nearly four years and I will be back. The fighting in Diyala has been tough, blogger Andrew Olmsted died up there last week.

El Rider, Chicago, IL (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 7:18 PM)

Brian.

I am very happy to Sen. Clinton but Chris Matthews soured me for the last time.  As an African American man, I was shocked with his continued arroyance and quick assumptions. He put out the assumptions that race played a role in Obama's defeat.  RAce is an issue in the country but not here.  People just decided late.  New Hampshire residents are good at that waiting and there were plenty of women who got tired of the piling on on Sen. Clinton. This constant piling on has soured my excitement on this election and the possibility of the first woman president.I know that our media is dominated by middle age to old white men like Russert,Matthews, Barnicle, Cafferty and others.  They experienced the civil rights movement and are queninely impressed by what was happening.  I too am very impressed by Sen Obama.  For me, I just don't think he has enough experience right now while Sen. Clinton does.  I am amazed that the notion of the first woman president just like the first African American president is not powerful to them.  THEY DON'T GET IT.  I will watch another channel. I'm just tired.  

Leonard Edmond, Arlington, TX (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 7:18 PM)

I agree with Susan of Warwick, RI.  I wish that some of the other candidates had been interviewed more prior to the Iowa Caucus'. Perhaps then well qualified candidates like Senator Joe Biden would still be in the race.  Reporters should be interviewing candidates on a more equal number of times not just two or three over and over that they deem to be "the front runners".  By only interviewing two or three candidates you are tacitly trying to give certain candidates an advantage over those candidates that you do not interview as frequently.  An example of this is Senator Joe Biden.  He used to routinely be interviewed on the Today Show on political happenings. I can't remember him being interviewed even once after he announced his candidacy and now he is out of the race.  

As far as Chris Matthews of MSNBC's Hardball is concerned, he lost all credibility with me during the last presidential election when he implied that Iowans are a bunch of hicks that don't know what we're talking about.  Perhaps he should have come to Iowa and experienced our caucus process before passing judgement.  More than one candidate has learned a lot campaigning in Iowa and experiencing our process.

Reporters are entitled to their opinions, however, there is a place and time for those opinions to be expressed.  Unless they are specifically noting that a statement is their opinion please try to keep them to a minimum in the reporting and save the opinions for the editorials.

Lynnette (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 7:23 PM)

Biased?  If you are not biased, then answer this one question, "Why is there never ANY mention about Ron Paul when you discuss the primary results"?  You talk about Guilliani who recieved less votes in Iowa than Ron Paul and tied him in New Hampshire.  You talk about Fred Thompson, whose performance was dismal in New Hamphsire.  You tell us about where Romney, McCain, Guilliani and Thompson traveled after New Hampshire, but again completely ignore Ron Paul.  If I were not doing my own research, but depended solely on your broadcast for information on the Presidential race, I would not even know that there was a canidate named Ron Paul. You are a real piece of work when you claim the "fairness of our journalism".  

Reece Catron, Ft. Worth, Texas (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 7:46 PM)

I hope that Chris Matthews has gotten his blood sugar back under control.  This morning, he was nearly apopleptic.  I'm an Obama fan and hope that he will still around to vote for if we poor democrats in Maryland ever get to vote in the primary. But Matthews extreme bias against the Clintons is beyond reasonable.  He makes Sean Hannity appear to be an objective moderate.  Don't let Chris him back on the air unless he gets a little sleep after Hillary edges out somebody again as this campaign goes on.

John Edwards is not getting much analysis, but is it shaping up that he might be a kingmaker? If he heeps gathering up 20% of the delegates and Hillary and Barrack keep getting their 30% more or less, it seems that he could wield some pretty hefty influence.

Pat O'Brien (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 7:46 PM)

Would you and Tim Russert do me a favor and quit "coronating" people?  You CROWN someone at a CORONATION. AND ..if you're going to be picky ...if we liked CROWNING people we'd still be a colony of England's. Thank you for your support of the NON-verbing of America.

Nancy Lambert Oakwood, Illinois (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 7:54 PM)

Just a note to say that this is the most exciting Presidential race and Hilary Clinton is showing what a strong woman she is and that she is ready to be our first Lady President  --I am terribly excited --ha the polls sure had it wrong before NH --  I am voting proudly for Hilary Clinton .  I always watch MSNBC  I like B. Williams  and Russert and still admire Tom Brokaw

Sue Willis , Petersburg, IN (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 7:56 PM)

Just a note to say that this is the most exciting Presidential race and Hilary Clinton is showing what a strong woman she is and that she is ready to be our first Lady President  --I am terribly excited --ha the polls sure had it wrong before NH --  I am voting proudly for Hilary Clinton .  I always watch MSNBC  I like B. Williams  and Russert and still admire Tom Brokaw

Sue Willis , Petersburg, IN (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 7:56 PM)

Has Tim Russert discovered any data that would suggest some declared independents, wanting strong candidates from both parties, and thinking Obama was safe, voting instead in the GOP primary for McCain even though they might have responded to polls as Obama supporters?  

George Hodges Vienna, VA (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 8:05 PM)

Bias?  The fact that as an Ohio resident our primary will mean nothing says that there is too much "opinion" reporting and not enough fact finding.  In my opinion, that's a different form of bias.  Back in the day, reporters reported the facts and let the citizens draw the conclusions.  We are now of a "Rush Limbaugh" mindset, and wait to be told.  We do that because now, no matter what station, we are told how to think.  Sometimes it's very suble, but we are still told.  This is a democracy, and we are therefore the hiring authorities for those who run our government.  If we approached that responsibility as a business, we would be looking for the most qualified candidate who has the best experience.  We need the media to inform us so we can make the right decision.  Please report the resume - the facts- about accomplishments and credentials.  We don't need to know about age, gender, race, and momentary slips and goofs which all humans have.  Report the facts, respect the truth, and leave the opinions to our conclusions. YOu do a great job, Brian, and we watch you nightly because of the anchors, you are indeed the most balanced, but in general, the reporting for all the media needs to be more fact-based.

Susan Davis, Pepper Pike, OH (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 8:30 PM)

While you have not pilloried Hillary in the way of Hillary haters Tim Russert, Chris Matthews, Tucker Carlson, and Dick Morris (who, on one program, could hardly contain his vitriol), you certainly did not join Tom Brokaw and Dan Abrams in defending Senator Clinton when she was being pummeled unfairly, burned at the stake, by the media in the days leading up to the New Hampshire Primary. I must add, though I digress, that it comes as no surprise to me that pundits and commentators are befuddled by Hillary's poll-busting victory in New Hampshire. I guess they've never read Betty Friedan. In Iowa many women caucus participants, who had to throw their support to a candidate in the open, for all to see, must have feared that they would incite the ire of husbands and boyfriends by supporting Hillary. In New Hampshire, on the other hand, such fetters fell, and women enjoyed the privacy of a voting booth, a "room of their own," in which to cast a vote from the heart--nearly two hundred years after the women's suffrage movement began.

Rosemary Silva, Santa Barbara, CA (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 8:42 PM)

It is hard not to get caught up in the excitement that Obama creates.No one has electrified the country like him since John Kennedy. You folks do a more than credible job (perhaps with the exception of David Gregory)and once in a while like all of us something goes wrong. Obviously those contrarian New Hampshites consider the primary like a franchise and apparently were not very truthful when they responded to exit polling. Can we spared the smarzy, wordy always seeking the "well turned phrase" of Kieth Olbermann. There is no one who is so consumed with his own self-importance as Kieth. He needs to take Obama's doctor's advise to OBama. It has all gotten very juvenile and tiresome.

G.St Ames San Diego CA (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 9:25 PM)

What has happened to Chris Matthews?  I use to be a fan of Hardball, but his rantings against Hillary Clinton  are over the top.  He is behaving like a school boy bully. He is  so  hateful and shows little respect for his guests.  I'am switching channels.

Magdalen Lupo, St Louis, MO (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 10:08 PM)

I would like to respond to several of the e-mails & comments on tonight's coverage of last nights political news.

1. An e-mail seemed to chastise the "public" for criticizing Hilary for showing emotion (crying) during an interview as in "people are saying it somehow lessens her ability to be President to show that kind of emotion.=sexist or chauvenistic."   When Ed Muskie showed a similar level of emotion during his campaign some years ago, it was said that it was a major contributing factor to his loss, but I don't recall anyone trying to play the "sexist" card.

2. I think we have an example of why people are concerned about the media having too much influence on how people vote by the "spin" they put on the news.  For months running up to the Iowa caucus there was so much talk inferring that Hilary was the inevitable Democratic nominee.  My question then is, How can a 2 perceentage point victory over Barack Obama, who defeated her soundly just last week in Iowa, be characterized as a "stunning comback" and crown her the "comeback kid."  A 2 point victory in the 2nd major test sounds more to me like a disappointing showing compared to how we were led to believe that she was the inevitable nominee since the beginning.  SPIN,SPIN,SPIN.

Rick Allgeyer
St. Louis Missouri

Rick Allgeyer, St. Louis, Mo (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 10:29 PM)

The reporting of media bias by Brian Williams was important and bordered on objective journalism.  However, the statement that "getting it wrong" will occur again presented the clear mindset that media bias, infatuation, and paparazzo journalism present a more lucrative angle than fairness.  The real pity is that the Fourth Estate injected themselves into their stories, abandoned their noble stance of aiding our democracy to that of personal whim, opinion and mindset, and in a day of instant communication, muddied the political waters of our nation by becoming the lap dog of the political process as opposed to the watch dog.  

ML Miller (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 5:58 AM)

I am a news addict- we have some news broadcast on TV almost every waking hour. I have been appalled at the apparent dislike (stronger language could apply easily!) of Hillary Clinton by most news commentators- regardless of network affiliation.(I expect it from Fox, but not from the rest!) I was very thankful to hear Brian admit that a) such a bias exists, and b) that it is wrong  to chat on and on about outcomes that are not yet decided.  While I do not understand what exactly is behind the dislike of Hillary, (I like her just fine! I also like Barak Obama) ) I hope MSNBC and NBC will try to handle news about the elections with a bit more objectivity from here on. Thank you, Brian, for the right step forward.  Nancie Mooney

Nancie Mooney, Norton, MA (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 9:36 AM)

Your coverage of the Iowa caususes and the New Hampshire primary convince me that it is the media that elects presidents, not the people. For instance, one of your specialists stated that Romney was pretty much history because he lost in New Hampshire. But Romney won in Wyoming, a state that has more Republican delegates than N.H. Hardly a word about Wyoming. Why? But a win in Wyoming and two second-place finishes gives Romney more delegates than any other candidate. So how is he practically out of the race? Only because the media says he is. But in a campaign like this one, it is very possible for a candidate to place second in every state and win the nomination. Go figure.
As for the Democrats, you make a huge deal about Clinton's victory in tiny New Hampshire, but a closer look shows that her 39 percent and Obama's 36 percent give them the same number of delegates from N.H., essentially a tie.
Let's face it, New Hampshire likes to think it is so crucial, but that's only because the media goes along with the charade. Look at Super Tuesday. There are over 1,000 Republican delegates up for grabs. Kind of puts New Hampshire's 12 in a more realistic context. I'd appreciate some perspective and less hype from the self-important media.

Roger Terry, Orem, Utah (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 12:16 PM)

MSNBC New Hampshire Primary coverage made a mockery of the news Media. It was in poor taste and more like comedy central. Tom Brokow: Shame on you for being a part of it. I turned it off.

Bob McCarthy, Chesterfield, MO (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 12:42 PM)

As a long time fan of NBC, I must say I'll be watching elsewhere soon unless someone puts a muzzle on the two most arrogant pundits out there, Matthews and Olbermann. They have gone too far and will lose viewers in droves. Coverage should be done by Brian, Tim, and Tom Brokaw. Clearly we need Tom's wisdom and grace back on the air as you cover this most important Prez election ever. PBS shows (WA Week, Moyers, and The News Hour) at least offer intelligent discourse and more folks should tune them in. You won't find screaming meanies like Chris and Keith there. Clean up your act MSNBC and also realize women decided to give the big boys in newsville a wake up call whether they like Hill or not. We can think for ourselves, thank you and will do so despite all your ramblings. CNN is lucky to have David Gergen, one of the most intelligent, thoughtful and kind people out there in TV news punditry. He's a gem, so CNN & PBS will get more of our viewing time unless NBC gets rid of Keith and Chris or they change their tunes BIG time. And tell Chris to get a hair cut, shaped like Brian's. He'll at least look better than he sounds! Brian, keep up the good work with Tim and Tom. You are the best trio out there. Chris and Keith are way too toxic. Move them on and out SOON!!

L. Greep, Vancouver, WA (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 1:24 PM)

Brain, part two: A few more things I wanted to mention: Again, I do so enjoy your reporting as well as Tim's and Tom's. You as a trio need to do the bulk of the reporting as the year moves forward, re: the election coverage. Chris and Keith are way too toxic and are getting worse. If you watch the facial/body language of their guests, especially YOUR OWN people like Andrea, the way Chris cuts them off is becoming intolerable. Who would want to go on with him? Did you see Dee Dee's face and Katrina's recently when they were on...they aren't happy with him always telling us how right he is and how wrong everyone else is. Well, NBC is married to MSNBC and a divorce is needed here. Keith and Chris are an arrogant team that will continue to lose you viewers if they aren't taken to time out box or muzzled in some way. Plain and simple, they are not gracious people and in this world of crazy times, we need more thoughtful, intelligent people like you, Tim, and Tom giving us information in an intelligent manner, not like the frat boys, Chris, Joe, and Keith. Make some changes as managing editor or tell Abrahms to do so.

L. Greep, Vancouver, WA (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 1:42 PM)

I saw no bias in this exchange. However, the behavior of other political journalists in this race was, I believe, one major reason for the NH results. Hillary Clinton is a good candidate and there is no reason for her to be treated the way she was by the likes of Chris Matthews. I was infuriated, and had I been a NH voter, I would have gone out of my way to get out and vote for her.

Sheila Rauch, Cold Spring, NY (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 2:33 PM)

Brian, would you pls. announce the DOW while you are showing it. Many times I am listening away from my TV & miss the change for the day.  Thanks

Gary Cover Mansfield, OH (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 5:15 PM)

Brian/Tim:
Meet the Press and The Nightly News with you, Brian Williams, are my TV selections of choice and, they will continue to be so however, please, please do not be flabbergasted, or shocked to understand what took place in New Hampshire. I truly believe the media continues to want to be in the business of "Making the News" rather than reporting it.  I believe the voters in New Hampshire was simply being defiant and "showing you" that they were not going to take "your lead" and vote for Obama simply because the media stated he was to be the winner before any voting took place.  Please, please, as a loyal viewer, refrain from saying what "you think" but, report what you know.  Give the candidates a chance to make or break their move to the White House.  Don't you do it for them.  

Joyce, Baltimore (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 5:24 PM)

Brian,
I was surprised at the totally un-researched piece you did on Reverse Mortgage.

I don’t know when the lady took-out this mortgage. In last few years, there have been major changes in discloser requirements. Laws have changed. There are many more safeguards. If you had bothered to ask the AARP lady, she would have educated you with some facts. AARP has many informative articles on the subject. They don't sell mortgages or news.

I am not in reverse mortgage business. However, I have investigated it. It is a good concept for people who are cash poor but house rich and do not have much income to qualify for a cash-out loan on the house.

It is as good or as bad as any other mortgage. At present, there are many problems related to sub-prime mortgages. By your logic, people should completely dump all mortgages and wait till they have all cash to buy a home.

Someone obviously conned the lady into buying something that she did not need and charged her too much money for doing that. And if I understand correctly, had her invest that money in something long term that is not useful to her, today. Is this so unheard of?

You have crucified the entire industry and created an undue fear in minds of seniors simply because of a few bad apples. I like your news. In the future, I hope you get full and accurate information and also the other side of the story, before rushing to air a story.


Dave Parikh, Granada Hills, CA (Sent Friday, January 11, 2008 11:26 AM)

Mr. Williams,

You and the rest of the MSNBC gang is hopelessly biased.

But I understand that it is not your fault. Obama is the only candidate that would set-up an active dialogue with Iran. GE (MSNBC's parent company) does lots of business in Iran by working on various infrastructure projects and selling aviation equipment. So it is easy to conclude that the GE bigwigs are merely looking after the bottomline when they pressure you to be partial to the senator from Illinois.

Gordon Erkmeyer, New York, NY (Sent Friday, January 11, 2008 1:43 PM)

Brian,
Your piece last night about reverse mortgages was in error and was a disservice to the elderly homeowners.
There is absolutely no fear of foreclosure on a reverse mortgage assuming the house is maintained adequately. Even though the equity in the home built up over the years will be systematically diminished with a reverse mortgage it will NOT result in the bank taking the property in a foreclosure - even when and if the remaining equity goes to ZERO. This is one of the key features of reverse mortgages. No matter how long the owners live in the house and no matter if they have no remaining equity left in the house, the bank can't foreclose. Additionally, the heirs have up to one year to vacate the house before a foreclosure can take place.
Rowland Gale

Rowland Gale (Sent Friday, January 11, 2008 1:56 PM)

NBC and Williams should be ashamed...

From: http://townhall.com/columnists/DouglasMacKinnon/2008/01/28/media_canonizes_mccain_while_slandering_romney

"During last week’s GOP debate in Boca Raton, Florida, Williams exercised all the subtlety of David Duke when he dropped this bigoted statement on the former Governor from Massachusetts: “Governor, we’ve got an NBC News-Wall Street Journal poll coming out in the morning that says, among a lot of other things, 44 percent of respondents say a Mormon president would have a difficult time uniting the country.” "

Read the rest for yourself at the link posted above.

Just-Tex Dallas, Texas (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 8:50 AM)

Mr. Williams,
In the past I have depended on MSNBC to keep me informed. However I have really started to wonder if you are on Obama's payroll. Just listening to Keith Oberman tonight made me a bit ill. He hates Senator Clinton as do most of the MSNBS reporters. I will hesitate to tune in in the future and I will have absolutely no trust in your reporting. I can get as good from Bill OReilly

Joan Sutton, Monroe, Michigan (Sent Friday, February 01, 2008 12:29 AM)

Well, not only as the news media annointed Obama but it seems that Obermann has as well and I'm very disappointed in him. I'm a great admirer of  Obama but sitting and listening to the unfair, personal attacks on Hillary Clinton, day after day, night after night, has been pretty sickening. Post last night's debate: comparing Obama's  record with Clinton on Iraq is like comparing apples with oranges. Obama was not in the U.S. Senate when he spoke out against Iraq. Speaking out against something is not the same as casting a vote in the U.S. Senate. 99.9% of the members of Congress voted to give authority to Bush. While he has been in the Senate, his voting record on Iraqi issues were the same as Clinton's. And speaking of votes, he didn't even vote to support Moveon.org -- he voted "Present" while Clinton voted to support Moveon.org. Life isn't fair is it? Seems to me that the important thing is how to extricate ourselves from the mess in Iraq and who can best do this. Let's look ahead to the future, friends --- not backwards.

Spending 10 minutes  hammering Hillary's on her Iraq vote when there are other issues to talk about like the economy and healthcare?
C'mon Keith, don't let me down. Let's discuss some issues to help voters make clear and valid decisions. And let's make comparisons fairly.




Evie Henderson, Oriental, NC (Sent Friday, February 01, 2008 9:41 PM)

No bias in my opinion, just reporting on the crowd, and the mood. The same statements could have been made at other canidate events.
Cowan is a good addition, his reports are well written and delivered in a concise way that gives you what is important.

Douglas Brown (Sent Saturday, February 09, 2008 7:00 PM)

I love Willaims despertaely trying to defend the sickining "Pro Obama" bias of NBC/MSNBC. Willaims and NBC are so "in the tank" for Obama it's disgracefull. They only report polls that are favorable to Obama, and then try and hem, haw, and back-track, when Hillary wins major victories in NH, NV, and on Super Tuesday. They still do it now. Willaims is a poor excuse for a reporter, and NBC is a poor excuse for a news organization.

Williams needs to learn that NBC doesn't dictate who we elect in this country, voters do...that is why Hillary is still winning.

devin, Albuquerque, NM (Sent Sunday, February 17, 2008 3:36 AM)

To MSNBC/John Mathews,

I just read in the LA Times that John Mathews said that "Clinton's political success stemmed from her husband messing around".  Why not also tell the truth that Obama's political success stems solely from his being a black man, and a light colored good looking one.  Who elso would Oprah have come out for??  Not a white male senator, that's for sure.  And, who would get all of the balck people to send in dollars to anyone's campaign? Only another black person.  Don't call me racisist.  This is reality.  You apparently are strongly against a woman for president and think everyone cares that Bill Clinton messed around.  Sounds to me like you think a woman can only get ahead by sleeping with the boss.

After reading the Times article this family will never watch MSNBC again.  You said "any observant person would say what I said was true". You are simply an anti woman old timer male who would like to see us all at home, barefoot and pregnant.  Since your station has not fired you, which they would do if your remark was that Obama is popular with blacks only because he is black and for no other intelligent reason (since he certainly has no experience or record. I'll listen to what you say about Clinton when you tell that truth about Obama.

Carolyn Dunnett (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 1:31 PM)

I am always glad to see 3 men trashing a woman.  You guys have to stand up for us males.  Don't let a bright experienced woman get ahead--she could only be promotable if we have sympathy for her or if she sleeps with her boss. Remember--
MALES RULE!!  She has more experience--so what.  She has the sense to know that you can't waive a magic wand to get change---so what.  She doesn't have Oprah backing her--oh my gosh she couldn't possibly be qualified--it has to be that we all pity her.
        Are you guys for real????

Dave Dunnett (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 1:38 PM)

Who is the anchor that gave the Special Report last night?.
It was excellent.  
He ended with: Good night and good luck

Paula Ross Richmond, Ca (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 7:55 PM)

I have been curious about John McCain's memory lapses and the incident on his present junket makes me wonder even more.  I noticed during his stumping when his wife was on the stage with him she frequently coached him and he responded very quickly and usually with a suprised look. The two examples of memory lapse on this junket makes me wonder if he is REALLY able to pass HIllary's Commander in Chief Test!  The incidents also remind me of an incident with the press, Pres. Reagan and Nancy.  He was being video tape and asked a question, he did not respond until Nancy whispered(for all to hear), "We're doing the best we can.", to which he parroted the statement to the press and the television viewers,just wondering; Reagan Alzheimers.  I am 75, McCain is only 71 we all have "Senior Moments" not everyone is in a very responsible position.

edward faber East Longmeadow, Ma 01028 (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 1:55 PM)



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