I’ve received several emails from people asking about my feelings regarding my brother riding Scott McClellen at the White House press briefing.
First of all, thank you for your emails and comments. Feedback like this is what separates blogs from the Mainstream Press. However, those expecting me to criticize or even critique what my brother does for ABC news will be disappointed.
I happen to know that, despite what you might think, my brother is a loyal American who loves this country as much as I do. Only good things can flow from that. His job is to ask questions of people in power. Only good things can flow from that. And if it upsets you about the way he does his job, don’t come to this site or email me. Go to the ABC website and talk to them. I am not responsible for how my brother performs his job.
I am responsible for the content of this site which will be unrelenting in its criticism of the MSM and its anti-Bush, anti-war bias – sentiments my brother mostly agreed with on Hugh Hewitt’s show earlier today. The only responsibility toward my brother that I have is the love and affection I feel toward him and his family and the tremendous pride I take in his professional accomplishments.
In a family of 10 children (9 of whom are more liberal than I am) you can imagine some of the dinner table discussions – especially when we were coming of age in the 1970’s. But whatever knock-down, drag-em-out fights that ensued we never lost our love and respect for each other. Blood is thicker than politics. Don’t believe me? Try coming here and dissing my brother…you’ll get an earful back.
Thanks to Hugh Hewitt for asking the tough questions that needed to be asked…and for the link!
10:25 pm
Good for you!
11:27 pm
Didn’t hear Terry on Hugh Hewitt, but I read the transcript (which is how I found my way here). He acquitted himself well, I thought. Politics aside, I think he’s a fundamentally fair-minded guy. Lord knows the media need more guys like him.
11:28 pm
We must win the culture war, but not at the expense of losing ourselves and the people we love. Love covers a multitude of sins, as it should.
11:33 pm
You’ll get no arguments from me on that score, SH! Or are we all calling you Rick now?
11:52 pm
Nice blog. It’s amazing to me that I keep running into one great blog after another; the blogosphere is full of them.
Reading your brother’s comments surprised me; my impression of ABC News is quite negative, and he does seem to be part of the ABC culture, but willing to acknowledge some deficiencies in the press. At the same time he seems to buy into some of the MSM party line, e.g., all presidents are pursued by the press in an equally negative way; the press should not have pursued the Clinton scandals the way they did because that distracted the country from “serious” issues; and conservatives can’t stand any criticism of Bush and so their complaints of bias needn’t be taken seriously. All of those propositions are quite debatable but Terry seems to accept them as true. Still, he was willing to recognize some serious bias in the MSM, and it’s heartening to find even a semblance of fair-mindedness among that crowd.
12:00 am
Hugh Hewitt, Terry Moran of ABC News, and RightWi
Today we had one of those illuminating moments that are possible only because of the blogosphere and its marriage with talk radio. . . .
1:53 am
I’ve just one thing to ask, of Terry and the rest of the WHPC (especially Elisabeth Bumiller)
Have you no shame?
2:26 am
Stumbled onto your site after running down its link on Hugh Hewitt’s blog. Real nice blog and I love your humor and analysis. I feel your pain as I too have all my family to the left of me. My Dad says he would have voted for Clinton if he could have run for a 3rd term. Anyone remotely JFK-like he is for.
You got it right when you said that “blood is thicker than politics!” You can pick your politicians but you can’t pick your family! You know your brother’s image went up a few pegs after his interview on Hugh Hewitt. Seemed less of the fire breathing lib MSM type and more ready to admit agendas and errors in the MSM. Keep up the good work! Cheers and I’ll be back. STD
2:49 am
Though I’ve of course seen him off and on for years, I’ve got to say that Terry went from being just another news guy to being someone I should probably listen to. After the whole Jeff Gannon thing, when everybody on the left was all indignant that someone who was (gasp!) gay and not a “real journalist” was actually in a position where he could (another gasp!) ask Scott McClellan a question, I read where Terry had said that (and I’m paraphrasing) plenty of people on the White House Press Corps tended to push and prod the president from the left, but that Gannon was one of the few who pushed from the right, and Terry didn’t see the problem with that.
If Terry plays his cards right, he could be the next Russert, who, despite having his own biases, is probably the fairest mainstream journalist out there.
And Terry, if you’r reading this, I mean it. I’m not just sucking up. BUT, if you want to send me some cool ABC News swag, like a coffee mug or something, go nuts.
2:58 am
Boy, that post was not edited well, but I think you can still catch my meaning.
3:07 am
Pat: Had a coming out post last week…I picked a helluva week to stop sniffing glue!
As far as the shame of the WHPC…their job is to ask questions. You don’t like the way they do it, get in touch with their news organs and tell them.
And I take your comment as an insult to me – or didn’t you read the post? Be that as it may, I disagree that shame is anything the WHPC should ever feel.
7:17 am
I thought it was a great, lively exchange. What kept me listening to Hugh when I started, iffily, years ago, was his no-nonsense, to-the-point, polite yet bare-knuckles style of interviewing. I thought everything he asked or said to your brother was well-aimed and well-said.
Having said that, I also am enormously impressed with your brother for going on and doing the toe to toe talk with Hugh in front of everyone. Most MSMers hide behind the wall they reserve for themselves, but deny to everyone else. He stood right out there and gave as good as he got. I most disagreed with his offhand dismissal of the Kerry story, and agreed with other statements. But above all I was impressed with him for coming right out there, no preparation, stepping into the arena.
Very classy. No wonder you’re proud of him—whatever his ideological nuttinesses!
(c;
7:55 am
Class seems to run in the family. I’ll go back and re-read all of this when I have more time, but I’m glad that you chose to “come out”, and personally I don’t think the timing could have been better if you planned it. You’re getting more recognition for the excellent writing and content you have over here, and it is most deserved.
9:02 am
“I disagree that shame is anything the WHPC should ever feel.”
Shwhaa? Ever is a long time, hoss. And Bumiller is, I think, well into shameful territory with her bleat, “Are you telling us to write a story about how great the military is?” The proper response of course would be, “Are you telling me there are no such stories to write?” Which she was, obviously. For Terry, going on the Hewitt show is VERY gutsy for any MSMer, that must be admitted. And Hugh is often quite overbearing, his “little resume” crack was inappropriate and unnecessary in my book but the point of the segment, that the questioning quoted was vapid, arrogant and unprofessional is spot on. The remedy is to ignore it. I hope the White House begins ostentatiously ignoring questioners like this in the future. Since Bumiller declares that she “know(s) how it ends.” we need speak no further.
9:04 am
Kudos to your brother for going on the Hugh Hewitt show. He did give as good as he got. That kind of open and pointed conversation is exactly what we need in our public debates, not the cowardly pompous questions and answers full of red herrings, false dilemmas, ad hominem innuendo, and false either/or problems we usually have to put up with.
9:14 am
“the love and affection I feel toward he and his family and the tremendous pride I take in his professional accomplishments.”
S/b toward HIM and his family.
9:16 am
Mischaracterizing criticism
Hugh Hewitt got an interview with ABC’s Terry Moran, who castigated Presidential spokesman Scott McClellan about supposedly telling Newsweek what to print. I caught some of it on the radio, but the full transcript is up at Radio Blogger.
9:57 am
You’re a good brother and a good blogger—a winning combination!
Kathy
12:05 pm
I have gaing respect for your brother after reading that transcript! Intellectual honesty is a virtue,and I think he’s got it.
12:19 pm
I echo the comments above. Another great blog that I have discovered (through Hewitt) and I applaud your defense of your brother. Familial love does (and should) transcend politics. Also, I love your spellcheck option in the comments section.
12:34 pm
Incidentally, I thought your brother handled himself well on Hugh Hewitt, except for the part where he overeacted to the ‘big head, small resume’ point- very mistakenly taking that as a personal crack, when Hugh was obviously making a generalization, not a personal attack.
I thought he was mistaken about a couple things- but then, if I didn’t, I wouldn’t be at my end of the political spectrum. Good for you, again, for refusing to get in on public bashing of your brother.
1:37 pm
I too learned of your blog from the Hugh Hewitt site. I will add you to my favorites list. I read with interest your brother’s comments on Hewitt. I was very impressed with his willingness to go into the lions den and with his admission of some msm bias.
I did think your brother’s question was very defensive and self serving of the msm. I suspect that if Enron had committed an equal offense, he would not be asking why the government was asking for corrective measures.
2:32 pm
The interview (live) was too aggressive and negative at the start. When your bother and Hugh started listening it became one of the best I have heard. I would really enjoy a long term (Mark Steyn like) guest relationship between Hugh and your brother. But only if Hugh treats him as a Center Left guest and not a wacko to be knocked around or beat on all points. Your brother is the type of individual that has value in the Democratic Party (he probably is one). He probably feels a bit lost when he hears Dean, Kennedy, and Pelosi rant about stuff.
4:27 pm
Isn’t Terry Moran the guy who wrote that memo for ABC The Note that said, bascially, we should be fair to everyone but a little MORE fair to John Kerry and a little LESS fair to Bush? Wasn’t that Terry Moran?
5:50 pm
No, squidgie, that was ABC News political director Mark Halperin.
http://www.drudgereport.com/mh.htm
6:20 pm
Rick, my respect for your brother went up exponentially after reading the transcript of his interview by Hugh Hewitt. His insight and candor were remarkable. I only wish he’d try to break away from the hostile, herd mentality of White House reporters, who seem to think that their job is to aggressively challenge the administration. Most news consumers aren’t looking for a “pound of flesh” from the President or his spokesman. And we certainly don’t want Democratic Party talking points posed as questions. We mainly want to better understand what’s going on. I learned more from your brother’s interview with Hugh Hewitt than I learn from almost any news conference.
6:38 pm
Every family has one with superior wisdom. Glad you’re the one. Sorry about your brother.
8:31 pm
Your brother comes across as very hostile, smart mouth eastern liberal – makes very bad impression.
9:01 pm
I am more in line with Hugh but give your brother credit for going on the show,we need both sides of an issue.In a perfect world we would have equal Dems and Reps at the press conferences . My real question is why did the reporter from News Week ever think he should write about the story even if it was true??it’s not news it’s propaganda . In some countries if you read the Bible you get beaten. Why does your brother and his friends in the media write about this???have him get back to me on this. thank you
9:24 pm
Sorry some folks thought it appropriate to slam your brother because of the profession he is in. Those of us on the right have become so used to a hostile press that sometimes we get confused an assume all are like the worst of the lot. Generalizations, whether about race, religion or even occupation, are not always accurate. Beyond all that, your brother was very careful not to betray his political leanings which I thought was appropriate. He should not have to tell me (or anyone else) who he voted for in order to be trusted to present the news honestly. Stick with family. They will still be family long after we’ve forgotten today’s political arguments.
9:28 pm
The Pepsi Challenge
Earlier this week, Power Line noted that the president and CFO of Pepsico, Indra Nooyi, compared the fingers of the hand to different parts of the world in her speech at Columbia Business School’s commencement. “The United States got the…
11:09 pm
Just my opinion but I think Terry went on Hughs show for damage control. After that disgusting far left political attack on Scott he felt he had to do something. At least he had the guts to do it when most other far left “reporters” wouldn’t even know there was a controversy because of the massive liberal group think in the media.
11:10 pm
Saw a transcript of an interview done by Brian Lamb on Booknotes, which transcript was fisked by the interviewee himself, Thomas P.M. Barnett, a very smart guy. At first Barnett was ticked off at Lamb for the tone and content of some questions, but soon realized that it was one of the best interviews he had ever seen or been a part of. Lamb long ago explained that he interviews authors based on what he thinks viewers want to know, and that he often asks questions to which he already knows the answers. The point is, it is mistaken to always think a reporter’s questions reflect or reveal his prejudices. A lot of it is just information gathering technique.
That said, I think the people in the media in general and especially in the White House Press Room need a good lesson in civility. For you kids, it all started with Dan Rather at an East Room press conference with Nixon, when DR sassed him and Nixon did not bite back. There’s a tape around somewhere.
11:20 pm
Your brother took a lot of guts to appear on Hugh’s program despite the heated grilling that he got and glad you stood up to your brother regardless of what happened on Tuesday. Glad it didn’t turn into a’la “The Newlywed Game” or Scott McClellan didn’t jump from the podium and decked your brother out. Because that wouldn’t be good at all and I know how mad you would be!!
6:47 am
Blood Is Thicker Than Politics
After a round of criticism of Terry Moran of ABC News in the blogosphere for his part in White House briefing controversy, the veteran reporter engaged in an excellent if somewhat contentious on-air interview on Hugh Hewitt’s radio program. In…
8:19 am
Actually, I thought he did a pretty good job explaining/defending himself. I guess the transcript was less inflammatory than the delivery.
8:37 am
Just letting you know I’m here…good for you for not taking any crap from anyone (jealous beeyotches) about having a brother in the WHPC.
Y’all are good people—I know that since he’s YOUR brother, his head’s on straight and his heart is in the right place. I missed the whole McClelland exchange (silly me) but you know, we wingnuts are a hypervigilant bunch.
This is probably an EXCELLENT opportunity to build dialogue between warring factions, now that this is all out in the open. I just hope there aren’t too many who have embarrassed our side with unnecessary nastiness to you and your brother (like the uncouth idiot “Richard Riley,” who thinks it’s OK to trash your brother on your own property). It goes without saying that he probably wouldn’t dare say it to your face.
Enjoy your mega-lanches!
9:19 am
In a way, what Terry did by going on the Hewitt show reminded me of another former ABC News White House correspondent, Sam Donaldson, who did little to hide his prejudices in public, but at the same time was willing to go in front of conservative crowds and go head-to-head with people like George Will and argue those beliefs, as opposed to making confrontational statements to the president or the White House press secretary de jour and then offering up a wall of silence or defending their beliefs only before sympathetic crowds (one Daniel Rather comes to mind here).
However, I’d be interested to know what your brother’s colleagues in the White House press corps felt about Terry’s admission that there are some people in key media positions who are stuck in their 1960s hate-the-military mode. Like Robert Wexler’s proposal this week to raise Social Security taxes that met with stony silence from his fellow Democratic Party members, I think many in the media feel confessions like that are for internal consumption only, and are not to be voiced in public, and certainly not to a conservative talk show host.
9:47 am
Friday link dump
I haven’t even said anything yet about Pepsi’s Indra Nooyi blunder, and I really don’t have anything to add to what’s been said elsewhere. Besides, I don’t touch that crap anyway. (I’ve got Coke in my blood, literally and figuratively.)
Anyw…
10:19 am
My oldest sister is a true “yellow dog” Democrat. There are things we just do not discuss because we do love each other dearly and knock-down, drag-outs don’t do a thing but cause a lot of harm.
10:25 am
Nice to know I’m not the only one out there with 9 siblings. I can totally relate to what you’re saying about blood being thicker than politics. Sometimes, it’s best to shut up and just live a really good example…or make it well known what your position is by dropping lines, or blogs in your case. It’s unlikely any of them are going to convert, and thank God we’re not held responsible for our siblings opinions and actions. Otherwise, I’d be guilty of adultery, gay marriage, child abuse and alcoholism.
I don’t think it’s reasonable to expect the Moran’s to all think the same either. Come to think of it, Rick probably knows what I mean when I say that it’s a good thing that Thanksgiving and Christmas are only once a year! It’s hard enough to keep from killing each other over the stupid stuff at family gatherings. Political discussions are the equivalent of a death wish at our family gatherings!
10:35 am
Journalistic Genetics: The Moran Brothers
These overachieving types are everywhere.
12:23 pm
Blood And Politics, Part Two
After my post this morning on Terry Moran and his brother Rick at Right Wing Nuthouse, I received this e-mail from CQ reader Adam S: Absolutely. So is the blood of my loved ones in the armed forces being spilled…
1:26 pm
Rick,
I’m a die-hard conservative republican, my
older brother is so liberal it borders on
nihilism but if anyone expected me to disown him or say a single bad word about
him I would spit in their eye. After reading your column and your brothers interview with HH I have greater respect for both of you.
Dave Frey
1:37 pm
Rick,
I heard Hugh’s interview with your brother. It was enlightening to say the least.
I agree with your defense of your brother as well. My sister, a former hippy from the 60’s (weren’t we all)now works for Tiffany’s, she & her hubby clear $300,000 per and she still has liberal views.
I’ve even called her a “bourgeois dilettante” on more than one occasion.
But I still love her.
And she sure loved those Bush tax cuts!
2:27 pm
Right on, brotha from anotha motha!
When I saw the transcipt of Hewitt’s interview, and the mention of your blog, I didn’t bother to head over here. (No offense to you intended, just that I have too many to read already.) But when I read what you said about Terry over at CQ, I had to stop by and give my kudos. And kudos to him as well for going on Hugh’s show and staying on for three segments. I’ll leave my precise disagreements over Terry’s approach aside because, well, that’s not the point.
3:01 pm
Of all the WH reporters, Mr. Moran has to be the most smarmiest smart ass of them all.
You can say what you want, he exemplifies all that is wrong with the MSM.
3:26 pm
Benrand:
Your ignorance is surpassed only by the vacuousness of your comment.
10:56 pm
Right on. Discussing and disagreeing about politics is one thing. Dissing someone’s loved ones is totally another. Bottom line, we all have opinions and we all have families. Hopefully, love and loyalty within families will always take priority over political opinions.
11:29 pm
Link Dump 19 May
Waheed gives a local’s report on the Newsweek riots.
“74” reports on a fella who followed his own muse and made money on it. Thank goodness for those who refuse to be mediocre.
Cori Dauber’s right—I want to work there. Now, how the heck d…
10:35 am
FRIDAY ROUND-UP: PEPSI, THE NEW EASON, AND THE MORANS
Sizzling hot stories breaking out of the blogosphere: – Pepsi falls flat. My friends at Power Line have done an absolutely fabulous job reporting on the insipid, America-bashing commencement address of Pepsi exec Indra Nooyi. See here, here, here, here…
12:24 am
Yes it sure is! My brother is the liberal in our family. The rest of us are fairly conservative. We love him anyway!
9:42 am
Your loyalty and affection for your brother
is admirable. His professional
accomplishments are a result of him doing what is necessary to advance in his chosen
field (e.g., When in Rome . . . ).
12:43 pm
I have bristled many times at the way your brother positions his questionning, but I thought the Hewitt interview was exceptional, and I also applaud Terri for going on and answering those tough questions – something Rather, Moyers etc would never dare do. I applaud you for putting family first and brotherly love over political divides.
10:36 pm
...We’ve, always, sincerely admired Terry’s reporting technique and style,
even “way back when” he was the “White House Correspondent” and dating
to his days back on “Court TV”. Terry, most certainly, illustrates a fair,
unbiased, yet probing, mannner in his position as
commentator/journalist/correspondent, who, additionally, displays true compassion and sincere interest in the subject matter of his interviews…We are HUGE FANS of ABC News and Nightline, all because of your brother, Terry Moran…Additionally, we have, all, enjoyed reading “Right Wing Nuthouse”...By any chance, does Terry have his own website or will he be scheduling any future speaking engagements in Austin or central Texas?
All of our sincere best to you, Rick, your brother, Terry, and the entire Moran family…
Gari D. Lewis-Carpio & Friends
Terry and Rick Moran Fans in Austin, TX
9:46 pm
Hey there, Rick…Congrats on your new show…It’s BEYOND GREAT!
Will be listening in tomorrow morning!
Just to kinda take a break from all the MADNESS in the MIDDLE EAST and elsewhere/EVERYWHERE, here are my choices for the Top Ten Finalists in next week’s “Miss Universe 2006” pageant which will be televised next Sunday night, July 23, live from Los Angeles, NBC-TV:
In my “humble opinion”, the Top 10 Hottest Contestants are:
10) Miss Namibia
Miss Greece
9) Miss Serbia And Montenegro
7) Miss Dominican Republic
6) Miss Puerto Rico
5) Miss Venezuela
4) Miss USA
3) Miss Kazakhstan
2) Miss Philippines
1) Miss Mexico (MY MOST FAVORITE OF ‘EM ALL…PRISCILA PERALES IS GORGEOUS!)
Maybe if you and your readers would like to just “take a break” from all the madness and mayhem, they may want to check out these Beauties…
http://www.missuniverse.com
One can even see pix of each contestant in addition to a brief “getting acquainted” interview/video…Just something different and, hopefully, entertaining to share w/ y’all…So, hope you’ll enjoy it!
BTW, do you know if your brother, Terry, over at ABC, can receive or respond to any “Fan Mail” which may be sent, via Email? We’d like to drop Terry a note, just to say “Congrats and Way to Go”! Once again, Rick, we are Really Happy to be listening to your show…Thanks for your inspiration and information, AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, education…
Take it easy
A Big Fan in Austin,
Gari
Gari D. Lewis-Carpio
Austin, TX
4:35 pm
Looking for information and found it at this great site…
10:20 am
Putting family above politics
ABC’s Terry Moran has taken heat from conservatives in the past. Now, he’s getting flak from left-wing critics for questioning the wisdom of John Edwards’ blogging staff. Those critics have also been attacking his blogging brother, Rick. What’s so …
8:47 pm
good for you! Blood is thicker than water!