Sportscaster Bob Costas Shows Up Political Colleagues In Bush Interview

It's not for nothing that Matt Yglesias seems to be nominating NBC Sports eminence grise Bob Costas for the Meet The Press chair. Last night's interview with President George W. Bush demonstrated that there's a world of difference between a reporter with chops, knowledge, and genuine curiosity and those who work for the empty calories of a "gotcha" moment. The ten-minute sit down included sufficient Olympics content to suit the occasion, but centered mainly on probing foreign policy questions from a superbly prepared Costas. The result was an interview that was neither softball nor pointlessly antagonistic.

I don't want to harp too much on Bush's responses, because he's fared a lot worse in interviews. Certainly, many a blogger has concentrated on Bush's "I don't see America having problems" remark. On the one hand, it's another instance of the President's trademark myopic optimism, but on the other hand, consider the setting: national optimism at the Olympics is akin to telling the students of Wellesley that their education has prepared them to compete in a male-dominated world. However, it was hard to miss Bush protesting that he could not "read [Hu Jintao's] mind" on a day where his inability to properly divine Vladimir Putin's soul was negatively impacting America's security abroad.

Also, there's this:

Q China is a nation that warmly received Omar al-Bashir of Sudan, who has since been indicted by the International Court on charges of genocide.

THE PRESIDENT: Yes.

Q Then this past week they revoked the visa of Joey Cheek, an exemplary Olympian who had planned to come here not to directly protest China's government, but to call attention to the humanitarian crisis in Darfur.

THE PRESIDENT: Yes.

Q What's your reaction?

THE PRESIDENT: My reaction is I'm sorry Joey Cheek didn't come, he's a good man. Joey Cheek has just got to know that I took the Sudanese message for him. My attitude is, is if you got relations with Mr. Bashir, think about helping to solve the humanitarian crisis in Darfur. That was my message to the Chinese government.

I'm not sure how effective Bush was at carrying Cheek's "message" when he's under the impression that Cheek "didn't come" of his own accord.

[WATCH.]

[Full transcript available via the White House.]

Comments

[Mojane]

Bob Costas! If only the rest of the press would press like you did. You know, I do not pride myself on much intelligence, in fact most of the time I feel like an idiot, but I swear I could field the questions Bob lobbed at this dunce better than the dunce himself.

[diogeron]

I watched the interview and had exactly the same reaction. Costas did an excellent job and actually listened, so he could ask follow-up questions.

I hope the Obama people are going to mesh Bush's statement about "I don't see America having problems" with McSame's comment about the great shape of the American economy. Talk about being out of touch.

[BigLib]

Last night during the NBC Olympic coverage President Bush gave announcer Bob Costas a history lesson on the greatness of the United States of America.
This drubbing was much better live:

BOB COSTAS: This past week you restated America's fundamental differences with China.

THE PRESIDENT: Yes.

BOB COSTAS: But given China's growing strength and America's own problems, realistically how much leverage and influence does the U.S. have here?

THE PRESIDENT: First of all, I don't see America having problems. I see America as a nation that is a world leader, that has got great values. And leverage is -- I don't think you should look at the relationship as one of leverage. I think you ought to look at the relationship of one of constructive engagement where you can find common areas, like North Korea and Iran, but also be in a position where they respect you enough to listen to your views on religious freedom and political liberty.

Gee... Do you thing Bob Costas is a Big Lib?

[StaggerLee]

No I think Bob is a truth teller, something alien to you I guess.

[randyjet]

Another surprise from the sports world was Bryant Gumbel who did his homework before interviews. He actually read the books, knew the topics with politicians, and had good questions. I had to laugh when OJ thought he would get a pass if Gumbel interviewed him. Somebody tipped him off though, and he cancelled the idea with Bryant.

[seenitall]

I have to say that although the president must have had an idea of what Costas was going to ask, he did a damn good job of taking it right to Bush. Of course, Bush gave the same tired "we have differences" response that is good for nothing. We can't negotiate with terrorists he says, but we can play touchy feely with an oppressor of billions of people.

[PKSSK]

Bob Costa's is excellent and, as I have said before and wil say again, Costa's should be the replacement for Tim Russert.

[JimR]

Sports is his first love. He'll never give that up.

[Hufferton]

Costa's is intelligent to do more than 1 task. Bob Costa for Meet the Press. Good suggestion Mr. Linkins.

Where is the petition to sign?!

[HopeandChange]

Didn't stop Olberjerk.

[GeraldineFerraro]

cant read Hu Jintao's mind but he can see into Putin's eyes... sounds like all he was interested was proselytizing

[bayman]

Shrub was expecting softballs, and got substantive questions instead. As he wasn't on script, the predictable squirming, hemming and hawing ensued. An audience not necessarily familiar with politics got a chance to see what a boob our 'leader' is.

[WillNYC]

McCain will be the same... maybe worse.

[personalpolitical]

I think it was pretty softball. He didn't hit with anything hard. Obviously it wasn't totally moronic, but I think a lot better questions could legitimately be asked of Bush.

[StaggerLee]

The only journalist I've seen ask more penetrating questions was in Ireland and she had bush totally of balance. Not many American journalists have the guts to really press him on anything.

[BadgersBite]

Love to see Howard Stern interview our nitwit in cheif

[Mitchell4A]

Still can't believe that this man was elected president. No problems..­..

"George Bush: Edsel and Hypocrite"
http://msa4.wordpress.com/

[greginwva]

I knew the night Costas was on real time that he was being wasted doing sports.He'­s long been the best in sports broadcasting and Is the one person I thought who could do Russert's show justice.I doubt if he would do it but if he did ,his gravitas and honesty would go a long way in shaming the Brokaw types who use tactics such as partial quotes designed more to make a target look bad than to honestly report."if its Sunday,its Meet the Press" doesnt mean anything any more.

[11907281]

Does anyone know dubbya's feelings on religion, he's quite reserved about his feelings on the subject and I can't tell which Idol he worships, if any at all?

[BassMonk]

I'm pretty sure it's Mammon.

[SubparDude]

:
I seen Him at the alter of Petrol, offering up Us.
:

[separatingwheatfromchaff]

Mammon....­..that was good.

[Toonadude]

It depends.
If Jeff Gannon is paying a visit to the WH idol worship takes on a different meaning.

[Felicty]

Bob Costas was the only important man on that video, and I don't even care for sports.

[lovethesinner]

F*&k. I've been racking my brain ever since Tim Russert died to think of who could fill his chair... Costas!

Of course!

I don't know if anyone caught his symposium on the war between sports writers and the internet, but it was exceptional. Costas show is exceptional in itself.

The thing that Russert had, and only Costas shares, is a balance of humor, intelligence, and JOURNALISTIC PURPOSE. Costas, like Russert, is the real thing.

Jason, you're a genius for pointing this out. Way ta go. Really.

[ibsteve2u]

Bush:

"It gave me a chance to say to the Chinese people, religion won't hurt you, you ought to welcome religious people,"

Real, live events publicized all over the world:

"Well, as long as you do not happen to be sitting on top of a big pool of oil, anyway."