Rock Center
During Brian Williams' two-day campaign profile of President Barack Obama this week, the president made a pit stop in California for an interview with Tonight Show host Jay Leno. Politicians and candidates have a long tradition of appearing on late-night television programs. In this edition of Rock Bottom, Brian Williams looks at the importance of late-night during a presidential election.











I was so disappointed. This was like a lottery winner getting a trip on Air Force One, bowing obsequiously to the King, never asking him a tough question. I was particularly disappointed by Brian Williams' inability to ask the tough questions on the new information on Benghazi, that the victims begged for help, but were refused. This is worse than a Watergate scandal because we have four dead, and an Administration lying to the American people. But Williams is so star-struck by the President, so thrilled to be on Air Force One, that he forgets to do his job as a journalist to protect the public. So sad.
Well said wisemom. Of course Brian Williams will not ask Obama tough questions.These news media folks, other than Fox wants this idiot re-elected. They all protect him so that he looks good. He does not care about our 4 Americans that were murdered in Benghazi. Yes Brian Williams, go out and do your job. That is what you get paid for. The American people deserve the truth
It's worse then asking than not asking the tough questions. Brian Williams flat out LIED when he said in his question to Obama that intelligence agencies agree it was a "spontaneous" attack. William is so in the tank for Obama he probably wipes his bottom.
To all you Journalists out there, including Brian Williams. What do you think about this. Last night Obama boarded Air Force One for Orlando for a campaign event taking place this morning knowing that this devastating storm was baring down on the North East coast, but still he made the trip anyway spending more of our tax payer money. The White House ordered him back to Washington early this morning telling him it would not look good to the American people. Good grief, this is our president??? why does he need to be told to stay at home and be a President and perform your presidential duties in preparation for a crisis.Governor Romney, on the other hand, prepares his campaign bus to take off around the country to collect relief funds for the Red Cross.WHO is more Presidential???? Do your jobs you journalists and Vet this President
Shame on you Mr. Williams. The "journalists" of today are a disappointment to their profession. The American public deserves better than the sham of an interview that you gave to the President. I miss the days when watching the news involved the objective reporting of all sides of a story without personal commentary from a journalist. It meant asking the tough questions necessary to arrive at the truth. Finally, reporting should be the way viewers arrive at their own conclusions because they have been given truthful and objective information needed to do so. Do not underestimate us Mr. Williams! You will see how smart we are on election day, despite you best journalistic efforts.
Well said nostalgic4truth. These journalists do think we, The American people, are stupid, but like you said,they will see how smart we are come election day. God Bless America
Why would you not ask a question from the president about why the
administration either lied or was totally incompetent regarding benghazi.
I realize that williams would not want to hurt the president's chances for re-election
but brave men died. these men asked for help and were denied.
Yes Ed this president and his admin. are incompetent and four of our brave men have been murdered because of it. This Benghazi scene is worse than Watergate and Nixon was impeached, so now let's see what they do about Obama. Take my word for it.NOTHING will happen for the fear of being called racists. Makes me sick
Shame on you. As a long time NBC viewer your interview of President Obama is a shameless pandering to a person of power. He did nothing to help our people in Benghazi whether outright dening help or just not being available for the brefing on Benghazi. He is responsible and you did not ask any tough questions. Shame on you. NBC did not cover the story on NBC news tonight. Why? This story is bigger than Watergate!! Shame on you Brian Williams.
It is clear that your interview was to enable and shield the president from questions
regarding the lying and incompetence of this administration. Good brave men
died because they were denied help.
Shame on you Brian Williams. You are a coward and you have sold your soul to Obama.
You have lost a viewer. Shame on you and all the others who are so desperate to get obama back in office that you sell your integrity.
Brian, you sir are a disgrace. Any integrity you might have had as a journalist is long gone. Do you not understand that your job is to report on the election, not to influence it or show any preference for a candidate. If you were my son i would be ashamed of you. The absence of nonpartisan reporting has reached a point where it is going to negatively impact this country.
Mr. Williams, Have you no shame? Don't you believe we deserve some answers to relevant questions? How about those voting for Obama? Shouldn't they know answers to serious questions? How about the undecideds? Shouldn't you serve them with the valuable time you been afforded? You ask,"Mr President, are you satified with the communications of your team regarding Benghazi?" That's it? Are you aware of how incompetent you look? I see you quaking in your shoes in fear for not wanting to put the President in an uncomfortable position. But didn't he ask for the job? Isn't he campaigning for this difficult job again? Don't you believe someone asking for the most important job in the world should face tough questions? You would never believe you think that watching this pathetic interview! I can't believe you've attained the position you are in! Think of all the better interviewers who could have made use of this time. This is why the main stream media has so little respect from viewers. You've wasted the American peoples' time. Like an earlier commentor put it, "you've covered for the president." Seriously, you've got to consider why you are taking up a place on the 'field' when their are far more courageous 'players/reporters' on the bench! You stolen the money they are paying you. Now go away before we force you to exit ungracefully!
How embarrassing that you did not ask Obama about Libya. Our President lied to the American people, to those poor families whose loved ones lost their lives and you did NOTHING! I am so sickened by NBC, I will never again watch one thing on this network. Peoples lives were lost and you were more interested in hanging out with Obama. I mean what type of reporter are you?
Brian Williams should be ashamed at himself. How little respect you have for the families who lost their loved ones and were completely lied to by the president! You did nothing to uncover the truth. You did nothing to question the presidents weeks of lying. We lost HEROS and you could have given the dead a voice. As a military wife, I want you to know that people like you make all of us sick. You sat by, you did nothing, you did not care about these men who died. You just let the president get away with lies and neglect and blew smoke up his behind. Disgusting Mr. Williams. How lucky are you that people like my husband fight to let you live in a country that is free. The least you can do to show respect if do your job!
After reading the comments I can tell they are from Fox news viewers. We lost four Americans in Benghazi. That is tragic. How many thousands have we lost in Iraq and Afghanistan? Are their lives worth so much less? How many wounded? At least the President is talking to reporters from all over the country. Romney is afraid to talk to anyone. Do any of you realize that the CIA had involvement in this, and that there may be info we don't have yet because things are going on behind the scenes? By the way, on his trip Obama had 4 K in Davenport, 16 K in Denver, 13 K in Las Vegas, 9 K in Tampa, 15 K in Richmond, and 15 K in Cleveland. Not everyone is a rabid Obama hater.
How dare you Alaska rose. Have you no shame. We do not need people like you so go back to your Obama where you belong.
Dear Alaska Rose, I am the mother of a young veteran. Dead is dead, Rose. If someone you loved dearly served his country and died in dodgy circumstances, you'd want answers to.
So VERY disappointed in your lack of effort to get a simple question answered from the President...Did he or did he not deny help to our ambassador...I (without any of YOUR journalistic training) could have accomplished what you DID NOT...you are NOT a journalist!!!!
VERY disappointed in you, Mr. Williams!!!! You COULD not or WOULD not get a simple answer to a simple question from our President...did he or did he not refuse help to our ambassador while in critical need. With NO journalistic training, I could have done better...you ARE NOT a journalist!!
I agree completely with all who have already expressed their disappointment and outrage over your "interview" with the President. You may have had a shining career in journalism prior to this, but you have tarnished it forever now. Our Ambassador, and three brave men with him, were assassinated by terrorists while the President was trying to save his job. Can you look people in the eye and honestly say that this is the kind of man you want to lead our Country for four more years? "I wasn't aware" is not an acceptable answer from a President, and it certainly is not an acceptable answer from a "Commander in Chief". Why is everyone so willing to let the deaths of these four brave men to be swept under the rug as an unfortunate turn of events instead of acknowledging this situation for what it is: the result of an incompetent administration who is more willing to keep peace at any cost with our sworn enemies that to stand up to them and protect our Country? As for you, Mr.Williams, I used to have only admiration for your reporting. No more. You have disgraced yourself -- for what?
You and Jay Leno. Jay Leno and you. Soon there will be no distinction! Why not let him take your place now and then? It would be exactly the same reporting.
So far no answers from you rabid anti Obama people. If I recall there were some issues regarding the death of Pat Tillman too and how many others? You are much more concerned with partisan hits rather than getting to any truth. I would venture that you are all gung ho Romney supporters. He ran out on Vietnam. Non of his five sons have served. Check out the speech that Jim Webb gave in Virginia about Romney and his ilk. You would rather have a coward in office. He never talks about the troops, but you have the vapors about Benghazi. Your standards are so low.
Alaska Rose: Your arguement is not rational. I am looking for the truth. Mr. Obama is hiding something, and no one is pushing for the truth. Our Ambassador was murdered. Three men defending him and the Embassy were murdered. Why this was permitted to occur, after they pleaded for more security and were abandoned to the Libyians, is a critical question. The problem falls squarely on the President. No one else.
I thought this was a news program. I thought Brian Williams was a news man. What a poser!!!!!! I wouldn't watch him interview a poodle. Although it would have been more interesting than his interview with the President. What a great opportunity Brian Williams had to interview the President and get some answers on Libya. Instead it will be studied in Journalism classes across America as one of the worst interviews in history. Pitiful, just pitiful.
Mr. Williams, in case you weren't informed, 4 AMERICANS DIED!
I thought Brian Williams was a news man. I thought wrong. I won't be watching his program in the future.
Mr. Williams … the big question is WHY you aren’t digging deeper into the coverup… and WHY you aren’t asking hard questions of the Administration? It’s appalling that this isn’t “front page” coverage every day until we get the real answers…. who covered this up? who issued the “stand down” orders? why isn’t the POTUS telling us all the details, even though he says he is? The American public MUST know…. and now, not three months from now. You, as a journalist, owe it to us.
Mr Williams. Why did you LIE and say that intelligence agencies agree it was a "spontaneous attack"? In the days when there were actual "reporters", you would have been fired for telling lies to your viewers to help a political candidate.
This is why the press has an 8% approval rating and why Fox News, beat your over-hyped two part campaign ad for the president.
How about covering the real news? All nbc shows are about telling everyone how to live!
like liberals want us to live! Stay OUT OF OUR LIVES !
Quit spending money!!! Tell the TRUTH ! It's a sad day when our own goverment lies to us all and you back it up or don't even question it.
What a disappointment. I have enjoyed your show until now when such a biased partisan segment was presented. I enjoy the freedom of choice in our country and would like to have our media respect this freedom. I'm sorry but it wasn't even a good interview. I now choose not to watch your show.
President Obama is winning nearly every swing state poll against Mitt Romney less than 72 hours before voters start casting ballots next Tuesday. The polls add evidence to the narrative that Obama has the momentum in the final days of the campaign, and that have already sewn up an Electoral Collage majority. Obama is winning 21 of the 27 swing state polls released over the last 72 hours. Romney is winning only three of the swing state polls, with another three polls showing ties.
Bye bye Mittens.