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| Andy Rooney: Mel Gibson’s a ’Wacko’ | |
| 2004-02-24 | |
| Andy Rooney set the phone and e-mail lines at CBS buzzing over his commentary — in which he said God was speaking through him — calling Mel Gibson and the Rev. Pat Robertson "wackos." Translation: If you don’t agree with the snarks at CBS you are insane (heh) CBS said Monday it received its heaviest audience response to a "60 Minutes" report since Rooney’s commentaries on the Iraq war last spring. I’ll bet it did The network wouldn’t specify how many calls or e-mails were received. "60 Minutes" spokesman Kevin Tedesco said it was "several times the normal feedback." Quick! Turn off the phone bank! On Sunday’s broadcast, Rooney commented on Robertson’s January statement that he believes God has told him that President Bush would be re-elected in a "blowout" in November. Rooney said God had spoken to him, saying, "I wish you’d tell your viewers that both Pat Robertson and Mel Gibson strike me as wackos. They’re crazy as bedbugs, another earthly expression. I created bedbugs. I tell you, they’re no crazier than people." Well Andy I created senile dementia myself.... Rooney showed clips of Gibson talking to ABC’s Diane Sawyer about Gibson’s film "The Passion of the Christ." Robertson didn’t seem too upset about the commentary on Monday. "Mel Gibson has, without a doubt, created the finest motion picture on the life of Christ of all time," he said. "I am very happy to be linked by Andy Rooney to a talented genius of the order of Mel Gibson." That was a relatively witty and restrained response. Good -- no need to fight senile with senile.
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| Posted by:Secret Master |
| #16 Actually, I liked Andy Rooney's book "My War" about his time in WWII as a correspondent. It was a good read. You don't have to agree with everything he says. |
| Posted by: Penguin 2004-2-24 8:34:24 PM |
| #15 You know what I hate about Andy Rooney? It's the same damn thing day in day out, get the mail feed the dog sort of video columns. When I was a lad we typed for free and didn't whine if Mr. Sorenson forgot to pay us for shoveling off his walk. Times were different then, we didn't feel the need to beat the bejesus out of republicans. And when I say that I mean with a little r. You know what I hate? Getting suspended, yeah it's happened to a lot of us... Geee... you'd think they could take a joke. Did you know I'm a vet? Sorta? |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-2-24 6:33:16 PM |
| #14 Persecution comes with the territory, and it has since the beginning. Feel blessed, Brother Mel. |
| Posted by: eLarson 2004-2-24 4:20:48 PM |
| #13 It's folks like Andy Rooney who make me kneel in prayer, thinking God that our country had the founders it had. The First Amendment is a modern miracle. Mel can make his movie, and Andy can look stupid popping off about it -- it has to be a miracle! I haven't seen Mel's movie, so (unlike so many in the media!) I don't yet have an opinion. I'll check it out and make up my mind. Mojo and tu: best laugh I've had all week. |
| Posted by: Steve White 2004-2-24 3:30:20 PM |
| #12 I seem to remember that the book version had a happy ending to the whole thing. |
| Posted by: Phil Fraering 2004-2-24 3:21:18 PM |
| #11 You're right, Mojo. Can we give him a girlfriend? Can we have a happy ending? Does he have to die at the end? |
| Posted by: tu3031 2004-2-24 2:58:44 PM |
| #10 My favorite group of protestors are the ones saying "The Passion" is too violent. Hello... You folks know, they nail the guy to a cross at the end, don't you? After whipping him and making him carry the cross all the way out of the city, right? Too violent. Sheesh. |
| Posted by: mojo 2004-2-24 2:26:59 PM |
| #9 CBS markets Andy Rooney as a lovable curmudgeon, but he's actually got a rather vicious anti-Catholic (or at least anti-Christian) streak. I remember a syndicated column by him a few years back that viciously cheap-shotted the Pope. |
| Posted by: Mike 2004-2-24 1:39:14 PM |
| #8 OP - LOL! I plan to watch it. This will be the most talked about movie in the last 20 years - and it's an event that shaped 2,000 years of human history. I want to see it for myself. |
| Posted by: B 2004-2-24 1:28:35 PM |
| #7 Watch what you wish for. Brian Williams will replace Brokaw and he's dumb as a stump and deep as a puddle. |
| Posted by: VivaMurdoch 2004-2-24 1:21:00 PM |
| #6 IMHO, the entire cast of "60 Minutes" is proof that "journalists" should be shot if they are in a given position for more than five years. I mean, Christ, what's the average age on that show -- 75? 80? And does anyone remember when one of the "big three" got a new lead anchor? I remember Jennings and Rather being the leads in the 80's; didn't Brokaw move up sometime in the mid-90s? |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2004-2-24 12:47:06 PM |
| #5 Apropos of channeling God, here is one of my favorite Lileks Screeds, fisking a San Fran Chronicle columnist who channels Jesus. |
| Posted by: Carl in N.H 2004-2-24 11:59:23 AM |
| #4 I think all those critics need to see the movie - it looks like they're jumping to conclusions: Michael Wilmington in the Chicago Tribune wrote: It's a film furiously controversial already because of charges of anti-Semitism fed by early reports, charges that are — based upon viewing the movie — somewhat exaggerated and questionable. ...director-writer Gibson, clearly doesn't intend to arouse or play to any anti-Jewish bigotry here — though how his film is used by others may be beyond his calculation. |
| Posted by: Spot 2004-2-24 11:50:06 AM |
| #3 So, the guy who's channeling God is calling who a wacko? |
| Posted by: BH 2004-2-24 11:37:34 AM |
| #2 Rooney has outlived his intelligence. He's becoming an embarassment to this nation, but "just fine" for CBS. I doubt Andy Rooney would know God if He tapped him on the shoulder. I haven't seen "Passions", and I don't plan to see it. I don't listen to Pat Robertson, but I don't consider him anywhere near as senile as Rooney. Now if Rooney had included Buchanan, I might have had to give him a point... |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2004-2-24 11:25:53 AM |
| #1 so Andy is senile. I think that's too bad. |
| Posted by: B 2004-2-24 11:21:31 AM |