Are we all under the bus now?
Arriving on an “Access Across America” bus, Billy Bush was escorting Mr Corporate America, Donald Trump, to the set of a daytime soap opera called "Days of Our Lives.” Mr. Trump was scheduled to make a cameo appearance, and while on the bus together, the men had been talking “locker room” talk—you know, things like stalking married women, illicit sex, and sexual assault. As soon as they arrived, they were greeted by soap star Arianne Zucker, with whom Trump was to appear. Zucker politely greeted them, and the men also said polite hellos. But right away, Billy Bush was down the business of being an Access Hollywood host and so-called reporter/professional—he promptly pimped the soap star, urging her to “give a hug to the Donald”—who had just suggested he might commit a sexual assault on said star.
What a perfect metaphor! Everything that's wrong with the mess that is talk show hosting confused with corporate media journalism can be found in these moments. For the record, the soap star, Arianne Zucker, is the only one showing any class in the situation. She gives Trump no more than an air kiss and a stiff, contact-avoiding hug. She doesn't want to slime herself, it seems. But then she looks at good old Billy, a familiar persona, a genial and seemingly genuine “good guy” who peddles career-boosting promotion in return for access. Good ole Billy. She feels safe with him, and she gives him a real hug. Surely Billy Bush must have felt some shame in that moment. He knows he's just pimped her to Trump, and she gives him a heartfelt hug. What a Judas he is. And the perfect embodiment of what all too often passes for a journalist these days of our lives—pimping, pandering, self-serving obsequiousness.
But don't just take my word for it. Let Billy Bush explain his approach to his on air “reporting” gig. On his Facebook page Billy Bush has posted a photo of himself holding a plate of bacon The caption reads:
If you invite the viewers in and give them bacon they will watch you forever. That's my strategy @todayshow #today
Many negative comments follow the photo; it appears the NBC leaker who shared the 2005 tape with The Washington Post has thrown Bush under the bus with Trump—showing some real journalistic tendencies. Was it you, Al Roker? The Washington Post has a look at Bush’s serious inadequacies in this article: www.washingtonpost.com/…
Here’s my question to NBC Today: Now that Billy Bush is co-host at The Today Show, is he first in line to be the 2020 Commander in Chief moderator? Certainly seems like a great heir to Matt Lauer in my book.
And, just for the record, if we’re going to have a Today Show Bush host anything, I'll go with Jenna Bush Hager any day.
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