David Gregory on Imus

Monte Smith · March-2nd-2006, 03:49 PM

Drudge has a transcript up of a phone call from David Gregory to the Imus Show this morning. Evidently it was the cocktail hour in far away India, where Gregory was reporting on the President's visit--so maybe Gregory should have had dinner before he drank 'n' dialed. But it's no terrible shame, and the transcript is funny:

GREGORY'S GIGGLES: NBCNEWS WHITE HOUSE REPORTER CALLS SHOW WHILE 'DRUNK'?
Thu Mar 02 2006 08:52:09 ET

NBC White House correspondent David Gregory, who apologized last week for calling White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan a "jerk," called into MSNBC's IMUS Thursday morning -- apparently drunk!

[CLICK FOR AUDIO SNIP]

Gregory is traveling with the president in India.

IMUS: Let's go to the White House correspondent David Gregory.

DAVID GREGORY: I'm OK.

IMUS: You can calls us later if you want.

GREGORY: [Laughter] [Laughter] [Laughter] [Laughter]

IMUS: Are you drunk?

GREGORY: [Laughter] [Laughter]

IMUS: Are you all right David?

GREGORY: India is a wonderful language and i've been learning, where's my little sheet here. I've been learning some new phrases to come home. But any way, that being one of them and i just think it's nice.

IMUS: It is.

GREGORY: Thank you.

IMUS: Having a lot of fun there. What's wrong with you?

GREGORY: I just think it's funny. [Laughter] [Laughter] [Laughter]

CHARLES: He's drunk.

IMUS: He is drunk!

CHARLES: Oh god.

IMUS: Why don't you compose yourself and get back to us. You want to?

GREGORY: [Laughter] [Laughter] [Laughter]

IMUS: What are you in some harrem?

IMUS: What? David?

GREGORY: No, i'm fine.

IMUS: We need a camera.

Oh my lord.

IMUS: Somebody's got --

GREGORY: i was -- remember that movie "Arthur" with Dudley Moore where he just thinks funny things and that's what was going on. If i could find this sheet, actually i just found it. Anyway.

IMUS: You have any news? [Laughter]

IMUS: we got to go, we'll get back to you.

GREGORY: I'm sorry.

IMUS: That's all right.

IMUS: Well, call us back will you?

GREGORY: Anyway. There are serious things going on here which i know you're very interested in.

IMUS: We don't have any time for them now. Quickly.

GREGORY: Big deal between India and the United States. The upshot is we're going to provide nuclear know-how and fuel to india which they need for their economy to grow. But since they never signed the nonproliferation treaty it's a real turn around and critics worry that it sends the wrong message to other parts of the world.

IMUS: Ok.

GREGORY: I would add, i would add that this is how you say thank you.

IMUS: What is it again?

[Speaking foreign language]

IMUS: Well that's great. But we have to go. It's always nice to hear from you.

GREGORY: I'll call you after dinner.

IMUS: NBC Chief White House Correspondant from New Delhi, India. Clearly drunk.

END

Root Doctor · March-2nd-2006, 05:49 PM

It seemed like schtick to me. Gregory called back shortly thereafter and was fine. "Human Events" seems obsessed with the this bit of typical Imus show tomfoolery, even to the point of printing an incredibly scurrilous piece about Gregory's alleged drinking problem on its website. I'm still searching for a similar one on career amateur drinker Dick Cheney's intake on the day he shot a guy in the face.

Monte Smith · March-2nd-2006, 07:21 PM

I don't know about Cheney, but Gregory's bingeful conversation reads pretty funny. You saw (heard) it, Root? I don't begrudge a fellow the occasional foolishness of his cups--been there myself plenny enough times. But it's always hilarity when caught on tape. Usually on the fine program Cops. My favorite incident of innocuous, high profile international public drunkenness, however, belongs to former President Clinton. I've mentioned it before on this thread, because it was a glorious C-Span moment: Bubba and Jacques Chirac at an obviously overlong Parisian dinner. When the two emerge from their revels, Jacques' (correct) instinct is to turn on his heal away from the television cameras, Clinton's more ebullient instinct is to head right at them like a moth to the flame. "Do you...do you know what the President of France and I agreed upon over dinner?" the most powerful man in the world asks the assembled press. Jacques Chirac visibly cringing and pulling at the President's elbow. "We agreed...we agreed that millions of years ago...he and I...and everyone else on planet Earth...shared common ancestors on the continent of Africa!" Pause. The President waits for the enormity of that statement to register with the press. Blinks. He quickly realizes that his profundity may not be grasped and with a grin and a wink, exists stage left. A very human moment--thank you, C-Span.

Root Doctor · March-3rd-2006, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monte Smith

I don't know about Cheney, but Gregory's bingeful conversation reads pretty funny. You saw (heard) it, Root?

I did. I listen to Imus every morning, a nice alternative to the drone of NPR. I enjoy his mix of sharp political talk and offensive frat boy humor.

That this incident was played up by Drudge and Human Events speaks volumes: the New Right would like to discredit the sole member of the Washington press corps who's willing to do his job. Oh, Jeff Gannon, where art thou?

Monte Smith · March-3rd-2006, 10:15 AM

Was the exchange substantively different than the transcript would have it?

Steve Reynolds · March-3rd-2006, 10:34 AM

I heard it as well

they don't know what drunk or fucked up is

steve(thelil) · March-3rd-2006, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Reynolds

I heard it as well

they don't know what drunk or fucked up is

Or funny.

Monte Smith · March-3rd-2006, 06:25 PM

Not a big Imus listener, myself.

Evidently Paula Abdul was waste on Idol last night. I'm the only one who doesn't know where the party is or something. Figgers. That's what you get for being a Republican. Frigging wingtips.