media beast RI A lackluster performance from one of Russia's most influential friends
Colbert has been one of the most egregious Russia demonizers in American media. Absolutely disgraceful and embarrassing. (Click to enlarge)
Oliver Stone, one of America's most admired and successful directors had a chance to promote his extended interviews with Vladimir Putin on one of America's top forums, Stephen Colbert's 'Late Night' on CBS, on Monday evening.
The interviews are currently available on Showtime, a major American TV network.
It was a rare opportunity for someone of Stone's stature to deliver a K/O to Colbert for the relentless Russia demonizing and baiting Colbert and his network have been engaging in for years now, and to make a spirited case that it is an outrage and disgrace. Stone is well-versed in the debate, and has written about this with great style and energy. He is clearly among those who believe Russia is right and the neocon US media is wrong.
But instead of this, Stone delivered a waffly, weak performance, almost as if his heart wasn't in it, as if he couldn't be bothered. It was such a lame performance, you can almost see Colbert's disappointment - he seems to have been looking forward to a verbal duel.
advertisement It's worth listening to the 7 minute interview to get a read of the current state of extreme Russophobia among American liberals, who make up most of Colbert's audience:
To CBS's shame, they edited out Stone's best comment of the evening. The New York Post's page 6 reports that:
Stone said words to the effect of: “Israel had far more involvement in the US election than Russia.”
The “Platoon” director further challenged Colbert by saying, “Why don’t you ask me about that?” — but we’re told that the host shot back, “I’ll ask you about that when you make a documentary about Israel!”
Apparently this sort of thinking, which is profoundly true, is more than Colbert and his neocon masters think the American public should be allowed to hear.
advertisement Stone, 70 years old, who is half Jewish, was perhaps having a bad evening. Creative types are moody, and maybe he just wasn't in the mood to give Colbert the thrashing he so richly deserves. Maybe he wasn't feeling well. Or maybe it was a condition for coming on the show. We'll never know.
Regardless, the interviews are excellent and a badly-needed antidote to the demonization of Russia currently dominating most of American media. So kudos to Mr. Stone for that, and next time, sir, give them hell.
If you don't want to pay for Showtime, you can watch the interviews on Youtube on various small channels like this one, but hurry up and watch, or download them, because they will probably be quickly taken down for copyright infringement by Showtime.
Poster Comment:
Great cartoon among comments.