What President Obama Should Have Said to Brian Williams If He Could Rewind the Interview

BRIAN WILLIAMS: Even a number as sizeable as this — what does it say to you? Does it say anything about your communications or the effectiveness of your opponents to —

PRESIDENT OBAMA: Well, look, Brian, I — I would say that I can't spend all my time with my birth certificate plastered on my forehead. (LAUGHS) It — it is what — the facts are the facts. And so, it's not something that I can I think spend all my time worrying about. And I don't think the American people want me to spend all my time worrying about it.

BRIAN WILLIAMS: What does it say to you that Glenn Beck was able to draw a crowd of perhaps north of 300,000 people on the anniversary of Dr. King's speech, on the site of Dr. King's speech? Message appeared to be, at times, anti-government, anti-spread of government. Anti-Obama administration. And in favor of — I guess — re-injecting God into both politics and the American discourse.

PRESIDENT OBAMA: Well, I have to say, I — I did not watch the rally. I think that one of the wonderful things about this country is that at any given moment any group of people can decide, you know, “We want to — our voices heard.” And — and so, I think that Mr. Beck and the rest of those folks were exercising their rights under our Constitution exactly as they should.

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REWIND INTERVIEW —

PRESIDENT OBAMA: [However, when Mr. Beck attacks my family; that’s crossing a line. When he lies about my religion and concocts fantasies connecting me to so-called ‘liberation theology’ without a single shred of evidence, credible or otherwise, because it’s not something that was ever a part of my life or religious belief, that is irresponsible. Mr. Beck owes me — and the American people — an apology, not only for calling me a racist, which is absurd on its face, but for the daily, irresponsible lies he says about me that disrespect the office of president, and most of all for attacking my family. That’s completely out of bounds, and I’m surprised his employer Fox has not disciplined him. Correct that: I’m not that surprised. After all, Rupert Murdoch donated $1 million to the Republican Party in an election year. That’s unprecedented for a so-called “news” organization, so I have instructed Gibbs to revoke Fox’s White House reporting privileges. (Don’t ever complain I won’t give you an exclusive and a scoop, Brian.)

Let me be clear, Brian. I’m not picking a fight with a news organization. I hope you and your colleagues, who operate under widely accepted professional standards of journalism understand this. Fox (I won’t even call them “News”) has violated those standards, and they have become the propaganda arm of the Republican Party. In an election year, when the stakes are so high for our country, that kind of reckless and irresponsible conduct by a news organization is unacceptable. This does not mean Fox cannot continue to broadcast nor that we are ‘pulling a Dr. Laura’ on them, which is the first thing they’ll whine about. And look, I realize this will probably increase their ratings. But I am calling them out. I demand an apology from Mr. Murdoch, and from every Fox employee with a camera and a microphone who has lied about me and our record; we have the video and the facts to prove it. I hope Mr. Beck and the others are sanctioned. Including all of right wing talk radio — Limbaugh, Savage, those hate merchants who traffic in lies and inciting violence against innocent people. And I expect you (POINTING AT WILLIAMS) to follow up.

You know, Brian. You can’t yell ‘FIRE’! in a crowded theater and expect your 1st Amendment rights to be protected. That sort of thing is a crime, and it’s incumbent on you and the responsible media, liberal or conservative, to police these excesses and report the truth. By the way, Mr. Murdoch, Beck, Limbaugh, and Fox should know that the Justice Department and the Secret Service are monitoring what they say daily to make sure no laws are being violated, including hate crime statutes. I am especially concerned about the incitement to violence, which incidentally, is sanctioned by some Republicans, and we’ve seen a rise in violence against innocent Americans of the Islamic faith. I will not tolerate us going back to the days of Jim Crow violence because of the irresponsibility of the few and the inaction of others. I expect you and your colleagues to do your jobs, Mr. Williams.]

PRESIDENT OBAMA: “Speaking of size, Brian … I was told the crowd at Beck’s rally was 87,000, according to CBS, and not the 300,000 you reported. You know, some of those folks looked pretty hefty and comfortable to me, with their government Social Security and Medicare entitlements — not like a bunch of skinny poor folks at all. Once you throw in the picnic basket, the ribs, chicken and beer, why, one could easily pass for three. (LAUGHS) That’s the problem with counting gatherings of comfortable people; there’s always a tendency to overcount. I think the polls reflect that, too.

Oh, and Ax told me Chris Matthews had this caption, “Size Matters” (CHUCKLES), was that an ‘inside baseball’ joke? You know, what they say about the brothers, THAT’S A MYTH, man! Brian, are you really that insecure?” (PRESIDENT LAUGHS HEARTILY.)

BRIAN WILLIAMS: (GLANCING NERVOUSLY SIDEWAYS AT CREW, GIVES CUT-THROAT END INTERVIEW SIGN.)

RHAM EMANUEL: (OFF-CAMERA) “Yo Brian! Is it true they call you fucking ‘Ken’? Who’s Barbie?” (LAUGHS ALL AROUND; Robert Gibbs is seen shaking his shoulders, trying to suppress a snicker.)

PRESIDENT OBAMA: (REMOVING THE MIC FROM HIS LAPEL.) “OK guys, let’s get to work.” (LEANS OVER AND PATS WILLIAMS ON THE KNEE, WITH A TWINKLE IN HIS EYE.) “Thanks, Brian. Let’s do this again.”

BRIAN WILLIAMS: (SLINKING IN HIS SEAT, FACE REDDENING.) “Thank you, Mr. President.”