Brian Williams' dose of reality: Opinionline

Brian Williams, NBC News: "In the midst of a career spent covering and consuming news, it has become painfully apparent to me that I am presently too much a part of the news, due to my actions. As managing editor of NBC Nightly News, I have decided to take myself off of my daily broadcast for the next several days. ... Upon my return, I will continue my career-long effort to be worthy of the trust of those who place their trust in us."

Kyle Smith, New York Post: "No one who actually scored the winning touchdown ... misremembers it as sitting on the bench. ... Williams' tall tale was never featured on an NBC News program. So he peddled his yarn elsewhere, gradually making himself sound more devil-may-care, to the point where, in a 2013 appearance on Late Show ... he didn't contradict David Letterman's description of him as a 'war hero.' We should have known he was lying then; actual heroes hate being called heroes."

Carl M. Cannon, Real Clear Politics: "I have no reason to doubt the sincerity of (Williams' apology) for embellishing his 2003 war correspondent experiences in Iraq. ... That's what our memories do. They trick us sometimes. ... It seems that the (helicopter) that ferried Williams to a battle zone was not hit by an enemy's rocket, which Williams has been claiming for the last couple of years. ... It's certainly fair to criticize Williams for winging it the way he does. But that's a much different thing from calling (him) a liar."

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Maureen Dowd, The New York Times: "Williams' determination to wrap himself in others' valor is indefensible, (but) it seems almost redundant to gnaw on his bones, given that the Internet has already taken down a much larger target: the long-ingrained automatic impulse to turn on the TV when news happens. Although there was much chatter about the 'revered' anchor and the 'moral authority' of the networks, does anyone really feel that way anymore?"

Brad Hecht, (New York) Daily News: "The Williams fiasco is yet another black eye for the media industry as a whole, which has had far too many problems holding on to the public trust. ... When the managing editor of a global news organization can't be counted on to tell the truth, there's no faith in the company's leadership. And when the initial accusation is met with obfuscation, half-apologies and a refusal to enforce accountability, the entire company looks opaque, unethical and unfair."

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