NBC Gives Platform to Kevin Spacey Smearing Romney as 'Murderous Politician'
In an interview with actor Kevin Spacey on Wednesday's NBC Today, co-host Matt Lauer quoted the liberal star's description of his new role in a political drama, playing "a wily murderous politician worming his way to the White House." Spacey quipped in response: "Kind of like this year, isn't it?" Immediately picking up on the reference to Mitt Romney, Lauer chuckled and replied: "No, no, no. Get yourself in trouble, not me." [Listen to the audio]
At the top of the segment, Lauer asked Spacey – who is temporarily
living in London – for reaction to the Olympics so far. Spacey gushed
over the collectivist tone of the event: "I was able to go to the
opening ceremonies, which I thought was just extraordinary.... It felt
very much like Danny Boyle had done something that was about the
workers, about what it takes to build a country, to build a society. It
was an extraordinary look at a village."
Anchoring the opening ceremony, Lauer and fellow co-host Meredith Vieira cheered Boyle's tribute
to Britain's government-run health care system. Lauer proclaimed:
"...we're locked in this kind of partisan debate over the future of
health care in our own country. Here, they feel so strongly about their
health care system, they're actually celebrating it as part of the
Olympic opening ceremony."
Here is a transcript of the August 1 exchange between Lauer and Spacey:
8:38AM ET
MATT LAUER: We welcome you back now to London and day five of the games
of the XXX Olympiad. And look who we found taking in some of the
action, two-time Oscar winner Kevin Spacey. For nearly a decade he's
served as the artistic director of the Old Victory Theater here in
London. Kevin, it's good to see you on your side of the pond for a
change.
KEVIN SPACEY: I know, it's good to have you on my turf for once.
LAUER: It really is nice. You came here a while ago. This is your home
away from home, no question about it. Oftentimes, when the Olympic games
come to a city, the people who live there have mixed emotions. You
know, there's the traffic and the security and then there's the
prestige. How do you feel about it?
SPACEY: Well, I'm lucky because I'm a resident of Great Britain but I'm
a citizen of the United States, so I can root for both countries, which
is great. And it's been incredible to be back. I had a chance to come
back last Thursday, so I was able to go to the opening ceremonies, which
I thought was just extraordinary, live. I don't know what they look
like on television, but they were quite remarkable to be there. It felt
very much like Danny Boyle had done something that was about the
workers, about what it takes to build a country, to build a society. It
was an extraordinary look at a village. And I thought he took us through
the industrial revolution and everything. I thought it was remarkable.
(...)
LAUER:
You've been on a lot of planes lately, going back and forth to
Baltimore. You're shooting a series there called House of Cards, kind
of a political drama. And I just want to read how you described your
character recently: "A wily murderous politician worming his way to the
White House."
SPACEY: Yeah. Yeah.
LAUER: Another great thing to sink your teeth into.
SPACEY [LAUGHING]: Kind of like this year, isn't it?
LAUER: No, no, no. Get yourself in trouble, not me. When are we going to see this? I know it's going to be streamed on Netflix?
SPACEY: Yes, it's the first original program for Netflix. And it was
actually based on a very popular British series that was here in the
1980's, about a wily politician worming his way to the – to becoming
prime minister. And oddly enough, it was based on Richard III, which
I've just spent the last ten months, or the last year, performing around
the world. So I feel like I've had a good ten months of rehearsal to
play this character. David Fincher and I are doing it. It's been an
extraordinary experience. To sort of delve into that world of politics
and power and greed and ambition and all that. And as David and I like
to say, it ain't your daddy's West Wing.
LAUER: You always do it well. I can't wait to see it. Kevin, it's always great to see you.
SPACEY: Good to see you.
LAUER: Pleasure. Kevin Spacey.
SPACEY: Thanks.
