The Best of Notable Quotables; December 16, 1996

Vol. Nine; No. 26

Good Morning Morons Award


"You write that you prayed more during your four years in office
than basically at any time in your life and yet I think it's fair
to say, and I hope this doesn't sound too harsh, I think it's
fair to say, you are consistently viewed as one of the more
ineffective Presidents of modern times....What do you think, if
anything, that says about the power of prayer?"

-- Bryant Gumbel interviewing Jimmy Carter about his new book, "Living Faith," November 18 Today. [85 points]


Runners-up


"In light of the new welfare reform bill, do you think the
children need more prayers than ever before?"

-- Bryant Gumbel to Children's Defense Fund leader Marian Wright Edelman, September 23 Today. [71]

"Comments that he has made to others would seem to indicate a
certain degree of, and not unjustifiably, a certain degree of
anger, bitterness. Has he expressed that to you?"                 
"Why do you suppose it is that one year after his acquittal, most
white Americans at least, cannot accept the idea that he's out
walking around free, refuse to let him live his life?"

-- Bryant Gumbel to O.J. Simpson lawyer Johnnie Cochran in part one of
three day interview series, September 30 Today. [62]

Bryant Gumbel: "Do you think if those two victims had been, say,
Marguerite, his first wife, and Al Cowlings, his best friend,
that there would have been the same amount [of media attention]?"
Cochran: "Absolutely not. And I think any person who wants to be
honest about it would say the same."
Gumbel: "Why? Because America doesn't care about black victims?"

-- Exchange on Today, Oct. 2. [58]