Bradley-Jackson Interview...Rather Anemic

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Bradley-Jackson Interview...Rather Anemic
by Dave Gibson, Columnist

January 7, 2004

Dave Gibson Did anyone see the point to the 60 Minutes interview with Michael Jackson, conducted by Ed Bradley? Bradley sat across from the world's best known pedophile and lobbed softballs in his direction all night! Can you imagine what Bradley would have done to Rush Limbaugh over the absurd allegations of 'doctor shopping'?...He would have carved him up like a Christmas ham!

Bradley is obviously a well-seasoned reporter. He is the 2003 recipient of the Damon Runyan Award, he has won a Peabody, and 11 Emmys. Bradley was wounded while covering the fighting in Cambodia in 1973 and later opted to return to that region and witnessed the fall of Cambodia and South Vietnam in 1975. He has interviewed countless leaders and public figures from the dazzling Lena Horne to the evil Timothy McVeigh. The man has done numerous hard-hitting pieces including in 2002, one called "The Catholic Church on Trial", which took a very candid look at the cases of sexual abuse perpetrated by many of that organization's priests and the subsequent cover-up at the hands of the church's leadership. Bradley is a top investigative journalist and has always asked the tough questions. So what happened during that Christmas night interview with Jackson?

A handcuffed Michael Jackson being led into the INmate Reception Center (AP) Bradley allowed Jackson (in handcuffs, right) to ramble on, while making wild accusations about the treatment he received from the Santa Barbara Sheriff's Department. Jackson claims that he was locked in a bathroom by sheriff's deputies for 45 minutes. When in fact, Jackson was only in the building for a total of 63 minutes! It would have been impossible to complete the booking process in the remaining 18 minutes. Jackson also contends that he suffered a dislocated shoulder as a result of the "manhandling" he received from the deputies. Jackson emerged from the Santa Barbara Sheriff's office waving to the cameras, then flew to Las Vegas where he rode up and down the strip waving, blowing kisses, and shaking hands for three hours - all of this with a dislocated shoulder?

How can Jackson explain the time discrepancy? Where was his attorney Mark Geragos while Jackson was locked in the bathroom and being "manhandled'? Why didn't Jackson seek immediate medical attention for his injured shoulder? Ed Bradley failed to ask all of these as well as many other pertinent questions of Jackson. Why?

60 Minutes is a news program which has always taken great pride in it's hard-hitting investigative journalism and the ability of their reporters to ask very probing questions. They have no problem literally chasing down incompetent doctors and investment swindlers. The 60 Minutes crew has done its level best to bring down the American tobacco industry (a legal enterprise). They are famous for making 'corporate types' sweat under the hot lights and the relentless questions posed by their interviewers. So why did the millionaire who sleeps with little boys get off the hook so easily?

If Bradley really is the hard-nosed, responsible, unbiased journalist, he and those in his field believe him to be...Why didn't he ask Jackson the tough questions? Could it be that it is only considered serious investigative journalism, when the reporter goes after a middle-aged, white executive? It makes you wonder. ***

Photo of Dave Gibson courtesy of staff files
Photo of Michael Jackson courtesy of the Associated Press