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Read & retch: interview on "Today" w/ celeb driver-killer of cyclist.
This morning Matt Lauer, on the "Today" show, interviewed a teary former Miss
America (2000), the wife of the former Lt. Gov. of Kentucky. We were supposed to feel sympathy for HER because SHE, driving, hit and killed a cyclist, a German woman who was the mother of four. Yeah, sure, Miss America expressed all the right sentiments for the killed cyclist, but the transcript may not reflect the full measure of Lauer's solicitiousness of her and her seeking sympathy for herself. Read it and retch. RICHARD ROSENTHAL ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++ From the Today Show on November 17, 2003... MATT LAUER, co-host: It has been quite a year for former Miss America Heather French Henry, one she probably wouldn't wish on anyone else.* French first gained national attention when she was crowned Miss America back in 2000.* Her platform was America's war veterans.* French then became one-half of a power couple when she married Kentucky Lieutenant Governor Stephen Henry. But last month tragedy.* She was at the wheel of her SUV when she hit a bicyclist, killing her. Heather French Henry, good morning.* Nice to have you here. Ms. HEATHER FRENCH HENRY (Former Miss America):* Good morning, Matt. Thank you. LAUER:* I called and talked to your husband just a couple of days after this happened.* I think you were in the room... Ms. HENRY:* Right. LAUER:* ...and he said you were just unable to even talk.* Give me an idea of what these last couple of months have been like for you. Ms. HENRY:* It was almost impossible to talk about, especially the first couple of weeks.* And, you know, even now, getting to come out now, is more to help others who've been through it, and more so to say thank you. Thousands of letters and e-mails from peo--all around the world that people have been through the same situation.* And a gentleman from Australia e-mailed me and said, `This happened to me.* You don't know me.' And then, of course, the veterans work that I had done, it was just so ironic, you know, having helped veterans for so long, trying to live with the aftermath of war and death... LAUER:* And trauma. Ms. HENRY:* ...and now--and trauma--and now a lot of those veterans are helping me. LAUER:* Let's talk about it.* It was October 12th. Ms. HENRY:* Right. LAUER:* And you're in your SUV.* And you're at a light waiting to make a turn. The light turns green.* Take me from there. Ms. HENRY:* It--you know, the hardest thing to live with is seeing her face, her hand in the air and her screaming, `No,' and trying everything you can to avoid an unavoidable accident.* And it replays through your mind all the time. You know, you swerve the car to the right, because I was fully aware that there were cars to the left, and I had my daughter in the back, and it was--there was just no way to get around it.* And then you stop... LAUER:* So you made--you made this turn.* She was on a bicycle. Ms. HENRY:* She--it darted out from... LAUER:* Outside the crosswalk. Ms. HENRY:* Right, mm-hmm. LAUER:* And from what I understand, there was a lot of sun glare on the road. Ms. HENRY:* There was a lot, and not blinding sun I will say.* But it made me concentrate really hard.* It's a very busy intersection.* There are six lanes of traffic going in and out of that area.* And you're always very aware of how much room you're taking in that turn, especially in a truck with other cars there.* And so I was paying very good attention to where my car was actually going in that turn.* And when--it's just like when a child darts out in traffic to get a ball.* I mean, it's just--there's--your instinct is automatically, of course, to swerve, but it was just--it was just no... LAUER:* You hit her with the center of the grill, basically.* What did you do immediately after? Ms. HENRY:* You know, I think I take a lot of strength from my mom.* I am very calm in those types of situations.* But 20 minutes later I was not. I immediately checked on my daughter and then got out of the car.* And luckily there was an off-duty EMS worker at the gas station, right there, an off-duty doctor right there.* And so they had already called 911.* We all convened over at--at Karola side.* And then my husband--we live literally less that a half mile from that scene, so he ran down within 30 seconds. LAUER:* He is a doctor, I should mention. Ms. HENRY:* A trauma doctor, so he's very used to these situations. LAUER:* What was your reaction when you got the word later that night that she had died? Ms. HENRY:* Oh, I didn't hear that she had until I saw it on the news.* I mean, that--that was--excuse me, that was like one of the hardest parts was not having that connection and then having to deal with the second-hand information that just--just totally devastated my life, and still does today, knowing that, you know, I will have to move on.* I have daughters that depend on me.* I have a husband.* I still will continue my veterans work.* And that really gives me a lot of hope. LAUER:* You've released a statement through your husband's office saying, expressing your deep condolences to her family.* Have you reached out in any other way to her family?* I understand most of her family is in Germany? Ms. HENRY:* They are in Germany.* And part of the hopes of coming on with you and being on with others on national, I'm hoping that that family hears that, you know, this was not an accident that I just walked away from and just started my life over again. LAUER:* As a matter of fact, one of the things that I understand her family--she has four children, is that right... Ms. HENRY:* She does.* She did have four children. LAUER:* ...that sometimes her children are being told is--is, `Your mom was killed by that beauty queen?' Ms. HENRY:* Right.* That's what I have feared the most, and that people--I mean people who know me and the work that I've done know that I'm a very compassionate person towards humans.* I mean, I value human life so much.* And I really want them to get that indication that I will think about her and her family every single day, even though I don't know... LAUER:* Why not just call?* Why not--why not get in contact with her family personally?* Is there... Ms. HENRY:* We've been very... LAUER:* Are there legal reasons? Ms. HENRY:* ...you know, we've been very interested in that.* And I just don't think that either party we are really ready yet for that.* I mean, it's a struggle enough for me to get out of bed.* I mean, there are several projects that I do get to work on now to keep my mind off of the accident.* My kids and I had a children's book about Veterans Day and those sorts of things have really kept me going.* But, you know, on the off moments, Matt, it's just--it's--it's devastating. LAUER:* You've said that people have reached out to you.* People have said, `You don't know me, but this happened to me.' Do you think, though, Heather, that being somewhat high profile, the fact that you're a power couple in Kentucky, has it made it more difficult for you being someone who is in the public eye and then having something like this happen? Ms. HENRY:* Well, any time anything happens, you know, whether it's your husband's prostate surgery, or your daughter's surgery, it makes it hard to live in the public eye, but we understand in public life that's part of it. We are obligated to the public that they are interested in what happens to us. And one of the hopes is that people that this is--you know, people who have been through this will find some comfort maybe together just like the people who reached out to me.* They--I am sure they relived that.* When they e-mailed me, they relived their situation. And what's strange is that it actually happens more often than you think, but it's just not on the news quite as often.* So we've had best friends that it has happened to.* We didn't even know. LAUER:* Again, I know while--while it's been devastating to your family, your thoughts are also with this... Ms. HENRY:* Absolutely. LAUER:* ...this woman's family in Germany.* And I appreciate you coming on and talking to us about it? Ms. HENRY:* Thank you.* And this will probably, you know--I am trying to slow everything down now, so it's nice to be on with you.* It's still very hard to talk about. LAUER:* I appreciate it.* Thanks, Heather. Ms. HENRY:* Thanks. LAUER:* It's 46 after the hour.* We're back right after this. |
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Read & retch: interview on "Today" w/ celeb driver-killer of cyclist.
(BikeAdman) wrote-
Yeah, sure, Miss America expressed all the right sentiments for the killed cyclist, but the transcript may not reflect the full measure of Lauer's solicitiousness of her and her seeking sympathy for herself. Read it and retch. Saw it this AM on TV. I was taken back by her demeanor. She tried to paint herself as the "victim" in this case. No sympathy here for this goody two shoes. Jim |
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Read & retch: interview on "Today" w/ celeb driver-killer ofcyclist.
Years ago, in the town I grew up in a local teenager, known for
exercising the novelty of blasting his parents car up and down the city streets smacked a child on a bike, running him over completely and killing him. There was much talk about how distraught he was and how hamstrung he was over the guilt, the images of the child's face frozen in his mind, etc. and the psychological treatment he went through to recover from the event. The judge, at the child's parents request, gave out a very lenient sentence. I don't recall ever hearing him fully recovered from his own trauma. No doubt he had a significant conscience. The shame to many of us, and I'm sure to the victim's parents, is he didn't exercise much of that conscience prior to the hit. I note from Heather's comments that she's very careful to state in no uncertainty what great care she took in driving through the turn, prior to striking the cyclist. Further, restating how the cyclist "darted out of nowhere." I haven't seen the police accident report, but her effort to state these things bugs me, as if to exclaim, "I had an excuse, don't blame me!" That the purpose of her appearance seems more centered on her personal recovery rather than emphasizing driver awareness of others sharing the road, well, I find a bit galling, but not surprising. Finding someone else to blame appears to be a dominant aspect of american culture. Disagree? Explain the significantly large population of tort attorneys. BikeAdman wrote: This morning Matt Lauer, on the "Today" show, interviewed a teary former Miss America (2000), the wife of the former Lt. Gov. of Kentucky. We were supposed to feel sympathy for HER because SHE, driving, hit and killed a cyclist, a German woman who was the mother of four. Yeah, sure, Miss America expressed all the right sentiments for the killed cyclist, but the transcript may not reflect the full measure of Lauer's solicitiousness of her and her seeking sympathy for herself. Read it and retch. RICHARD ROSENTHAL ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++ From the Today Show on November 17, 2003... MATT LAUER, co-host: It has been quite a year for former Miss America Heather French Henry, one she probably wouldn't wish on anyone else. French first gained national attention when she was crowned Miss America back in 2000. Her platform was America's war veterans. French then became one-half of a power couple when she married Kentucky Lieutenant Governor Stephen Henry. But last month tragedy. She was at the wheel of her SUV when she hit a bicyclist, killing her. Heather French Henry, good morning. Nice to have you here. Ms. HEATHER FRENCH HENRY (Former Miss America): Good morning, Matt. Thank you. LAUER: I called and talked to your husband just a couple of days after this happened. I think you were in the room... Ms. HENRY: Right. LAUER: ...and he said you were just unable to even talk. Give me an idea of what these last couple of months have been like for you. Ms. HENRY: It was almost impossible to talk about, especially the first couple of weeks. And, you know, even now, getting to come out now, is more to help others who've been through it, and more so to say thank you. Thousands of letters and e-mails from peo--all around the world that people have been through the same situation. And a gentleman from Australia e-mailed me and said, `This happened to me. You don't know me.' And then, of course, the veterans work that I had done, it was just so ironic, you know, having helped veterans for so long, trying to live with the aftermath of war and death... LAUER: And trauma. Ms. HENRY: ...and now--and trauma--and now a lot of those veterans are helping me. LAUER: Let's talk about it. It was October 12th. Ms. HENRY: Right. LAUER: And you're in your SUV. And you're at a light waiting to make a turn. The light turns green. Take me from there. Ms. HENRY: It--you know, the hardest thing to live with is seeing her face, her hand in the air and her screaming, `No,' and trying everything you can to avoid an unavoidable accident. And it replays through your mind all the time. You know, you swerve the car to the right, because I was fully aware that there were cars to the left, and I had my daughter in the back, and it was--there was just no way to get around it. And then you stop... LAUER: So you made--you made this turn. She was on a bicycle. Ms. HENRY: She--it darted out from... LAUER: Outside the crosswalk. Ms. HENRY: Right, mm-hmm. LAUER: And from what I understand, there was a lot of sun glare on the road. Ms. HENRY: There was a lot, and not blinding sun I will say. But it made me concentrate really hard. It's a very busy intersection. There are six lanes of traffic going in and out of that area. And you're always very aware of how much room you're taking in that turn, especially in a truck with other cars there. And so I was paying very good attention to where my car was actually going in that turn. And when--it's just like when a child darts out in traffic to get a ball. I mean, it's just--there's--your instinct is automatically, of course, to swerve, but it was just--it was just no... LAUER: You hit her with the center of the grill, basically. What did you do immediately after? Ms. HENRY: You know, I think I take a lot of strength from my mom. I am very calm in those types of situations. But 20 minutes later I was not. I immediately checked on my daughter and then got out of the car. And luckily there was an off-duty EMS worker at the gas station, right there, an off-duty doctor right there. And so they had already called 911. We all convened over at--at Karola side. And then my husband--we live literally less that a half mile from that scene, so he ran down within 30 seconds. LAUER: He is a doctor, I should mention. Ms. HENRY: A trauma doctor, so he's very used to these situations. LAUER: What was your reaction when you got the word later that night that she had died? Ms. HENRY: Oh, I didn't hear that she had until I saw it on the news. I mean, that--that was--excuse me, that was like one of the hardest parts was not having that connection and then having to deal with the second-hand information that just--just totally devastated my life, and still does today, knowing that, you know, I will have to move on. I have daughters that depend on me. I have a husband. I still will continue my veterans work. And that really gives me a lot of hope. LAUER: You've released a statement through your husband's office saying, expressing your deep condolences to her family. Have you reached out in any other way to her family? I understand most of her family is in Germany? Ms. HENRY: They are in Germany. And part of the hopes of coming on with you and being on with others on national, I'm hoping that that family hears that, you know, this was not an accident that I just walked away from and just started my life over again. LAUER: As a matter of fact, one of the things that I understand her family--she has four children, is that right... Ms. HENRY: She does. She did have four children. LAUER: ...that sometimes her children are being told is--is, `Your mom was killed by that beauty queen?' Ms. HENRY: Right. That's what I have feared the most, and that people--I mean people who know me and the work that I've done know that I'm a very compassionate person towards humans. I mean, I value human life so much. And I really want them to get that indication that I will think about her and her family every single day, even though I don't know... LAUER: Why not just call? Why not--why not get in contact with her family personally? Is there... Ms. HENRY: We've been very... LAUER: Are there legal reasons? Ms. HENRY: ...you know, we've been very interested in that. And I just don't think that either party we are really ready yet for that. I mean, it's a struggle enough for me to get out of bed. I mean, there are several projects that I do get to work on now to keep my mind off of the accident. My kids and I had a children's book about Veterans Day and those sorts of things have really kept me going. But, you know, on the off moments, Matt, it's just--it's--it's devastating. LAUER: You've said that people have reached out to you. People have said, `You don't know me, but this happened to me.' Do you think, though, Heather, that being somewhat high profile, the fact that you're a power couple in Kentucky, has it made it more difficult for you being someone who is in the public eye and then having something like this happen? Ms. HENRY: Well, any time anything happens, you know, whether it's your husband's prostate surgery, or your daughter's surgery, it makes it hard to live in the public eye, but we understand in public life that's part of it. We are obligated to the public that they are interested in what happens to us. And one of the hopes is that people that this is--you know, people who have been through this will find some comfort maybe together just like the people who reached out to me. They--I am sure they relived that. When they e-mailed me, they relived their situation. And what's strange is that it actually happens more often than you think, but it's just not on the news quite as often. So we've had best friends that it has happened to. We didn't even know. LAUER: Again, I know while--while it's been devastating to your family, your thoughts are also with this... Ms. HENRY: Absolutely. LAUER: ...this woman's family in Germany. And I appreciate you coming on and talking to us about it? Ms. HENRY: Thank you. And this will probably, you know--I am trying to slow everything down now, so it's nice to be on with you. It's still very hard to talk about. LAUER: I appreciate it. Thanks, Heather. Ms. HENRY: Thanks. LAUER: It's 46 after the hour. We're back right after this. |
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Read & retch: interview on "Today" w/ celeb driver-killer ofcyclist.
Selfish snob! Not once did she say anything about how sorry she was
about running that lady down or taking her away from her family. And she showed no remorse toward this lady's family either. Yeah! poor little rich girl! OK, I see that she feels bad about what happened, but she acts like she was the only one involved. Am I wrong here? Someone please correct me if I am. -- Dominick Fiumare Email: Facilities & Services Voice: 505-646-2529 New Mexico State Univ., Box 30001, MSC 3545 Fax: 505-646-1269 Las Cruces, NM 88003 |
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