NBC nabs another exclusive interview, but should it have really been on at all?

NBC has done it again. They've nabbed what they think is a catch of an interview, but when viewed, it seems like anything but a catch.

It seems like only a reminder of the constant threat of violence, and the growing trend of apathy about this kind of violence, that has run rampant among some the youngest members of our society.

If you don't know about the story of Josie Rately, here's a quick summary.

Josie Ratley and Wayne Treacy, both 15, exchanged text messages that led to a confrontation in which Treacy severely beat Ratley, kicking her head with his steel-toed boots and causing her brain damage.

On Wednesday, June 10th Meredith Viera interviewed Kayla Manson who is being charged for her role in the vicious beating of Josie Ratley.     

As explained in the video piece that ran before the interview,  Manson knew both Ratley and Treacy, who did not know each other. Somehow she was the link that got them to start exchanging messages.

When Treacy showed up at Ratley's school, not knowing who she was, she asked Manson to point Ratley out to him. She did. And then left.

There were a few things about the interview that seemed very strange to me.

In the interview with Viera, Manson seemed devoid of any emotion about the whole thing.

She called Josie her friend, but said that she pointed Josie out to the attacker and then just left.

If this girl was really Josie's friend wouldn't she have gone to be by her friend's side to stand up for her?

It was clear that the Manson family was trying to illicit sympathy for Kayla by talking about how she takes care of her disabled cousin.

And, by 'family', I am referring to Manson's aunt who was the only family with her. Where were the girls mother and father? Why did only her aunt appear?


Anytime a 13 year old has to appear with her attorneys --  yes, two attorneys -- I really don't think she should be appearing anywhere other than in her home or in court.


This story takes more than 3 minutes to tell and if you ask me, this is one of the problems with morning television. There just seems to be too many unanswered questions in this piece, mainly due to lack of time to adequately tell the whole story.

Morning television is about getting the interview, not telling the whole story.

You can watch the video of the interview here: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/37612570/ns/today-today_people/

Be forewarned that Manson uses the "C" word twice in this interview. Viera apologizes for it, but it seems a little too late. Once the word is out, it's out.

I was a little shocked by the word, but again, I think I was more shocked by the fact that this interview was taking place at all. 

And, I have to say; no one involved in this whole matter is completely without fault in some way.  Yes, I feel very sorry for Josie Ratley and she should never been attacked by Wayne Treacy, but she did send him text messages taunting him about the suicide death of his brother a year earlier. He claims this is what set him off.

So, here you have three people who are all seemingly at fault for something in this situation. There is no excuse for the violent acts of Treacy, nor for the seemingly apathetic inaction of Manson, nor for the bullying of Rately. All three will be paying for this for the rest of their lives.

If you have the time, check out the video. What impression of this girl and the whole incident did you get from this interview? Discuss.