Sacred Temple

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A newly released video this morning shows Bill Cosby refusing to discuss sexual assault allegations. The Associated Press interviewed the comedian and his wife, Camille, two weeks ago about their art collection; Cosby was also asked about the women who claimed he drugged and attacked them. "No, no, we don't answer that." "Okay, I just wanted to ask if you wanted to respond at all about whether if any of that is true." "There's no response." "Can I ask you... If... with the- with the persona that people know about Bill Cosby, should they believe anything differently about-" "There is no... comment, about that. And- and I'll tell you why; I think you were told, I, I don't want to compromise your integrity, but... Um, we don't- I don't talk about it." A short time later Cosby asked the reporter not to use that part of the interview. "Now, can I get something from you?" "What's that?" "That none of that will be shown." "I... I can't promise that myself, but you didn't say anything-" "I know I didn't say anything, but I'm- I'm asking your integrity that since I didn't wanna say anything, but I did answer you in terms of I don't wanna say anything of what value will it have..." This morning, NBC has dropped plans to develop a new series with Cosby, and the TV Land cable channel is no longer showing episodes of The Cosby Show. CBS News contributor Frank Luntz is with us from Washington, he is an expert on crisis communications. Hi, good morning. Morning. So what do you make of this AP video, Frank? Well, It's very difficult as you listen to the tone of the reporter, clearly, he didn't wanna ask this question. Reporters don't wanna challenge Bill Cosby because of what he represents for America. He really was America's Dad, and so this is difficult for everyone. Charlie, you have six people, six- One additional rule of communication: one example is random, two examples is a trend, once you get three that's pretty factual to the ears of the average American, and Cosby's response, that non-response, once you have three people, you're gonna be expected to say a lot more. You know, Frank, the front page of one of the New York papers says "It's Time For America's Dad To Talk". Do you think you should do an interview, and what could he possibly say? He needs to do an interview, and- and this whole thing is tragic, for Bill Cosby not to answer these allegations, and if they are true, for him not to acknowledge that in his life when mistakes were made is a tragedy because then he loses his credibility that he'll never get back in his remaining career. So, [?] interview, Frank, what is your point about that? That he has to tell the truth (Okay), that if he did do these things that he's accused of, then he has to acknowledge it because then it bec- It can become a learning lesson. By the way, that's where The Cosby Show is all about: teaching families across the spectrum about how to behave in life, [?] is an opportunity to do so in his own personal life. He's on tour, he's 77 years old, and we hear that the tour is going on as scheduled tomorrow night and it's sold out, what do you think happens now? I think people are gonna come to that tour and expect him to say something, and if he doesn't, that audience is gonna be very disappointed. It has now reached the point when it's in the first hour of your show, that tells me this is significant, that tells me that this is genuine news, he needs to say something tomorrow night to his audience. You told that on the front page of The New York Times as well. Exactly. And, you think he should say something in a statement, or an interview? No, you have to do it personally. When you c- when you commit this offence, it is not enough to put it in writing; you have to look straight at the camera, straight at the interviewer, and tell the American People what happened, why, why you are sorry, if something did happen because in the end, there's no conviction, there's, th- there- They will listen to what he has to say, but he has to say it, he cannot write it. Alright, Frank Luntz, thank you. Thank you.