Obama-Biden Campaign Cancels Interview Because of Reporter’s Questions
[Guest post by DRJ]
Jake Tapper of ABC News reports the Obama-Biden campaign cancelled a scheduled interview of Jill Biden by Orlando TV reporter Barbara West due to West’s “unprofessional interview” of Senator Joe Biden that would “make Rush Limbaugh proud.”
Here are West’s questions that provoked the cancellation:
* If Biden is “embarrassed about the blatant attempt to register phony voters by ACORN,” since Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., worked with the organization in the past;
* If Obama’s comment about wanting tax policies that “spread the wealth” is “a potentially crushing political blunder”;
* “You may recognize this famous quote: ‘from each according to his abilities to each according to his needs.’ That’s from Karl Marx. How is Sen. Obama not being a Marxist if he intends to spread the wealth around?”;
* Regarding Biden’s comment that the world would test Obama and the Obama-Biden administration will need the support of Americans since it might not be immediately apparent Obama did the right thing — “Are you forewarning Americans that nothing will be done and America’s days as the world’s leading power are over?”
* “What do you say to the people that are concerned that Barack Obama will want to turn America into a Socialist country like Sweden?”
Tapper described Biden as “quite taken aback by the anchor’s questions, at one point asking her, “Are you joking? Is this is a joke? Or is that a real question?”
The only joke I see is that the Democratic candidates are surprised at questions from reporters like Barbara West or citizens like Joe the Plumber.
— DRJ
Orlando reporter Barbara West. A name I’ll remember. Fantastic questions.
Vermont Neighbor (c91cfe) — 10/25/2008 @ 3:15 pmDemocrats acting surprised at a hardball question … that sure tells you how much in the tank the media is.
SPQR (26be8b) — 10/25/2008 @ 3:16 pmAnd as for the headline. Are we really surprised? Censorship is always the first move in the BHO playbook.
Vermont Neighbor (c91cfe) — 10/25/2008 @ 3:17 pmWow, what new lows the democrats sink too, either the MSM must coddle them or they wont play.
We need to send slow Joe a big piece of California cheese to go with his big ass whine.
ML (14488c) — 10/25/2008 @ 3:27 pmTapper also has a link to video of the interview.
DRJ (c953ab) — 10/25/2008 @ 3:27 pmThe questions are a bit aggressive…
Ken in Camarillo (aa2192) — 10/25/2008 @ 3:35 pmuntil you consider the questions that McCain and Palin get.
But Barbara West works for ABC.
Kinda blows that whole “Librul Media” talking point, eh?
snuffles (677ec2) — 10/25/2008 @ 3:44 pmNo, snuffles, one reporter does not “blow” the liberal media bias at all. She’s one reporter. It is Biden’s reaction that confirms it.
SPQR (26be8b) — 10/25/2008 @ 3:47 pmSo snuffy thinks that ONE reporter who dared ask some salient points makes up for the thousands who have been genuflecting for the past year. No wonder it got that pesky “socialism” thing so confused.
Dmac (e30284) — 10/25/2008 @ 3:49 pm“It is Biden’s reaction that confirms it.”
Jesse (fe3e7a) — 10/25/2008 @ 3:50 pmI was going to answer his/her comment but you beat me too it. If I see several ‘questions’ directed towards Demo’s in a week I may (and it will take alot after years of watching them softball libs) believe things are turning. One can always hope. js
SPQR,
Palin booted Joe Klein off her plane last week because he asked some tough questions.
It’s Okay if You’re a Republican?
snuffles (677ec2) — 10/25/2008 @ 3:57 pmsnuffles, nice try. But the issue is not that its OK when one side does it. That’s your game. To ignore the unfair treatment and attack the GOP but hypocritically dismiss Democratic instances.
SPQR (26be8b) — 10/25/2008 @ 4:00 pmLinks, please.
Also, Palin has been asked the following “questions” since her announcement:
– who is Trig’s real mother;
– did she abuse her power as Governor:
– how can she expect to be VP with a disabled child “in tow.”
Palin has also been called the following by hacks like Klein:
– Beauty Queen Bimbo
– Trailer Park Trash
– Closet Fundy
Now tell us again, why should she show any respect to a complete partisan hack like Klein at this point? I would’ve kicked him off the airplane mid – flight if I’d have the opportunity.
Dmac (e30284) — 10/25/2008 @ 4:04 pmFunny how the Obama-Biden campaign had no problem with the November Vogue interview and layout of Jill Biden (to be on the racks Nov. 11th, with the optimistic title, ‘All the Vice President’s Women’). Maybe if West had only gushed the way Vogue did with drop-dead gorgeous and perfect late summer tan, they would’ve approved.
Dana (658c17) — 10/25/2008 @ 4:25 pmOBAMA IS IN VIOLATION OF THE CONSTITUTION.PHILLIP BERG HAS FILED SUIT AGAINST HIM IN FEDERAL COURT.http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2066207/posts .IF YOUR BORN IN KENYA YOU CANT BE PRESIDENT OF AMERICA.HE STILL HAS NOT PRODUCED HIS BIRTH CERTIFICATE.A REAL ONE NOT A PHOTOSHOPED ONE ONLINE.http://michaelsavage.wnd.com/?pageI
JED CLAMPETT (5805fe) — 10/25/2008 @ 4:34 pmd=2256 .HERE IS MR BERG IN HIS OWN WORDS .REMEMBER WELFARE?CASTRO LOVES OBAMA ,SO DOES AYERS,ACORN,HAMAS,AL QUAEDA,REV WRIGHT,FATHER FLAGER,LOUIS FARRAKHAN,AND HIS LATEST ENDORSEMENT COMMUNIST RUSSIA.MAN WHAT A FRIEND LIST
JED, spare us the conspiracy nut stuff.
SPQR (26be8b) — 10/25/2008 @ 4:36 pmComment by snuffles — 10/25/2008 @ 3:44 pm
sniffy has never heard of…
Another Drew (b6f99f) — 10/25/2008 @ 4:43 pm“The exception proves the rule”
Jake Tapper just posted that Obama submitted to the toughest interview yet – Mario Lopez for EXTRA!
(click the link for Lopez’s website and one gets a keen sense of the serious scrutiny and hard hitting sit down it was).
I’m glad to see the campaign continuing to be so willing to answer the tough questions, no matter what.
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/
Dana (658c17) — 10/25/2008 @ 4:53 pmQ: Senator Biden, when you said that a Presdient Obama would be tested, and that Americans might not like the response, were you implying that a he would not support Israel if it’s attacked by Iran?
Official Internet Data Office (95411a) — 10/25/2008 @ 5:28 pmSo, what’s the over-under on how long it is before we hear that Ms. West had 3 speeding tickets in the last 2 years, or was sued in court by the target of a story, or has overdue library books or something? You can’t let a message like this get out there unchallenged, after all.
Nugai (eeb340) — 10/25/2008 @ 5:42 pmMs. West defends her tough questions,
“West said of Biden: “I have a great deal of respect for him. I have a great deal of respect for Sen. Obama. We are given four minutes of a satellite window for these interviews. Four precious minutes. I got right down to it and, yes, I think I asked him some pointed questions. These are questions that are rolling about right now and questions that need to be asked. I don’t think I was rude or inconsiderate to him. I think I was probing and maybe tough. I can’t believe that in all of his years in politics, and all of his campaigning and such, that he hasn’t run into some tough questions before. He’s certainly up to it in giving good answers.”
It would seem to me that this is the very sort of person the media would want front and center to handle such important interviews. She is direct, cuts to the chase, and seeks to utilize a small window of opportunity to the voter’s greatest advantage (i.e. asking questions the public wants answers to). of course, if that’s not what the media wants, well, then obviously she is not the right person for the job.
Dana (658c17) — 10/25/2008 @ 5:46 pmI wrote the station an email of support. I’m sure they will get lots of opposition too so might as well.
Patricia (ee5c9d) — 10/25/2008 @ 5:48 pmGood idea, Patricia. Will do so now myself.
Dana (658c17) — 10/25/2008 @ 5:50 pmJoe Klein isn’t a journalist, he’s a columnist
Hawkins (cb4c50) — 10/25/2008 @ 5:58 pmOnce he loses, Johnny “The Crazy Loco” McCain is planning on throwing this Loser, Joe “The Fake Plumber” Under-The-Bus, along with:
– Sarah “The Shopaholic Reformer” Palin
Targaray (722c42) — 10/25/2008 @ 5:58 pm– Carly “The Unemployable CEO” Fiorina
– Ashley “The Fake Hate Crimes Victim”
– Joe “The Hothead Brother” McDistain
– George “The Worst President, Ever” Bush
The video of the interview is no longer available on the TV station site. Maybe they have chickened out. Too bad.
The trolls are getting more hysterical, although it is hard to tell. What will they do if McCain wins ? Maybe a die-in.
Mike K (2cf494) — 10/25/2008 @ 6:01 pmTargaray, gee I bet you are considered the wit of your junior high class.
SPQR (26be8b) — 10/25/2008 @ 6:06 pmComment by SPQR — 10/25/2008 @ 6:06 pm
…this is just too easy….
Well, you’re half right!
Another Drew (b6f99f) — 10/25/2008 @ 6:16 pmThose questions are patently ridiculous.
Please do continue your circle jerk of cognitive dissonance, though. It amuses me.
i like america (d2f951) — 10/25/2008 @ 6:17 pmSome where Campbell-Brown and Larry King are laughing saying Really! Its only about democrats.
I thought Biden outed her motives and he ended well, and I’m glad that he was never rude to her, even though he must have been thinking Beam me up Scotty.
Donna (2d1c53) — 10/25/2008 @ 6:29 pmThe reporter sounded similar to that McCain Hoax volunteer, which “people” were she trying to get answers for. That’s what I want to know.
_______________________________________________
Here’s a question I’d like to ask Obama/Biden:
Since you folks think of yourselves as do-gooders, as soft hearted towards social ills, as full of tears for the disenfranchised–which often leads to easygoing policies towards illegal immigration and criminality–what do you think is a critical factor behind many of the problems facing Mexico?
Oh, you want to claim that Mexico has been managed by too many people of its right, by too many Mexican versions of Republican/Bush type of politicians?
Sorry, but Mexico has been run for decades primarily by politicians of its left. It has been sort of a bigger version of the political scene found in most large urban areas throughout the US, where the Democrat Party has free reign and most elected officials run the range from liberal to ultra-liberal.
Keep in mind that the following is NOT occurring on the other side of the planet, around Iraq, for example (pre and post Sadaam Hussein). The following is occurring right next door to the USA.
Mark (3c8ccc) — 10/25/2008 @ 6:49 pmDid any of you listen to the actual interview or see it, as I did. The woman was a joke; her questions were so onesided and so hostile that it could have been Fox News. let’s get professional here and accept responsible journalism as essential to the job. this lady showed none of that. so before the ranters get to work here, look for yourselves before sounding off.
leucippe (04dfe1) — 10/25/2008 @ 7:05 pmI did watch the interview, leucippe. I didn’t feel the interviewer was anything but professional. As a matter of fact, she came across so impassively that it struck me as unusual in light of the Charlie Gipson sneers of the media. In light of her impassivity, the viewer could not get a sense of Ms. West’s personal preference, one way or the other. And I find that refreshingly non-obtuse which put the focus more on the interviewee.
You may think the questions themselves seemed hostile, but leucippe, these are questions that need to be asked and must be answered.
If Biden found them ridiculous or out of place then I would suggest that reveals one of two things: that Biden himself is terribly out of touch with what is important to a huge segment of the population or, Biden doesn’t like to be put balls-to-the-wall and forced to negotiate with his gaffe-proned self to answer without potentially damaging the candidate and to prevent further examination of his answer.
Here is the interview: http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_tv_tvblog/2008/10/wftvs-barbara-w.html
Dana (658c17) — 10/25/2008 @ 7:19 pmYes, leucippe. She should have been easier on him and thrown him some grapefruits a la the Couric and Gibson interviews. I totally see your points. LOL
TMQ (3d200a) — 10/25/2008 @ 7:21 pm#32~
Oh yeah. There is a real hostile group.
Not.
Do us all a favor and go toss yourself in a cement mixer.
EW1(SG) (84e813) — 10/25/2008 @ 7:23 pmI watched the interview, it was akin to Joe the plumber asking the messiah real questions,
Not allowed!
Compare that to the Gibson or Couric interviews filled with loaded questions and the utter ignorance of the interviewer and you can see how real interviews are supposed to be conducted.
This is election season and puff pieces down fly, well unless you’re a (D), then anything else is an atrocity.
ML (14488c) — 10/25/2008 @ 7:35 pmFox news is too tough? Yes, I know the dems felt that even a debate amongst themselves on Fox would be terrible, Brit Hume being such a far right idealogue. But libtards handling Putin and ImADamnNutJob would be no problemo? Greta, Jerry Rivers and Alan Colmes are such right wing fanatics.
32- no cement mixers, try a wood chipper instead-…mutant POS.
madmax333 (0c6cfc) — 10/25/2008 @ 7:55 pmYes, Leucippe. This woman clearly received her degree from the Michelle Bachmann/Sarah Palin School of Pro-American Communications.
Who did write her questions? Rush Limbaugh?
Peter (e70d1c) — 10/25/2008 @ 7:59 pmLet’s not and say we did, because this woman is on a whole other level of stupidity all her own (and Sarah Palin’s and Michelle Bachmann’s.)
Peter (e70d1c) — 10/25/2008 @ 8:02 pm____________________________________
^ Not as stupid as this genius on the Obama/Biden team:
Mark (3c8ccc) — 10/25/2008 @ 8:23 pm
Peter,
You do understand that there are millions of people who themselves have these very same questions,right? If so, what is the problem with going straight to the source for clarification? I would think Biden would look forward to an opportunity to clarify, expound upon, and accurately reflect the campaign’s policy/answers to these questions in order to prevent people from making their decisions based on an assumption or a misintepretation. It would also benefit the campaign to reassure the public.
Also, it is directly because of Obama’s work with ACORN that the first question is posed.
It is directly because Obama really did make the ‘spreading the wealth’ comment that has caused many Americans to recoil, therefore it very possibly could be a potentially crushing blunder.
It is directly because, again, of Obama’s statement that reflects socialism that the Marx quote comes into question. It was an opportunity to separate the candidate from the extremist Marx.
It is directly because of Biden’s own crazy statement, “…that the world would test Obama and the Obama-Biden administration will need the support of Americans since it might not be immediately apparent Obama did the right thing” that caused, as it should, an interviewer to further examine this. As in, just what in the hell did you mean by this crazy-ass statement, Senator Biden?
And lastly, again because of Obama’s ‘spreading the wealth’ statement, it is reasonable to compare the future of the USA under this philosophy to countries currently living under this philosophy.
These questions are all a direct result of either Obama or Biden opening their mouths. If they wish to be in the WH they should be willing and able to explain their answers. If they are unwilling or unable, then that presents a different set of problems entirely.
Dana (658c17) — 10/25/2008 @ 8:26 pmthat list of questions sounds like limbaugh-esque setups, bought and paid for by the RNC; I wouldn’t sit there and waste my time with a witch-hunter, either. “You wanna come with sh** like this?!? GET OUTTA MY FACE!!” But then, that’s one reason I’m not in politics….
MarkB. (af01b9) — 10/25/2008 @ 9:54 pmThe Goverment bought the banks in this country and people are upset about a possible tax cut be socialistic. WAKE UP!!!!! Can you say spoke screen, and polital arguement.
Shawn (a63bed) — 10/25/2008 @ 9:59 pmA news reporter asked the Dems some tough questions?
Someone alert the press.
Dave Surls (82312f) — 10/25/2008 @ 11:51 pmSomeone already alerted the Obamabots. The press can’t be far behind. Well, they can, I guess, be far behind the learning curve, but I digress.
RickZ (06fa85) — 10/26/2008 @ 1:13 amBarbara the Reporter.
Jim Treacher (592cb4) — 10/26/2008 @ 1:26 amYou have to graduate from high school first.
Jim Treacher (592cb4) — 10/26/2008 @ 1:28 amShe spoke truth to power.
Tomorrow the DNC will tell us about her driving record, past boyfriends, ancestors that might have owned slaves, hair color changes and if she has ever made any late payments on her credit cards.
Perfect Sense (9d1b08) — 10/26/2008 @ 2:41 amJim
Thank God you don’t have to have a license to be a reporter but I hope she has filed her taxes…
EricPWJohnson (47b9ab) — 10/26/2008 @ 4:26 amIs this worse than McCain canceling a Larry King interview after his spokesman was asked tough questions by a CNN anchor?
Nikolay (a81308) — 10/26/2008 @ 5:12 amYes, because this is the first time Biden’s been asked a tough question during this election. Why else would we be talking about it?
Jim Treacher (592cb4) — 10/26/2008 @ 5:51 amCause you folks need something to talk about to help you forget for five minutes that it’s your own fault that you’re about to lose every branch of government 🙂
Trotsky (e4750f) — 10/26/2008 @ 9:19 amHow dare they ask questions. Baracky is trying to chill the freedom of the press. Don’t think for a moment that reporters around the country will not notice what happens when you question Teh One.
And I just love how there is always a new wave of trolls when something critical of Teh Messiah is posted.
JD (59c800) — 10/26/2008 @ 9:30 amComment by Trotsky — 10/26/2008 @ 9:19 am
Been traveling to Mexico lately?
Another Drew (2ba239) — 10/26/2008 @ 9:48 amSomeone who thinks Sarah Palin is the dumbest person on either national ticket is not paying attention.
Oh, well, given that it is Peter, that was a redundant observation on my part.
SPQR (26be8b) — 10/26/2008 @ 10:01 am“What will they do if McCain wins ? Maybe a die-in.”
Violence of some sort, I’ll bet. Maybe the only way to counter the deification of Obama is to see him actually perform as president.
Patricia (ee5c9d) — 10/26/2008 @ 10:43 amWhy are the trolls not defending Biden’s lies about Obama’s relationship with ACORN? Biden once again flat out lied and he needs to be called on it. The Obama campaign is on record as paying one of the 170+ ACORN organizations over $800,000 for GOTV efforts in the primaries. It’s on the record Greasy Joe. Obama helped run Project Vote, another ACORN affiliate, in Chicago in 1992, sendiing Carole Moseley Braun to the Senate. That’s also on the record Greasy Joe.
Someone needs to hold these crapweasels accountable.
daleyrocks (60704b) — 10/26/2008 @ 11:22 amWhere did Peter go? I was hoping he would reply to my #41. They always leave us hanging…
Dana (658c17) — 10/26/2008 @ 12:13 pmDana:
Absolutely, and Biden answered them in a forthright and serious manner until Ms. West decided to, in essence, jump the shark into full-mode-right wing smear land, with her twisted and spurious interpretations of “spread the wealth” or “Obama will be tested.” The first of those, for her purposes, originating from the famous Marx quote, from each according to their abilities to each according to their need, which I’m not even sure she understands the full meaning of beyond her need for something that sounds half-way intelligent and SHOCKING, SHOCKING!! (and honestly, someone quotes Marx and expects a proper answer they better be able to listen for longer than what can be said in a 3 minute news spot.)The other quote (again for her or her producers narrow scheming purposes) comes to mean that the US is going to lose it’s leadership role in the world, because of an Obama presidency.
Last time I checked it is not the job of journalists or reporters to ask leading questions based on politically expedient unethical slimy smears, hypocritically presented as widely accepted consensus. I would think this is journalism interviewing technique #1.
This was a hit job, pure and simple, sadly justified by the lie that the media has treated McCain and Palin unfairly, which has been a BS ploy that campaign has used to justify it’s ignorance and unpreparedness for the office of the presidency for months now. Questions about policy that can’t be answered by Palin due to her incompetence and non-qualification for the office of VP (and labelled MSM liberal bais by the RNC and the Right), don’t compare to what this woman, Barbara West and her mendacious producers tried to pull off and the Obama campaign’s response to it was correct.
If these issues are so “valid” and “crucial,” I’m sure other reporters will step into the breach. LIke I said Biden gave that woman a lot more respect and seriousness than she gave him and he had every right to walk off that interview if he wanted to.
But this is yet another small event blown up to the significance of a major “damning” controversy, by Drudge, by the right wing blogs because it helps to propagate the narrative that they’re trying to frame the Obama campaign with, and yet again, they fail to see that maybe if they stopped playing these slimeball Joe McCarthy games, maybe they would stop hemorrhaging potential votes on election day.
Sometimes I think the right is on some sort of auto-destruct mode and like a junky who for years has been able to cruise on lies to keep his habit going, all of a sudden can’t see the change in the landscape and keeps pathetically working the same, now failed techniques.
Hateful partisanship, racism, divisiveness and phony overblown Americanism isn’t going to cut it anymore. Those days are thankfully coming to an end. But who knows what’s going to happen and I’m not taking anything for granted and that being said:
RCP: Obama +7.8
Peter (e70d1c) — 10/26/2008 @ 12:22 pmPeter said:
Then I guess you would agree reporters shouldn’t ask questions like this:
DRJ (cb68f2) — 10/26/2008 @ 12:31 pmHaving said that, Peter, I think you are advocating censorship. I believe reporters can and should ask whatever they want, and their employers and the market will decide their value.
DRJ (cb68f2) — 10/26/2008 @ 12:34 pmOh and as for ACORN: Sen. Barack Obama represented ACORN in a 1995 lawsuit against the state of Illinois [..] the Justice Department was also a plaintiff in the case, along with the League of Women Voters of Illinois and the League of United Latin American Citizens. The lawsuit sought to require that Illinois implement federal law on voter registration. (
How very “anti-American.”
http://mediamatters.org/items/200810150003
Peter (e70d1c) — 10/26/2008 @ 12:36 pmPeter has once again demonstrated that he is nothing more than a slimey little weasel not fit for the company of civilized people, something that most good people would scrape off of the bottom of their shoes.
Another Drew (0668eb) — 10/26/2008 @ 12:36 pmHateful partisanship, racism, divisiveness and phony overblown Americanism isn’t going to cut it anymore.
Obama certainly didn’t seem to mind a version of that — but in which “Americanism” is replaced with “God damn America” — spewing forth from the mouth of his former close advisor and “sounding board,” Jeremiah Wright. A person Obama parted with (or, as they say, threw under the bus) only after a lot of prodding and controversy.
Mark (664f61) — 10/26/2008 @ 12:43 pmAbsolutely not. There’s a difference between expecting someone to do their job and being a partisan stooge looking to create controversy.
The reporter had every right to ask anything she wanted. And, I’ll point out once again, that although Biden was taken aback he answered the questions. The Obama/Biden campaign also has the right to not want to go on their program anymore, and this would not be the case, I believe if she’d asked those questions without the innuendo and full on load of right wing venom.
Unlike McCain when in early July ABC News’ reporter David Wright asked him how his POW experience qualified him to be president (Wesley Clark had asked the same thing a few days earlier and the McCain camp demanded a full apology and that Clarke be cut from the Obama campaign):
How is this question a problem? It is completely valid. So why the manufactured indignation?
Perhaps McCain believes in censorship.
Peter (e70d1c) — 10/26/2008 @ 12:51 pmAnother Drew once again screams like a swollen hippopotamus is wisdom for the whole world to bear witness to:
Wow. All because you can’t handle a little bit of contrary opinion?
Kisses right back at cha baby-cakes.
Peter (e70d1c) — 10/26/2008 @ 12:57 pmComment by SPQR — 10/25/2008 @ 4:36 pm
love2008 (0c8c2c) — 10/26/2008 @ 1:00 pmGood man, SPQR! I knew you had it in you. I am very impressed. 🙂
DRJ, you just have to appreciate The Narrative.
So when you ask for fairness, you need to add that overriding principle into the mix.
It is always interesting to me to see how the Left seems to consider something done to someone they like as horrific, but when it is done to someone they don’t like, it is understandable.
Sort of like when someone hacks into a Democrat’s personal file, versus a Republican’s. You would think it would be reprehensible either way….but…
The Narrative reigns supreme!
Eric Blair (51924c) — 10/26/2008 @ 1:04 pmBetween the Soros bundlers and Obama’s gaming the system, I’d say you’re wrong. Expect these elements to fester and explode during a new world administration that lies in wait.
Vermont Neighbor (c91cfe) — 10/26/2008 @ 1:09 pmGood idea.
Vermont Neighbor (c91cfe) — 10/26/2008 @ 1:38 pmPeter, I’ve read your reply three times and realize that it is doubtful you can see any other possibility other than espousing the company line.
full-mode-right wing smear land, with her twisted and spurious interpretations of “spread the wealth” or “Obama will be tested.”
Biden and Obama made what the average voter is going to consider extreme statements that absolutely must be defined and qualified. That she had the balls to do this when Gipson, Brokaw, Matthews, etc., don’t, is saying something about her. And it is utterly telling about them as well. It isn’t twisted, spurious, nor smearing – they made the statements, she asked questions. Why does it upset you that someone is unafraid to ask the hard questions? Don’ you think its unfortunate that hard-hitting apparently can only apply to the right being scoured? Isn’t this yet another form of discrimination?
If these issues are so “valid” and “crucial,” I’m sure other reporters will step into the breach.
Peter, honestly, have you seen anyone anywhere in the MSM actually nail Biden or Obama on anything? You know better than this. This is disingenuous.
Hateful partisanship, racism, divisiveness and phony overblown Americanism isn’t going to cut it anymore
Now here, at last we can agree. It has been dismaying and utterly disappointing to see Obama and his campaign use the ugliest tool of all, race, to push ahead his agenda. The greatest hypocrisy – to claim we are in a post-racial, non-identity politics during this election yet whose actions evidence the very opposite.
I don’t believe you’re advocating censorship, Peter, but I do think that you have zero objectivity. By clinging to the necessary narrative, by default, objectivity is lost.
Lest you accuse me of the same, let me state that I am not thrilled nor pleased with McCain. As a conservative, I am disappointed in him but will vote for him as he is by far the least objectionable candidate.
Dana (658c17) — 10/26/2008 @ 2:41 pmThere are two bright spots in the predicted loss by McCain/Palin:
Another Drew (77fad0) — 10/26/2008 @ 2:53 pm1- It gives the GOP a chance to clean-house of the dead-wood that contributed to the damage to the GOP brand; ie, the Congressional Leadership in both Houses who have spent the GOP reputation down the earmark hole. An interesting possibility, though I don’t know if it will happen, is that if by some miracle Ted Stevens gets re-elected (improbable), and convicted (highly possible), Gov. Palin will name his successor, furthering the reforms she has instituted in Alaska.
2- With the Dems owning both sides of Capitol Hill, and both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue, on Jan. 20th at Noon, it is your problem. You own it! Whatever is done, is done by the Dems. and if it goes to $hit, it’s not anyone elses fault.
And, as the party in power, you get to answer to the media.
love2008, you should have paid more attention to my 10/25/2008 @ 6:06 pm comment which had more of applicability to you.
SPQR (26be8b) — 10/26/2008 @ 2:58 pmPeter, I’ve read your reply three times and realize that it is doubtful you can see any other possibility other than espousing the company line.
Well, thanks for reading it three times, but I don’t follow a “company line” and my opinions are my own.
According to the polls it would seem that the average voter is more than capable of parsing those two statements for what they mean, and Obama and Biden have already “defined and qualified” them. The first referred to cutting back the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy in order to make the tax code more fair and help the middle and working classes i.e., those making below $250,000 a year keep more of the wealth the earn by being only the most productive workers on the planet, whose real salaries have gone down.
Biden waxed into never-never land with his statement about Obama being tested in his first six months and it’s not to difficult to understand (as he even said to Ms. West) that the point he was trying to make was that the country needs someone solid and of great ability, yes like Kennedy, who presents something different from the failed policies of the Bush White House and the Republican party. They’ve made these statements over and over again and it’s making sense to most everyone, but the far right that seeks to continue the tired overblown narrative that some ominous impending doom awaits the nation if it should fall into the hands of a “cipher,” a “Marxist” and “friend of terrorists” and “closet Muslim.”
Please deny these labels have been used by the RNC and the McCain people and the right wing talking heads relentlessly without an iota of basis in fact.
And how does Biden’s statement get turned into this masterpiece of cognitive dissonance: “Are you forewarning Americans that nothing will be done and America’s days as the world’s leading power are over?”
Gee…why didn’t she just ask: “Senator Biden are you forewarning Americans that Obama is an evil Marxist operative/terrorist who will concede defeat to Al Queada and make Bin Laden Secretary of State and replace Washington image on the one dollar with that of Joseph Stalin’s?”
That she had the balls to do this when Gipson, Brokaw, Matthews, etc., don’t, is saying something about her.
Yes, it says that she’s got the political insight of a bucket of dirt and the ethics to match. Really, with people like Barbara West and her producer, who the hell needs Saturday Night Live, anyway?
Why does it upset you that someone is unafraid to ask the hard questions?
Dana, I thought you said you read my comment three times.
There is nothing at all wrong with asking the hard questions, there’s nothing wrong even with asking stupid questions predicated on debunked lies and smears and partisanship. The only issue I have is that, the right is making hay about this stupid interview. It’s the same duplicitous scheming strategy every time. It is so over.
I’ll say this one more time, Biden answered the questions fully and forthrightly. Period. What else is necessary here? A manufactured controversy? What will make the right happy? Perhaps a political stab wound? That Biden doesn’t want his wife, whose mother recently died, to have to deal with that kind of politically motivated cr*p is completely understandable. But obviously he dealt with it and will, I am sure, continue to deal with it quite effectively I might add.
Don’t you think its unfortunate that hard-hitting apparently can only apply to the right being scoured?
It doesn’t only apply to the right. Obama and Biden have had their share of tough interviews. What is truly unfortunate is that the right continues to believe that smears are synonymous with hard hitting questions. Also unfortunate is the need to equate something like this tempest in a teapot to a divisive and venomous thing Sarah Palin will say at a rally with no prompting whatsoever by anyone except her own warped and opportunistic (and condescending) view of “Joe six pack.”
Again, judging by the polls, maybe some “Joe and Jane six pack” ain’t such the gullible ducks and low hanging fruit she thinks they are.
Now here, at last we can agree. It has been dismaying and utterly disappointing to see Obama and his campaign use the ugliest tool of all, race, to push ahead his agenda. The greatest hypocrisy – to claim we are in a post-racial, non-identity politics during this election yet whose actions evidence the very opposite.
I’m not even sure where to begin to unravel that, other than to say that we most certainly do not agree.
he (McCain) is by far the least objectionable candidate.
I’m sorry, I just don’t see it. In McCain I see a guy who’s coming to the end of his political career with only the most tenuous of holds on the complexities facing the country, who in addition represents the party in power that by rights should and must be held accountable. I think, like many people, this race he has run has lowered my estimation of him considerably and maybe irretrievably. There was a time when I could see JM making a decent president.
In Obama I see a born leader of prodigious ability, sound judgment, a balanced mind, good insightful policies put together with some of the best minds in the country, that if not perfect at least make a good start, and the very rare gift of being able to inspire people, both here and around the world, to see that this country is selling itself short and that there’s a better version of this country than the one we’ve been reduced to these last eight years, and we have the ability and the responsibility to make it real.
Peter (e70d1c) — 10/26/2008 @ 10:10 pmPeter does not recognize the jaw-dropping unintentional irony of him typing this comment.
JD (5b4781) — 10/27/2008 @ 5:56 amIf misrepresentation and ignorance of the facts is now described as answering questions, then yes he did.
What about his answer to the ACORN question was full or forthright?
JD (5b4781) — 10/27/2008 @ 6:01 amI asked why we’re talking about a Florida local news interview with Biden, not why some lefty troll is gloating over the results of an election that hasn’t happened yet.
Jim Treacher (592cb4) — 10/27/2008 @ 6:45 amGlory be to The One. As it was in the beginning, is now, and always, to the ages of ages. Amen.
God Damn America.
Pablo (99243e) — 10/27/2008 @ 6:57 amThere is now another tape of Obama advocating redistribution of wealth. Sort of like an answer to that question about Marx. The difference is that the reporter knew what she was talking about and Biden didn’t.
Mike K (2cf494) — 10/27/2008 @ 7:05 amThis ranks up there with Baracky’s claim of being able to bring people together. The only people that he brings together are the people that agree with him.
JD (5b4781) — 10/27/2008 @ 7:12 amWhy does Osama bin Laden support John McCain? He knows that John has a bad temper and will keep us at war. War is where Al Qaeda wants the US since it runs down our economy and furthers their cause.
It is not over, get out and vote.
REAL American (c2d66a) — 10/27/2008 @ 9:04 amObama/Biden 2008
I love trolls.
JD (5b4781) — 10/27/2008 @ 9:08 amBury Obama ’08
Vermont Neighbor (c91cfe) — 10/27/2008 @ 9:27 amObama needs to get out there and be seen by more people- actual face time with crowds. For some reason the masses do connect with him. They don’t really listen to the meaning of his words but are instead enraptured by his god-like visage.
O was passing by the place where an acquaintance worked the other day. They had patients lined up in wheelchairs along the route to bask in the glory of the new messiah. The acquaintance already is a moonbat but now she feeds me this crap about how electing Obama is in my best interests because he cares about the little guy and will correct the evil of the rich getting richer and poor getting poorer. Yes, class envy will surely improve America. I’m sure algore, mr. theresa heinz, the obamas, breck girl, fatboy teddy, hairplug biden etc. will be coughing up a large portion of THEIR fortunes. Everyone is equal in the new Obama Utopia- except some will be more equal.
madmax333 (0c6cfc) — 10/27/2008 @ 9:45 amFunny how the Obamabots so easily squelch any free speech which they find disagreeable. Sieg Heil, Sieg BHO! Our own watermelon jake! Gotta love how those unflattering video takes of Obama in his true glory are hidden from prying eyes.
Bury Obama ‘08
Comment by Vermont Neighbor — 10/27/2008 @ 9:27 am
How does this sound to you?
Bury McCain ’08
A bit ominous, no?
But not to worry Vermont Neighbor. Obama is going to be buried…
…and it will be under an avalanche of votes making him the next president of these United States.
Peter (e70d1c) — 10/27/2008 @ 10:37 amOops, Joe did it again.
CW Desiato (614aa7) — 10/27/2008 @ 12:46 pmObama-Biden Cancels Interview Because Reporter’s Questions Were Tough But Fair
Icy Truth (1468e4) — 10/27/2008 @ 2:48 pmPeter is in love.
JD (5b4781) — 10/27/2008 @ 2:56 pmHey guys, here’s what the mayor of wasilla has to say about the job’s excellent training in executive experience:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CP26nV3QFlA
EPluribusUnum (01935e) — 10/27/2008 @ 3:11 pmI see that the sock puppet of jerryspringer returned.
She was also a Gov. you lying sack of shit.
JD (5b4781) — 10/27/2008 @ 3:13 pmYour usual eloquence I see JD.
So as Governor Sarah Palin technically has more “executive experience” than John McCain–is that right?
EPluribusUnum (01935e) — 10/27/2008 @ 3:17 pmYou know JD, I read in Wikipedia’s biography of John McCain:
During this period in Florida, McCain had extramarital affairs, and the McCains’ marriage began to falter, for which he later would accept blame.[63][64]
I think you need to email them that they too are untruthful bags of faeces–right????
EPluribusUnum (01935e) — 10/27/2008 @ 3:25 pmEPluribusUnum / JerrySpringer,
You get one last warning: Pick a name and stick with it. Please.
DRJ (cb68f2) — 10/27/2008 @ 3:27 pmHey DRJ, I’d love to continue as JerrySpringer, but you see you’ve blocked that username:
Is this perhaps McCain’s last ditch strategy–disenfranchisement?????
I’ll be happy to continue as JerrySpringer–just don’t throw my vote out of the ballot box, if you know what I mean
EPluribusUnum (01935e) — 10/27/2008 @ 3:35 pmI didn’t block your name and I don’t recall seeing a comment that Patterico blocked it. If you have a problem here, it’s with the spam filter. So I guess that means you pick EPluribusUnum, which is obviously working because your comments are posting without problem.
DRJ (cb68f2) — 10/27/2008 @ 3:39 pmEPluribusUnum is fine–it will at least end the witless “Springless” tirades–how’s your latin these days JD–will you defenestrate yourself if Obama wins?
EPluribusUnum (01935e) — 10/27/2008 @ 3:46 pmBreaking News! Obama scandal. Is this the end of Obama? Obama reveals his hatred for ordinary Americans.
love2008 (1b037c) — 10/27/2008 @ 4:07 pmI am so disappointed in Obama!
You of all people should know that it wasn’t the topic but the loaded phrasing of the questions.
Tough questions are one thing (although the right has been whining about Palin taking on the chin these past weeks), but these questions were RNC arguments disguised as questions.
Consigliere (c53924) — 10/27/2008 @ 5:01 pm#98~
Balogna. These are the questions that should have been asked when the O!ne first tossed his hat in the ring.
If they had been, he wouldn’t be in the race today.
EW1(SG) (7fc3aa) — 10/27/2008 @ 5:16 pm