Not meaning to spoil a good fight, but you need to read the transcript of the CNBC interview that started This flap to understand the context.
IIRC, Mike Barnicle had been asking Gary Johnson for his position on such domestic matters as taxes, prisons and immigration prior to throwing a curveball, “What about Aleppo?” with no long pause or “let’s go to foreign policy.”
Gov. Johnson admitted later he had a brain freeze. We’ve all done that. We’re human.
Reporters want to show their superior knowledge and intellect. They will never ever fall victim to gotcha questions from the interviewee. It can’t be allowed to happen.
I listened to the tape, and I think the questioner subtly paused in the middle when he said the word “Aleppo”. Johnson may well have heard it as “a leppo” and reasonably responded with “What’s a leppo?”
My point is that it was a ‘gotcha’ question, and that ANY candidate can be asked ‘gotcha’ questions. If we validate that media maneuver against one candidate, then we have no right to complain when it’s used against our own candidate.
Stirner has a good point at #27