Posted on 08/13/2011 11:19:38 AM PDT by publius321
During the day long infomercial for Mitt Romney that is Fox News, I caught several appearances by Chris Wallace conducting damage control after the can of Whoop-ass Newt Gingrich opened upon him in last nights GOP debate.
His political pundit colleagues were helping to prop him up by agreeing that his now infamous question was perfectly legitimate. They are all contending that asking Gingrich what he has to say to people who say that his campaign is a disaster was not a gotcha question.
Wallace has a track record of insulting candidates he apparently dislikes by superficially framing his insults in the form of a question posed by generic people he fails to specifically identify beyond a group. His intent is transparent in the way that contestants on Jeopardy give an answer in the form of a question. Sure, technically it is a real question but that is a matter of procedure.
That these pundits actually dont see the inappropriate nature of the question is hard to believe. This was NOT an INTERVIEW but supposedly a DEBATE. Telling the man while he stands on the national stage waiting for a question about his positions on issues - that his campaign is a disaster and saying that other people say that - is pathetic and should be reserved for the tabloids.
I love the way Gingrich enumerated on specific ideas on which he's campaigning - immediately after blasting this chump.
Wallace's claim that the question was about Newt's RECORD is absurd. His place in the polls during a campaign has nothing to do with his record.
Wallace did the same thing to Michelle Bachman recently when he asked her on his show are you a flake? Then too, he framed the underhanded insult by implying that it was those other people who contend this.
If simply framing his attacks by asserting that hypothetical people say whatever absurdity he chooses to propound makes the insult legitimate, he can say virtually ANYTHING he wants without scrutiny.
That is why the highlight of last nights debate was when Gingrich put this pompous little twit in his place. No matter how much spin Wallace and his buddies try to put on it, the question was no more legitimate then if Gingrich would have asked Wallace what he has to say to people who say that he likes to dress up in his wifes under-garments.
Judging from his pattern of scurrilous reproach toward his least favorite guests, nobody will ever mistake Chris Wallace of being a gentleman. In my opinion, Wallace once again demonstrated that he is clearly out of his league when trying to spar with Gingrich. This man is clearly MSNBC material.
Speak of Damage control. Byron York has a whole lot of splainin to do!
chris chipmunk is a liberal.
He’s a partisan hack riding on his dads coattails.
Yes he -should- have some explaining to do. He is a disgrace.
Spot on! Newt b*^ch-slapped Fox News for playing games and he was right.
Like father, like son.
“I love the way Gingrich enumerated on specific ideas on which he’s campaigning - immediately after blasting this chump.”
His ideas were great and seemed easly do-able. Have not heard any follow up on Fox.
“I love the way Gingrich enumerated on specific ideas on which he’s campaigning - immediately after blasting this chump.”
His ideas were great and seemed easly do-able. Have not heard any follow up on Fox.
The whole set of having “journalists” asking questions for these debates is asinine. The people who determine what questions are asked controls the debate and why would you want to have journalists who are almost all lefties control the debate?
The debaters should ask each other questions.
yea I agree he needs to do some explaining!@
This has to be the finial lesson,We and Only US ,need to control our debates.
Why? He asked a legitimate question in a forum in which Bachmann would have the opportunity to explain the meaning of her statement, rather than be trapped in a sound bite. Had York not asked that question, she would have certainly been asked that question later by a liberal interrogator at the most damaging possible time, with the least opportunity to explain herself without interruption.
Bachmann is the only candidate I've contributed to so far; what the liberal press has been trying to do to her is disgraceful. But answering questions about your own statements -- no matter how stale or obscure they may be -- is something she needs to be ready for. She was ready. York said her answer was thoughtful, lucid, and direct, and he was quite satisfied by it.
Gingrich's objection to Wallace was called for -- not because it was potentially embarrassing -- but because it was about process. Process and organizational questions have no place in a forum in which ideas are being discussed. Again, Gingrich was prepared for it, and he blasted Wallace right between the eyes.
Great point truthsearcher. That would make the debates very interesting too.
Great point truthsearcher. That would make the debates very interesting too.
Chris to Caroline Kennedy: What effect on the family was there when your uncle drowned that nice young girl by driving drunk?
That said: 1) Byron york is NOT a lefty by any stretch of the imagination, and although some FReepers may not have liked his question, it was legit. 2) The format wouldn't work in the candidate debates because there are too many participants, and invariably the front-runner would get all the questions, so unorthodox or non-establishment candidates would get no face time. One variation would be for the candidates to submit questions to a moderator, who would have no role except to guarantee that everybody gets exposure by widely asking the questions.
Since I did not see the debate (there was a baseball game on), I have no idea, nor will I ever I suppose, what Gingrich said to Wallace. I bet it was something good. It’s a shame this author assumes everybody knows, so why bother, uh, reporting what was said.
Chris Wallace: One gaff after another. It’s genetic. Get rid of him.
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