ABC: America 'Completely Agrees' With Dems on Iraq

NewsBusters ^ | Mark Finkelstein

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Town hall or pep rally? Hard to tell, judging from the first half-hour of Hillary's appearance on Good Morning America today. Host Robin Roberts lavished praise on Hillary, suggested there's unanimous support for the Dem Iraq policy, and fielded only one audience question -- which came from someone who worked on Hillarycare in 1993 and beseeched Clinton to try it again as president.

GMA today kicked off its series of Town Hall meetings with the presidential candidates. This one, featuring Hillary, was located in Des Moines, Iowa. During the opening schmooze, Hillary, speaking of Iraq, stated: "I'm very proud that all the Democrats are saying the same thing and that's what we should all be working toward, and that's to begin to change this policy and get us on the right track."

ROBERTS: That is something that I think the country completely agrees on, on both sides about that.

Sorry, Robin, but not everyone "completely agrees" with the Democrats on withdrawal and surrender. Many people want to give the new policy for victory in Iraq, which is showing some hopeful-if-early signs of success, a chance to work.

Later, discussing health care, Roberts enthused: "what you said then, in '93, many people felt it was just in some way ahead of its time." Yes, tragically, too many Americans back then were insufficiently enlightened to embrace socialist utopia. But let's keep hope alive. The one audience question in that first half-hour came from a doctor who in 1993 worked on the Clinton Health Care Task Force. His heartfelt plea: "if elected president, Senator Clinton, would you be willing to try again?"

Talk about your hard-hitting question!

And yes, Hillary allowed that indeed, "I certainly would."

Can we expect to see similarly sypmathetic treatment when Republicans eventually get their Town Hall turn?

UPDATE: It wasn't until the second half-hour that ABC disclosed that 45 members of the audience had been hand-picked by Hillary's campaign. I'm going out on a limb and guessing that among them was that first questioner, the former member of Hillary's health care task force.

Every question was of the "how can government grow and give us more?' variety. Again, that first doctor wanted to know if Hillary would "provide" health care to all Americans. The second questioner, in the 7:30 AM ET half-hour, asked what Hillary would do "to make sure that no American has to choose between bankruptcy and basic health care?"

The next question was from a teacher who described herself as "a working-class woman, a typical underpaid teacher." She wanted to know "why do the people of Congress get the Cadillace of medical policies and pension plans whereas there's a lot of us struggling to get by?" Hillay answered that she wants to open the congressional plan to everyone.

Later, a college student, in a video clip, asked Hillary what she would do to provide health care coverage to students. Among other things, Hillary suggested forcing insurers to extend the period during which they cover children.

Turning to veteran's health care, a veteran asked "What type of a plan do you have in place to ensure that the overwhelming number of injured service members that they're going to remain a top priority in 10, 15 years?" Hillary proposed "guaranteed, mandatory funding for the V.A."

Every audience question was right in Hillary's wheel house. If this was as tough as it was going to get, Hillary could have stayed home on her Georgetown couch and taped another one of her chatty spots. Again, we'll see if things stay as copacetic when Republican candidates have their GMA Town Hall moments.

Note: the closest ABC came to tough treatment was running the clip of Hillary in 1993, from which the second screencap here is taken.Contact Mark at mark@gunhill.net

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Help-us-Hillary ping to Today show list.

[ElectricStrawberry]

Wow....they support the Democrats attempt to usurp the powers of the President?

Shocked, I say.......shocked....

[popdonnelly]

ABC exists to elect Democrats.

[The South Texan]

Again, you deserve an award for having the stomach to report to us what is said on these Soccer Mom brainwashing shows like GMA. The fact that Soccer Moms in large believe everything and anything that is said on these shows should scare everyone.

[rollo tomasi]

It's all Goebbels 24/7 on the alphabet networks.

Only way to counter the propaganda is the grassroots way. Only problem is many of the electorate are gone, brainwashed by dozens of years exposed to the alphabet networks.

Once brainwashed only an intense couple of months of deprogramming (History lessons, appreciation of what liberty means, the dangers of government, etc...) can save them.

[weegee]

Again, we'll see if things stay as copacetic when Republican candidates have their GMA Town Hall moments.

Don't count on it. ABC is biased for the DEMagogue-RATs.

Halperin Memo Dated Friday October 8, 2004

It goes without saying that the stakes are getting very high for the country and the campaigns - and our responsibilities become quite grave. I do not want to set off (sp?) and endless colloquy that none of us have time for today - nor do I want to stifle one. Please respond if you feel you can advance the discussion.

The New York Times (Nagourney/Stevenson) and Howard Fineman on the web both make the same point today: the current Bush attacks on Kerry involve distortions and taking things out of context in a way that goes beyond what Kerry has done.

Kerry distorts, takes out of context, and mistakes all the time, but these are not central to his efforts to win.

have a responsibility to hold both sides accountable to the public interest, that doesn't mean we reflexively and artificially hold both sides "equally" accountable when the facts don't warrant that.

I'm sure many of you have this week felt the stepped up Bush efforts to complain about our coverage. This is all part of their efforts to get away with as much as possible with the stepped up, renewed efforts to win the election by destroying Senator Kerry at least partly through distortions.

It's up to Kerry to defend himself, of course. But one of the few news organizations with the skill and strength to help voters evaluate what the candidates are saying to serve the public interest. Now is the time for all of us to step up and do that right.

[Piquaboy]

That is the reason I only watch FOX News.

[weegee]

Walt Disney must be spinning in his grave.

[NRA1995]

I'm recalling the ponytailed idiot in 1992 who asked Bill Clinton to "think of us as your children" and wondering what became of him.....

[RetiredArmy]

WELL, ABC is COMPLETELY wrong. I don't agree with a stinking Marxist DIMocrat on ANYTHING!!! Period. End of question. End of sentence. End, end, end. Screw the Marxists. Better dead than a RED Marxist DIMocrat communist.

[mkjessup]

ABC = 'ALL BOW to CLINTON'

[The South Texan]

"I'm recalling the ponytailed idiot in 1992 who asked Bill Clinton to "think of us as your children" and wondering what became of him....."

I'm sure they'll find him between now and Nov 2008.

The propaganda machine that will be coordinated between the Rats and the Drive By media in an effort to elect them will make the best propaganda minsters from the old Soviet Union, proud.

[PGalt]

Although GMA's Robin Roberts played basketball and worked at ESPN, she throws the curveball as well as former major league pitcher Robin Roberts.

Thanks for your work Mark. You hit that propagandist's pitch out of the park. Nice at bat.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Thanks, ST -- as always, it's my twisted pleasure!

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Thanks, PG. I actually find Robin pleasant, and well-intentioned. She's probably not even aware of her bias, just thinks she's being 'nice'!

[moondoggie]

The MSM and the Democrats all know that's just BS!

IF it were true, they'd stop messing around and cut off funding.

Nobody but the far leftwing wackos voted for "cut and run".

[Wolverine]

Totally scripted. Hillary is a marionette.

[sheana]

Hillay answered that she wants to open the congressional plan to everyone.


If the Congressional Plan is so good and they really want to help citizens, they could open that plan voluntarily to us now. Wouldn't take being President to do that.
Hillary needs to put up a bill now and have the Dems in Congress back her on it.
I would love to take a look at Congress' plan and see if I would want to pay for it and sign on to it.
Of course, that would just make sense and would take away their talking points.

[The Sons of Liberty]

I turned on the TV and saw The Beast on ABC, so I hit the channel button and went to NBC. Who should I find there, but J F'ing Kerry. I turned it off in disgust.

The dims are running a full court press.