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.

[squarebarb]

Yes indeed. I think he was reported as saying 'will you be our father?'

[andy58-in-nh]

ABC believes that "everyone" agrees with the Democrats because no one there knows any Republicans (except for George Will, perhaps). You folks may think I'm exaggerating, but when you live on the West Side of Manhattan, you have a better chance of meeting a Martian than a Republican. About 20 years ago when I lived on the Upper East Side, I knew exactly one person who would admit to being a Republican. I slept with her.

[Ludicrous]

She had 3 major points about the "Healthcare Crisis".
1. 45 Million uninsured Americans
2. Insurance companies not paying enough claims (policy exclusions)
3. General wastefulness in the healthcare industry

To me it sounds like she wants to micro-manage the entire industry. She and her future-vision massive bureaucracy will make all healthcare decisions for all Americans. They will decide if this or that treatment is wasteful.

Truly frightening.

And then Robin pipes in with the "we spend more on healthcare than any other nation" mantra. Which is totally moronic! We spend more on nearly everything. The cost of living is high in the US. These comparisons are meaningless rhetoric.

[PGalt]

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

I'll take your word on that, since I do not watch her. If she was a fountain of objectivity I would probably be watching. She may have bumped into Keith Olbermann at EPSN. /sarcasm

Thanks again for your work/analysis.

[stayathomemom]

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 think of him often. I never saw that exchange but certainly heard about it. The media fawned over the question. I sometimes wonder if that was a "watershed moment" for our country.

[Liberty Valance]

Hooey.

[ritewingwarrior]

ABC Dictionary defines Completely as - the 50% of the voting population, not 50% of the public, who voted for the liberals.

[bray]

Too bad the Rats can't even agree on the war.
The Surge is Working!

Pray for W and Our Troops

[CBart95]

What beats there? A sincere heart focused on revealing the truth?

Think I'll book"Mark" Mark under "real journalism" right now.

[ClaireSolt]

The government doesn't have any health care. Asking them to provide it is like demanding you bank serve breakfast. We do spend more than other countries, but we also have expensive care available that they don't provide. Noone else even tries to save tiny preemies, for instance. Emelia cost about 1/2 million. Also, economies inevitably lead toward euthanasia, as we spend more on the laat six months of elderly people's health care than on the rest of their life combined.

National health care developed in a stress and destroyed post WWII Europe that had many pressing needs. It is not and has never been needed here. What our health care needs is more capitalism and a reduction in all the rules and regs made by people like Hilary.

[FlyVet]

She actually said we spend twice as much as anyone else. No studies cited to back that up, of course. And what is their definition of "health care"? They are probably lumping everything in there from toothbrushes to herbal and junk remedies. And yes we have twice as much spend as many countries, so it makes sense we spend twice as much.

A bunch of worthless propaganda.

[FreedomPoster]

These people live in a bubble, and obviously never interact with those with whom they disagree.

[PGalt]

What our health care needs is more capitalism and a reduction in all the rules and regs made by people like Hilary.

Agree. Hillary/Healthcare, Socialism/Healthcare is the anti-thesis of health, but it certainly plays well to a GMA intellectually challenged audience.

[Txsleuth]

I am not surprised...especially being an ABC show..and being Robin Roberts.

However, not being surprised doesn't mean it doesn't make me angry.

Oh..what a selfish generation mine is...gimme, gimme, gimme.

The only thing to keep one from utter despair is that some of the children of my generation seem to have decided selfish isn't for them..and that is why our all-volunteer military is so wonderful.

Let me guess though..that this whole "boycott Fox" was a set up to keep her from EVER having to take a chance on having to answer any tough questions...

Hillary is going to get a coronation..not an election.

[Ouderkirk]

What really needs to happen is to end the Congressional plan, and theier pensions too !!

[MizSterious]

I missed that exchange. I had GMA on, but only for a moment before the local weather kicked in--and that was really the only reason I had the teevee on at all. I did see something about the Townhall thing--and I guess we can all be pretty sure there won't be any Republicans in future "townhalls"? Maybe a RINO or two...

[sheana]

Well sure.......but you just know that is gonna happen don't you?

[Miss Didi]

Quote from Rush today:

"Mrs. Bill Clinton had a town meeting today on Good Morning America. I was watching this, and it was on high definition. And I'm saying to myself, 'Mrs. Clinton, stay away from HD.'"