Posted on 10/01/2004 12:31:54 PM PDT by yoe
PBS host Jim Lehrer was challenged Friday morning on claims that he went easy on Sen. John Kerry during Thursday night's presidential debate, while tossing verbal hand grenades in President Bush's direction designed to keep him on the defensive.
PBS host Jim Lehrer was challenged Friday morning on claims that he went easy on Sen. John Kerry during Thursday night's presidential debate, while tossing verbal hand grenades in President Bush's direction designed to keep him on the defensive.
"I don't know what in the world you're talking about," Lehrer told radio host Don Imus, in his only post-debate interview.
"I would argue that my questions were right down the middle. There were some hardball questions for each candidate. There were some softball questions for each candidate. But for the most part they were just terrific."
The bias complaint, said Lehrer, was more of a commentary on his critics than a valid criticism of his own debate performance.
Still, some observers noted that Lehrer's questions largely focused on negative aspects of Bush's decision to go to war in Iraq - while avoiding Sen. Kerry's waffling on the issue, not to mention the top Democrat's long record of opposing measures to strengthen U.S. intelligence and national security.
At one point Lehrer claimed that over ten thousand U.S. soldiers had been killed in Iraq, before quickly revising that number to 1,052.
At the end of the debate, the PBS anchorman shook Sen. Kerry's hand - with some debate watchers claiming he gave the top Democrat a knowing wink.
In 1999, the president of Lehrer's network had to resign after admitting that 53 PBS affiliates had been sharing their donor lists with the Democratic National Committee for years.
In 1997, then-White House aide George Stephanopoulos revealed that President Clinton's reelection team thought it was a major coup when Lehrer was chosen to host one of the presidential debates, boasting that "our moderator" had been picked.
Seee Beee Esss still doesn't admit theirs.
Kerry said last night that he wouldn't take his eye off the ball, except he missed about three softballs that Leher threw him. I sure am glad that my tax dollars support PBS / NPR and other unbiased news sources.....
" I didn't like it when he compared our troops to Jen-jis Khan.
I don't like his stance on jun control.
And I think John Kerry is jonna jet me killed."
When you edit out the answers and just look at the questions in succession, the bias is obvious. The only opening Lehrer gave President Bush was to personally assassinate Kerry's character...which would have been a big mistake. For President Bush to escape that barrage without a major error is a success.
Already posted this morning. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1232516/posts
i love Ann Coulter's comparison of a leftist who does not notice his own bias with a fish in the ocean:
One fish to another fish: "Water? What Water?"
We cant expect Lehrer to do W's work for him. The President did a poor job of putting Kerry on the defensive (he didnt) and pointing out his deficiencies (not good enough).
I will go a step further, I think Kerry had the questions before hand.
Thread here:
"Kerry's pre-emptive Global Test" CARTOON featuring Kerry's REAL Band of Bros...
I want to let everyone know about this great resource:
Contains John Kerry's actual statements in his own voice covering both sides of major issues!
Turn your speakers up!
Just outstanding!!!
How come Lehrer didn't ask a single question about Waffles'
20-year anti-defense, anti-intelligence voting record in the U.S. Senate?
Lehrer to Imus, "Gosh I think I'm great and not biased at all. If you do, you must be one of those bitter partisans."
LOL!
You haven't a clue about anything, you liberal, beady-eyes liberal (Lehrer).
Quit faking it, you lying weasel!
At one point Lehrer claimed that over ten thousand U.S. soldiers had been killed in Iraq, before quickly revising that number to 1,052.
Just a little slip there.....eh, Lehrer? You're just a lying RAT sycophant!
Great!
Dubya did great. No denying that. But these are the wrong debates at the wrong place at the wrong time.
How in the world could any honest questioner not ask about Kerry's record of voting against just about everything intended to keep America strong and secure? I guess bias can be pretty nuanced too.
How in the world could any honest questioner not ask about Kerry's record of voting against just about everything intended to keep America strong and secure? I guess bias can be pretty nuanced too.
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