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Touchy, Touchy: Couric Claims "I Don't Have a Position" on ANWR Drilling
Today Show/NewsBusters ^ | Mark Finkelstein

Posted on 05/02/2006 5:04:48 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest

by Mark Finkelstein

May 2, 2006

Katie Couric put on a display of industrial-strength umbrage this morning when Bill Frist suggested the soon-to-be CBS anchor is opposed to drilling in ANWR.

In the wake of yesterday's Today show segment on Frist's proposal for a $100 gas tax rebate in which Matt Lauer gave respectful treatment to Rush Limbaugh's suggestion that the rebate amounted to treating taxpayers like ladies of the night, Frist must have known that he was walking into the lion's den this morning.

At one point, Katie hit Frist with excerpts from two letters to the editor of her apparent paper of choice - the NY Times.

"Let's see, $100 rebate checks to all taxpayers to offset rising gas prices. That's money out of my tax dollars back to me to give back to gas companies. The way I figure it that rebate won't even cover my gas one way to Washington to complain."

And another:

"Gee, a $100 rebate check. Isn't this just like the piddling Republican tax cuts given to middle-class taxpayers compared with the enormous tax giveaways to the really wealthy? Will we fall for chump change rather than real change?"

When Frist replied: "I would just ask where all those commentators are on the increased exploration in Alaska?" Katie cut in testily: "these are normal citizens, Senator, in addition to government officials."

Frist continued to pound away at his notion that the $100 rebate was just one part of an eight-point program, and that the key to getting prices down in the long run was by affecting supply and demand. Specifically on the supply side, Frist repeatedly touted his support of drilling in ANWR.

Katie referred to ANWR drilling as "a very controversial proposal", adding "that [it] has repeatedly failed to pass in Congress. Some have questioned the Republicans' sincerity becasue they know, in the view of these critics, that this won't pass." [So the fault lies not with Democratic intransigence but with Republican support for a beneficial proposal?]

That's when things heated up. Frist added "maybe you don't support it, but it has overwhelming support by the American people." Frist pointed out that the legislation had previously passed, noting that if Bill Clinton hadn't vetoed the legislation that had been passed by both houses, we would today be benefiting from 1 million barrels a day from ANWR, more than we import from Saudi Arabia.

A clearly annoyed Couric: "I don't have a position on it, Senator. I don't have a position on it, but would you concede it's controversial?"

Frist: "It's controversial, but it has majority support in the US Senate as was demonstrated on the floor six weeks ago, it has majority support in this country, and it's the right thing to do unless you want to remain, or the American people or others want to remain 60% dependent on the most unstable parts of the world today."

Note how Frist 'revised and extended this last remark to avoid suggesting that Katie herself wanted to remain dependent on foreign oil. Seems he didn't want to be twice bitten by Couric, who is perhaps particularly eager to establish above-the-fray credentials as she prepares to assume her anchor duties.

Finkelstein lives in the liberal haven of Ithaca, NY, where he hosts the award-winning public-access TV show 'Right Angle'. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; US: Tennessee
KEYWORDS: anwr; billfrist; energy; gastaxrebate; katiecolonic; katiecouric; katieishorny; katiescolonispublic; mediabias; nytimes; todayshow
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

Frist could have gambled by saying: "Katie, with all due respect, I strongly suspect you DO have a position on drilling in ANWR and that you oppose it, unfortunately. And the reason I suspect this is because my staff briefs me on the political stances of the folks who interview me, in case an issue JUST like this one comes up. [List of several Couric positions, such as on global warming, gas taxes, how Bush is evil and Democrats are Good, etc.] So I would be quite surprised if you favored drilling in ANWR, even though it will be the most environmentally safe drilling venture ever done. Don't patronize me, with all due respect."


41 posted on 05/02/2006 6:01:46 AM PDT by pogo101
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To: Thermalseeker

I thought that CBS was an acronym for Communist Broadcasting System! But C Bull Sh*t is pretty good, too. Certainly either one is more descriptive of that MSM outlet than whatever it was that CBS stood for in the distant past. Their hey-days are over; they just do not realize it!


42 posted on 05/02/2006 6:05:32 AM PDT by olezip
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To: beyond the sea
Couric Claims "I Don't Have a Position" on ANWR Drilling

Oooooh...quite risque.

43 posted on 05/02/2006 6:06:02 AM PDT by DCPatriot ("It aint what you don't know that kills you. It's what you know that aint so" Theodore Sturgeon)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

I've been saying it for years. Every time a question or a remark get's thrown to us from the left by these socialists - we need to hit it right back at them with a response which includes a remark about their own bias. It hasnt happened often but, when it does, they look like a cat backed into a corner by a Doberman. The Repubs need to understand that taking the high road doesnt work with these folks.


44 posted on 05/02/2006 6:23:26 AM PDT by capydick (Not to know is bad; not to wish to know is worse.)
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To: Laverne

the caption is the funny part because it looks like SHE has gas pains :D


45 posted on 05/02/2006 6:23:55 AM PDT by Minnesoootan
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

Frist finally showing some ba*ls!!


46 posted on 05/02/2006 6:31:19 AM PDT by LongsforReagan (Whackydoodles believe men and dinosaurs walked together. The world laughs at them.)
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To: theDentist

I heard she stole Laura Ingraham's... and she's being pumped regularly.


47 posted on 05/02/2006 6:37:09 AM PDT by johnny7 (“Nah, I ain’t Jewish, I just don’t dig on swine, that’s all.”)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
I'll take the $100 to make up for the taxes I've paid with equivalent to 543 gallons of gas. I don't see where the money has gone to any useful purpose and I surely don't see oil rigs in ANWR and off the coast of Florida and California.
48 posted on 05/02/2006 6:38:54 AM PDT by tobyhill (The War on Terrorism is not for the weak.)
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To: theDentist

Plus Cutie has to play it middle of the road from now on. She can't go over to CBS with any perceived biases ya know....pffftt


49 posted on 05/02/2006 6:41:40 AM PDT by uncitizen
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

I think the $100 is a lame giveaway. But if you think about it, it has two positive things.

One, the really poor people who can't find $2 to put gas in their tank to get to work (Believe it or not, I know a few of these, and in several cases gave people a few dollars so they could go to work) - these people it will help.

Two, it keeps the essence of supply and demand in the market. When gas comes down, people get wasteful.

That said, the gas prices are a many headed hydra that need to be attacked from all different places.

I love that Frist hit her on ANWR, but when are we going to drill in FL? Probably never, but it's a crime to let Cuba steal our oil.


50 posted on 05/02/2006 6:47:23 AM PDT by I still care ("Remember... for it is the doom of men that they forget" - Merlin, from Excalibur)
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To: LongsforReagan

I didn't see it, but it sounds as if Frist deserves some congrats on this exchange, very rare for him and all Republicans, I think I will give him a call and tell him we want to see more, more, more, and even more!


51 posted on 05/02/2006 6:49:55 AM PDT by roses of sharon
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To: I still care
The really poor that you mention are probably the people Frist is targeting more and what he's trying to do is tie the $100 to ANWR by claiming the only way to the $100 is to pressure the Rats to end the filibuster on ANWR. Now the obstructionist Rats can go back to their constituents and explain to them why they gave up drilling for more domestic supplies and the FREE money. The caribou only go so far when people are paying $3 a gallon.
52 posted on 05/02/2006 6:53:58 AM PDT by tobyhill (The War on Terrorism is not for the weak.)
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To: randita
It's not necessary to link ANWR with a stupid rebate scheme.

History has proven that wrong.

It SHOULDN'T be necessary, but it obviously is, or we would have been drilling there 10 years ago.

53 posted on 05/02/2006 6:59:54 AM PDT by Balding_Eagle (God has blessed Republicans with really stupid enemies.)
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To: Pharmboy

Lyndon Johnson.


54 posted on 05/02/2006 7:01:00 AM PDT by Lx (Do you like it, do you like it. Scott? I call it Mr. and Mrs. Tennerman chili.)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

Did you see or hear the clip Sunday, where Durbin is complaining about the $144K a day retirement package from Exxon/Mobil for the CEO, Kramer, the investment guy, said they have produced about $67 billion a year in revenues's Katie Couric makes $85K, what does she produce?


55 posted on 05/02/2006 7:01:46 AM PDT by thirst4truth
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To: thirst4truth

He's on the floor of the Senate now continuing his ranting about Exxon.


56 posted on 05/02/2006 7:11:49 AM PDT by tobyhill (The War on Terrorism is not for the weak.)
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To: Lx

Rob from Georgia said it was William Tecumseh Sherman. I checked it out and he was correct.


57 posted on 05/02/2006 7:20:29 AM PDT by Pharmboy (Democrats lie because they must)
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To: socialismisinsidious

Bush Tax Cuts:
The Burden Decreased for All Groups
(More for some than others)

Total Effective Federal Tax Rate


2004 Rates
Change Due to Bush Cuts

Lowest 20%
5.2%
-1.5%

Second 20%
11.1%
-2.1%

Middle 20%
14.6%
-1.9%

Fourth 20%
18.5%
-2.1%

Top 20%
23.8%
-3.9%

Top 5%
25.6%
-5.2%

Top 1%
26.7%
-6.8%


Share of Federal Tax Burden



Lowest 20%
1.1%
-0.1%

Second 20%
5.2%
-0.2%

Middle 20%
10.5%
+0.2%

Fourth 20%
19.5%
+0.7%

Top 20%
63.5%
-0.6%

Top 5%
35.9%
-1.5%

Top 1%
20.1%
-1.8%


Source: Congressional Budget Office, "Effective Federal Tax Rates Under Current Law , 2001 to 2014," Tables 2, 4.


58 posted on 05/02/2006 7:24:37 AM PDT by jaydubya2
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To: Pharmboy
We're both correct. It looks like good 'ol Lyndon lifted his speech when he dropped out of the re-election race in 1967???

http://washingtontimes.com/national/20050206-113014-5605r.htm

"I don't plan to run for anything," Mr. Cheney told host Chris Wallace. "If nominated, I will not run; if elected, I will not serve," he said, using the same words to repudiate political ambition as Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman and President Lyndon Johnson.

59 posted on 05/02/2006 7:31:23 AM PDT by Lx (Do you like it, do you like it. Scott? I call it Mr. and Mrs. Tennerman chili.)
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To: Laverne
"She is working hard to change her image to being "smart"..."

Difficult for her to do when she's interviewing a genuinely smart person such as Dr. Frist!

60 posted on 05/02/2006 8:36:07 AM PDT by Redbob
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