Posted on 09/14/2008 10:02:40 PM PDT by Kaslin
What an amazing escapade in broadcast journalism.
In his exclusive one-on-one interview with Governor Sarah Palin, the Republican Vice Presidential nominee, Charlie Gibson of ABC News began with what he characterized as “the central question:”
“Governor, let me start by asking you a question that I asked John McCain about you, and it is really the central question” he stated. “Can you look the country in the eye and say ‘I have the experience and I have the ability to be not just vice president, but perhaps president of the United States of America?’"
Great question, Charlie. And it should be the “central question” for anybody who seeks the presidency or vice presidency. So why is Governor Palin being asked this question now, while the question has not been posed to the other candidates that have participated in the 2008 election cycle?
Gibson further questioned Palin about having adequate understanding of “international affairs,” and how, and why, she remained so confident in her abilities to be President or Vice President. Gibson even asked if her attitude towards the challenge didn’t entail “some hubris.”
Much has been written in the past two days about Gibson’s condescending attitude towards Governor Palin, as well as his questioning her about “the Bush doctrine” - - complete with his refusal to clarify what he was implying with the term “Bush doctrine,” as though the term implies one precise, easily defined concept (it does not). Within the past twenty-four hours, it has also been discovered that the complete transcript of Gibson’s interview does not match up with the edited video that ABC News aired, and it appears that edits were made so as to make Governor Palin seem more aggressive towards Russia than she actually was.
I do not wish here to attempt to add to this type of analysis. I must, however, raise this question - why hasn’t Gibson’s line of questioning been applied universally, to other candidates? In particular, why hasn’t Barack Obama ever been asked similar, if not the same questions?
Senator Obama is a lawyer, former “community organizer,” and legislator, who cannot claim any particular legal, business, or legislative accomplishments. He has earned a few million dollars in the past two years with his writing and publishing, yet his written works do not enlighten about history, nor reveal any great new insights or visions for the world’s future. Both of his published books are about himself, and his “life’s journey.”
With his rather limited personal and professional background, it seems reasonable that Mr. Obama would be asked if he is “experienced enough,” or if he has a sufficient understanding of “international affairs.” One could also make the case that Obama should be challenged about “hubris,” given his favorite writing topic, and given his fast-track approach to pursuing the presidency (he launched his presidential campaign with less than a full year of experience (184 days) in the U.S. Senate).
But Barack Obama has not been asked about these things. Not by Charlie Gibson, nor by anyone else among the esteemed ranks of American journalism. And “experience” aside, there are many other puzzling facets of Mr. Obama and his candidacy, that don’t seem to elicit the slightest bit of curiosity among our journalist friends.
For example, Mr. Obama has insisted for most of this year that we are in a recession. The American economy has not posted a single quarter of “negative growth” in the GDP this year (indeed Q2 posted a rather robust gain of over 3%), and last week’s projections for Q4 estimate strong new hiring and job growth. Yet, Mr. Obama continues to say that when he becomes President, he will lead Americans out of “the recession,” and has used “the recession” to argue for a doubling of the capital gains tax rate, and sharp increases in corporate and personal income taxes. His presupposition about “the recession,” and his reasoning that tax increases will help fix “the recession,” continue to go unchallenged by American journalists.
On foreign policy, Mr. Obama has vowed to abandon the policy of the American President refusing to personally meet with leaders of known terrorist states. The policy has been in place since 1979 when President Carter’s Department of State implemented it, and it has been followed by every President since. Yet Mr. Obama has promised that when he becomes President, he will continue his great “healing work” and will meet “without pre-conditions” with the heads of our nation’s adversaries, terrorist states and all. This plan has gone unchallenged by American journalists.
The “small town gal” from Alaska is being scrutinized. The guy from the big city of Chicago, who writes and speaks eloquently about himself and has already labeled himself as a “change agent” and “the one” who is leading America “to healing,” manages to escape such scrutiny. Somebody is displaying a whole lot of “hubris,” and it is not Governor Palin.
No.
In what way did they edit the video of Gov. Palin? This is like faking the Bush documents.
Greta has actually don’t a very good job coverning Gov. Palin.
Everytime I heard she was doing an report during the show, I chalked it up to be Sarah bashing piece. I was shocked to learn that her reporting, interviews and research have been very fair.
Greta isn’t stupid. It may just be that she see’s the end of the MSM as we know it and plans on riding the tide of journalism when the bottom finally falls out.
Or maybe, she’s simply impressed with Gov. Palin.
Either way, she’s doing well.
Greta has actually don’t a very good job coverning Gov. Palin.
Everytime I heard she was doing an report during the show, I chalked it up to be Sarah bashing piece. I was shocked to learn that her reporting, interviews and research have been very fair.
Greta isn’t stupid. It may just be that she see’s the end of the MSM as we know it and plans on riding the tide of journalism when the bottom finally falls out.
Or maybe, she’s simply impressed with Gov. Palin.
Either way, she’s doing well.
Wow, a double post and a typo.....sorry guys, hit the button once and it posted twice.
Btw, I meant on the first line - Greta has actually done (not don’t) a very good.....
Joe Biden had already answered that question in regards to Obama and so has Barack Obama himself.
Greta and her husband are L Ron folks....unfortunately
Her sister is Dem politician and she has been seen at many Dem fundraisers but given all that her shows are fairly objective
obvious she doesn’t like Sarah getting singled out as a feline
if trial lawyers are famous
In the MSM’s mind their questing would be like this: “ Obama ? are you “ nuanced enough,” ?
When asked about the differences at the two conventions, he said, "They Republicans are nicer and they dress better." I remember that distinctly!
Sickening how much Obama has been given a major pass and how much anyone running against him has been ripped and slapped and attacked by the MSM. Especially when they are not even running for president.
thanks Hildy....I did not know that but I could tell Greta has been fair to Sarah.
I confess , since she has been at FOX I like her.
at CNN and at OJ trial...another matter
His name is Coale - a lawyer and big Hillary supporter and fundraiser and, yes, has said on TV (probably Fox, it's all I ever watch) that he's supporting McCain.
I predict that the country = both men and women - will quickly take to this man along with Sarah. His life is the epitome of what most men always fantasized about - and as for women, well - does the sun rise in the east?
I can hope.
Not by ABC News.
C'mon....
I can hope hallucinate.
There ya go! Fixed it for ya!
FRegards,
LH
ABC has ceased to have a respectable news department. It’s now essentially a bubble gum wrapper content producer.
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