When
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.
Sounds like a job for you
We can credit John McCain's judgment to place in the American experience, a woman who will make history for her contribution to this nation.
Well, if Obama is elected, I hope I spend the next 4 years hallucinating that I’m on another planet.
This guy isn’t only dangerous to the US, he’s dangerous to the world.
The central question is why does anyone consider ABC a news organization?
Another strange occurrence tonight, aside from Free Republic being down, I also couldn’t get into
Michelle Malkin
Ann Coulter
Red State
The Anti-Idiotarian Rottweiler
and a few other conservative blogs I enjoy.
It’s very possible they do site maintenance early Monday mornings, it just seemed odd.
All are back up as far as I can tell.
Not by the MSM but the rest of us will have to fill in the blanks. Maybe his former coworkers can give us some insight...
This should probably have its own post but I’m not up to it tonight.
http://sweetness-light.com/archive/did-obama-turn-down-a-wall-street-career
Agree 100%.
bttt
There fixed it.
The MSM will have plenty of time to scrutinize B. Hussein after they do everything possible to elect him. Like the Rev. Wright thing or ayers, if we had only known! Hand wringing.. Disgusting it is...
Obama will not get the same intrusive, invasive, unfair interrogation that Palin and McCain will get. The media are 100% in the tank for their marxist.
You will not get fairness from the media.
Since ALL democrats and not a few republicans ARE socialists.. don't expect this to be noised about any time soon.. The only argument allowed is what KIND of socialism you and I are going to endure.. The "S" word is absolutely NOT ALLOWED.. You can't even say "the "S" word".. At least we can say the "N" word. so far..
Lib news reporter: "Sen. Obama. Do you think it unfair for the McCain campaign to criticize your plans to turn around the US economy and make it prosperous once again?"
I thought Greta looked really excited when she broke into whatever program was on to announce that Sarah Palin’s plane was landing in Alaska. I was amazed to see someone in the media show some excitement for her. My attitude toward Greta shifted in that moment.
Wow! That story is more important than it appears. I am obsessed with the fact that Obama has no character references for himself. Nobody stood up and said that they knew Obama when...that they’ve been his friend for years...You can’t get a janitorial job at a big company without characer references. AMERICA NEEDS TO WAKE UP.
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