Posted on 10/30/2008 5:20:03 PM PDT by Infidel Puppy
Dear Viewer:
Thank you for taking time to contact us regarding Barbara West's recent interview with Senator Joe Biden, the Democratic Vice Presidential candidate. Thousands of viewers have contacted us. We have personally read hundred of emails and listened to callers expressing their opinions on this interview, both critical, and supportive. Your comments are important to us. This interview is part of a much larger body of work that has covered both campaigns for months. In addition, WFTV has interviewed numerous other candidates from both parties throughout this election process, and we pride ourselves in offering many diverse on air and online opportunities for candidates to explain and communicate their views.
We will continue to offer a broad range of coverage of Vote 2008, through election night. This will include live coverage of any and all election related events in Central Florida from both the Obama and the McCain campaigns. You can see all of our interviews with political candidates at WFTV.com. Based on your passion during this election process, we know we will see you at the polls on November 4th. Thank you for sharing your comments with us.
I got the same form ltr on Tuesday twice.
I also received the same email.
I got one, too. ;)
Not a “nothing” IMO, because somebody had to do the work to blast out those responses. I’m not even sure why they felt they had to respond. It’s a good thing though.
I got the same, bland non-committal message. I hope they give Ms. West a raise.
Got it to.
West is Fox News material
Mine was a little different:
Dear Viewer:
Thank you for taking time to contact us regarding Barbara West’s recent interview with democratic Vice Presidential candidate Senator Joe Biden.
The Obama campaign contacted us last week offering Senator Biden, via satellite, for a short interview. Barbara West, one of our most experienced anchors, was asked to interview Senator Biden, just as she had been on previous occasions.
It is our goal at Eyewitness News when interviewing any political candidate or public official to ask them a direct question about an issue currently in the public debate. Last week, when much of the political discourse centered on Senator Obama’s statement to ‘Joe the Plumber’ that he thought ‘sharing the wealth’ was a good idea, Barbara decided to ask Senator Biden just how far an Obama-Biden administration would go in ‘sharing the wealth’. What followed was very pointed, provocative question. We allowed Senator Biden to answer, fully unedited.
We tell our reporters and news anchors to ask the questions that one of our viewers might ask. For example, when Senator Obama visited Lakeland recently, Barbara (knowing her time with a presidential candidate would be limited) asked Senator Obama two questions: first, about drilling for oil in the Gulf of Mexico; and, second, about his position on the space program. The Senator’s answers dominated the news cycle for the next day.
You can see all of Barbara’s interviews with political candidates at WFTV.com including one she just did Monday with Senator John McCain.
Perhaps more than any other presidential election in recent memory, this current election has stirred passions - some of them quite partisan - in many people. Through it all, we believe our mission is to address vital issues that we will face together, regardless of our own personal views with thorough, even handed reporting.
Again, thank you for taking the time to contact us.
I didn’t get most of the middle.
I just got my letter too! I know they have been reading our mail as she told Fox the mail was 9-1 in favor of how she handled the interview. I am glad she is getting the support of all of us and the station. Her husband is great! I heard him on Bud Hedinger radio show and he said he fought in Vietnam and if Obama wants to give him the same treatment as Joe the Plumber got, “BRING IT ON!”
I just got two copies. I had sent two notes. Now I have matching bookends.
I got the short version of the letter, too. I watch WFTV for news every day, and I have never heard one of their reporters ask such hard, pointed questions of a DEM. I was totally surprised that they aired it, because I’ve always considered ABC and WFTV to be very liberal.
Praying for God to have mercy on us...
Welcome to FR!
“I’m not even sure why they felt they had to respond.”
The reason they responded was because they don’t want to alienate anyone... in other words, they’re covering their bases and their butts!
I got one like everyone else. It was very carefully crafted to make sure everyone whether critical or encouraging of the interview would feel the response was personal.
Barbara West did a praiseworthy thing both for journalism and for America.
I liked that response much better...
All we ask for is a fair shake. ONE reporter asks tough questions and it is national news. How sad is that!
Hah that response would would just as well for those complaining, in fact I’m sure it is being sent to all respondents good or bad.
I responded to the response and got an immediate reply of the original WFTV response... they’ve put it on autopilot which means ain’t nobody readin’ nothin’!
Alrighty, then!
Got mine today. About what I expected. I also email Barbara. Haven’t heard from her.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.