Posted on 09/09/2011 5:15:07 AM PDT by Kaslin
A dispassionate look at the NBC Republican debate moderators' questions reveals that they were not themselves dispassionate, which they have a professional duty to be.
NBC's Brian Williams and Politico's John Harris put on a clinic in liberal bias and journalistic unprofessionalism as they fired loaded, sanctimonious questions at the debate participants.
Debate moderators have no business injecting themselves into the debate or editorializing on the fly as these two did, to their disgrace. They have a duty not to take sides, which these two did, either with particular Republicans against the others or in favor of their political dreamboat, Barack Obama.
It wasn't just one or two inappropriately framed questions; it was a continuous barrage, punctuated with patronizing commentary revealing the inquisitors' unconcealed contempt for all things conservative. One can only imagine the opposition research -- er, conscientious preparation -- their staff must have done for them. Let's look at some of Williams' gems.
Williams reminded Texas Gov. Rick Perry that he brags about his economic record and then said: "Texas ranks last among those who have completed high school. There are only eight other states with more living in poverty. No other state has more working at or below the minimum wage. So, is that the kind of answer all Americans are looking for?" Williams might as well have said: "You tout your record, but we both know it stinks. What business do you have lying to the American people? Actually, what business do you have running for president at all, you Texas cowboy hayseed? In fact, why don't you just resign as Texas governor?"
Of course, I'm actually understating the case, as Williams went on to ask Perry, essentially, whether he's proud of the fact that Texas has executed 234 death row inmates under his watch. But Williams was really aghast at the audience applause for that statistic, obviously inferring that Perry and the Neanderthal conservatives in the audience sadistically relish executions. "What do you make of that dynamic that just happened here? The mention of the execution of 234 people drew applause." asked an incredulous Williams.
Williams next lectured Perry with this declarative predicate to another question: "You can't have much of a workforce without a basis of education. As you know, your state ranks among the worst in the country in high-school graduation rates ... yet you recently signed a budget cut for billions in education funding." The implied liberal presupposition was that the only way to improve education is to throw government money at it. Never mind the tyranny of the National Education Association's liberal curriculum, the prevailing atmosphere of political correctness that is often at war with classroom discipline, or alternative conservative solutions, such as school choice and vouchers. The purpose of the question was not to elicit an answer from Perry, but to indelibly taint him as anti-education and anti-children -- you know, your typical conservative.
Indeed, Williams similarly turned his scolding tone on Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum, basically asking them, separately, whether they care at all about the poor. Why don't these libs quit beating around the bush and ask what they really mean, "Why do you conservatives choose to be heartless?"
And don't miss Williams' bizarre question to Perry about how he would address the problem that white households have 20 times the median wealth of black households in the United States.
Wait; who is president now? Who was in charge of both houses of Congress from January 2007 until early this year? Would they ever ask Obama questions like these?
Don't make me laugh. Don't you know that Obama is incapable of implementing policies that could exacerbate black poverty or that in the exceedingly unlikely case that he did, he couldn't be blamed because he had the finest of intentions?
You're not supposed to know that Obama, under the radar, furtively reversed welfare reform, which both parties agreed had, among other things, reduced black illegitimacy and black childhood poverty. You might be ill-advised holding your breath waiting for Williams to ask Obama why he reversed a policy that was helping blacks.
I'd like to get Williams and Harris on the witness stand and turn some of their questions back on them. "Lib inquisitors, are you aware that under Obama's leadership, we are one foot away from national financial collapse, that our economy is in shambles, that unemployment remains disastrous even after Obama spent nearly $1 trillion to create jobs and that he now wants to spend some $300 billion more? Is this the kind of answer (SET ITAL) you're (END ITAL) looking for?"
I don't know about you, but I've about had it with rebukes from the very people who are enabling the destruction of America. It makes about as much sense as a serial rapist's lecturing a nun on the benefits of abstinence.
I would surmise a distinct and refreshing lack of panty-wearing, bleeding heart liberals afraid to rid society of murdering scumbags.
It's not supposed to be that way, but it is.
Sarah understands this too. Republicans will (mostly) line up behind any of the GOP candidates. When the nominee is chosen, we will support. The other candidates are not enemies, they are merely opponents. But the press -- the press is our implacable enemy.
The “right wing” media isn’t far behind. They’re moderate at best.
I was shocked to see the RNC allowed these Soros media vipers.
I’m sure many of the debate questions were faxed directly from the DNC.
Hey Liberals!How would you like Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, & Mark Levin as moderators?
The stupid RNC daily demonstrates that they do not comprehend that the MSM is as much an enemy to civil discourse and Democracy as the Taliban!
The MSM bias must be challenged at every turn and candidates must be prepared to bust liberal myths.
“Brian, per student expenditures don’t predict education outcome, as demonstrated by WDC and Detroit results. The crush of illegal immigrants on TX schools, skews the graduation and cost statistics you cite. We are focused on the STUDENTS in TX, and that means improving the QUALITY of teachers, not the tenure.”
This is why folks call the GOP “the stupid party.”
How about Rush, Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin? Heads would explode and ratings would be through the roof!
Hear, hear!
Join our Sunday Morning Talk show thread. We wax on this subject often, and you’re insights will be noticed.
If there's a candidate who will get flustered and fumble, we need to see that NOW rather than after the primary.
Maybe the Republicans could go into these situations ready to hit that kind of stuff out of the park. I know it won’t happen, but I can dream.
Maybe the Republicans could go into these situations ready to hit that kind of stuff out of the park. I know it won’t happen, but I can dream.
Williams next lectured Perry with this declarative predicate to another question: “You can’t have much of a workforce without a basis of education.
Doesn’t look as though it has adversely impacted the leftist media workforce much...
I must have missed her soundbite from the debate. What did she say?
He was lambasting the MSNBC moderators for the types and tones of questions they asked, and he said there was obvious bias in many of those questions. He was especially talking about the question to Perry about his ability to sleep after so many death-row prisoner executions, but extended it to the general tone of the debate.
[This from the guy who asked Michelle Bachmann if she was ‘flaky’.]
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