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.
Exactly, shame on the RNC for allowing this to happen. Unless or until the RNC takes a Newt approach this circus will continue.
Well said! The RNC leadership should be thrown out for that disgraceful event. This was OUR event, not the property of the MSM. A primary debate is supposed to do two things for us - first, it helps us — the republican voters — decide who we want as our candidate. Second, it is an introduction to the rest of the nation of our candidates and our ideals. This was an ambush that should never have happened.
I think Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck should moderate the next democrat debate to be aired only on Fox News!
Very well said
Actually, I think the Republicans did great. This sets a president for democrats to come before our hardest hitters. If they refuse, it shows their cowardice and weakness.
I wouldn't have accepted it in the first place, but they did so well, it was a win. Now, it's Nobomas turn to go before our tough guys. Can he handle it?
ABO 2012 - ANYBODY but oboma!!!
Bill O'Reilly had Bernie Goldberg on last night
Bernie Goldberg analyzes moderators' questions
Absolutely! I couldn't agree more!
Over the past year I can count the amount of **minutes** ( not hours) I spent listening to talk radio or watching Fox . I am sick of these so-called “conservatives” yappers. Even their voices make my stomach churn.
I simply can NOT tolerate hearing the euphemisms, “liberal, leftist, socialist, or progressive”. They are communists! All these guys and gals are riding the same train. Destination: One World Communism. How often have you heard these leading so-called “conservative” yappers flat out and plainly call the Democrat leadership what they are: Communists!!!? A handful of times? Never?
I am tired of the so-called conservative pundits ignoring important social issues. Gays really do have a hateful mission to shove Christians into the catacombs. Government schools are Marxist indoctrination camps and their siblings, the universities, are the same. Abortion is an abomination. What do we get? Mostly silence from these so-called conservative weenies.
And....I am totally ticked that these so-called “conservatives”, ( some of whom even cry over the Constitution) IGNORED Obama’s eligibility, multiple social security numbers, and FORGERIES!!! Unbelievable!
I am tired of these so-called “conservative” yappers of being, oh so, careful about not using inflammatory words. Can't be rash, you see. (/s) Instead they swaddle the truth in blanket after blanket of euphemisms or hide the truth from view completely.
They are entertainers. If and when true tyranny comes to our nation, these so-called conservative yappers will sell their talents to the fascist oligarchy. They will lick the jack boots crushing our necks.
In the words of Dean Martin, “He can say that.”
That just shows how a state that does not follow the ruinous ways of the Federal Leftist agenda can achieve a spectacular economy while the rest of the country is in a recession/depression due to the Dems socialist/communist economic fumbling.
Think what Texas could do with a little more education! (In schools without anti-Capitalist professors, of course).
.... to the point of genocide. Should death camps arise in the United States, for people on the political right, you will not see a word of it in the 'mainstream' media, even if they are presented eyewitnesses, videos, documents, and images.
Wait, no, you would hear about it. They'd be singing the praises of Federal Recovery Camps, and how people on the right are getting untold (and undeserved) Federal help at these camps.
As you were eased into the 'shower', the press would decry the 'racist nature' of the 'extra help' that 'you on the political right' are getting. You'd be killed, while being chewed out for being killed.
One of the many reasons I’m no longer a Republican. By allowing clowns from PMSNBC to “moderate” the debate, the GOP legitimizes these scum who are every bit as partisan as Rush, yet lie about it by feigning a mask of objectivity. It also allows them to shape the overall tone and direction of the national debate, which is always firmly on the left side of the field. I’m done with that, and won’t even watch those kangaroo proceedings known as “debates.”
I wouldn't be surprised to find out he gets his underclothes at Victoria's Secret.
I was going to watch the debate, but as soon as Williams started to bash the candidates right at the beginning, I changed the channel. The GOP should have never agreed to let MSNBC do the debate.
I haven't seen him in years. Does he still have raccoon eyes from the tanning bed?
I still don't "understand" such things, but I see us well on the path to such darkness. And our media is thrilled and supportive, and masses of people think, "I like this handbasket, but can't it go faster?"
The unchanging, sinful nature of humanity is laid out on the table and it is not good to look at.
I have a new name for this ailment. POS. Palin Obsession Syndrome.
Why are we blaming the liberal media for doing what the liberal media does best? If anyone is at fault, it’s the candidates themselves and the GOP leadership for agreeing to a debate that’s moderated by liberal media tards. Regardless of political affiliation, people need to take responsibility for their own stupidity.
Why are we blaming the liberal media for doing what the liberal media does best? If anyone is at fault, it’s the candidates themselves and the GOP leadership for agreeing to a debate that’s moderated by liberal media tards. Regardless of political affiliation, people need to take responsibility for their own stupidity.
Obviously you've never listened to Mark Levin, who calls them Marxists and Stalinists on a regular basis.
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