Courtroom Explodes in Laughter After ABC’s Sawyer Touts Fairness of Journalists

NewsBusters ^ | 7/12/2007 | Scott Whitlock

[Pyro7480]

Thursday’s edition of "Good Morning America" featured a Diane Sawyer anecdote that unintentionally revealed the low opinion Americans have of journalists. After wrapping up a July 12 segment on a Massachusetts man who is in trouble for attempting to avoid jury duty, the ABC co-host recounted the "hurtful" experience she had in a courtroom:

Video (0:55): Real (1.51) or Windows (1.71 MB), plus MP3 Audio (607kB)

 

7:34am

[Wrap up of segment on getting out of jury duty.]

Diane Sawyer: "You know, I wanted to sit on a jury once and I was taken off the jury. And the judge said to me, 'Can, you know, can you tell the truth and be fair?' And I said, 'That's what journalists do.' And everybody in the courtroom laughed. It was the most hurtful moment I think I've ever had."

[bybybill]

But it`s more then the media`s fault. Since the early 60`s, kids are not learning how to think and reason, how to search for truths, and have very little understanding of History or government. If you want yours to have these skills and knowledge, you got to do it yourself.

[Publius6961]

That quote is a keeper.
At least Diane has food for thought, now.
If she doesn't do some in-depth soul-searching to find the cause of the derision, she's not as bright as she looks.

[finnman69]

SCHADENFREUDE!

[Kryptonite]

The funny thing is that she still doesn`t understand!

True. The lesson she should learn is to answer the question with a straightforward "yes!" She couldn't be direct and the others in the courtroom sensed her weakness.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

Good post!

[adorno]

Can, you know, can you tell the truth and be fair?

Actually, that could be interpreted as 2 questions and on both counts, she constantly lies.

First off, can she tell the truth? The answer to her would be only if it helps her agenda and the liberal agenda.

Secondly, can she be fair? Only if it helps her side on the issues and doesn't help the opposition. She could interpret the fairness part to mean could she be fair to her side. And she could answer that with a "yes".

Could she tell the truth? She could probably tell the truth when it's non-political or partisanship doesn't matter; therefore, on that side of the question, she could still answer "yes" to the "truth" side of the question.

The question from the judge could also be looked at as a third question: could she tell the truth and could that truth be fair? Can the truth be fair? Not necessarily. The truth often hurts and she would avoid it like a plague.

[Ron in Acreage]

Only politicians and maybe lawyers are held in lower regard than the media. It just shows how out of touch these elitists are.

[Leftism is Mentally Deranged]

I don’t wish pain on anyone, but this idiot deserved the laughter. And still they deny.

[SE Mom]

goodlordalmighty Ms Sawyer- if THAT’s the most hurtful moment you’ve ever had....

..words fail me..

[rockinqsranch]

“...the judge said to me, ‘Can, you know, can you tell the truth and be fair?’ And I said, ‘That’s what journalists do.’ And everybody in the courtroom laughed. It was the most hurtful moment I think I’ve ever had.”

It reads more like a “Dumb Blonde” joke.

It also reads as a perfect line in a sitcom for Betty White.

[Fudd Fan]

My thought exactly.

[Doctor Raoul]

It was the most hurtful moment I think I've ever had."

CONFIRMED: The truth hurts.

And the judge said to me, 'Can, you know, can you tell the truth and be fair?' And I said, 'That's what journalists do.'

Myth BUSTED!

[T. Buzzard Trueblood]

It was the most hurtful moment I think I've ever had

This from a woman who is reputed to have hugged and kissed Fidel Castro...

[hinckley buzzard]

It was the most hurtful moment I think I've ever had."

I hope she never comes around here. She'll end up peeing her pants in a paroxysm of wounded pride.

[perfect stranger]

ping

[lowbridge]

bump

[metmom]

Diane Sawyer: "You know, I wanted to sit on a jury once and I was taken off the jury. And the judge said to me, 'Can, you know, can you tell the truth and be fair?' And I said, 'That's what journalists do.' And everybody in the courtroom laughed. It was the most hurtful moment I think I've ever had."

Pooooorrrrr baaabbyy. :(

I'd have laughed, too. I'd rate journalists about as reliable as used car salesmen. I wonder how she'd feel about that?

[Blue Highway]

at least she sounded like she could make fun of herself in that the general public knows people like her are full of sheep. I’m giving her the benefit of the doubt. If she was clearly hurt, then she is themoron I always thought she was.