Posted on 06/26/2011 11:42:41 AM PDT by AmericaTalks
On his program Fox News Sunday, host Chris Wallace asked his guest, presidential candidate Michele Bachmann if she was a flake.
Bachmann seemed perturbed by the question, and rightly so, and then proceeded to answer the question with coherence, grace and dignity. She responded by saying "well, I think that would be insulting, to say something like that, because I'm a serious person". Bachmann pointed out that she has been married 33 years, is a lawyer, has a post-doctorate degree in federal tax law, worked in the U.S. federal tax court, has five children, raised 23 foster children and opened a charter school for at-risk youth.
"I've also been a state senator and a member of the United States Congress for five years. I've been very active in our business. As a job creator, I understand job creation. But also I've been leading actively the movement in Washington, D.C., with those who are affiliated with fiscal reform," Bachmann said.
Wallace's question was an ugly example of shoddy journalism, the kind of "gotcha" question reserved for Republicans, and especially Republican women, in what can only be described as a double standard set by the mainstream media that gives liberals a pass.
Wallace asked the question because in some circles Bachmann is perceived as gaffe prone. To be fair, she has made a few mistakes, but has come a long way since the "anti-American" comment in November of 2008.
But where was the media when Barack Obama, while campaigning for president in 2008, said he had visited "57" states, referred to a "bomb that fell on Pearl Harbor", declared that Memorial Day honors "an unbroken line of fallen heroes - and I see many of them in the audience here today"?
Yes, political candidates do make embarrassing remarks on the campaign trail, but once elected, every speech, every move will be without flaw, because should something go awry, the media will be all over it, such as when Obama picked the name of a dead hero as a live Medal of Honor winner, referring to a military medic as a "corpseman", and botching a toast to Queen Elizabeth II, right?
Maybe not.
Wallace did offer one of those back-handed apologies on the Fox News website, the kind where one says "if anyone was offended, I'm sorry".
That's not good enough. This was a hit job on Bachmann, one for which she should be insulted. But journalists should also be insulted, as should every American. There is no place in the news media for this kind of attack.
And although we have come to expect this sort of thing from the talk hosts at MSNBC, or the writers at the Huffington Post, one would expect better from a Sunday morning news and analysis program, especially one on Fox.
Shame on you, Chris Wallace. That question was flaky journalism.
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Some ignorant, uninformed and really stupid FReepers call her stupid too.
Fox is losing it. Ailes needs to retool.
Her JD preceded the LLM.
Demonstrating that Wallace does indeed believe that Bachmann is a flake.
I'm going to go ahead and anticipate Wallace's defense - that this is what her critics are saying about her - and so it's his duty to ask the question.
OK Chris, if that's the case, then would you kindly direct us to the video clip where you ask Hillary point blank, "Are you a shrew?"
Waiting...
So?
At best, one can say it is a “post-graduate” degree. Calling it a “post-doctorate” degree is very damaging. If she continues to refer to it as a “post-doctorate” degree the MSM will have a field day taunting her.
A JD is a doctorate. Her LLM was post doctoral. You are being pedantic.
I don’t care for Wallace, he comes across as really smart, but that doesn’t mean he is a straight shooter. He goes easy on certain people, for who knows what reason, and goes hard ball on others, again, for who knows what reason. I don’t trust him. Anyone who is that smart, but plays games, is not to be trusted, end of story.
“Wallace is and has been a liberal all the time.”
I hope FOX takes note of Wallace’s sexism. and turnaround from idiot in chief to total a$$hole Liberal. Dump him.
If you don’t already own the J.D.
Flaky journalism indeed he must be pimping Rummy.
Hell no!
Fox, get your head out of your ass. I will not be watching Chris ever again!!!!
Make that 2, my wife warned me about Chris.
Uhhh, do you think Wallace would ever ask Debbie Wasserman-Putz if she's a flake?
I didn't think so.
I don’t worry about these kinds if interviews as they allow our candidates to show everyone what they are made of.
“You are being pedantic.”
Yes, very much so.
JD is not a “doctorate” as most in academia use the word. Looking at wiki, I see it is a three year program without a dissertation. Masters level. I would refer to a JSD as a “doctorate” as it is PhD level, requires a dissertation and is required to be offered a tenure track position.
There’s no reason for her to pad her resume to impress people. She should simply refer to her LLM as “post-graduate”.
Are you a lawyer?
Pedantry is not attractive. Most attornies would agree with MB’s phraseology. To me, it matters not even a tittle.
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