Wes and America duped by CNN
Wes made some great points on the thread entitled Journalistic Integrity. In it, Wes states:
The questions being asked are being asked because they’re not being addressed by the media OR the candidates. And they’re issues people actually care about. I would think that more people (especially bloggers!) would appreciate something like this. It strikes me as profoundly odd that people are so unimpressed given that so many are convinced that there is a biased perspective from journalists running the damn things. Why would anyone be opposed to bypassing them altogether?
But the more I read about the Democratic plants for the GOP CNN/YouTube debate, the more exasperated I become. National Review had this to say:
Other questions came from declared supporters of John Edwards, Barack Obama, Bill Richardson, someone working on legislation with a Democratic senator, and a prominent union activist also supporting the Edwards campaign. The conceit of the YouTube debate was that it empowered ordinary citizens, but CNN managed to empower Democratic activists instead — and at a Republican debate!
Overall, even the questions not asked by Democratic activists were embarrassing — vapid, stupid, irrelevant, or all three. The conservative questioners were straight out of liberal caricature. One man who asked about Second Amendment rights ended his video by having someone off camera toss him a (presumably) loaded shotgun; he then pumped it and chambered a round to drive his point home. Another questioner asked whether the candidates believed “every word of this book” — while waving a Bible at the camera. Obviously, this is what CNN thinks conservatives are.
Also worth noting is what questions CNN didn’t ask. There was not a single question about education or health care, for example. But CNN did make sure viewers heard about the Trilateral Commission and a mission to Mars. This passes for editorial judgment?
I didn’t watch the debate and now I’m glad I didn’t waste my time. Sorry Wes but as much as I liked your points on this post, the Democrats managed to make your common sense look bad yet again. But don’t despair, your party will bend you over every chance they get so you should be used to it.
Dave - the Infidel Sage
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Wes
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Drowning Creek
Methinks you’re getting hoodwinked as well. Trilateral commission question came from a Republican aimed toward Ron Paul pissed off by Ron Paul’s supporters. There were also a great deal of questions about real issues. You can see them here: http://youtube.com/republicandebate
I keep looking and waiting for them to post the link to the rest of the contest entries, but I’m guessing they won’t for awhile since it just aired. I’ll do some digging and see if I can find them.
That said, my real idea is to have the questions selected by someone other than CNN. My suggestion was to get some of the blogosphere to do it. So long as it included both sides. Because those are the people with the most interest in getting stuff answered. There might be the same amount of bias, who knows? But it’d be better for everyone, including CNN, to have relatively neutral groups pick the questions. Or a whole bunch of groups with an agenda. Just run a secret ballot or something, do it like the Emmys.
Why don’t we organize a Constitution Club debate???
Guru it’d never in a million years happen but I love the idea. From what I’ve seen regardless of the side they’re on at least the people here would have some intelligent questions to ask, and it’s certainly got at least some representation from both sides.
Anyone know if they’re raplaying the last debate soon? I missed a lot of it.