Pelosi Asks The Questions At The GOP Debate
Earlier this morning, under the @CNNBelief handle (which is for the religion news/opinion section of CNN), an editor tweeted:
Why was #CNNDebate question on contraception booed? Is it just us or are social conservative questions often booed? Why?
Now, if you caught the debate, you know exactly why the question was booed. It was an unbelievably horrible question that sounded like it was written by a focus group including Planned Parenthood media strategists, Barbara Boxer, Nancy Pelosi and David Axelrod:
Since birth control is the latest hot topic, which candidates believe in birth control and, if not, why?
Speaking as someone who is pretty frightened and deeply concerned by the Obama Administration's latest infringement of religious liberty (which, under new Obamacare regulations, forces everyone to pay for abortifacients, sterilization and contraception for their employees even if they have religious objections to it) I responded by screaming. I also tweeted something that violated the Code of Conduct on two levels (writing in all caps was one!). So it's safe to say that I would have been booing right alongside that crowd of Romney and Paul supporters in Arizona.
I responded to the @CNNBelief tweet:
are you joking? Because your network turned a HUGE issue of religious liberty into a question on BC. Unbelievably offensive.
The editors replied, "Is it really that simple? This isn't the only time a socially-conservative question fetched boos in debates this year." Indeed it hasn't. I argue that many of these questions have been part of a pattern. They're all how one would frame a question to one's political enemies to make them look bad rather than elucidate the differences between candidates (the latter of which is, ostensibly, the purpose of the debate).
Now, in last night's chat, I mentioned that as a libertarian, I'm not always on board with the GOP candidates. But their responses to this question were all great. Newt Gingrich pointed out the false premise of the question before noting that the media were never terribly interested in Barack Obama's legislative votes in support of infanticide. Romney pointed out the huge threats to religious liberty we've seen in the last few years. Santorum, who was then asked about his personal religious views on birth control, ended his statement with the most memorable line of the night ("You know, here's the difference between me and the left, and they don't get this. Just because I'm talking about it doesn't mean I want a government program to fix it. That's what they do. That's not what we do."). And Ron Paul compared the hormones used in medicines such as birth control with guns, reminding people that the same things can be used for good or evil.
What I wonder, though, is why Republicans are even sitting down for debates moderated by the ostensibly mainstream media. How is it different than if, say, David Axelrod were asking the questions? It makes sense for Democratic politicians to do it, since it's friendly territory. But should Republicans seek out other venues? I'm sure they could still get them aired nationally, since people are surprisingly interested in watching them.
Shouldn't the establishment (or whoever controls the Republican Party) get working on solving this problem? It's not like it's going to get better in the next few months.
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Comments:
May '10
Re: Pelosi Asks The Questions At The GOP Debate
After listening to that question and response last night, it occurred to me that if TIME or Newsweek were worth their salt, next week's cover story would be on "The Media Elite Bubble."
The fact that CNN could not have anticipated that reaction and even worse, not understood it, is nearly unfathomable. The candidates were obviously not surprised or unprepared for the question -- how could anyone still professing objectivity have so little perspective at how far spun they are?
Mollie I presume you intersect with some of these Washington press circles: are they really so clueless? Even my most ardent Democratic friends and relatives freely admit the media bias.
Edited on February 23, 2012 at 3:40pmJun '10
Re: Pelosi Asks The Questions At The GOP Debate
I thought maybe he'd follow up with, "which of you believes in purgatory, and why?"
Nov '10
Re: Pelosi Asks The Questions At The GOP Debate
The problem with the debates is that the format, the scheduling, etc., were all decided when Michael Steele was still at the RNC helm. http://biggovernment.com/mdake/2012/02/22/debate-preview-contraception-more-obama-and-a-little-bit-of-satan/#more-433808
I used to think that it was good to throw the candidates into the maelstrom of mainstream media "journalism," but now I realize that Mollie is right -- all the RNC and the campaigns have managed to do is give the DNC several months to attack the candidates and frame the issues to the DNC's advantage. You can't tell where the DNC stops and CNN begins, and don't even get me started about MSNBC. We might as well let Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama be the moderators.
Edited on February 23, 2012 at 3:53pmRe: Pelosi Asks The Questions At The GOP Debate
Trace Urdan:
Mollie I presume you intersect with some of these Washington press circles: are they really so clueless? Even my most ardent Democratic friends and relatives freely admit the media bias. · 5 minutes ago
Let's put it this way: the CNN editors mentioned here are the good ones. They frequently solicit stories from a wide variety of perspectives, do an excellent job of covering religion, and are genuinely unsure why the question was booed. Many journalists aren't nearly so introspective or curious. It's almost like they can't see the half of the country (or sometimes the 3/4 of the country) that is not in their bubble and can't begin to be concerned about it. They view questions of bias mostly from within their increasingly narrow sector of the world. They want to make sure, for instance, that radical feminist concerns are adequately represented in a story about mainstream feminism.
May '10
Re: Pelosi Asks The Questions At The GOP Debate
Mollie Hemingway, Ed.
It's almost like they can't see the half of the country (or sometimes the 3/4 of the country) that is not in their bubble and can't begin to be concerned about it.
Clearly, they operate this way at their peril. As frustrating as it is to see them control the terms of the debate, it seems perfectly clear that their role and influence is rapidly diminishing. I am doubtful that they will have a monopoly on the debate moderating by the time 2016 rolls around.
Edited on February 23, 2012 at 3:59pmNov '10
Re: Pelosi Asks The Questions At The GOP Debate
It was booed because the audience is smart enough by now to recognize narrative-manipulation. Newt nailed it by pointing out the failed premise and then did what he does best: threw it back into the media's court. Breitbart-like, he has a knack for cutting open these questions and exposing the media bias at the heart.
If only we could believe that the audience was a representative sample of the conservative base. Because I'm not convinced yet that the majority understand the degree to which the MSM is the enemy.
Oct '11
Re: Pelosi Asks The Questions At The GOP Debate
When did Abortion become contraception ? Did I transition in another dimension without noticing ?
May '10
Re: Pelosi Asks The Questions At The GOP Debate
GOP = Stupid Party is why they let the MSM control the debates.
Re: Pelosi Asks The Questions At The GOP Debate
Actually, Mollie, I would prefer David Axelrod. At least, he would not pretend that he is a journalist.
Jan '11
Re: Pelosi Asks The Questions At The GOP Debate
Trace Urdan
Clearly, they operate this way at their peril. As frustrating as it is to see them control the terms of the debate, it seems perfectly clear that their role and influence is rapidly diminishing. I am doubtful that they will have a monopoly on the debate moderating by the time 2016 rolls around. · 20 minutes ago
Edited 16 minutes ago
Maybe, but they've got a monopoly not only on the debate moderating but also on almost all other news. If they can keep that long enough to get Obama through this election, are you sure there will be debates in 2016? An election? A civilised country under the rule of law?
[feeling gloomy today]
Nov '10
Re: Pelosi Asks The Questions At The GOP Debate
Sure he would, after all, George Stephanopoulos does it all the time.
Nov '10
Re: Pelosi Asks The Questions At The GOP Debate
It was cowardly.
CNN/John King hid behind the skirt of an ambiguously worded ("believe in contraception", like it's the Easter Bunny or something), phoned-in question which was deceitful in framing the controversy as anything but an issue of religious liberty. I wonder how many tweets they had to sort through to find that one?
Through this pathetic, incompetently attempted subterfuge, Mr. King may have been able to spare himself from a well-deserved beat-down at the lips of Newt and the rest, but he wasn't fooling anyone who was paying attention. The audience caught on before he finished reading the question.
COC violations and all, Mollie, I admire your restraint.
Apr '11
Re: Pelosi Asks The Questions At The GOP Debate
The most frustrating thing about it, is that there are so many alternative media outlets. Can you imagine a debate moderated by Neil Boortz, Laura Ingraham, and Hugh Hewitt ? A libertarian, a social con, and an establishment Republican could bring out the distinctions between the candidates.
It could be streamed over the internet, many of their affiliates would carry it live, and they would all play clips on their individual shows.
It's a failure of imagination on the GOP's part, which seems stuck in media world of 1996.
May '10
Re: Pelosi Asks The Questions At The GOP Debate
I agree completely, Nick, and have been saying this for a long time. No one has ever underestimated the stupidity of the GOP to continue to shoot itself in its collective feet.
Doug Lee
Sure he would, after all, George Stephanopoulos does it all the time. · 57 minutes ago
Perfect response.
We're stuck with these folks because the smart guys knew better to stay out. (Where have you gone, Mitch Daniels, a nation turns its lonely eyes to you...)
Jul '11
Re: Pelosi Asks The Questions At The GOP Debate
I'd love a comedy skit where the candidates could mace the moderators.
May '10
Re: Pelosi Asks The Questions At The GOP Debate
Er, I need to wash Mollie's i-Phone out with soap.....
Jan '11
Re: Pelosi Asks The Questions At The GOP Debate
The paradox, of course, is that the fact that when the GOP allows the media to stage the debates, the GOP gives its imprimatur to the very biases and attacks that they now complain about.
Jul '10
Re: Pelosi Asks The Questions At The GOP Debate
Mollie Hemingway, Ed.
What I wonder, though, is why Republicans are even sitting down for debates moderated by the ostensibly mainstream media. How is it different than if, say, David Axelrod were asking the questions? It makes sense for Democratic politicians to do it, since it's friendly territory. But should Republicans seek out other venues? I'm sure they could still get them aired nationally, since people are surprisingly interested in watching them.
Shouldn't the establishment (or whoever controls the Republican Party) get working on solving this problem? It's not like it's going to get better in the next few months. · · 13 hours ago
I made this point for the first 3-5 debates, applauded when the Tea Party debate accepted questions from the floor and Wolf Blitzer presented them honestly. I still think it was the best debate. I was mortified when Byron York and the Washington Examiner, from whom I expected far better, picked up the gotchya question game and squandered a wonderful opportunity to shine on a national stage.
I only stopped because it quickly devolved to consensus moaning, which is too close to whining for my taste.
Jul '10
Re: Pelosi Asks The Questions At The GOP Debate
I would ask Mark (Mollie's towering half) ever so nicely first, if I were you. Or maybe leave it lie. When Mark and I sat together at Kilroy's during one soirée, the foundation tilted three degrees.
Just sayin'.
Mar '11
Re: Pelosi Asks The Questions At The GOP Debate
The big MSM outlets still command a fair bit of viewership, as do some big names in the new media that are not conservative. The reality is that during an election cycle, but especially in the general election, debates will probably continue to be televised and run by the MSM for some time to come.
So, there is some utility in getting a taste for what will be deployed against a candidate in the general by facing an MSM controlled debate in the primary.
But, that said, in as long a primary as this year, with as many debates as we've had, there is no reason for the RNC not to push to have a few of them run by conservative outlets with conservative moderators--stream them online if necessary, or offer the video to C-SPAN.