Obama senior adviser David Axelrod made the rounds of the broadcast network evening newscast anchors on Tuesday to discuss President Obama's address to a joint session of Congress, but CBS's Katie Couric, in uniquely offering some balance by matching Axelrod with a segment featuring House Minority Leader John Boehner, only served to expose her impatience toward GOP opposition. With Axelrod, she cued him up to expound on the administration's policies, pressed him about nationalizing banks and empathized with the terrible conditions inherited by Obama's team. In contrast, with Boehner she wondered if Republicans are “out of touch,” suggested they are stuck between having either the country or their base “hate” them and asked:
Do you think the Republicans are digging themselves in a hole by not being more supportive of the President's proposals?
Couric prompted Axelrod to explain how the administration will overcome criticism of the mortgage plan: “How do you explain that this is not going to be helping out somebody's brother-in-law who put down no money, spent too much money on his house and basically cut corners while other families feel like, 'listen, we did everything right.'?” She soon lamented what Bush left behind: “When you were running this campaign did you ever envision inheriting this job at a time when the country is in such deep trouble?”
Interviewing Boehner, Couric cited some poll numbers and then demanded: “Are you out of touch with the American people?” She made Boehner react to an Obama operative's formulation of how not doing what President Obama wants means “the country will hate” Republicans:
One high-ranking White House official told me today: When it comes to Republicans on Capitol Hill the administration plans to hug them until it hurts. If you hug back your base will hate you and if you don't hug back the country will hate you. What's your reaction?
Couric's questions to Axelrod, as aired on the Tuesday, February 24 CBS Evening News, after she set up the segment: “This afternoon I asked him how Mr. Obama will underscore the gravity of the situation and yet make Americans optimistic about the future?”
- There seems to be some trepidation, even anger, about the mortgage bailout plan. How do you explain that this is not going to be helping out somebody's brother-in-law who put down no money, spent too much money on his house and basically cut corners while other families feel like, 'listen, we did everything right.'?”
- But what about people who just cut corners and put no money down and spent way too much money?
- What about nationalizing some of the banks? Have you ruled that out?
- Isn't owning shares of CitiBank technically nationalization?
- When you were running this campaign did you even envision inheriting this job at a time when the country is in such deep trouble?
Couric's questions to Boehner:
- Leader Boehner, how do you think President Obama's speech will be received tonight by members of your party?- A recent CBS News poll shows that 53 percent of the American people fully backs the stimulus package, 63 percent of people we polled thought the Republican opposition to the stimulus package was for political reasons. So, are you out of touch with the American people?
- President Obama says he wants to cut the deficit in half in four years. Do you believe that's realistic?
- One high-ranking White House official told me today: When it comes to Republicans on Capitol Hill the administration plans to hug them until it hurts. If you hug back your base will hate you and if you don't hug back the country will hate you. What's your reaction?
- Do you think the Republicans are digging themselves in a hole by not being more supportive of the President's proposals?
—Brent Baker is Vice President for Research and Publications at the Media Research Center
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Grim sour-faced Katie
February 24, 2009 - 20:51 ET by DaBirdGrim sour-faced Katie interviewing a Republican.
Happy smiley-faced bubbly Katie interviwing the Democrat.
Every interview she does with a political figure follows this pattern. EVERY interview.
I cannot figure out why
February 24, 2009 - 22:49 ET by kgI cannot figure out why Republicans even gives MSNBCNBCCBSABCCNN the time of day. I would simply say "When you straighten up and report the news, all the news fairly then give me a call."
"Forget change, I want improvement!"
What the hell is wrong with Katie's face?
February 24, 2009 - 21:00 ET by Lord ErondShe looks like a chipmunk on steroids or either someone beat her with an ugly 2x4, not just an ugly stick
"What you can not enforce, do not command" -Sophocles-
"Do you think the
February 24, 2009 - 21:02 ET by brerol"Do you think the Republicans are digging themselves a hole by not being more supportive of the President's proposals?" Talk about a loaded question. What would Couric expect Boehner to say? Gee, Katie, you are right. Thank you for straighten me out and my party. Courics question clearly was not some objective question but one that reflects her liberal bias opinion.
No need to watch CBS's
February 24, 2009 - 21:03 ET by TN MomNo need to watch CBS's Couric:
A. Everything Obama does is super fantastic.
B. Couric hates all republicans and does her best to get the country to hate them also.
CBS: For morons only
So, Anusrod made the rounds. Big deal.
February 24, 2009 - 21:09 ET by R D Helm"Interviewing Boehner, Couric cited some poll numbers and then demanded: 'Are you out of touch with the American people?'"
God, this is one time I certainly hope so.
-Dave
Our clueless political leaders are about to drive us all over a cliff. The time to HITM is now-before we go over.
...- Do you think the
February 24, 2009 - 21:18 ET by MidAmerica...- Do you think the Republicans are digging themselves in a hole by not being more supportive of the President's proposals?
Don'tcha just know katie is worried that the Republicans are hurting themselves by opposing obama.
A question for Katie
February 24, 2009 - 21:21 ET by IamTinmanHow could you sleep at night if you were so spineless and devoid of character that you would disown your deepest held beliefs?
I believe that President Obama is leading this country down a dangerous path. Why on God's green earth would I or any conservative choose to follow him?
If Couric thinks this is deep trouble, I have two words for her. "Jimmy Carter"!
Another Couric lecture. Turn
February 24, 2009 - 21:21 ET by RousseAnother Couric lecture. Turn up the radio.
stunt double for Janet Reno
February 24, 2009 - 21:25 ET by RousseGenerally I don't comment on how people look, but Couric looks like a young Janet Reno, doesn't she.
Was Janet Reno ever young?
February 25, 2009 - 09:57 ET by GalvanicCBS tried to sell her sexuality to prop up ratings, but that didn't work. Apparently they've now decided she needs to look more business-like or something.
They'd get a bigger audience if they stuck a different barnyard animal before the camera every night while an off-camera voice read the news.
- Do you think the
February 24, 2009 - 21:28 ET by TN Mom- Do you think the Republicans are digging themselves in a hole by not being more supportive of the President's proposals?
Children need adult supervision: Thank goodness the GOP is the parent in the 'house'!
if only Boehner replied
February 24, 2009 - 21:59 ET by JAJTif only Boehner replied back with "so Katie, how does it feel to have CBS rating drop? who do you think America hates more,your haircut or that annoying giggle of yours?'
some one needs to tell Katie that she is not the queen of the universe
JAJT
JAJT
February 25, 2009 - 01:56 ET by Rush FanI couldn't agree with you more. I wish Boehner and the rest of these Republicans acted more like John Ziegler, the Sarah Palin documentarian who is making the rounds of all the networks promoting his film Media Malpractice. As NewsBusters has documented, Ziegler has made it a point in every interview with these liberal interviewers to point out how bias and unfair they are in their reporting and in their interviews with Republicans.
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“The media is a disgrace. You have forfeited any notion that you once had of respect” ~ Rush Limbaugh
Sure perky boot lick
February 24, 2009 - 22:18 ET by 10ksnookerJust like you were to Bush, right, we will be to Acting President Obama. Only difference is Obama is much more like a chimp than was Bush. Obama is nowhere near as smart either.
Loved your Palin act... You were so fair.
Here's what Boehner should have said to Couric
February 24, 2009 - 22:44 ET by Gary HallActually Boehner is in a populist position here - and Couric doesn't get it (does Boehner?). Many national polls, including CBS's own poll cleary showed that while a solid majority of voters wanted something done (they've been scared half to death) a majority did not like the bills as were to be passed - and a majority did not believe that the bill would actually accomplish much - a view shared by the non-partisan CBO, which said that the bill would cause more harm in the long run.
The Republicans actually are on the side of a majority of the public on this one; they are being the populist party. Couric and the MSM is looking past the hard evidence right in front of their eyes, all for political want.
Boehner needs to learn how to speak something that can be heard.
Some say...
February 25, 2009 - 07:17 ET by NonanonPerhaps we could mimic the liberal tactic of "Some say" the Republicans who oppose Obama's huge (truly) spending/maintenance bill are actually building a hill for themselves to rise above the damage such a bill will bring to the American people. It seems to me that if anyone understands anything about economics, they can't support an agenda such as Obama and the Democrats are pushing.
Really !!
February 24, 2009 - 23:03 ET by Southern voterWhen you were running this campaign did you ever envision inheriting this job at a time when the country is in such deep trouble?”
Katie, Isn't that exactly how Obama got in ....you and all the MSM played on the 'sky is falling' mentality....
The Perky One.
February 24, 2009 - 23:17 ET by blazermaniacIt seems to most Americans is that "KATIE COURIC IS OUT OF TOUCH"!
Katie Who?
February 24, 2009 - 23:19 ET by JohnJDunbarAs so many of the others comments have noted, Ms. Couric is openly combative and sour with any Republican, and giggles and glows when speaking with a Democrat. But who cares. I have said many times that much of her viewing audience are people in nursing homes that never change the channel. The staff of the facility just leave it on CBS so the residents can watch game and talk shows in the daytime, and whatever is on at night on CBS.
I have never encountered anyone that said they watch Ms. Couric, and I live in a town with a high population of retirees. Her market is not just older folks, and we know that no one under 50 watches her. So it must be those aforementioned nursing home folks that make up the bulk of her Nielsen numbers. Oh, and throw in prison inmates that will watch any woman. No matter how un-perky she looks. Yes, even Rachel Maddow probably has male inmates watching her.
Ok seriously
February 24, 2009 - 23:44 ET by clubchamp6Does she not look like a fat bulldog when she interviews Republicans.
I just want to throw her a stick
Katie the Hack
February 25, 2009 - 02:09 ET by Sefton"If you hug back your base will hate you and if you don't hug back the country will hate you."
What she meant was, "...if you don't hug back, we're going to keep touting the party line in the MSM - just like always - and make sure our Emporer's message continues to be absorbed by his subjects."
Boehner should have just paused and then said "Are you really this much of a hack, or are you just ignorant to start with?"
Couric is a joke
February 25, 2009 - 11:13 ET by LionKingCouric Pushes 'Out of Touch' GOP to Be 'More Supportive' of Obama
Katie ... when Bush was president, did you encourage Democrats to be more supportive?
WHAT A HYPOCRITE!!!
Out of touch by a mile...
February 25, 2009 - 16:11 ET by JRJ08When you have a president whose approval rating is hovering between 60% and 70%, it is probably not very bright to openly obstruct or attack everything that he tries to do. The Republican Party's problem is that it doesn't know how to be the 'loyal opposition' without being totally negative and obstructive. Maybe it's a DNA thing.
By the way, this article characterizes Couric's question to Boehmer as being a "demand". That's ridiculous. She was asking the hard questions.
JRJ... You have it all
February 25, 2009 - 16:20 ET by bigtimerJRJ...
You have it all figured out eh?
Funny how the Hypocrite-in Chief opens mouth during the hours Wall St. is working...and he sinks the numbers, every single time.
Republicans don't even have to open their mouths...he is sinking his own ship, I'm just going to bide my time watching some of his rats jump ship as time goes on.
Btw...as long as the republicans stick together, stick to the conservative values, we will make gains...it is when they splinter, that we don't...and that is exactly what the msm is trying to do to the party, conquer and divide....
Of course I do remember you and your posts from way back, so I expect exactly what you posted with your views.
~'Hard questions'
February 25, 2009 - 16:36 ET by choselife3xYou mean like all the ones she asked Obama?
Here's a hard question for ya, "Are you naturally stupid, or do you have to practice every day?"
Expecting the government to 'fix' the economy is like trying to live off the leech stuck to your tush.