Rush Limbaugh has often indicated that he has no beef with Wolf Blizter. And I must say that I've generally found Blitzer to be a straight shooter who has rarely-if-ever provided grist for my NewsBusting mill.
All of which makes that much more perplexing Blitzer's bail-out at arguably the key moment last night's debate. The CNN anchor's failure to follow up on Hillary's monosyllabic answer on driver's licenses for illegals, letting her slide with her terse "no," was in my opinion the greatest single act of journalistic malpractice thus far in this campaign season.
Let's set the stage. Wolf had just finished raking Obama over the coals on the issue. As an aside, Obama's failure to have a strong answer readied for a question he was certain to be asked exposed shocking incompetence on his part and that of his staff. In any case, after leaving Obama in a heap of equivocating dust, Wolf went down the line, asking each candidate in turn: "Do you support or oppose driver's licenses for illegal immigrants?"
When it came Hillary's turn, her one-word answer -- "no" -- was over so quickly that CNN didn't even give a close-up of her as she was pronouncing it. But never mind, surely Blitzer would follow up. Except that the next words out of Wolf's mouth were . . . "Congressman Kucinich?" That's right, Wolf moved on, letting Hillary walk with absolutely no follow-up whatsoever.
How could Blitzer not have asked the question of the night: how Hillary could proclaim herself opposed to driver's licenses for illegals after having called it a good idea? How could she be against it after being for it, then against it, then for it?
For that matter, how could Wolf not have put this question to Hillary: "is it true, as the leading Albany-based journalist has publicly stated, that your campaign pressured Governor Spitzer to drop his licenses-for-illegals proposal?"
Before the debate, Blitzer denied reports that he had been warned by the Clinton campaign to go easy on her. But in light of Wolf's utter abdication of his journalistic duty on the question of the night, you have to wonder.
Note: Michelle Malkin gave Blitzer a 'D': "You’re no Tim Russert, Wolf."
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
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Could it be that he got the
November 16, 2007 - 12:06 ET by Clear thinkerCould it be that he got the memo from the Clinton hit-squad to play nice, or else?
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Water Boy
November 16, 2007 - 12:07 ET by NoMoreClintonsHe was obviously intimidated into silence. This is really scary to me.
Yes
November 16, 2007 - 12:36 ET by rbchaffeThis should be scary to all of us who believe in free speech. You just know she will sign the so-called Fairness Doctrine into law.
scary
November 16, 2007 - 14:06 ET by lotrI think that look (in the photo) says it all. It's very obvious that the radical "let's give deportable aliens state IDs" policy of NY's Democrat governor put her into quite a pickle. Sounds like the confrontation with the pharisees: "Hmm, if we say 'no, we don't support it', then we counter the leftist Democrat governor of the great state of NY, but if we say 'yes, I support it', then we stand to lose the nomination on account of the popular backlash. We don't know!" So she had "her people" give his office a call, and viola, the problem covertly goes away. I totall agree that Blitzer should've pressed this one a little.
"Do you support or oppose
November 16, 2007 - 12:14 ET by Hunter12"Do you support or oppose driver's licenses for illegal immigrants?"
When it came Hillary's turn, her one-word answer -- "no" -- was over so quickly that CNN didn't even give a close-up of her as she was pronouncing it.
This isn't even an answer. Was she saying, "No, I support or No, I oppose". Blitzer was probably told he'd be denied access if he embarassed her. That seems to be a favored tactic of the greatest spin machine in history.
"An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last." - Sir Winston Churchill
Blitzer
November 16, 2007 - 12:19 ET by djm159Threats work, obviously. Blitzer could end up like Vince Foster or Ron Brown. You never cross the Clintons. If I were Tim Russert, I would sleep with one eye open, just in case. This certainly brings back memories of the Clinton White House and not pleasant ones. It was the most corrupt, secretive administration in history and here we go again. The fact that she calls Bush corrupt is hysterical. Does she think we're all stupid or senile?
Clint-orliones
November 16, 2007 - 12:28 ET by Sick-n-TiredI heard Russert woke up with a horses head in his bed.
Blitzer is a tool and a puppet of the Clintons; he has no spine.
The deck is so stacked when these moderators don't push any given issue with the dems (here the Hildebeast) and then turn around and push to the nth degree on any and all GOP candidates. grrrrr.....
It takes a Clinton to run America
November 16, 2007 - 12:32 ET by DontFeedTheTrollsDoes she think we're all stupid or senile?
Yes.
Also, you couldn't possibly be able to handle your own day to day affairs, much less things like raising children, health care, nutrition, housing, use of energy, or retirement, to name a few, so the Clinton Government will handle all of that (and more) for you. No charge.
Keep the ILLEGALS out, join NumbersUSA to send free faxes to your reps.
No, she doesn't support or
November 16, 2007 - 12:27 ET by mattmNo, she doesn't support or oppose driver's licenses for illegals.
What could be more clear...I mean other than a bucket of donkey crap?
Blitzer has been neutered.
-
November 16, 2007 - 13:40 ET by dahliatraversNo, she doesn't support or oppose driver's licenses for illegals.
lol
Walking
November 16, 2007 - 12:33 ET by JDWNA- Mrs Clinton praises Blitzer
The presidential campaign of Sen. Hillary Clinton on Friday praised the performance of CNN's Wolf Blitzer, who moderated a Democratic debate in Las Vegas Thursday evening.
The praise comes amid pre-debate concerns Mr. Blitzer may try to use unfair tactics against Mrs. Clinton, as the campaign charged that NBC's Tim Russert did as moderator of a Democratic debate last month.
The former first lady's campaign charged that Mr. Russert was rude and unfairly singled out Mrs. Clinton for tougher questions.
Her handlers, however, said Mr. Blitzer did an "outstanding" job. ...
Blitzer allowed Mrs Clinton not only to slide on answering questions but too much latitude to evade the subject. Again we did not receive real answers, we do not know anymore about her campaign than before, and the refusal to commit continues.
JDW
Sen Clinton: Distinguished Founder of Media Matters
Let's view this from
November 16, 2007 - 12:37 ET by dscottLet's view this from another angle, that of Obama and Edwards. What must they be thinking right now having reviewed Hillary's teflon coating on the immigration issue given by CNN? I'd be thinking about how I could either get past the double standard given in favor of Hillary or take the risk to make it an issue. So what to do, what to do... Ignoring the immigration issue would be throwing away a potent means to nail Hillary to the wall, on the other hand taking a firm stand for illegals getting drivers licenses could get you in trouble later on after the primaries. During the Dem primaries, such a tactic and stance would be beneficial. So this is a tempting tactic. However, depending on how far out in liberal lala land Obama and Edwards are, they would be misreading the mood of the majority on this issue, Hillary knows the mood, she is too smart to run against the current so her tactic is to obfuscate and then screw over the country later in the usual Clinton manner.
Obama is having the same issue with the Iraq war, Clinton is smart enough to realize the long term end game is to simply criticize, lower the Repubs polling numbers and call it a day. The troops will be there for years in some fashion, Balad AFB is not going away any time soon.
Hanlon's Razor: Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity. dscott's corollary: The line between malice and stupidity is called depraved indifference.
But D,
November 16, 2007 - 12:54 ET by Sick-n-TiredBut D,
Why do you only refer to Obama and Edwards? The real powerhouse to go against the HRC, as we all know, is Dennis "I have seen UFO's" Kucinich!!!
You mean the red haired
November 16, 2007 - 13:15 ET by dscottYou mean the red haired step child, Kucinich???? It should be clear to Dodd and the rest of the minor candidates they have been DE-SELECTED by the MSM. Get use to it boys, we Repubs can identify. LOL
What really happened here is Wolf knew if he allowed Hillary to be nailed on the immigration issue, then they wouldn't have a viable candidate to push in the general election. Both Obama and Edwards were foolish enough to fall for Wolf's rope-a-dope strategy and took the bait. He was forced to raise the issue because of Hillary's stumble last time around but by equal opportunity he had to ask this question of Hillary, but the minor candidates were dumb enough to clearly answer. Both Hillary and the MSM have pretty much made a pact, the MSM believes Hillary is the only Dem who could lie with a straight face about the issue and the MSM has decided to go along in order for the "good" of the country to elect a Dem. They and Hillary know, if she were to put her cards on the table, the Dems would go down in flames in the general election. Socialism is a non-starter with America, so the Dems and MSM have decided if they can't put lipstick on the pig to make it pass, just lie. We all (both the left and the right) know Hillary is a Socialist, but the moderates on the other hand still haven't woken up to this fact.
What's funny is that neither Obama nor Edwards have figured this reality out. The joke's on them. LMAO
Hanlon's Razor: Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity. dscott's corollary: The line between malice and stupidity is called depraved indifference.
She Ain't THAT Smart
November 16, 2007 - 13:59 ET by NoMoreClintons"she is too smart to run against the current"
Then why did she give that convoluted answer in Philly where she seemingly said she was for it? The people in NY State were already screaming about it and she had to have known it was hugely unpopular. I personally don't think she's as smart as eveyone gives her credit for . . . ruthless - yes.
You say that ...
November 16, 2007 - 14:10 ET by dervishas if she cared what the people in New York think. This Senate thing is just a placeholder job, you know.
Lap Dog
November 16, 2007 - 13:04 ET by Airforce_5_OIf you thought that CNN (The Clinton News Network) was going to play hard ball with Hillary then you were sadly mistaken.
He is not a Wolf. He is a Clinton Lap Dog.
The only thing you should feel when shooting insurgents is the rifle recoil.
Tradeoff
November 16, 2007 - 13:08 ET by KC MulvilleIt's funny. I was surfing in and out of the debate (after all, "The Office" was on), and I missed the drivers' license thing. But it seemed like every time I clicked back on, Wolf Blitzer was asking if the elected Democrats should be blamed for not doing enough. When he asked that, my reaction was, "Nice job, Wolf! Go get 'em!" Until I read about the drivers license segment, I thought he was really putting them on the spot, encouraging them to attack each other.
What really bothered me about the debate last night was Obama. Hillary had just gone through a couple bad weeks, and she was vulnerable. It was a classic opportunity for Obama to capitalize. He didn't. Tonight was his best opportunity to draw the contrast against Hillary ... but from what I saw, his only attempt to differentiate himself was a pedantic point about the official difference between upper and middle class. Granted, I didn't see the whole thing, and the transcripts aren't much help. But the few times I saw him, he just didn't have it.
Take a Hike and See What Happens
November 16, 2007 - 13:17 ET by Mike From CanmoreThe candidates need CNN/MSM as much as CNN/MSM need the candidates. If Billary's people are saying "if you don't treat us nice, we won't come.", my response would be, "fine don't come, Take a hike". Let them think how that looks on National TV when she doesn't show and CNN explains to everybody why she wouldn't show. Probably drive ratings up too. Unless of course, they are actually pulling for Billary. Hmmm. I guess that would mean CNN would be about business and not political ideals.
*Argue for your limitations and sure enough you will achieve them.
Devil's Advocate
November 16, 2007 - 13:36 ET by KillgraveLet's be honest. Rodham has been slammed continuously for a couple weeks for her tap-dance gymnastics on the subject (rightly so), when it was a simple "yes" or "no" question.
So she gave a simple "no", and Blitzer moved on. He even said to Obama that he wanted a simple "yes" or "no".
This doesn't mean that Rodham is off the hook or that she should be. This is one of the thousand boogeymen under her bed and God willing that one of them do a Jason on her presidential aspirations, once and for all.
killgrave, I'm doing what
November 16, 2007 - 13:40 ET by JasonCkillgrave, I'm doing what now?
"He was, and is yet, most likely, the wearisomest, self-righteous
pharisee that ever ransacked a Bible to rake the promises to himself
and fling the curses on his neighbors." -Emily Bronte
Jason
November 16, 2007 - 14:04 ET by KillgraveYou should don that hockey mask and get to work!
I'm just thinking.. it would be a pretty scary horror movie to have Rodham, Freddy, Jason, and Mike go at it to determine who is the true nightmare-master.
Rodham wins at the end, only to fall to a vengeful
zombi-Buddy, who suddenly appears from the shadows. For ancient prophesies all agree that only a dog can kill The Bitch.
Ohhh, you're talking about
November 16, 2007 - 14:16 ET by JasonCOhhh, you're talking about JasonV. My mistake!
Back to work indeed...at the office, that is.
"He was, and is yet, most likely, the wearisomest, self-righteous
pharisee that ever ransacked a Bible to rake the promises to himself
and fling the curses on his neighbors." -Emily Bronte
Wolf is a good little
November 16, 2007 - 15:23 ET by kgWolf is a good little soldier. He knows where his loyalities lie.