I'm calling this the Day's Daffiest Question Award. Suzanne Malveaux, come on up and accept it on behalf of CNN. You asked the question, after all.
Malveaux was interviewing Mike Huckabee this afternoon and talk turned to a tough editorial a New Hampshire paper had written about Mitt Romney.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX: Saturday, New Hampshire's Concord Monitor broke with tradition. They're not endorsing someone, but they certainly took a slap at your opponent, calling him "a phony that must be stopped." Do you think that they went too far?
View video here.
Huck managed to avoid breaking out in a belly-laugh at being asked whether a paper was being too tough on his bitter rival. But he did allow himself a smile as he gave a light-hearted answer.
MIKE HUCKABEE: You know, I would never jump in and try to criticize a newspaper when they have every right to write whatever they wish . . .
Having wrapped up the award with her "do you think they went too far?" question, Malveaux tried to stir up some trouble between the two candidates.
MALVEAUX: But you don't think he's a phony, do you?HUCKABEE: I'm not even going to get into that. He's certainly had many things to say about me. I will defend my record. But I'm not going to try to jump in on what the Concord Monitor says and I haven't read the full text; I heard about the story, haven't read it so I don't want to evaluate their article. Hey, they may want to endorse me next week, so why would I jump on them?
So Huck won't say Mitt's not a phony. Shades of Mike refusing to say whether Mormonism's a cult. And how credible is the old "I haven't read the full text" dodge? It's right here, Huck.
Meanwhile, when it comes to daffiness, it's not going to be easy to top asking a candidate whether a newspaper has gone too far in criticizing his chief political rival. But I have confidence in the liberal media. Some enterprising MSMer will outdo Suzanne before too long.
UPDATE | 12-25 6:15 PM: In a later segment with Huckabee, Malveaux managed to give her earlier question a run for its money when it comes to inanity. She asked whether Huck would be willing to conduct a state visit to Iran. Huckabee said that it wouldn't be appropriate to reward the Iranians with such a visit until we knew what they were doing in terms of nuclear development and Ahmadinejad retracted his condemnation of Israel. Retorted Malveaux: "how is that not the bunker mentality that you criticized the Bush administration for?"
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
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No, Mark, I wouldn't say
December 24, 2007 - 18:48 ET by motherbeltNo, Mark, I wouldn't say that can't be topped. Just when you think they can't get any dumber, they exceed your expectations.
And will again real soon, if
December 24, 2007 - 20:39 ET by GregEAnd will again really soon, if not already.
I don't know,
December 24, 2007 - 18:59 ET by fitzfongI don't know, Suz-ahhhhwwwwn. Do you think they went too far?
By the way, typical gutless response from Huckabee. The sooner he's cut adrift and forgotten about, the better.
fitz, I don't think Huckabee's response was "gutless"
December 24, 2007 - 19:13 ET by RJGive him credit for being smart enough to let "phony" sit out there, just as he did with "cult."
The guy knows exactly what he's doing....it's just too bad his supporters don't.
Well, RJ
December 24, 2007 - 19:17 ET by BlondeNo showing of hands, tonite.
David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive
Hi Blonde
December 24, 2007 - 19:29 ET by RJMerry Christmas.
Back atcha, RJ
December 24, 2007 - 19:32 ET by BlondeI'm still not for any raising of hands, tho!
:D
David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive
This is how slippery, sly and nasty Huckabee is
December 24, 2007 - 19:38 ET by RJMALVEAUX: But you don't think he's a phony, do you?
HUCKABEE: I'm not even going to get into that. He's certainly had many things to say about me. I will defend my record.
In the first sentence, Huckabee pretended to take the high road, but he immediately plunged the knife in....hinting without actually saying it, that Romney has called him nasty names "many" times.
Fair enough, RJ. But he
December 24, 2007 - 23:08 ET by fitzfongFair enough, RJ. But he sure would give Slick Willie a run for his money in the non-denial denial department. Maybe he's smarter than I thought.
I heard the interview this
December 24, 2007 - 20:14 ET by bigtimerI heard the interview this afternoon....
Huckabee is the phony one.
It made me sick.
His arrogance with his answers and thinking people can't see through him is the making of critters like Suzanne and her ilk... purposely... I might add, and he is believing it himself.
A fool he is....wait and watch....
Right On Bigtimer
December 25, 2007 - 00:43 ET by BarkerThere's a new saying in the South: Huckabee is deader than a hanged dog.
(alright, I just made it up)
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!!
Ok, not a question but
December 24, 2007 - 20:53 ET by GregEOk, not a question but a statement. Tonight I watched a few minutes of CNN's "Faith in Politics" or something like that. Hillary Clinton the guest interviewee in front of huge crowd. Soledad O'Brien ACTUALLY said, regarding one topic as a preface to her question....."The non-partisan Center for American Progress has said...." I kid you not. That wasn't fair, I didn't have any duct tape on my head before she spewed that nonsense as an objective statement.
Yes, quite non-partisan Soledad. More than half the live audience as well as TV viewers will know no better nor look it up, instead just taking Soledad's word for it.
Maybe if she, an objective journalist had simply taken a quick 5 second look. Gee, I wonder which liberal group she'd view as partisan if not this one.
http://www.americanp...
Who We Are
The Center for American Progress is a progressive think-tank dedicated
to improving the lives of Americans through ideas and action.
We are creating a long-term, progressive vision for
America—a vision that policy makers, thought-leaders and activists can
use to shape the national debate and pass laws that make a difference.
The Center for American Progress is headed by John D. Podesta, former chief of staff to President William J. Clinton and a professor at Georgetown University Center of Law.
So did you manage to find
December 25, 2007 - 00:31 ET by motherbeltSo did you manage to find all the pieces when your head exploded??? Well, that'll learn ya......anytime you watch CNN OR Hillary Clinton....precautionary duct tape.
Where's me links?
December 24, 2007 - 21:47 ET by OklahomaIsShapedFunnyWhere's the post with all the links going to places where other people have written about how Mike Huckabee is Huckster and Huckelberry and a Huck Face and a Huck Munch and stupid and a Christian??? I LOBE that stuff EVERY time it's posted on a Huck Story.
Don't go looking for trouble
December 24, 2007 - 21:49 ET by Mark FinkelsteinDon't go looking for trouble ;-)
Mr. Huckabee what has Mr. Romney said about you?
December 25, 2007 - 01:47 ET by Daniel BakerThat wasn't true?
Love the footer "Christian Phobia" Bigotry toward Christians
December 25, 2007 - 01:52 ET by Daniel BakerThe MSM is trying to help Huckabee play his identity politics.
While Romney religion speech was attacked by the very same people for excluding the non-religous
Mormonism is a cult. Every
December 25, 2007 - 11:25 ET by LilyPearlMormonism is a cult. Every true Christian knows that so there would be nothing wrong with Huckabee saying it. The truth hurts sometimes. Also, Mitt Romney is a phony. He said he believed Jesus is the Savior. Well, with that statement either he is lying or he is not a Mormon because Mormons do not believe Jesus is the only Savior.
According to the historic, apostolic Christian faith, salvation comes only by the grace of Christ, who "suffered, was crucified, died and was buried, to reconcile his Father to us, and to be a sacrifice, not only for original guilt, but also for actual sins of men."
Mormons also believe that salvation comes through Christ's atoning sacrifice. But they don't believe in "original sin" or in human depravity. Still, Latter-day Saints believe that fallen men and women do need redemption. And while works are a necessary condition, they are insufficient for salvation.
You are misinformed
December 25, 2007 - 13:04 ET by Daniel BakerSomething tells me you are not looking for answers though so i wont try.
Suzanne
December 25, 2007 - 11:45 ET by jaywlCNN certainly has the dynamic duo in Malveaux and Soledad. Not only are many of their questions slanted and obviously designed to get certain responses, but occasionly they can ask some of the most dumb-assed things I have ever heard. If contested, however, Ms O'Brien would stumble unknowingly to the finish line ahead of her Harvard classmate. That these two are Harvard grads and do what they do raises a whole new set of questions, doesn't it?
Harvard
December 25, 2007 - 12:50 ET by iveseenitallThey and Obama are living proof that Harvard and Affirmative Action are WAY overrated. Then again, look at who does the rating.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
I agree that a Harvard
December 25, 2007 - 20:37 ET by Mark FinkelsteinI agree that a Harvard degree is no guarantee of common sense. But don't hold it against all Harvard grads -- I have an LL.M from the law school!