As the 2008 presidential campaign moves into high gear, a common conservative complaint has been that Democrat candidates have so far been largely asked softball questions by liberal moderators at their debates, while the Republicans have actually been vigorously challenged by media personalities in theirs.
On CNN's "Reliable Sources" Sunday morning, former Capitol Hill correspondent for ABC, and current contributing editor to the National Journal, Linda Douglass, made it quite clear that she agrees with such concerns.
Host Howard Kurtz, after playing a video clip of musician Melissa Etheridge asking Hillary Clinton (D-New York) a question at a recent debate, posed the following:
Linda Douglass, my question is with those kinds of personal, first-person, emotional queries, do we really need journalists at these debates? Aren't these questions sort of better than the kind of questions that reporters ask?
Douglass couldn't disagree more:
Well, there's been such an interesting contrast between the Democratic debates and the Republican debates in a couple of ways. Yes, it's true that at the Democratic debates, the YouTube debate, certainly the AFL-CIO debate, certainly the gay and lesbian activist debate, that you're really seeing voters who are important constituencies inside the Democratic Party asking the kinds of questions that they are particularly interested in. Teachers were able to ask questions at a teacher's debate. There have been a lot of specific constituency questions for the Democrats which is causing the Democrats to address those specific constituencies.
The Republicans on the other hand have not been asked questions by voters. But they are being asked questions by hard-nosed journalists such as George Stephanopoulos which cover the range of issues. And I actually think that we're seeing a more realistic display of Republican positions caught off guard not expecting the questions by a journalist than we sometimes are at the Democratic debates.
You're darned right, Linda. Thank you for being so honest with your assessment.
—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
True but the Dems also get
August 12, 2007 - 12:53 ET by Dee BunkTrue but the Dems also get softballs from journalists so it doesn't make much difference. Their questions would be a little harder, but it wouldn't be a grilling like Republicans get.
I agree Dee. I have yet to
August 12, 2007 - 12:57 ET by bassndudeI agree Dee. I have yet to read anything asked a Dem candidate that would appeal to anyone but a third grader. And last I checked, they cant vote yet.
Save a SeAL, club a liberal!!
well that is because they
August 12, 2007 - 13:08 ET by Conservative Voicewell that is because they are democrats...I think the Democrat debates should be hosted by a Rush Limbaugh or Ann Coulter. That would be worth seeing.
Oh wow, CV....can you hear
August 12, 2007 - 13:11 ET by bassndudeOh wow, CV....can you hear the howeling from the Dems if they even floated that Idea? I would love to see that. I can hear the foot stomping and they would need a no slip surface on the floor for all the tears....
Save a SeAL, club a liberal!!
Helps me Understand
August 12, 2007 - 13:19 ET by pbthinkerIt's pretty easy to see why the Democrats are avoiding Fox News. They know where they can go and not get asked the tough ones.
Never argue with an idiot. They'll drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.
Heh-heh, heh-heh. You
August 12, 2007 - 14:09 ET by Roger the ShrubberHeh-heh, heh-heh.
You used "George Stephanopolous" and "hard-nosed journalist" in the same sentence.
Without laughing.
Heh-heh.
Journalists my eye.
August 12, 2007 - 14:12 ET by mattmGeorge Stephanopolous a 'hard nosed journalist'???? What a joke. The guy's a Clinton Administration hack who's trying to get Hillary elected.
It's good that Douglas makes the observation, but the idea that any of these MSM people are actually jorunalists rather than the propagandists they are is laughable. Limbaugh and Coulter aren't journalists either, but then they don't claim to be...
Of course Republicans get Grilled in Questions
August 12, 2007 - 14:22 ET by Lame CherryOf course Republicans get tough questions and every talking head loves Republicans as guests as it is what drives their ratings. It makes great tv in the Max Headrooms can only ask hard questions of the Republicans, because Dems won't go on tv if they get asked them as most of them look like the idiots they are in not answering them.
Look at Charlie Rose interview with Joe Biden.......criminy bob, Charlie Rose was telling Biden his dad was a handsome guy.....Rudy goes on there and Rose almost wrestles the Rudy.
Liberal reporters just love that challenge........sure they want Democrats to win, but they don't have any fun making them look like fools.....and when they try it with Republicans they get the Dan Rather treatment.
*HIC IACET ARTORIVS REX QVONDAM REXQVE FVTVRVS
You actually watched all
August 12, 2007 - 14:28 ET by BlazerYou actually watched all of Charlie Rose? He's been putting me to sleep for over twenty years now.
"You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. We must be cautious. "
- Ben Kenobi on Liberals, and the MSM.
for over twenty years
August 12, 2007 - 16:33 ET by ThreePuttinDudeHe's been putting me to sleep for over twenty years now.
Yikes, hey Rip Van Winkle ....LOL
Quite frankly I am
August 12, 2007 - 14:23 ET by bigtimerQuite frankly I am surprised at Douglas and her answers....
Especially since her and her husband had people like the Clinton's to dinner on quite a few occassions over the years during their strangle hold on all of us...(If memory serves me correctly here that is...lol)
Wonder what's up?
Doesn't seem quite right....
Very interesting....
Gotcha
August 12, 2007 - 14:34 ET by nkviking75Douglass: "And I actually think that we're seeing a more realistic display of Republican positions caught off guard not expecting the questions by a journalist than we sometimes are at the Democratic debates."
That's because journalists look for opportunities to ask Republicans "gotcha" questions, i.e. questions that are nearly impossible to answer without looking bad. Unfortunately, not every candidate is sharp enough to deal with them.
When you put the clowns in charge, don't be surprised when a circus breaks out.
nkviking
August 12, 2007 - 14:36 ET by botgwhy do you want to starve children?
"Television is where you watch people in your living room that you would not want near your house." Groucho
Perfect example,
August 12, 2007 - 14:41 ET by nkviking75Perfect example, botg
When you put the clowns in charge, don't be surprised when a circus breaks out.
Or this
August 12, 2007 - 14:57 ET by BarkerQuestion for Democrat: If you were a flower, what kind of flower would you be?
Question for Republican: If you were a snake...........
Funny point Barker. I am
August 12, 2007 - 15:19 ET by BlazerFunny point Barker. I am thinking of voting Democrat just so I can see the world go from black, and white to color again, I can see it start to rain Skittles, and have cartoon animal friends follow me wherever I go.
"You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. We must be cautious. "
- Ben Kenobi on Liberals, and the MSM.
starve children?
August 12, 2007 - 15:21 ET by BufordThe old "have you stopped beating your wife?" question comes to mind.
The nearest thing to eternal life we will ever see on this earth is a government program...........Ronald Reagan
Linda Douglass, over the hill?
August 12, 2007 - 15:25 ET by zachlindIt's been a while since Linda Douglass has been on the air. Looking a little long in the tooth I would say.
Yeah...
August 12, 2007 - 21:44 ET by dervishI had the hots for her when she played Ellie Mae on "Beverly Hillbillies."
derv
August 12, 2007 - 21:58 ET by botgthat was Donna, Linda could be Miss Jane Hathaway
"Television is where you watch people in your living room that you would not want near your house." Groucho
Dang. (I knew it wasn't
August 12, 2007 - 22:44 ET by dervishDang.
(I knew it wasn't really the same woman, but I did think they had the same name.) I need to start firing up "TVLand" again.
derv... Could be Ava
August 12, 2007 - 22:59 ET by bigtimerderv...
Could be Ava Gabor who played Mrs. Douglas on Green Acres....dahling!
LOL!
BT
August 12, 2007 - 23:06 ET by botgfor my money Arnold Ziffle stole the show
"Television is where you watch people in your living room that you would not want near your house." Groucho
bot... LOL...there were
August 12, 2007 - 23:10 ET by bigtimerbot...
LOL...there were great characters that is for sure.
Why don't they just put up
August 12, 2007 - 16:43 ET by Sir AndrewWhy don't they just put up some microphones and let the audience ask the questions?
That would make the debates much more interesting.
Ok Mr. Romney, what is:
August 12, 2007 - 16:54 ET by USA4freedomOk Mr. Romney, what is: 8.97% of 378 x 598 – 972 + 19.7% of 875??.. times up!!
Ok Hillary, are you ready? Remember what we talked about earlier.. What two colors do you put together to make Green.. Think now, what.. color.. is.. the.. sky..? “Blue?” right! Now what is the other color..? Think.. what is color of Monica’s favorite fruit?.. Think.. “Yellow?” YOU WIN HILLARY!!!
Wow you Republicans are really stupid!
These are the boys of Pointe du Hoc.
Ronald Reagan- 40th Anniversary of D-Day
Anyone with at least half a
August 12, 2007 - 21:40 ET by fitzfongAnyone with at least half a brain knows that the Democrat "debates" are simply glorified ribbon-cutting ceremonies...press conferences with teed-up questions and nauseating platitudes. You learn nothing from them because you're not meant to learn anything from them. Democrat debates are set up to make all the candidates look good. Republican debates, on the other hand, are like depositions. They're moderated by hostile media members submitting interrogatories designed to make the Republican candidates squirm and look bad. So far, this plan seems to be working for the DNC and its media accomplices. But when we get to the general election, the Republican nominee is going to be better tested than the softened Democrat. I think that's going to make a big difference...I certainly hope it does.
What's so funny is that the
August 13, 2007 - 10:21 ET by Hero SquadWhat's so funny is that the softball questions to the Democrats actually does them a disservice. The Republican candidate to emerge from the primaries will have weathered a more difficult storm, will have outlined a clearer stance on positions and be more prepared for the one-on-one debates with the Democrat nominee.
Who's more prepared for the baseball game -- the player who took batting practice with baseballs or the one who practiced with tennis balls? Sure, you can hit them a country mile, but so can my 6-year-old daughter. And they don't use tennis balls when the game actually begins.
*****
"Some people have a way with words. Other people, er, I don't know. Not have way, I guess