Last Thursday, on her new show "Tell Me More," NPR talk show Michel Martin held another one of those non-debates on whether the Republican front-runners should have submitted to the debate organized by leftist PBS host Tavis Smiley. She invited both former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele and former Gingrich pollster Frank Luntz to come on and denounce the GOP no-shows for political stupidity and moral cowardice. Luntz insisted "Tavis Smiley is an incredible host, and he is completely fair." But while Martin pointed out that Smiley had prevailed on Steele to help cajole Republicans to attend for several months, she failed to tell listeners that Luntz was hired by Smiley to do polls after the PBS Democratic candidates debate in June. This is not a little-known fact. Liberal Democrat groups like Media Matters had a fit that Smiley hired a Republican pollster for a Democratic debate, and (unsuccessfully) demanded PBS fix it.
In refusing to interview anyone who felt that PBS and Tavis "George Bush is a serial killer" Smiley were offering a hostile forum for Republicans, Martin merely said the RNC failed to send a spokesman – as if there aren’t many conservatives outside the RNC building on Capitol Hill who would accept that opportunity. That's a lazy way to avoid having a contentious debate, instead of a double-beating.
Frank Luntz, in fact, sounded like he was reading from Tavis Smiley’s talking points as he denounced the Republican Party, accusing Washington of doing nothing in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina:
It's bad enough that you miss debates, when they missed Katrina, and the African-American community watched day after day as Washington didn't come down, didn't deliver, and there are issues on Louisiana and in the city of New Orleans, but they were still looking for Washington for help, that sent such a horrific message to the black community that the Republican Party doesn't care. And the debates are symbolic, but at least in the debates, you can stand up and say that what happened back then was wrong and that under my administration, I would change it....considering what has happened over the last four years, I would have expected these candidates to rush down there and to talk about how they would have been different in a situation like New Orleans.
—Tim Graham is Director of Media Analysis at the Media Research Center
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When they missed
October 3, 2007 - 08:34 ET by rimskyWhen they missed Katrina
What the.. Will we EVER hear the end of this? As if a disaster like Katrina was something that one attended.
And why should anybody care what these bozos think about some GOP candidates not attending what would have been an obviously slanted debate, when none of the democratic prez candidates would attend the Fox debate?
I say no more debates until
October 3, 2007 - 08:41 ET by rimskyI say no more debates until the party candidates have been selected. And then, the two candidates would be required to debate each other like 3 times, with a very balanced moderating panel. Here's my pool for the balanced panel (pick one for each side) - Rush Limbaugh, Brit Hume, Bill Kristol, and Fred Barnes representing the Right, and Chris Mathews, Katie Couric, Brian Williams, and George Stephanoffagluss on the left. Wait, ok, to be fair, substitue Carvel for Couric.. or whoEVER..
"Serial Liar" ,,moderators
October 3, 2007 - 10:46 ET by Gary HallDifficult to imagine a scenario were the Democrats would agree to attend a nationally televised presidential debate being moderated by a staunch conservative pundit who had called a current Democrat president a "serial killer," a "serial liar," a "serial molester," or any such label. First of all, the media would have treated that pundit, just as they are currently treating Rush Limbaugh. It would be fair-play, if each and every time Tavis Smiley is introduced, that he be introduced as, "the idiot who called presidential candidate a serial killer."
Secondly, ".. and in the city of New Orleans, but they were still looking for Washington for help.."
For the record, the federally funded program to provide grant $'s to those whose homes were destroyed or severely damaged in Katrina and Rita, is moving along. According to the unprecidented federal program, The Road Home, as of Sep't 24th, 54,754 homeowners have now received an average of $71,371 - each. These are federal handouts - cash - tax free - not low interest loans. This is unprecedented in the US - this sort of handouts to folks who have lost their homes.
That news, of course, will not be delivered to American Voters by our media.
I've said here before that
October 3, 2007 - 10:54 ET by Chris NormanI've said here before that I'm not too sure about Luntz. He's a hired hand who seems to over-admire the skills of the Democrats. On H&C, he has practically gushed after the Democrat debates. It's led me here to question his loyalties.