ABC’s come a long way on middle-aged moms in politics. Four years ago, ABC’s lead anchor interviewed a Democratic vice presidential nominee’s wife, Elizabeth Edwards, and let her boldly speak about how men "with good hearts" don’t understand how they seem to disparage women's opinions. On the July 28, 2004 World News Tonight, the Wednesday night of the Democratic convention in Boston, Peter Jennings asked Mrs. Edwards questions Charles Gibson didn’t ask Sarah Palin: "So much is being made all the time about how real you are...And how refreshing it is to have a mother of young children out there in a very public way." Jennings also asked about her husband John: "Many months ago, he told me not only were you the most beautiful girl in your class, but he also said you were smarter than he was. Is that true?" Here's the meat of it:
PETER JENNINGS: So much is being made all the time about how real you are.
ELIZABETH EDWARDS: Whatever that means.
JENNINGS: And how refreshing it is to have a mother of young children out there in a very public way. But you are millionaires. How do you stay in touch with what it means to struggle?
ELIZABETH EDWARDS: Well, we weren't always in the position that we're in. And if you ask my children what a blue light special is at K-Mart they know, you know, because, because you don't, old habits are hard to break. Though we have the luxury of not having to think about, as I know so many families have, as we did for so long, have to think about the consequences of your car breaking down or the consequences of some expense that you didn't anticipate.
TERESA HEINZ-KERRY [clip of her convention speech]: It is time for the world to hear women's voices.
JENNINGS: We asked Mrs. Edwards about Mrs. Kerry, who spoke here last night. Mrs. Kerry had emphasized that she was a woman with opinions.
ELIZABETH EDWARDS: She talked about women and talked about how a woman might be called opinionated, whereas if she were a man, she might be called smart and well-informed. And the women in the audience all stood up and cheered, I had women in my, in the box with me, and we all stood and cheered. There are men I know very well, men of good hearts and they didn't get it, in a sense. It didn't seem to them an applause line. But we understood something, because, I'm sure, intuitively and because we understand from experience, that sometimes if you express yourself as a woman, you know, you might, people might furrow their brow or think what you are saying is inappropriate when exactly the same thing could come out of the mouth of a man and it's great, at least from a woman's perspective.
That perspective seemed to missing during the ABC Palin interview, as when Charles Gibson furrowed his brow at Palin and said "I got lost in a blizzard of words there." It's hard to remember Gibson saying something like that to Barack Obama.
—Tim Graham is Director of Media Analysis at the Media Research Center.
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You gonna talk to me about
September 12, 2008 - 16:15 ET by the strugglerYou gonna talk to me about strugglin'?
Pretty obvious how
September 12, 2008 - 16:23 ET by bigtimerPretty obvious how different it is if it is a conservative woman compared to a leftist gal... this is creating one of the biggest backlashes I have ever seen towards the msm and the dem party...it is way past time...that alone is enough for anyone with a brain to vote for Palin...lol.
What I loved the most about your blog post here was this...
Gibson furrowed his brow at Palin and said "I got lost in a blizzard of words there." It's hard to remember Gibson saying something like that to Barack Obama.
Ain't that the truth!
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
Ol' Charlie was just
September 12, 2008 - 16:54 ET by bradbenj5952Ol' Charlie was just overwhelmed when he had to face down a truly intelligent woman. He could have just stopped at, "I got lost", which is to say, "I'm totally out of my league here".
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." Acts 16:31
You have to speak slowly,
September 12, 2008 - 17:12 ET by celatorYou have to speak slowly, loudly and clearly with Gibson. He's a simple guy, really simple. It helps if you can draw pictures on a tablet so he gets the idea quicker. His new teeth grind so loudly it's difficult for him to hear people speak.
The major media report only half the news. Why are they surprised they have only half the potential audience?
bradbenj5952,celator-Talking to hear your heads rattle
September 12, 2008 - 17:49 ET byWhat ridiculous nonsense about Gibson. Obviously you 2 don't have much confidence in Palin. Evidently, you think the only way to raise Palin to a level of intelligence and eloquence is by putting Gibson down. Then again you might be right. Maybe the McCain crew picked Gibson for her 1st interview because Charlie's too simple minded to do the kind of interview w/ Palin America needs. Oh well, next Hannity interviews Palin. My only question about that is - How will we be able to hear Hannity when his head will be stuck so far up Palin's ass.
Tim Graham doesn't know or ignores differences
September 12, 2008 - 17:28 ET byThe author of this piece, Tim Graham, either doesn't know the difference or leaves it to the reader to understand the difference between interviewing a candidate's wife and interviewing a candidate who might become President of the United States. No journalist would ask Laura Bush about how she would conduct the war on terror. Puff questions are for the wives, tough questions are for the candidates. This is more "You can't hit a girl." and "attacking Sarah Palin, it's kind of attacking motherhood and apple pie and everything good about America" attitude of the right in insisting the media tread lightly around Palin. The Republicans are doing their best to make sure an impenetrable wall protects Palin from any questions tougher than the examples in this piece. There's only one reason for this. The Republicans are scared to death voters will realize she might not be ready to be President. Maybe she is, but so far it's not looking good. Citing her wonderful family and the fact she knows how to field dress a moose (which I've heard Republicans say) do not instill confidence in a candidate for VP.
Gibson: "I got lost in a blizzard of words there." It's interesting that Graham left out what Palin said before Gibson's remark. Without that, the reader doesn't know if the remark was justified or not.
Graham: "It's hard to remember Gibson saying something like that to Barack Obama." Maybe that's because Obama is an eloquent speaker who speaks clearly. He also might not be ready to be Pres, but you understand what he says. Then again, maybe it's because, as Graham admits - he has a hard time remembering.
Hardly
September 12, 2008 - 17:39 ET by BlondeIt's the difference between fourth grade softball and major league baseball.
You're the one who can't understand the difference in tone.
Your nuance thing must have been twanged badly by Sarah.
Deal with it.
P.S. Barack Obama sounds like a Sea World Seal....."ugh, ugh, ugh".....throw the man a fish!
David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive
Abe... Obama the
September 12, 2008 - 17:46 ET by bigtimerAbe...
Obama the sock-puppet puts anyone to sleep when he is being interviewed...he doesn't even know what his spin is when he's spinning from his own mouth ...
Talk about comedy...
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
Blonde, bigtimer- More prejudiced than the KKK
September 12, 2008 - 18:04 ET byRe: Your opinions of Obama's speaking abilities. It's nice of you to confess you're so prejudiced towards Obama that you're detached from reality and don't wanna come anywhere near the truth. Now let's hear a more fair and balanced opinion from you -What do you think of your grandkids?
Ruh roh.
September 12, 2008 - 18:17 ET by UphillRuh roh.
Abe, I hope you're here all weekend.
Me too............
September 13, 2008 - 04:27 ET by old croOle Abe is pulling out his "racist" flag and throwing it for a 15 yard penalty. I just don't understand the "rule changes" the dnc put in this year. Hey Abe, they probably (I will not presume to speak for them) but I will especially NOT vote for Ohhbama because he's a SOCIALIST agitator who doesn't know S*** about what it means to be a true American, in word and deed.
Uphill, Quoting your intellectual superior
September 14, 2008 - 02:28 ET byI understand for you, quoting Scooby Doo, your intellectual superior is the same as quoting just about anybody, with the exception of yourself and many NB members. But are you using this quote of Scooby Doo's because it's the only one you understand?
»→ Cartoons Abe?
September 14, 2008 - 03:02 ET by Cool ArrowYou're the one pinging around like Ricochet Rabbit.
You still haven't revisited and explained how the Infant Protection Bill Obama killed in committee is different from the one even Barbara Boxer enthusiastically supported because it guards against infanticide.
You called a Poster in this blog a liar, and you should either be prepared to defend your claim, or admit you're a coward.
You'll notice I'm not calling you a coward. Just letting you know it's incumbent upon you, because of your allegation, to prove you're not.
"Us white folk will take care of you" - Barbara Walters
Abe
September 14, 2008 - 07:36 ET by UphillYou cannot even begin to fathom what I don't know about everything.
Re: your gibberish. It's
September 13, 2008 - 04:52 ET by Jack BauerRe: your gibberish. It's nice of you to confess you're a racist. We don't tolerate racists here, so go take your racist prejudice elsewhere.
Huh?
September 12, 2008 - 18:15 ET by NewHavenI'm not sure I understand the point of this post. It is one thing to interview the spouse of someone running for president, but another to actually interview a potential VP. Charlie Gibson would not sit down and ask these questions of Laura Bush...Nor should they be asked of Cindy or Michelle. But, yes, Sarah definately needs to answer these questions. Give me a break.
That was then
September 12, 2008 - 19:13 ET by TheCynicI always thought Peter Jennings was a good guy and a top notch news anchor. I liked Sam Donaldson as well. That was back when ABC had some integrity.
Sadly, Peter Jennings is no longer with us and neither is the integrity of the network he used to work for. What a shame.
Yes, it is sad he passed away....
September 13, 2008 - 04:36 ET by old croBut integrity and Peter Jennings in the same sentance?
This is the second time this morning I've had the opportunity to use this quote, thanks.
From the Media Research Center
“Some thoughts on those angry voters. Ask parents of any two-year-old and they can tell you about those temper tantrums: the stomping feet, the rolling eyes, the screaming. It’s clear that the anger controls the child and not the other way around. It’s the job of the parent to teach the child to control the anger and channel it in a positive way.
Imagine a nation full of uncontrolled two-year-old rage. The voters had a temper tantrum last week....Parenting and governing don’t have to be dirty words: the nation can’t be run by an angry two-year-old.”
— In his daily ABC Radio commentary, November 14, 1994, after Republicans won control of Congress.