ABC: Thompson's Debate 'Tantrum' -- There's Fair and Balanced Reporting!

Photo of Warner Todd Huston.

ABC proved once again that they will use language to flavor reporting to promulgate their ideological position instead of just reporting the facts. After Wednesday's GOP debate in Iowa, ABC news posted a Political Radar blog entry calling attention to Fred Thompson's efforts to improve the depth of debate held that day. Calling Thompson's efforts a "Tantrum," ABC seeks to cast Thompson's sensible and adult desire to engage in real debate as a child's temper tantrum. Does ABC want real debate or do they want dumbed down, name calling or simple minded sound byte replies? I think you can easily decide which!

If you didn't see the debate and missed what it is that Thompson did, there is a video available that I'll post at the end of this piece so you can see for yourself. But, in essence, Thompson refused to do a "show of hands" answer to the question of whether or not the candidates agree with the theory of man-made global warming. He felt that this important issue needed an actual reply. The gall of him, eh?

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So, since Thompson felt that important issues need in depth discussion and not silly, childish "show of hands" answers and because he refused to participate, ABC terms his serious concern a "tantrum."

But, once you find out what Thompson really said about his actions on the debate stage, there is a great ring of truth and seriousness about it.

"I just decided that I wasn't going to engage in any of this monkey business that they like to engage us on sometimes -- making us look like trained monkeys reaching for peanut or something ... 30 seconds is brief enough and when they try to reduce your answer to just a hand raise -- I 'aint going to play that game," the former Tennessee senator said.

During this afternoon's debate, the GOP candidates were asked to raise their hands if they thought climate change was a serious threat caused by human activity. Thompson spoke up saying he didn't want to answer without time explain himself.

Thompson says he's gearing up for the next two weeks leading up to January 3rd. When asked by reporters about his chances in the Iowa caucus, Thompson said he believes voters are "beginning to pay attention" now to the elections and feels he will be in "good shape."

"The real campaign is just beginning," Thomspon said.

These are substantive and serious points made by candidate Thompson and his principled refusal to play the moderator's empty headed game deserves applause in stead of derision. Yet, ABC dismisses this serious position as a "tantrum"?

So much for the seriousness of one of our largest media organizations and how they treat the news. So much for giving the voters as much information on a candidate's views as possible.


I say it's about time we got some candidates that don't want to speak in sound bytes but want serious discussion of the issues. If that is throwing a "tantrum" then we need more of it.


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Can I get a Show of Hands who think this debate is a joke?

Nobody who isn't already onboard with the MSM left-leaning ideology could possibly take this hit piece seriously. Even the ''clap meter'' superimposed on the screen during the debate showed the audience's approval of Fred's shutting down the Romper Room-esque ''Show of Hands'' AWG love-in attempt. Pathetic.

I think Thompson was *funny*

Especially the off-the-cuff stuff about Mitt's acting skills (though I'd disagree that they're anything new!). I like Fred a hell of a lot better than I like some of the other control-freaks up there, that's for sure.

I've heard his wife is very smart about political strategy. I don't understand why she'd want to give up on Fred's fans in NH and concentrate on Iowa, though. It looks from here like an over-reaction to Huckabee's success among voters who have yet to closely look at Huck's record. With a few different decisions, I think Fred's campaign would be much further-along by now. 

But please, Fred-fans, for the sake of all that is good & just in this world....Can a few hundred of you subscribe to his YouTube channel and at least put Fred over 1000?? He's unlikely to ever catch up with us, but a site like NB, if y'all work together, should be able to put his numbers up above a few of the control-freaks. Hell, I'll even subscribe.
JMR

Rally online with fans of Dr. Ron Paul. (All purpose anti-slander-link, sadly-needed these days...)

MSM: they pitched a fit

MSM: they pitched a fit because we told them all to jump through the hoop and they didn’t.

I just see these debates and get mad as hell. This is not a game! This is the selection of the world’s most powerful man for 4 or 8 years.

Come on, pears or diamonds? What is next boxers or briefs.

Putting plants in the audience. Posting questions from snowmen. All of the Republicans should all get together and demand better questions or don’t answer.

MSM: Ha Ha Ha, lets try to (a) make them look foolish (b)try to pump up some ratings.

The result is: (a) the public looks at you like you are crooked (you are) and (b) your ratings a falling like a rock as well as the printed media.

 

 

These are the boys of Pointe du Hoc. Ronald Reagan- 40th Anniversary of D-Day

"If that is throwing a

"If that is throwing a "tantrum" then we need more of it."Spot on!!! 

 

These are the boys of Pointe du Hoc. Ronald Reagan- 40th Anniversary of D-Day

Amen! The one having a

Amen! The one having a "tantrum" was the moderator: this is MY ball and you play the game MY way or you don't play!

One can't answer a two-part question with yes or no. That leaves no room for a divided answer. It's like asking "how many of you believe cigarettes cause cancer and should be outlawed?

 

The one having the tantrum

The one having the tantrum is ABC. One of the candidates told a member of the media I'm not playing your stupid game. So ABC is kicking and screaming.

The media doesn't know this isn't about them but the people running. 

"There is a clear attempt to establish truth not by scientific methods but by perpetual repetition."
- Richard S. Lindzen, Ph.D. Professor of Meteorology, MIT

danbo

I agree.  The media is twisting over this because a candidate, and a republican/conservative for that matter, dared challenge their methods.

We NEED much more of this.  The MSM Big Brother hold on this country has gone on too long.

I understand that when Thompson did this there were more than one "**** YEAH!" coming out of the audience.  I would love to hear the audio on that.

How DARE he!

How DARE he. How dare he show less than complete respect for this liberal
elite. Does he not know how the media will trash him when he shows some backbone? He should know he is to only stand there and feel good about playing
juvenile games dictated by the Democrat moderator.

My hat is off to you Presidential Candidate Thompson!

Helloooo. . .nobody noticed

Helloooo. . .nobody noticed Alan Keyes freaking out over there?  

-PJ   

"Trake: Your lofty convictions are another blemish on the rump of congregational sectarianism." -Tumbler 5/15/07 

Check out...

Check out what Keyes sad to Byron York in the spin room after the debates:

http://article.natio...

Before I saw your link, I'd thought

Keyes, who by this point is a professional political candidate, was running for VP without admitting it. Now, it seems more like he's running for an extra-combative version of "White House Press Secretary on a bad day!"
JMR

PS Bad news for the Dems. It looks like Bloomburg's flirting with Al Gore instead of Lou Dobbs as I'd predicted...


Rally online with fans of Dr. Ron Paul. (All purpose anti-slander-link, sadly-needed these days...)

What I like about Alan

What I like about Alan Keyes is he does not suffer fools lightly. I loved his answer to the reporter about "paid staff": (emphasis added)

“No, it’s not paid staff,” Keyes said. “Are you listening or not?”

 

I agree

Alan doesnt take any garbage from the msm.Also Fred made my day.It is about time someone spoke up to these so called moderators.

Re: NRO link. THANKS WTH!!!

AWESOME!!!

Quote: “Hold it. Can I explain the principle? Because you don’t get to define the process of politics in this country. You only think you do. . .You have invented this notion that campaigns are yard signs and appearances and stuff. You don’t have the right to say what it is. A campaign is people reaching people. It is conducted not by politicians and not by the media, but by the people themselves.”

YEAH!  Where do I sign up?  I know the online quiz told me I qualified for Duncan Hunter, but now the options got a little more appealing. 

-PJ

"Trake: Your lofty convictions are another blemish on the rump of congregational sectarianism." -Tumbler 5/15/07 

I did. He got points from

I did. He got points from me. 

"There is a clear attempt to establish truth not by scientific methods but by perpetual repetition."
- Richard S. Lindzen, Ph.D. Professor of Meteorology, MIT

Good point, trach! I

Good point, trach! I actually had in my post that "if anyone threw a tantrum it was Alan Keyes" but apparently I edited it out with something else.

I also added "not that that's a BAD thing!" He was right to call her out. I especially liked the part when he complained about her continually giving him 30 seconds while the others got a minute, and he said (paraphrasing) it's starting to look like there's a reason for it.... (ouch!)

I'm surprised the media didn't call THAT a "tantrum."

I suspect they didn't want to call attention to the fact that that could have been an implication of racism on the moderator's part....I think that's why, when he went on his tear about God and the schools, and singled out the others one at a time, she didn't dare stop him.... LOL

 

I liked his quip that

I liked his quip that Global Warming was coming from the hot air of politicians. 

"There is a clear attempt to establish truth not by scientific methods but by perpetual repetition."
- Richard S. Lindzen, Ph.D. Professor of Meteorology, MIT

I agree completely.  I was

I agree completely.  I was secretly hoping he'd start swinging the podium over his head.  I'd like to see a paradigm shift back to that sort of fiery, yet completely honest, oratory. 

-PJ

"Trake: Your lofty convictions are another blemish on the rump of congregational sectarianism." -Tumbler 5/15/07 

Contradictions Collapse

I happened to have Hannity's show on (not a regular listener of his) and heard the audio of this.  I thought it was great!

But if the media wants to call THAT a "tantrum" what would they call Clinton's press secretary (I believe it was Mack McLarty) answering a barrage of questions with "No.", and then when the reporters asked him why he would answer, he whined "I don't want to."?

"Nothing is all.  All is contradiction." - Meshuggah

Res tantum valet quantum vendi potest.

I liked what he told Hannity

I liked what he told Hannity about it afterwards. He said that "I know we're all supposed to stand there like trained seals, waiting and hoping that they'll throw us another fish, but I'm not going to do that."

When BJClinton jumped all

When BJClinton jumped all in Chris Wallace's face, I don't recall that tantrum being referred to as a tantrum. 

When asked if he went to war with Iraq  to derail the impeachment vote:  “I don’t think any serious person would believe that any President would do such a thing." - President Clinton (Dec 1998).

I don't know about all of

I don't know about all of you...but Fred is my man. He is the only one who is not afraid of the msm. I have longed for a Republican to get tough with the msm and tell it like it really is!

If Fred can do that more

If Fred can do that more often, he will get the nomination.

At any rate, he still looks like the GOP's best candidate. Hopefully, his campaign can get a little more traction. 

 

Is it me, or are the GOP

Is it me, or are the GOP debates on at VERY odd times?

Oh, and the STUPID, INANE, Boobtube debates proved how transparent, and BANKRUPT the MSM is. This is all very frustrating to me. I want REAL issues. I couldn't care less if Romney is a Mormon, Baptist, Jew etc. Unless I am mistaken there is only one religion that most sensible people are keeping an eye on, and it certainly isn't Mormonism. Huckabee is as liberal as Jimmah Cahta, and his record proves it. Some of you might like his evangelism, but I do not. For what good is a nation Presided over by a Person who belies in God, but not self responsibility? I'm all over the map this morning. Too many things to catch up on.


Islamic Religious Services Will Be Held at the Firing Range At 0800 Daily.

Yea, who the hell is

Yea, who the hell is watching the TV at 1 or 2 in the afternoon. Only people on welfare or people that work the night shift or retired..

The writer strike is on looks like to me that they would be hungry for a little help with the ratings..

 

 

These are the boys of Pointe du Hoc. Ronald Reagan- 40th Anniversary of D-Day

Was it the media

Or was it the candidates (or perhaps the candidates' handlers) who scheduled this one? Inquiring minds want to know, and it should be a pretty easy question they've already asked. It would be interesting to see just who thought getting them all together while working folks are least-likely to watch was a good idea...
JMR

Rally online with fans of Dr. Ron Paul. (All purpose anti-slander-link, sadly-needed these days...)

My husband is home on

My husband is home on disability, and he had the debate on. When I first heard it, I assumed it was a rerun of an earlier one, being shown on CSpan....I was really shocked to find out it was live.

If the MSM planned this, it's just one more indication of their blatant bias.

Yes, but...

What if it was a candidate's handler? I'm not saying it was, I'm asking "what if?" Would that change your opinion of the candidate in question? I'm genuinely-curious about this question, but as with my VA Tech question on the shooter's drug, dosage, and doc, I suspect my question here will go unanswered.
JMR

Rally online with fans of Dr. Ron Paul. (All purpose anti-slander-link, sadly-needed these days...)

Would that change your

Would that change your opinion of the candidate in question?

I would wonder about his smarts. And/or wonder why he would want to do a debate with few people watching.

I don't know if it would change my mind for sure, but it would make me think.

So there! Someone DID answer your question! LOL

My guess is it was the Des

My guess is it was the Des Moines Register that specified the time, and it makes good sense to me. Why would they want to do a primetime event? The airtime is more expensive and difficult to get, they would have to do a 7:00PM start to get an 8:00PM EST broadcast, which makes attendence difficult by more types of people than just day workers. I thought they did the right thing to meet their own needs. They did a show during the low-cost day hours, so they don't have to pay overtime or shift people's schedules, then they re-run the debate locally that evening.

If I were calling the shots at the Register, I would have done the same thing. I don't have a responsibility to inform and educate people in Virginia or California, just Iowa, so why should I go to a lot of expense and trouble to stage a primetime show?

I had it streaming from

I had it streaming from FoxNews.com, so I could listen at work. Fred definitely stymied the moderator with his response to the hand raise. That was just plain silly that she tried to do that, treating the issue as if it's on parallel with, "raise your hand if you like peanut butter and jelly." 

Alan Keyes was quite fiery but didn't always seem to be on topic with the question that was asked. But when he got ornery because he wasn't getting called on, then took issue when he got 30 seconds to speak when the previous speaker got a minute... well that was pretty good.

Fred's still my man. I may have to apply the bumper sticker more permanently to my vehicle.

*****

"There are no stupid questions. Only stupid people who ask questions." - Chris Berman 

Six, I am with

Six,

I am with you...Huckabee is a RINO as far as I am concerned. I will tell you this, taxes and immigration are my concerns this election season.

msh1973

Romney is your guy then. He's mine


Islamic Religious Services Will Be Held at the Firing Range At 0800 Daily.

Did you guys read the

Did you guys read the comments section at ABC? The media's tantrum. 

Did you notice who was one of the liberals defending that farce? Johnbo. I wonder if it's our johnbo. And if he's still waiting for us all to drown because of the Ross Ice Shelf. And if he ever figured out what Archimedes principle was about. 

"There is a clear attempt to establish truth not by scientific methods but by perpetual repetition."
- Richard S. Lindzen, Ph.D. Professor of Meteorology, MIT

The best part is via their

The best part is via their complaint, we watch the clip over and over. It makes us cheer every time its on!!

 

 

 

These are the boys of Pointe du Hoc. Ronald Reagan- 40th Anniversary of D-Day

do you have a link?

do you have a link?

Here. "There is a clear

Here.

"There is a clear attempt to establish truth not by scientific methods but by perpetual repetition."
- Richard S. Lindzen, Ph.D. Professor of Meteorology, MIT

thanks. Interesting

thanks. Interesting read.

I love the

What sort of moron would ask a yes or no question during a DEBATE?!?

and there was at least one liberal commenting: the one who wondered why the LIBERAL DesMoines Register would allow Alan Keyes to participate?????? (Nothing like a little subtlety, eh?)

 

Undecided - until now

I really hadn't made up my mind on who to back in the primaries.  Because of Fred's "tantrum" I think I have my candidate!

Candidate separation

Personally, I found it jarring to start off by saying that Iowans (i.e., the editorial staff of the Des Moines Register) already know what your positions are on other important issues, and so we want to focus on the issues that separate you ... but then only ask for a show of hands on the issues that do separate you.

Why don't they just come out and say the obvious? "We're going to make sure you can't say anything bad about the Democrats, so we won't talk about anything that could give you a chance to take  a shot at them."

The purpose of this debate wasn't to reveal the candidates' stances, but to box them in. This was as outrageous an example of bias as I've ever seen.

Yup

"The purpose of this debate wasn't to reveal the candidates' stances, but to box them in. This was as outrageous an example of bias as I've ever seen." It was pretty obvious and it is getting old.I am all for open debate to hear the candidates responses but this was a joke.The left isnt satisfied with just useing plants now they are trying to control the whole debate.Time for the candidates to put a end to it.I was happy little camper when Fred called them on it.

It really is getting old,

It really is getting old, and I think the media aren't even trying to hide their bias any more.

To them, being fair means hitting both Democrats and Republicans from the left.... what does that say about where they're shooting from?

 

True

The bias is just so blatant Ray Charles could see it.I guess it is to much to ask to let people get a idea on how the candidates are on issues.The msm would drather push their agenda.A good debate gives a better idea on how candidates feel than just reading about it.The interaction between candidates can bring out some interesting points.

Easy as 1,2,3...

The only reason ABC called Fred's response a "TANTRUM" is because he, like most of the Republican candidates, have real answers and feasible solutions. Whereas with the Democrats, I haven't been able to make a bit of sense out of the slurry of flaccid answers they cast.

The next logical step for

The next logical step for the MSM is to scramble the audio and have a MSM voice over, telling us what the candidate "really" said.  That way, they not only control the moderator, audience, and questions, but the answers too! 

When asked if he went to war with Iraq  to derail the impeachment vote:  “I don’t think any serious person would believe that any President would do such a thing." - President Clinton (Dec 1998).

lol

Dont give them any ideas..

Tantrum

Yeah. Fred Thompson was a wild man... completely out of control.

If you put Fred in the context of that old SNL Public Radio sketch. I can see how they would consider it a "tantrum".

Who do you think he is, Pete

Who do you think he is, Pete Schweaty?

And the global warming

And the global warming misinformation campaign continues:

"The United States is the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases and the only major industrial country to have rejected Kyoto, which expires in 2012. It has been on the defensive since the conference began Dec. 3."

Posted 39 minutes ago at Yahoo, the article wrongly labels the USA as the largest emitter of greenhouse gases...again.

Forgive me if I am asking

Forgive me if I am asking an elementary question, but is there anywhere to go and watch the debates after they are over?

Well, for once, the rich white man is in control. --Montgomery Burns

Yes

Much obliged. I should have

Much obliged. I should have figured.

Well, for once, the rich white man is in control. --Montgomery Burns

Thompson deserves credit

He showed that he's not going fall into an idiots trap or suck up to those trying to bring him down. And the question was flawed. Yes the earths climate is ALWAYS changing but are people making it happen?

I think the rest of the candidates just looked like dumb liberals with their answers. McCain buys this fraud hook and line.

I just don't get why so many so called republicans try to pander to polls and media that would do anything to bring them down. But then again, I don't know why we're in the UN either.

warming up to Fred

I've never been Fred's biggest fan, but he had a right to snap at that woman - and it showed a lot how the others were willing to do it until Fred spoke up and then they were all "right on."

That was a loaded question that obviously came from the assumption of the debate being over and that woman didn't want to hear any contradictory facts to it.

Mother was right - that was a hit job. Kind of like asking Democrats "who here believes Iran's nuclear ambitions are dangerous so we must engage them to stop it? Yes or no only. You may not provide a nuanced answer."

Let's see that happen to the Dems. I aint holding my breath.

Today could be a banner day...

for the GOP. Today at 2:00 pm EST, the Dems will have the same moderator and the same set-up as yesterday.

Wanna bet that it goes a lot different for them?

And if it does, we should start a war of attrition. 

Rush Limbaugh stated that of the top 5 Republicans running for the presidency, only one was a true conservative. http://www.fred08.com/ 

Ct -

Well, "raising hands" will be NO problem for them ... as they do it so easily already regarding the Iraq War (See: surrender).

Wanna bet the audience erupts in cheers and applause if the same dumb GW question is posed in the same dumb manner as it was yesterday ... and all the dems immediately raise their hand(s) high?

The MSM will be touting it as a strong "moral" statement coming from the democrats ... and cowardice from the republicans yesterday.

drill...

Won't bet with you because you and I already know how it's gonna go down. All hail the Dems, yeah right!

Look for the Iraq war to be on the table today. Wanna bet? 

Rush Limbaugh stated that of the top 5 Republicans running for the presidency, only one was a true conservative. http://www.fred08.com/ 

I TOLD YOU SO!

And I do hate to say it. I commented on this yesterday in the post following the debate:

"and the media will say he was being intemperate or something to that effect..."

I'm telling you, we could write the mainstream media news ourselves and not be far off...

ABC is openly cheering on

ABC is openly cheering on the Demoroids (thanks, Dr. Levin), and they are hoping that Republicans are disenchanted and disengaged in 2008.  It pisses them off when someone like Fred Thompson stands up to one of the DNC sock puppets like he did yesterday because it excites the Republicans.  Keep fighting back Fred and company...it's working.  We're going to gain momentum next year and all ABC will be able to do in response is whine.

Show of Hands

What I would like to know is, whose hands did go up when the question was asked?  I could not tell on the small screen.

Those are the guys I want to rule out.

Good job, Fred! 

 

"Well, do you want to give

"Well, do you want to give me a minute to answer that?"

"No, I don't."

I'm thinking that exchange sums up these debates in general. The intent is not to show Americans what these candidates believe or how good or bad they would be in office. Rather, they are just a platform for Democrat flunkies to poke fun at them.

www.rhjunior.com Great comics with a hefty dose of Christian and anti-nutjob goodness.

"With your mind as high as Mt. Fuji you can see all things clearly. And you can see all the forces that shape events; not just the things near to you." -Miyamoto Musashi

I wanted Fred for prez from

I wanted Fred for prez from jump. I watched him announce his run. I've pulled for him from the beginning. I always knew he had it in him to be a strong candidate who stands for conservative values. I can't wait to see him up the ante and show he's got enough co-jones to make them all tremble and fall. I swear, Rush wants Fred for prez, too, and it's taking everything he's got to stand by his 'not endorsing anyone' stance. I understand why he does it (or doesn't, really) but I wish he would just come out and say it! That would push Fred so far over the top that everyone would be looking at his shoesoles!

I feel like crap tonight; I hope my post makes as much sense as I want it to.