Defending CNN over Kerr…
CJR Daily’s Gal Beckerman defends CNN over the Kerr/YouTube debate incident…
Where does it end? Does CNN need to weed out of the audience anyone who has ever attended a Democratic rally or flipped through Barack Obama’s book at a Barnes and Noble? As it was, at least two other questioners from that debate were later deemed unsatisfactory by the blogging heads. One woman, named “Journey,” asked a question about abortion and was later spotted in another YouTube video criticizing the candidates’ responses — while wearing a “John Edwards 08” T-shirt. Still another questioner, who asked if the candidates would accept the support of Log Cabin Republicans, wrote in a profile on Obama’s Web site about how swell he thought the junior senator from Illinois was.
The minimum threshold at these forums should be pegged to interesting questions that elicit telling answers. Klein seems to understand this at some level, but is also too afraid to upset the partisan hounds. The questioners should not be either sycophantic or asking obviously partisan “gotcha” questions. Everything else should be fair game.
This campaign so far has been fraught with bad and stupid questions to the candidates. Can we really afford to disqualify a good one when it comes along?
So.much.WORD.
Comment by tommod — December 1, 2007 @ 4:32 pm
It stops being an issue when both sides are allowed to do it….if CNN allows Republican operatives to ask questions of the Dems at their next debate then fine …but so far the “plants” either are supporters of Hill trying to make her look good or Dem operatives trying to make Republicans look bad.
Right now after 2 debates it is very clear that CNN is in the tank for Hillary and against the Republicans.
Comment by mlong — December 1, 2007 @ 4:56 pm
CNN is a FRAUD!
Comment by SHANE — December 2, 2007 @ 12:24 am