Thursday, November 29, 2007
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YouTube A, CNN F
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Posted by:
Patrick Ruffini at
2:49 AM
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A little after 1 a.m. eastern, CNN released the following statement to the press gathered in St. Pete:
Following the debate, CNN learned that retired brigadier general Keith Kerr served on Clinton's lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender steering committee.
CNN Senior Vice President and Executive Producer of the debate, David Bohrman, says, "We regret this incident. CNN would not have used the General's question had we known that he was connected to any presidential candidate."
Prior to the debate, CNN had verified his military background and that he had not contributed any money to any presidential candidate.
Following the debate, Kerr told CNN that he's done no work for the Clinton campaign. He says he is a member of the Log Cabin Republicans and was representing no one other than himself. This of course is not the first time CNN has played games with the questioners, lobbing the tasteless "diamonds or pearls" question at Senator Clinton in the Las Vegas debate and failing to check the campaign affiliation of another "undecided voter" in that MSM debate. Their selection of "undecided voters" in their first New Hampshire GOP debate was laughable too -- and let's remember that was a traditional debate as well.
The case has been made against CNN's influence in this debate. But, YouTube format or not, there seems to be an endemic problem with CNN's screening process. Overall, the YouTube format seemed to reduce the tactical "gotcha" questions (it was left up to Anderson Cooper to ask Rudy about the Politico hit piece). Nothing as trivial as "diamonds or pearls" got asked -- though I found the Bible and Confederate flag questions pretty far afield.
Here's how it seemed to go down from the back rows of the orchestra.
After Kerr had continued his tirade for what seemed like close to a minute, he started getting boos and catcalls from the audience for his overstepping his bounds (and essentially repeating his question word for word, wasting valuable airtime). His audio was pulled. Anderson Cooper seemed to gesture that his mic be turned back on and pretended it was a mistake, though it was pretty clear what the control room was trying to do.
Ironically, an audience member had asked Cooper "How many Clinton planted questions here tonight?" during the pre-show.
UPDATE: Captain Ed offers his take on the debate. Read the whole thing.
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Keith Kerr, a member of Hillary Clinton's
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transexual Americans for Hillary Steering Committee.
And, he was on the Steering Committee of
"Veterans for Kerry."
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The woman who asked about abortion is an
"Edwards '08" supporter
(See MichelleMalkin.com).
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"David from Florida wants to know if they would accept the support of the Log Cabin Republicans, and why the Log Cabin Republicans should support them?"
david cercone
Profile
Location: pompano beach, FL
Why I support Barack Obama: He is a leader who inspires me with his sincerity, his earnestness, and his vision for change. Of all the Democrats running, I believe he is the best hope for
uniting the American electorate in 08.
(from BarackObama.com)
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"Leeann from Pennsylvania is concerned about
lead paint in toys from China."
Questioner LeeAnn Anderson is the assistant to Leo Gerard, President of the American Steel Workers Union and John Edwards supporter.
(from theautopsy.wordpress.com.)
I'm shocked, shocked! |
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And that debate was not a debate. It was a hostile press conference.
CNN deserves its falling fortunes. I strongly urge Americans who care about freedom of the press to continue to boycott CNN. CNN is to a free press in America what Pravda was for the USSR. |
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This is why so many of us think that Republican participation in a CNN debate is insane. Is there anyone who believes that CNN is going to be a neutral forum for Republicans or Democrats.
The candidates are not displaying courage, they are being blackmailed into a public display intended to either elevate or humiliate, depending on the whims of CNN. The claim that YouTube represents the questions of the "people" depends on which "people" get their questions advanced.
The fact is that all such debates are subject to becoming a hostile press conference for someone, either one of the candidates or the opposition (h/t hunterson).
Another opportunity for 30 second sound bites. |
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I actually thought the most laughable plant was the supposed group of "Undecided Republicans." Did you hear the "undecided republican" woman? She was for "Giulian(o)" (sic) and "maybe Romney" bu now wants to vote for "John Edwards" following this debate... CNN cut fast back to Cooper. Even he was redfaced. LOL |
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Dear Mr. Ruffini,
YouTUBE is part of Google, and the entire thing stinks.
The questions from the YouTube crowd mostly, nearly 90% or so, were jaded, bitter, liberal youths who offered vivid stereotypical anti-Conservative garbage.
One even implied Rudy was using 9-11 to gain the Presidency?
Seems an article is suggesting these videos were made by a number of declared Obama and Edwards supporters.
Sure, this is where CNN could edit, and Republicans can get a chance to respond in strong manner to the liberal delusions.
But the whole thing smells... |
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Did not want to suggest the Republicans should not have been open and participated.
Just that the Liberal Democrat Partisan obsession was revealed in total once again.
CNN failed miserably...
But perhaps the entire escapade reveals a deep problem with Democrat Partisan mindset.
They need some healthy objective political intervention.
Maybe 2008 is a chance for Conservatives to give it to them...
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The left wing company of Billary.
No more debates with these so called truth tellers! |
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Ain't it just awful when candidates are confronted with opposition views?
What do we they think this is this anyway, a democracy?
BTW:
"One even implied Rudy was using 9-11 to gain the Presidency?"
Duh. |
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Let me know when the dem's have their next debate will they have REP....
Try ZERO!
Hey how-a-bout FOX news debate... LOL |
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In the wake of last night's debacle, I'm still waiting for you to address your advocacy of the You Tube Format, beyond simply assigning a letter grade. |
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Of course, Ron Paul wins the post debate polling again. Who else could win other than Ron Paul? Ron Paul's standing as the champion of the debates is becoming automatic, it's spontaneous. Ron Paul's honesty and integrity has become ubiquitous. Even though CNN limits his input, Ron Paul still wins. Ron Paul could stand on the stage and not say a single word the entire debate and still win the post debate polling just on the fact of his long established principles of freedom, integrity, and honesty. |
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Yes the guy who was the most loudly booed won the debate. His nasal whining and crackpot opinions will draw the voters like flies! He'll bring home the troops and dismantle the government and we'll all live happily ever after. He wont win a single delegate. |
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I don't know which is more annoying... Ron Paul's anti-war barking or the screams of the 30 RP Shills in the audience?
I did enjoy watching Ron Paul get his a$$ handed to him by John McCain.
The unasked question to Ron Paul; After you lose the nomination process... will you publically support the nominated candidate and encourage your supporters to do the same? |
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we close the day with MR continuing to fall in Iowa
MR 38%
MH 59%
now a 21% spread
nationally the spread is stable
RG 42
MR 25
MH 13
a 17% RG spread
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won the debate, he came across very nicely, seemed decent etc..
But after thinking about what the candidates said, Id have to say that even without the time given to the front runners, Ron Paul won the debate. He was the only candidate that held a position and did not waffle right there before our eyes. (I watched it twice, so Im positive they did)
Romney was so funny, my whole family laughed out loud, when ever he tried to answer or not answer a question, for the sake of national security.
There is something about Paul that is attracting people from all walks of life and the whole political spectrum and that something may be that he actually believes in what he is saying and will do what he says.
That is so refreshing to see. It has been way too long since we have had a statesman run for office, than the same old selfish politicians.
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"Ya know, at first I thought someone else won, but in retrospect, I have to say that nice Ron Paul fellow won. Gee, he's so honest and refreshing... excuse me, I need to have another glass of Kool Aid..."
Please. Paulbots are running amok all over GOP sites online. I didn't know the town of Stepford was so dang big... |
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The CNN debate has birthed a new political adjective, "positively Nixonian Clintonian" |
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Armigerous writes: Thursday, November, 29, 2007 9:09 AM
GOP debate
Did General Kerr serve with the 82nd Queerborne or the Pink Berets?
...and a horses rear, as well.
General Kerr severed his country, and by all accounts, quite honorably.
And you?
Mr.Tough guy, macho-man, all too willing to diminish Kerr's service, just because he is gay.
It's despicable.
It's anti-American.
It's unpatriotic.
It's thankless.
Where's the other members of the keyboard militia at TH, ready and willing to defend the honor and name of those that have defended this country from unpatriotic, anti-American comments like yours?
Nowhere.
And that's very sad, as well.
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... and reported Amerigus with the "Flag as Offensive" command and got his post removed instead of feeding the trolls and trolling one other board members.
On a more substantive note:
6 plants now, and a slew of other questions culled to present the leftist "journalist" establishment's caricature of the American Conservative - great job there, CNN. Just keep reminding Republicans why they need to turn out and vote, and why Independents need to stay the heck away from your Kool-Aid. |
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So the standard operating procedure at TH is to "Flag as Offensive" comments that seek to denigrate and diminish armed service members contributions to this country ?
I prefer to answer it directly, and not sweep it away into an internet graveyard.
Don't you think not only Kerr, but all of armed service members, active or retired, deserve no less?
Thanks for the suggestion, but I won't ever use it.
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Do you disagree with what I wrote about Amerigous? |
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Johnf,
Your convictions don't justify your behavior, despite the fact that I share your distaste for the comments. That's why they were flagged for the trolling garbage they were.
By this same ethic, the convictions of the Democrat plants and CNN's accomplices don't justify their behavior of brazenly trolling a Republican Primary Debate.
- Stick to commenting on the blog article.
- Do not feed the trolls.
- God bless our men and women in the Armed Services, including Ret. Gen Kerr, regardless of whether I agree with his opinions and actions at the debate or not. |
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