Freedom of Speech: Endangered

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2004
Freedom of Speech: Endangered
32
Sun, 10-26-2008 - 9:09am

Press Not Allowed To Ask Biden Tough Questions!

Obama campaign cuts off WFTV after interview with Joe Bidenposted by halboedeker on Oct 24, 2008 11:12:15 AM



WFTV-Channel 9's Barbara West conducted a satellite interview with Sen. Joe Biden on Thursday. A friend says it's some of the best entertainment he's seen recently. What do you think?


West wondered about Sen. Barack Obama's comment, to Joe the Plumber, about spreading the wealth. She quoted Karl Marx and asked how Obama isn't being a Marxist with the "spreading the wealth" comment.


"Are you joking?" said Biden, who is Obama's running mate. "No," West said.


West later asked Biden about his comments that Obama could be tested early on as president. She wondered if the Delaware senator was saying America's days as the world's leading power were over.


"I don't know who's writing your questions," Biden shot back.


Biden so disliked West's line of questioning that the Obama campaign canceled a WFTV interview with Jill Biden, the candidate's wife.



"This cancellation is non-negotiable, and further opportunities for your station to interview with this campaign are unlikely, at best for the duration of the remaining days until the election," wrote Laura K. McGinnis, Central Florida communications director for the Obama campaign.


McGinnis said the Biden cancellation was "a result of her husband's experience yesterday during the satellite interview with Barbara West."


Here's a link to the interview: http://www.wftv.com/video/17790025/index.html.


WFTV news director Bob Jordan said, "When you get a shot to ask these candidates, you want to make the most of it. They usually give you five minutes."


Jordan said political campaigns in general pick and choose the stations they like. And stations often pose softball questions during the satellite interviews.


"Mr. Biden didn't like the questions," Jordan said. "We choose not to ask softball questions."


Jordan added, "I'm crying foul on this one."


What did you think of the interview?



Filed under: WFTV
Obama campaign cuts off WFTV after interview with Joe Bidenposted by halboedeker on Oct 24, 2008 11:12:15 AM



WFTV-Channel 9's Barbara West conducted a satellite interview with Sen. Joe Biden on Thursday. A friend says it's some of the best entertainment he's seen recently. What do you think?


West wondered about Sen. Barack Obama's comment, to Joe the Plumber, about spreading the wealth. She quoted Karl Marx and asked how Obama isn't being a Marxist with the "spreading the wealth" comment.


"Are you joking?" said Biden, who is Obama's running mate. "No," West said.


West later asked Biden about his comments that Obama could be tested early on as president. She wondered if the Delaware senator was saying America's days as the world's leading power were over.


"I don't know who's writing your questions," Biden shot back.


Biden so disliked West's line of questioning that the Obama campaign canceled a WFTV interview with Jill Biden, the candidate's wife.



"This cancellation is non-negotiable, and further opportunities for your station to interview with this campaign are unlikely, at best for the duration of the remaining days until the election," wrote Laura K. McGinnis, Central Florida communications director for the Obama campaign.


McGinnis said the Biden cancellation was "a result of her husband's experience yesterday during the satellite interview with Barbara West."


Here's a link to the interview: http://www.wftv.com/video/17790025/index.html.


WFTV news director Bob Jordan said, "When you get a shot to ask these candidates, you want to make the most of it. They usually give you five minutes."


Jordan said political campaigns in general pick and choose the stations they like. And stations often pose softball questions during the satellite interviews.


"Mr. Biden didn't like the questions," Jordan said. "We choose not to ask softball questions."


Jordan added, "I'm crying foul on this one."


What did you think of the interview?



Filed under: WFTV

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iVillage Member
Registered: 07-04-2005
Sun, 10-26-2008 - 9:13am
How does this endanger freedom of speech?

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-13-2008
Sun, 10-26-2008 - 9:14am

The Marxist comment was ridiculous, and I can fully appreciate Biden's response. I get this nonsense here, and it is beyond annoying, because there isn't a shred of truth to it.


We have a president who sanctions spying on American conversations - you support this. We have a president who condones perusal of email, holding people without filing charges, even sending out letters to some that say they will face serious consequences if they reveal receipt of those letters. He is against a woman's right to choose for herself what happens within her own body.


You are ok with all of this.


And yet you put forth a thread title that suggests Obama will curtail freedom of speech.


Oy.


Full length fiction: worlds undone

"You have no power over my body..." ~ Anne Hutchinson

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-20-2008
Sun, 10-26-2008 - 9:20am
I saw the interviews, both Biden's and McCain's, and I agree that the questions were ridiculous. I don't blame them for now wanting to be party to that. It is one thing to play baiting games with the candidates, they sign up for it when they decide to run, but he was right to not put his wife through that. She is not a politician and should not have to be baited, she is not running for office. I fail to see how this is in anyway endangering freedom of speech. There is no law that says candidates or their wives are required to talk to every journalist. Were that the case we would have to question the McCain's campaign's early isolation of Palin, who is running for office. Funny that you didn't think that was a threat to freedom of speech.
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-20-2008
Sun, 10-26-2008 - 9:38am
Interesting that Chris Wallace on Fox News just said that Palin will not be doing any of the Sunday morning shows - which all presidential and vice presidential candidates have done in the past. This is a tradition - so, since you think Biden's wife not going on a show is endangering freedom of speech, what is your take on this?????
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-13-2008
Sun, 10-26-2008 - 9:59am
McCain is undoubtedly sending her to Alaska's north slope by dog sled, and she won't return until election day.

Full length fiction: worlds undone

"You have no power over my body..." ~ Anne Hutchinson

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-20-2008
Sun, 10-26-2008 - 10:02am
LOL!
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-03-2008
Sun, 10-26-2008 - 10:13am
Maybe she should go MC an idditerodd.
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-13-2008
Sun, 10-26-2008 - 10:26am

May I ask what your thoughts are on McCain aide Daniel Zubairi?

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2004
Sun, 10-26-2008 - 1:54pm

One of the first acts of any despot is to control the news media.


It is shocking that a US presidential candidate would send the message that only pandering reporters will be allowed access to them and that reporters who ask tough questions will be denied access to the candidate

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-20-2008
Sun, 10-26-2008 - 1:56pm
So do you have a problem with how the McCain campaign has controlled access to Sarah Palin then? I must have missed that post. Could you post a link to it?

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