Sounds like Hardball at Stanford sort of "stacked" the audience for Arnold

[madfloridian]

I don't watch anymore, just quoting from the story. I can not imagine intellectual honesty and Arnie boy being in the same room anyway.

http://daily.stanford.edu/tempo?page=content&id=16560&repository=0001_article

SNIP.."For a university with a reputation for intellectual rigor, Stanford made a poor showing on MSNBC's “Hardball with Chris Matthews,” televised from Memorial Auditorium during Finals Week, that featured Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Part of MSNBC’s national college tour, the event should have depicted the political and intellectual climate at Stanford — but it did not.

Right from the start, selective screening processes on the part of the University limited the diversity of audience members and attendees. For a reason undisclosed to students, the live taping was marked by unusual exclusivity unseen in similar events that brought political figures such as Carol Mosely Braun or Howard Dean to campus...."

SNIP..."While it should be acknowledged that the event was run primarily by the producers of “Hardball” and thus may have been subject to certain restrictions, Stanford certainly conducted student admission procedures poorly. Due to the lack of publicity and audience selection based on campus group involvement, what could have been a perfect chance to increase overall student awareness and interest in politics ended up catering to a small population that most likely already participates in political processes.

Furthermore, facilitating questions via index cards prevented many who were admitted to the event from voicing their concerns to the governor. In the end, the lack of substance behind selected questions and the lack of student opinion diversity reflected Stanford in a negative light, as a University without the chops to give a politician a run for his money, and it let a powerful political figure get off easy. By treating “Hardball” and Schwarzenegger differently from any other prominent speaker on campus, Stanford came ended up looking like an intellectual softie....."

[hiley]

1. Can't imagine

it either.

[salin]

2. Unless the place has changed in the past

few years... this was definitely stacked. Glad the daily is pointing it out... with derision (nothing makes folks their more irritating than being called intelecutal softies... lack of rigor and discourse, etc. sort of a complex after always being compared to the ivies with ivy retorts of "but that's the JUNIOR university" (the official title is Leland Stanford Jr. University). With this local (on campus) press and strike at the ego, I doubt this could happen a second time anytime in the near future.

[realFedUp]

3. reflected poorly on Stanford

of course we all know about the big white phallic building
on campus housing the very conservative types ideal for this dog and pony show.

[salin]

6. *snarf*

would venture to guess that is the only building on campus in which Newt is welcomed (and THAT - the fact that he has some adjunct status with the Hoover inst. - is a poor reflection on Stanford.)

[DemBeans]

4. I actually watched this farce

I was saddenened and disgusted by the students present, as they cheered, hooted and wildly applauded Arnold every time he bad-mouthed labor unions. It seemed...odd that so many students were so anti-labor and pro-idiot, but this article certainly explains why. Thanks for posting it.

[madfloridian]

5. Thanks, I had a feeling. It is important this be posted.

I think maybe Media Matters might want to check into it some more. I wonder about that.

[salin]

7. Welcome to DU, DemBeans,

I would have been embarrassed to watch this. Was a lot prouder when some brave new graduates staged a silent protest to Condi who was the speaker at the main grad event.

[newyawker99]

9. Hi DemBeans!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[DemBeans]

18. thanks for the welcomes!

I'm a little ashamed to admit I actually watched the entire hour - the questions from the Stanford students were about the intellectual equivalent of their silly "Beat Cal" mantra (which they can't do - heh).

They probably had it there because it was the only institution of higher education in California that would accomodate a stacked audience.

[blm]

8. Just as we suspected. Thanks for the find, mf.

The sooner we expose the fraudulent, GOP controlled media, the sooner we have our democracy back.

[madfloridian]

13. I have seen no more about this in the news.

So I guess they got away with it. I quit watching Hardball.

[blm]

15. This is what we're up against and have been for a decade, now.

I think it's finally sinking in to people that the media chose sides long ago, and it is servicing the fascist agenda of the GOP.

[madfloridian]

17. I think Matthews was my worst disappointment.

He has gone downhill faster than any. It has been far more obvious in him than in others. He used to have a modicum of responsibility about his show. I have not watched for a long time. I don't know if that has changed.

[glitch]

10. These lightweights (bushcult members) can't handle open forums. Period.

As a nation our accelerating descent into mediocrity is epic.

Why should Stanford be any different?

[WI_DEM]

11. Well, Arnold love 'em stacked.

[madfloridian]

12. One kick for this.

I sent this article to Media Matters, just in case they were able to pin anything down on it.

Wouldn't that be loverly?

[senseandsensibility]

14. Hardall stack an audience for repukes?

No, you must be mistaken. The show is a shrine to even handedness,and Matthews is a great journalist who would never allow it. (sarcasm off)

[PeaceProgProsp]

16. If I were a University president, I wouldn't let the media

use my school like that unless, say, a person from the school moderates the event, and it's open to all students, and the students can speak for themselves if they're going to be allowed to ask questions.

If they don't want to let the students speak for themselves, then Hardball should go across the street and hold the event in the conference room of some corporate law firm, or over at Applebees.