Did Stephanopolis grill Edwards to shill for Hillary

[illinoisprogressive]

Everyone knows I am not a supporter of John Edwards. I support Barack Obama. But, I did not finish the the whole article as I was getting too angry to finish it. I missed the interview this morning but, from what I was reading it was unnecessary brutal. Sounds like alot of twisting and putting things in his mouth.
Sounded like he may have gone a bit over the line.
He has on Senator Obama next week. Wonder if he will do the same and then, when Hillary is on, treat her with kid gloves and the media in general has been doing. There has been no difficult questions of her or questioning of things she has done. She has been getting a big break from the media while they train their focus on the others for fear that someone may take the nomination away from their chosen candidate.


Title of the story. Article breaking down the grilling Edwards received this morning by George S. I missed it but, from the article it sounds like it was brutal.
The author breaks down what could have been meant behind the questions.

Here is the link:
http://newsbusters.org/node/12558

[madfloridian]

1. Just be careful about quoting Newsbusters.

http://newsbusters.org/node/91

Here are the folks behind it including Brent Bozell.

The site is a product of the Media Research Center run by Bozell and other right wingers.

[papau]

21. That was my first reaction also - a far right site tells Dems to worry about topic

A only because it wants the Dems to not see topic B, plus newsbusters has no problem making things up so as to influence the media and voters in general - and Dems in particular.

[AuntPatsy]

2. Wow, no softball there but what would interest me more would be

Edwards responses which the link doesn't seem to have and after reading all the comments all bashing Edwards one comes away with the feeling that the article didn't want it's readers to hear the answers to the questions posed..my opinion....

How come the republicans are not questioned so intently? Answer, because they wouldn't be able to handle it..obviously he stayed, says alot about him.

[Connie_Corleone]

3. I saw the interview. Steph brought up Edwards votes in the Senate

that Edwards is saying were mistakes now. Voting for No Child Left Behind, Bankruptcy reform, Iraq War Resolution, Free Trade with China, and I think there was another issue he voted on but I can't remember.

Perfectly legitimate questions about his "mistaken" votes in the Senate and what he's saying now. Edwards' answer to his "mistake" votes wasn't reassuring to me.

Newsbusters is rightwing. Their agenda is to "expose liberal media bias". They just hate Clinton.

On edit: The fourth "mistake" vote was voting FOR storing nuclear waste on Yucca Mountain.

[madfloridian]

5. Other top Democrats voted for those things as well.

They are going after one man more than the others.

There is lots of corporate stuff to share around.

I posted some responses in this thread.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=3253226&mesg_id=3253246

[Connie_Corleone]

10. If the other Presidential candidates are calling their votes mistakes,

they should be asked the same questions.

I just think Edwards is asked these questions because he's been calling them mistakes. And yes, it's the 2001 bankruptcy reform bill, not the 2005.

[madfloridian]

16. Then Hillary voted for it as well.

And we should ask her about it also.

[GreenArrow]

11. "Other top Democrats voted for those things as well"

And how many of those others are running for President? How many have made public issues out of changing their positions?

[madfloridian]

15. More should, don't you think?

Only Edwards gets called out on stuff the other candidates did as well.

[GreenArrow]

20. Edwards gets called out

because his positions shift with the prevailing winds. If the other candidates shifted their positions the way he has, they would get called out on it too, and from where I stand, Edwards gets by with way more than any other candidate. It's not even close. He's the Democratic Reagan, pure Teflon.

But some of us didn't buy Reagan, back in the day, and some of us don't (and won't) buy Edwards, no matter how hard he markets and re-markets himself.

[jenmarie]

25. Thank you.

I totally agree. I am sorry that Edwards supporters are so thoroughly snookered by the guy. He was a very successful attorney, and is a very smooth talker but his actions don't match his words.

[GreenArrow]

26. He's telling people what they want to hear...

warm, fluffy, morning in America type stuff. I guess it sounds real good after nearly seven years of Bush, but it rings real hollow to me.

[AuntPatsy]

30. I really think he has changed somethings in his life as far as the way he did things and or thought

things, I say give him a chance, it can't hurt this early in the game...

[DURHAM D]

13. I agree - not reassuring.

I though John came across as a little too glib - a little too practiced - a little too smooth.
Too many of his responses start with "The American people ..." which after a while just seems evasive.

As for those who thought George was too tough - I was surprised at how easy he was about the IWR. I expected George would mention that John was in the room (on the Intelligence Committee) and had more info than the other senate members/candidates.

Note: I have not picked my candidate for the primary.

[Adelante]

18. Yeah, the Durbin thing

While he was at it, I thought he would bring that one up.

[GreenArrow]

19. a "little glib"?

He's slicker than owlshit.

I too thought George S. went a little easy, and I didn't find any of the questions the least bit unfair.

[Forkboy]

24. How do you know that detail about owlshit?

On second thought...nevermind. :D

[GreenArrow]

27. well, to be perfectly technical about it

he's slicker than greased owlshit.

[Forkboy]

31. Now you're just scaring me.

:D

[MasonJar]

4. Why Is Stephotraitor being hard on Edwards a reason to slam

Hillary? Why do you watch this Benedict Arnold? I assume he hates the Clintons, since Bill's actions turned him into a total turncoat. I would imagine it will McCain or Guilliani or all the GOPers who will bring out the cupcake inquiries.

[rodeodance]

9. Its not-a reason.

[rodeodance]

6. I watched---thought Edwards put George S in his place at least once--!!

[AuntPatsy]

7. A link, have yet to read the transcript but there is a video up of Edwards

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/

[AuntPatsy]

12. I am listening to the interview now, so far Edwards I feel is holding his own.

He is pushing him definately but Edwards is not backing down.

[Adelante]

8. I thought they were good questions, tough, but good

If he does the same with all candidates, Democratic and Republican, I would be glad.

[AuntPatsy]

14. Not a bad interview, if he got the nomination I feel it would be far more hard

hitting, I don't like that he is going to tax me further but oh well, I will deal with it, he did accuse George of putting words in his mouth and said he did it often. All in all I think he answered what he could, strode away from what he could not, but hey, no one is pefect, a bit more digging is in order.

[surfermaw]

17. George S..is no democrat

Why are you suprised, didn't he cut Bill's throat when he worked for the Clinton Administration?

[karynnj]

28. He did not "cut Bill's throat"

He quit during the second term after he realized that he, other advisors, the cabinet, and reportedly Hillary were all lied to and sent out to defend BC on the Lewinsky mess.

His book is very interesting and it is clear that he was fascinated by Clinton - he liked Hillary.

[IndianaGreen]

22. Steph, Begala, and Carville are the three mouseketeers for the Goddess of Peace

Don't ya know?

[aquart]

23. Has Stephanopolis ever said a nice word about Hillary?

Was Obama even in the Senate for any of those votes?

[karynnj]

29. He has eagarly pushed Hillary

asking EVERY poltential candidate about her.