"Diamond v. Pearl" Student Blasts CNN

[Terri S]

From Marc Ambinder:

Maria Luisa, the UNLV student who asked Hillary Clinton whether she preferred "diamonds or pearls" at last night's debate wrote on her MySpace page this morning that CNN forced her to ask the frilly question instead of a pre-approved query about the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository.

"Every single question asked during the debate by the audience had to be approved by CNN," Luisa writes. "I was asked to submit questions including "lighthearted/fun" questions. I submitted more than five questions on issues important to me. I did a policy memo on Yucca Mountain a year ago and was the finalist for the Truman Scholarship. For sure, I thought I would get to ask the Yucca question that was APPROVED by CNN days in advance."

(snip)

In a separate post, Luisa provides the question she wanted to ask:

Yucca Mountain, NV is the proposed site for the country's nuclear waste repository. Despite scientific evidence that it is a vulnerable site, the federal government continues to push for the plan to move forward. The evidence relied on is unsound and the risks involved in transporting high-level radioactive waste across the country are high. What will you do to ensure that the best site/s is/are chosen for the storage of spent nuclear reactor fuel?

A CNN executive did not respond immediately to a request for comment; I'll give them equal space when they do.

http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/">link

[Adelante]

1. Thank God

My faith in our youth was wavering over that question.

[Mz Pip]

2. Obviously CNN thinks it's more

imoportant for the voters to know whether Hillary prefers diamonds or pearls to her opinion of the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste storage site.

But I'll bet they spent a bunch of time trashing Hillary for planting a global warming question.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[JohnnyLib2]

3. Wow! Internet vs. commerial media.

Smart girl.

[zazzle]

27. John Edwards vs. corporate media lobbyists

[bigwillq]

4. Wow.

Can't say I am surprised but Wow. :mad:

[BenDavid]

5. Goodness! It is getting silly when folks like this young

lady could have said NO!

[goodgd_yall]

32. It's very disturbing

What a wuss.

[napi21]

6. I understand CNN pre-approving the questions, but I think it's awful

that they insisted on such a stupid fluff question! I think I'll drop Wolfie a note and ask why he thinks the election is a joking matter!

[ima_sinnic]

7. so, when given the mic, why didn't she just ask what she wanted?

what is CNN going to do, say, hey, that is not what we told you to ask?

[jeff30997]

14. I was wondering the same thing.

Maybe they had a snipper hidden somewhere in the studio aiming at her head ? :shrug:

[RaleighNCDUer]

21. Snipper? Or sniper?

Snipper is absolutely right, IMO - 7 second delay is more than enough time to say "she's going off question! Cut to commercial!" - just snip that bit out.

[crispini]

17. Right on!

[stranger81]

31. i think Taser Boy is your answer for what happens to those who ask unapproved questions [n/t]

[DemocratSinceBirth]

8. One Question Was Clever...The Other Was Important

Since she was last she should have been able to ask both...

[rodeodance]

9. HA HA---so CNN PLANTS questions.

[zazzle]

29. Hillary's obsession with plants just gets worse and worse

[muntrv]

10. Boy, CNN ain't the same since Ted Turner sold out to Time/Warner.

CNN is trying to shithouse squat down to faux snoozes level.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

11. I can't wait for CNN's apology on this

seriously... I can't wait that long.

[zazzle]

28. tick...tick...tick...tick...

[Basileus Basileon]

12. Oh, for God's sakes. Yucca is an important issue. This is ridiculous. nt

[emilyg]

13. She could have asked both.

[The Backlash Cometh]

15. Shame on CNN. By now they should realize that secrets don't stay secret, any more.

[Irishonly]

16. I was having a fit

when I heard the question. It's nice to know it was a stupid CNN question. It would have been great if they could not have found anyone to ask it though.

[KoKo]

20. Maria Luisa may be realizing that the question made her look like a bimbo

instead of the Truman Scholar she is. Her putting the truth out is helpful to those of us hoping to keep exposing the M$M control, though. So her 'bimbo moment' actually looks very clever and intelligent if one thinks of it that way. Maybe that was her intent or unintended consequence. :shrug:

[gasperc]

18. I was irked when Edwards made the plant comment

but what the hell he was right, CNN planted questions TO Hillary. The student should have stuck it to CNN and asked her own question.

[mod mom]

22. Softball to the corporate candidate. Shame on them when there are so many important issues.

[Texas_Kat]

23. I saw the question as demeaning

Now, if they'd have asked ALL the candidates if they preferred diamonds or pearls, it would have been a hoot.

(I think I did hear someone with a male voice answer.... maybe Biden?)

Particularly if they'd have asked the other candidates first.

[Quantess]

30. It's very demeaning!

Both to the asker and the askee. (LOL, if that's even a word)

[RufusEarl]

19. She should have agreed to ask the CNN question,

then once she was called on ask the question about Yucca Mountain. Fuck CNN two or three times, what could they have done it was live Tee Wee. But this is the kind of BS that drives me nuts, this is what we've come to expect from the repugs and i want to hear what the candidates have to say about this.

Peace!

[JDPriestly]

24. Great question. This young woman is a true patriot.

The question she was forced to ask was demeaning to her, belittling to Hillary and degrading to all American women who are strong and intelligent and want to make a difference.

[asdjrocky]

25. Truth in MSM has been dead...

forever.

[Alter Ego]

26. I prefer Pokemon Diamond myself.

Oh, wait--we're talking about jewelry?

[pingzing58]

33. I have not listened to a debate in 20 years. They are staged infomercials. Look for track records!

[silverweb]

34. HA! And the truth is out!

Thank you, Maria, for telling what really happened and for setting the record straight!

I can understand why she didn't ask the question she really wanted to, and may have felt intimidated or afraid of repercussions. She's young and a student, etc, and I'm delighted that she published the truth on her MySpace page!