Lesley Stahl's 60 Minutes interview with MTG: A spectacular failure

[Just A Box Of Rain]

Last edited Mon Apr 3, 2023, 12:57 PM - Edit history (1)

on the part those who leaped to judgement--without even have seen the report--and claimed without evidence that CBS was normalizing fascism.

Rather, this was a devastating take-down. Brutal.

Well done Lesley Stahl! Well done 60 Minutes! Well done CBS!

Meanwhile the silence from those who got it spectacularly wrong is deafening.

If you feel inclined to offer up mea culpas, consider this your platform.

ETA: At the suggestion of Brother Buzz (who found this link and has my gratitude for doing so) here is the segment on YouTube:

&t=2s

[AbnerBunny]

1. I only saw a few minutes of it.

I thought mtg was awful-ignorant-arrogant-and Stahl did a fair job bringing that out 🤷🏼?♀️

[Just A Box Of Rain]

4. You should have stayed tune.

Stahl had Greene calling herself crazy while she launched attacks on Republicans.

The whole thing was beautiful.

Hopefully it ends up on YouTube.

Greene came off very badly. Just as I expected.

[ShazzieB]

32. I thought it was very good.

It was much better than I dared hope.

People who like her won't like her any less, and some of them are probably posting on RW social media right now to complain that Stahl was "mean to her." People like us who already knew she was full of crap still know she's full of crap. This didn't change a thing for either group.

But people who don't know much about her were given some things to think about. Whether they do or not is up to them, of course, but if they don't, it's on them, not on Lesley Stahl.

This wasn't the most hard-hitting interview of all time, but it was no puff piece, either.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

33. I doubt Greene was happy with how she came across on the show.

And it was funny how she spent more time attacking Republicans than Democrats--although she did try to smear us as "pedophiles," which was pretty hysterical IMO.

Definitely not a puff piece. Definitely not an embrace of fascism.

[muriel_volestrangler]

115. Oh, Greene is happy:

"It was an honor to spend a few days with the legendary icon Leslie [sic] Stahl and talented crew [of 60 Minutes]," Greene tweeted on Saturday, promoting her upcoming appearance on the long-running "news magazine" program. "Leslie is a trailblazer for women in journalism. And while we may disagree on some issues, I respect her greatly."

https://www.newsweek.com/marjorie-taylor-greene-praises-lesley-stahl-60-minutes-amid-backlash-1792008

Yes, it was a puff piece. "Embrace" of fascism? No, just dismissing it as harmless, but an interesting career move for Greene.

[betsuni]

116. How was it a puff piece?

[muriel_volestrangler]

117. "known to be smart and fearless"

"In just two years, Greene, at age 48, has moved from the fringe of the party to the front row - without changing either her style or her views. "
"This is fueling her clout in the Republican Party, as is her record as a top fundraiser and a close adviser to Kevin McCarthy.

After MTG helped him win the speakership, he rewarded her with positions on two powerful committees: House Oversight that's investigating the Biden family business dealings, and Homeland Security.

Now, what she thinks about the issues matters - like preventing the government from going into default by raising the debt ceiling. "
"Her net worth is estimated at $11 million. But she says, when she was a child, her parents struggled financially trying to start their construction company. She told us that her dad, an arch-conservative, listened to right-wing talk radio all day long.

Marjorie Taylor Greene: And naturally, me being with my parents a lot, I, I listened, as well.

Lesley Stahl: Your dad knew you as a politician. What did he think of your style, your pitbullness?

Marjorie Taylor Greene: He was very proud of me."
"She worked for the family construction business, that she and her then-husband bought from her dad and grew into a lucrative enterprise. "
"Lesley Stahl: What are you up to now?

Marjorie Taylor Greene: This is 205.

Lesley Stahl: Oh my God. " (video of her lifting weights)
"Greene didn't discover her brazen gutsiness, she says, till after 2011 when she got hooked on CrossFit workouts. She got into the extreme exercising with a passion, ending up in competitions, gaining self-confidence. She opened her own gym with a business partner. But, at age 43, she sold her stake and turned to politics in 2019. "
"Most of her constituents in her conservative, largely white, working-class district agree with her on the issues, and especially like the way she fights for her beliefs.

Woman: I'm a New York transplant to Georgia and I just love you.

Marjorie Taylor Greene: Well welcome to freedom! Nice to meet you."
"As a fervent supporter of the now-indicted Donald Trump, she was a featured speaker at his rally in Waco last weekend. While she's adored here, the latest national poll has her approval rating at just 29%.

Donald Trump (at Waco rally): Marjorie Taylor Greene, you happened to be here. Would you like to run for the Senate? I will fight like hell for you, I'll tell ya.

The question for her, and the country, is can she expand her brash MTG brand beyond the right wing, populist base? "

[betsuni]

118. Full quote: "Before Congress, she helped run the family construction business in Georgia,

known to be smart and fearless and have a history of believing in conspiracy theories."

The interviewer never said she thought MTG was smart and fearless in politics.

[muriel_volestrangler]

121. You think calling her "smart and fearless" isn't puffing her, because they didn't specify

if that was in politics as well as generally? Do you think that the average viewer thinks "sure, 60 Minutes says she's "known to be smart and fearless", but what if that doesn't apply in politics, just outside it?"?

I think you can see it was a puff piece, can't you?

[betsuni]

123. Not about me.

[inthewind21]

157. You think

Leaving out part of the quote in your claim isn't the VERY thing you are complaining about? You altered a quote to fit YOUR opinion.

[muriel_volestrangler]

165. No, I didn't alter it. I quoted what was puffing her.

The point being that we all here agree that she is a dangerous fascist. It's your opinion too. Why worry when someone else expresses it?

[Hortensis]

171. :) Of course Greene SAID she's happy. That's probably

covered in lesson 1 of "How to be a Deceitful Republican Politician for Dummies:" TELL people what to think so they'll think it. NEVER admit you're not a winner.

Maybe re-read Shazzie and Just a Box's take. Imo also, shining this national spotlight on her was not good for the GOP.

Btw, uncritically repeating what Greene says would be spreading her "puff." THEY didn't.

(Fwiw, I think we all agree she's a dangerous fascist. For how long she'll remain dangerous is open, though.)

[muriel_volestrangler]

177. I've read enough of "Just a Box"'s takes on anything to last a lifetime

and they're worthless.

ShazzieB says "But people who don't know much about her were given some things to think about. Whether they do or not is up to them, of course, but if they don't, it's on them, not on Lesley Stahl."

I disagree; it is on Stahl. She presented Greene as "good and bad" - and that is an appalling conclusion to come to about Greene. It helps her stay dangerous.

[MayReasonRule]

127. Nat-C Fascists Are Neither Smart Nor Fearless / Nat-C Fascists Are Insipid And Cowardly

Skid-marks in underwear have greater value than MTG.

May she be hoisted by her own petards.

[betsuni]

101. +1

[wnylib]

151. I guess I missed the part where she called herself crazy.

It is on YouTube. I would not call Stahl's handling of the interview "brutal." She did give some pushback, especially on Ukraine, but the interview also gave MTG a platform for her slogan that Ukraine is not the 51st state.

When they were on the topic of MTG calling school shootings fake, Stahl let a good opportunity pass. She could have played MTG's harrassment of David Hogg.

A brutal interview would have included questions about Greene asking for a pardon regarding J6. It would have shown the harassment of Hogg to Greene, face to face, in response to MTG's insistence that she takes school shootings seriously. A good follow up question would have been to ask where Greene stands on gun legislation.

Stahl did expose Greene's arrogance, but for many people, that will be seen as confidence.

I can see why Greene had praise for the interview after it ended. It felt good to her at the time. I'm sure she believed that she had asserted herself positively with Stahl. But wouldn't that have been before Stahl's team added the videos and voiceovers that contradicted some of Greene's lies?

Overall, not as bad as claimed, by some people, but not brutal, either, IMO.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

152. There are many crazy statements and actions by Greene that deservely could have been covered.

One DUer (and sorry my memory-lapse presets me from giving the credit they deserve) expressed that the key question Stahl should pose was something like, "if you are innocent of wrongdoing, why did you ask for a pardon from Donald Trump?" That would have been a great question.

I only wish the exchange with Greene had filled the whole hour. That would have allowed for even more exposure to the breath of MTG's nuttery.

[wnylib]

153. I'd like to see John Stewart interview MTG.

I'd bet that she would walk out in a huff before it was over.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

154. I'd like to see that myself.

I'm sure he'd be accused of "enabling fascism" and criticised for "platforming" Greene, but...

[emulatorloo]

7. It is probably the first a lot of viewers have ever seen or heard MTG.

Not everybody out there is a political junkie like we are.

It sounds like viewers got an earful of her CRAZY.

I haven’t seen it yet, but I like Leslie Stahl’s interviewing technique.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

10. Leslie Stahl was at her best.

She torched MTG.

[cilla4progress]

2. Will have to watch, then.

Thank you for your perspective.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

6. Definitely watch it it you can.

Very satisfying.

[SouthBayDem]

3. Stahl could have done a better job pushing back at the pedophile claim

when Traitor Queene equated support for transgender children to child sexual abuse. The Jon Stewart interview with the Arkansas attorney general showed how to refute such garbage:

To her credit, Stahl did come prepared with the usual examples of Traitor being a jerk such as the video of heckling David Hogg and liking the facebook comment about killing Pelosi. Getting Traitor to admit she wasn’t in control of her facebook page was unintentionally more funny than the average modern CBS comedy show.

[Bluethroughu]

13. He's an awesome interviewer, and intelligent human.

By the way, it's not a Supreme Court arguement, only facts and logic.

[RockRaven]

5. A broad spectrum of post-watch opinions have been posted in other threads.

There may be fewer potential mea culpas than you anticipate.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

9. I never have expected any. Frankly.

Pretty much hearing ***crickets***

That's how you know just how wrong some people were jumping to extreme conclusions w/o even seeing the show.

[RockRaven]

15. How do you come to the conclusion that a lack of mea culpas is indicative of people's

anticipatory judgments being wrong? For that to be true, the mea culpa silence would have to be out of embarrassment at having been wrong. But couldn't their mea culpa silence also be from having their opinion vindicated, i.e. no backtracking is warranted in their opinion?

Do you discount the possibility that other people could watch the same video and come to a different conclusion than you? That doesn't fit with my experience at all, it is extremely common.

(FWIW, I have no dog in this one. I didn't say anything prior to the show)

[Just A Box Of Rain]

17. Many posters claimed they'd own up to their rushes to judgement if this proved not to be a

puff piece or one that normalized fascism.

And it clearly was neither of those things.

I don't think anyone who watched would argue otherwise. Hence the crickets.

[RockRaven]

18. Yeah, but what I'm saying is that the silence, by itself, is indistinguishable in the two cases

and the only difference between the two is your apparent certainty that no honest/reasonable/whatever person could watch the same video and have a different opinion of it. That doesn't match my life experience at all. I find that surprising and mildly confusing.

But I'm glad you enjoyed it, in any case. At least somebody did.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

24. Yes, I think no honest person could watch that segment and claim that 60 Minutes

normalized fascism.

100% correct.

[brush]

45. The video normalized Greene. Made her extremist ideas...

seem just another legitimate side of the coin of public discourse.

Not good.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

46. Leslie Stahl and 60 Minutes did anything but "normalize" Greene.

It was a beautiful take-down of a dangerous lunatic.

[brush]

52. We disagree. Mtg is probably already fundrainsing like crazy using tha inteview...

to get her crazed ideas out to the national stage.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

54. So? Trump fundraises off his indictment. That doesn't mean he shouldn't be indicted.

Greene's crazy ideas will be seen by the 60 Minutes audience as the cray-cray that they are.

[inthewind21]

160. Do you

Honestly think her crazed idea's aren't already out there? All this teeth clenching "Stahl Normalized Green" nonsense is just that. So what you are saying is the US population only needs an interview on 60 minutes to "Normalize lunacy?" And newsflash, if you think her crazed ideas aren't already on the national stage, and have been for quite some time (hint, it didn't just start 6 years ago) you haven't been paying attention.

[brush]

180. IMO Stahl was too soft. Greene should've been grilled assertively.

Rolling one's eyes dosn't cut it.

[Texasgal]

8. To me it just shows what an absolute

LOONY MTG is. I'm flabbergasted that people actually believe her crap!

[Just A Box Of Rain]

11. Stahl did a great job of bring out Greene's lunacy.

Doing the complete job would require a mini-series, but this was a nice start.

I wonder if MTG throws catsup bottles?

[KPN]

58. Yep. Stahl made that apparent.

[UTUSN]

12. Glad to hear it and glad I missed it, don't need Leslie to do the takedown for me!

[Just A Box Of Rain]

14. It was a great service for the American people who don't follow politics that closely.

That's how to do it.

[UTUSN]

16. Maybe I'll look at a uTube some day, just don't want to see M at all for now.

[UTUSN]

28. OK, just saw the uTube, STAHL got good licks in, good on her. Thanks.

[Brother Buzz]

19. The Marjorie Taylor Greene: The 60 Minutes Interview is up on YouTube

[Just A Box Of Rain]

20. Thank you very much!!!

[Brother Buzz]

29. You could edit your OP and include it - A lot of DUers would appreciate it

Just an idea

[Just A Box Of Rain]

30. I appreciate you!

I added your link.

Thanks again!!!

[oasis]

26. Thanks

[PatrickforB]

38. Well, Brother Buzz...Three words regarding MTG -

1. Dangerous
2. Dirt
3. Bag

[Silent Type]

21. I agree. MTG gained no new supporters beyond her white wing cult.

[Arazi]

22. No mea culpa from me

MTG got exactly what she wanted- a nationally recognized platform to spew her shit which she’s now going to use to further her grievance campaign.

She’s going to fundraise like crazy of this and CBS facilitated this bullshit.

Shame on them. Lesley Stahl is permanently stained.

I stand by my opinion 100% that this interview is a blow to our democracy

[Just A Box Of Rain]

23. ...

[mountain grammy]

40. That's rude

[grantcart]

50. In this day and age you can't label anything that doesn't include an "F" bomb or it's equivalent as

rude.

In this age where coarse language reigns supreme you would have to classify it as "whimsically disdainful".

[yowzayowzayowza]

104. lol.

[mountain grammy]

135. Ha.. no kidding!

But funny how this poster ignores thoughtful dissenting opinions or even worse laughs at them.

That said, the OP itself is a joke, so I guess laughter is his thing..

Pretty unbelievable thread here.

[grantcart]

140. Leslie Stahl and Kevin McCarthy found the OP insightful and sublime.

[mountain grammy]

149. No doubt..

and she spells it Lesley because she's so special and so good at eyerolls.

[inthewind21]

161. Yeah

CBS singlehandedly created MTG and convinced the entire US population that MTG is just a poor misunderstood Fearless smart woman!

[Archae]

25. It's practically a tradition, on television.

People who can BEST be described as scum of the Earth will get interviewed.

Charles Manson

Jeffrey Dahmer

Tim McVeigh
And so on.

It reminds me of the old "freak shows," taking the scumbags out, crass cheap ways of getting ratings.

[brush]

27. IMO Stahl went easy on her on several issues. Particularly she should've grilled her on...

the stupid national red state/blue state divorce foolishness. Also that Democrats are pedophiles. Stahl just said "ok" and moved on.

WTF?

[Just A Box Of Rain]

31. Just said okay? Or was so flabbergasted that she did and eye-roll that showed her absolute disgust?

[brush]

37. What about a tough follow up question instead of an eyeroll?

Ya don't let a statement that Democrats are pedophiles go by with an eye roll. That vile woman is dangerous to the nation, on important House committes now, and should not have been given a national platform, then just kinda pushed back a bit on some issues.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

42. Stahl said "Democrats are not pedophiles! Why would you say that?! Wow!

Greene is as dangerous as you say. It is vital that such people are exposed.

Stahl deserves kudos.

[brush]

47. She should've challenge Greene to prove her statements.

Now it's out there on the airwaves...her word against Greene's.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

48. Stahl had a lot of ground to cover and kept hammering Greene with fresh examples

of her extremist comments. That was a good use of the time in my estimation.

[brush]

56. Guess my preference of interview styles is one of a more...

a more tougher push back style like Jim Acosta of Jen Psaki. Of course they're not on "60 Minutes" staff.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

84. Jim Acosta was attacked earlier today here on DU for being "too boring."

No, really.

[brush]

87. He certainly wasn't boring when he used to go head-to-head...

against trump's several press secretaries. He even got banned from them for his tough questions.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

144. My feelings exactly.

[mountain grammy]

136. Well those eyerolls will save the nation dontchaknow

That Lesley sure is one "brave reporter" NOT.. By the way, it's spelled L-E-S-L-E-Y since you love her so much I would think you would want to know how her name is actually spelled. There ya go!

[LostOne4Ever]

34. MTG accomplished everything she wanted

No one is going to remember anything except her saying that democrats are pedophiles sexualizing our kids.

She played Stalh and sixty minutes using alt right playbook 101:

Control the narrative
https://m.

&list=PLJA_jUddXvY7v0VkYRbANnTnzkA_HMFtQ&index=2

[Just A Box Of Rain]

35. If Greene hoped to be exposed as to an American audience an extremist nut

then she succeeded brilliantly.

Stahl exposed her insanity.

[LostOne4Ever]

36. She doesn't care

All she cares about is looking uncompromising and getting her talking point out.

She won.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

39. I could not disagree more.

Greene was exposed as a loon.

This was a very bad night for her. She must be fuming.

Hide the catsup.

[LostOne4Ever]

41. Think that all you want

But this is why the alt right keeps winning.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

44. The alt right isn't "winning."

And exposing their bullshit to the light is critical to beating them back.

[LostOne4Ever]

49. Not winning?

I’ll tell that to everyone upset about loosing their right to choose and autonomy.

I’ll remember that as they strip me of my ability to transition or use the freaking bathroom later on, remove trans kids from their parents, throw drag queens in prison, undo same sex marriage, ban even talking about LGBTQ issues, rob us of our Miranda rights, and now are taking aim at right to council.

This doesn’t look like fucking winning to me…

[Just A Box Of Rain]

51. The way to beat back the extremists is to expose them for what they are--dangerous loons.

Leslie Stahl did the nation a service.

[LostOne4Ever]

53. No all she did was amplified MTG's message

The only thing that anyone will remember is that she called democrats pedophiles who are sexualizing our kids.

Exactly what MTG wanted.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

55. Not hardly. She exposed Greene, said Democrats are NOT Pedophiles, and why would you say that?

With a huge eye-roll of disgust.

[LostOne4Ever]

57. Because I have seen this all time and time again

https://m.

&embeds_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.democraticunderground.com%2F&feature=emb_logo

[mountain grammy]

139. My opinion? You are correct on every point.

[inthewind21]

162. I have some bad news

MTG's "message" is not a new one. Not even close to new. It has been out there for a very long time. Waaaaaaay before MTG took it up or anyone knew she even existed. Are you just now noticing? The time to to have taken said message seriously was when republicans were screaming from the rooftops exactly what their plans were for the past 4 decades! The barn doors are open and the horses have bolted. MTG on 60 minutes, is the very least of our problems.

[Marius25]

71. Yes they are. The US is overrun by fascists

And they have a decent shot of winning in 2024.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

73. I don't share your opinion.

[Marius25]

78. I couldn't care less

[Just A Box Of Rain]

80. The feeling is mutual

[Marius25]

82. You seem to be the only person who thinks Stahl did a good job

Link to tweet

?s=20

I'm questioning what your actual motivation is here, because you're blatantly wrong on this topic.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

85. Hardly.

Anyone who watches can see the truth for themselves.

[Marius25]

86. Yeah, everyone saw Lesley Stahl normalize a Nazi

[Just A Box Of Rain]

88. No. Nobody saw Leslie Stahl do any such thing.

[Marius25]

89. That's exactly what she did.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

90. So you say.

I disagree entirely.

[Marius25]

91. That's because you're peddling right wing talking points

[Just A Box Of Rain]

93. Celebrating the take-down of a far right loon is hardly an example of

"peddling right wing talking points." LOL

[Marius25]

94. She wasn't taken down.

She was completely normalized. Stahl barely pushed back, and showed clips of her behaving normal.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

96. We clearly don't have a meeting of the minds.

[Marius25]

98. Most of the posters here have responded saying you're wrong

as have most people on social media. So I'm not sure what world you're living in where you actually think that actually hurt Greene.

And since I'm tired of you defending these right-wing networks normalizing fascism, it's time to block you.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

99. Not my perception in any measure.

I live in the real word. Thanks anyway.

[inthewind21]

164. Incorrect

Try again

[LuckyCharms]

114. I did. n/t

[inthewind21]

163. wait

Weren't you the one posting just last week all the gloom and doom about there would never be any indictments? Yes, yes you were. I see you've moved on to something else to be wrong about. Carry on.

[BlackSkimmer]

158. Why don't you think President Biden will win?

He won big last time.

What has changed in your opinion?

[yaesu]

43. I haven't watched cbs in years, don't plan to in the future. It's all about profit at any cost

Giving that thing airtime, making that thing relevant only helps the rw nuts no matter how stupid it sounded.

[Warpy]

59. Time to call the little, um, twit on it

and demand she start proving it. It sounds like Stahl just let her get away with it.

You know, preserving access to Greene's kennel.

[grantcart]

60. I wanted to agree with you

When I watched the video I wasn't as confident as you are.

Reminded of Marshall McLuhan's the "Medium is the Message" I find simply having her on walking around the Capital and showing humanizing shots of her in normal, even admirable shots, like her gym training on a national prestige show does in fact normalize her.

Also I felt that Stahl didn't press the question well. For example on the question of equating Democrats as pedophiles she could have asked, "if your followers equate Democrats as pedophiles do you think they are more or less likely to commit acts of violence against them?"

On the questions re Q Anon on her Twitter feed she excused them as staff actions she should have asked, "regardless of who put it there do you agree with the statement, yes or no?"

Also they showed her constituents as being enthusiastic supporters, they should have showed some who think she is crazy as a loon.

I am so angered by her I can't be objective, maybe you are correct. I would give them a B- at best.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

61. In a fairly short segment one can drill down on a few outrageous claims or one can respond and move

on to other outrages.

Either way, an interviewer is open to criticism.

I think Leslie Stahl struck the right balance. I wish she had the full hour.

[grantcart]

62. And I think Kevin McCarthy is quite happy with it as well.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

63. Why do you think that?

[grantcart]

68. Because

1) it showed people back home like her, apparently all her constituents support her including a transplant from NY. CBS was unable to find a single constituent that found her extreme

2) They showed her doing lots of normal things like walking around the Capital and exercising in a weight room.

3) And yes it included a few tastes of radical nuttery but she walked away from most of it unscathed. She also got on the record that she included Trump on the general charge of fiscal irresponsibility so she doesn't appear as the Trump sycophant she is.

McCarthy by that contrast is the reasonable moderate who is building a consensus rather than a weak extreme RW leader who has capitulated to even more extreme RW nutjobs.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

72. I don't think MTG walked away unscathed.

She blasted the Republican Party for the debt.

Not sure that helps Kevin McCarthy.

Mitch McConnell--who was name-checked--can't be pleased.

[inthewind21]

166. So

you are assuming you know how McCarthy feels about an interview?

[grantcart]

173. Correct

This is a discussion board where people offer opinions based on observations and past actions.

[Cha]

76. Thanks Grant.. it's like the fucking Twilight Zone.

Link to tweet

Happy Birthday.. I know it was the beginning of April.

[barbtries]

64. well, I tried.

i got 2 minutes and 33 seconds in. i hope it was a takedown, but i just can't take her.

[Marius25]

65. Yawn. You've been defending all the right wing networks

The fact that she was given any airtime normalizes her, I don't care whether you think it wasn't flattering or not.

Lesley Stahl and 60 minutes are still garbage for doing it. We didn't get it wrong, you did.

Her being given air time was what she wanted.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

66. Sure. NPR, CNN, CBS, PBS, NBC, ABC are all fascists.

To call this segment "not flattering" to MTG is the understatement of all time.

[Marius25]

70. Yes, NPR, CNN, CBS have all been normalizing fascism

That's a fact.

Greene doesn't care if it's flattering. Her being given primetime coverage is what she wanted. She's no longer a Fox/Newsmax moron mouthpiece. There are plenty of people who will watch that and think she's not as crazy as they thought, thereby normalizing her.

[JI7]

67. Did they ask about Josh Duggar ? Did they ask about Trump bragging about walking in on underage

girls getting undressed ?

[Just A Box Of Rain]

69. No. I wish they had a full hour. Or maybe a mini-series.

MTG's insanity knows no bounds. 13 minutes isn't enough time for a fraction of her kookery to be exposed.

But Stahl did a good job within the time constraints.

[Abolishinist]

92. So if you were in charge of time management for the segment,

would you have included her working out at the gym? Seems rather trite, perhaps they could have watched her preparing breakfast as well?

[Just A Box Of Rain]

95. Her workout footage was not essential.

[yardwork]

133. It was essential, in order to normalize her and make her seem like "just folks."

I don't think you understand what is meant by "normalize." This weak interview showcased a literal Nazi as if she were an ordinary old-fashioned Republican with "strong opinions" who "speaks her mind."

This is exactly what the media did with Trump and here we are.

This was an info-tainmentpiece, not journalism.

[JI7]

100. What is there to expose ? We already know what a piece of shit she is

[Just A Box Of Rain]

102. There is plenty to expose. Stahl did a yeoman's job, but there is so much more.

Informing the American public about the threat posed by Greene is vital.

[orangecrush]

74. See ya bye.

[Cha]

83. ..

Aloha

Link to tweet

[Abolishinist]

75. You call that BRUTAL?

Brutal would have been actually taking her to task for some of her more egregious past comments and stances, putting her on the spot to explain them in no uncertain terms. For the most part, that didn't happen. Rolling one's eyes is hardly a take-down.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

79. Greene was taken to task. Again, and again, and again.

The roll-eye (which was a thing of beauty) was hardly the only push-back that Greene got from Leslie Stahl.

[MrsCoffee]

112. OMG.... Not an eyeroll.... That's just brutal.

Real hard-nosed journalism there. I can see why you are so impressed.



YOU DON’T PUT THE FRINGE IN THE FRONT ROW. You don’t let them scream that Democrats are pedophiles, even if you have a first class eye roll all lined up.

Stupidest shit ever. No one here should be defending it.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

148. I disagree entirely.

The fringe is already in the front row. It is best combat extremism by shining a light on it.

I applaud Lesley Stahl and 60 Minutes for a job well-done!

We could use more of the same to help take down the populist extremists who threaten our democracy.

[Abolishinist]

155. Your applause is duly noted.

Could you provide a list some of the "populisit extremists who threaten our democracy" who you would like to see Lesley Stahl interview?

[burrowowl]

77. Kick

[NJCher]

81. green

Thank you for venturing forth, spending your time, and letting the rest of us know about it.

No mea culpas here because I figured if it was worth watching, I could catch it on my automatic DVR for that show. However, I doubt if I'll watch it, even if Stahl did a good job of showing her to be the wack job she is.

The woman is of no interest to me and I have other priorities for my time.

[senegal1]

97. Spectacularly bad piece imo

Gave a national platform to MTG and barely had enough research segments to refute her bulls*t. Weak rolling of the interviewer’s eyes at the LBGT hate speech and use of denigrating terms for dems did nothing but normalize acceptance of such comments into national news. Bad on 60 mins. I didn’t learn anything I didn’t know already and folks who believe in her just saw her status go up a notch.

[betsuni]

105. I'll say it again, a nut interviewed on TV isn't turning anyone into a fascist or Republican.

Are people hard of watching? Lost the ability to judge interviews? Expect slapping and yelling or it's a puff piece? Form prejudgements in concrete without first hand knowledge and stick with it no matter what? Why? We supposed to hate Teh Establishment Media? Always assume the worst and assume bad intentions? Normalizing what? I don't understand the outrage. Does everyone have to be outraged all the time now?

[Just A Box Of Rain]

106. I like the way you think.

Very refreshing to read.

[betsuni]

119. I'm extremely disappointed but should be used to it by now.

Emotion over thinking, no research to find out facts, close ears and eyes and become outraged at imagined things. Conspiracy theory nation.

Suddenly "Sunlight is the best disinfectant," holding feet to the fire, exposure, etc. disappeared. Discussing anything bad is "promoting it."

[muriel_volestrangler]

122. Do you think easy-going interviews with Trump never got any new voters for him?

If so, then you weren't paying attention in 2016.

It's not "bad intentions" we're accusing Stahl of, it's rank incompetency. No, we don't expect her to be "outraged", we expect her to hold Greene to task for her antisemitism, her links to neo-Nazis, and to do something more than rolling her eyes.

[betsuni]

124. What?

[muriel_volestrangler]

129. What was the point of that reply?

I can ask to read it again. But you knew you could do that without me suggesting it, if you didn't understand it the first time. So why bother replying like that? You haven't bothered replying to anything in it, and you haven't said anything new.

[betsuni]

130. What?

[muriel_volestrangler]

132. There's a word for people who fill up online fora with replies designed to antagonise

Don't build up a reputation as one of those. Better, listen to a few Democrats and what they've said about the interview, rather than trying to defend it here.

[inthewind21]

167. Yes

If the American public bases their voting decisions on a 60 minutes interview our problems are WAY bigger than what MTG has to say.

[calimary]

107. Did "60 Minutes" HAVE TO give Empty-G any platform at all?

That’s what we need. Let’s feed the Congressional Attention Whore some more.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

108. I think it is vital to our democracy to shine a light on the populist political extremists

who are an ever-present threat to our values and to our republic.

So, my answer is: Yes! It is necessary.

[calimary]

109. I bet she's got plans to run for Speaker at the next possible opportunity.

Kevin better watch his ass…

With her around, he’s not safe.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

110. No one is safe with MTG in the government.

She managed to alienate a number of other (loathsome) Republicans, like McConnell, Graham, and Romney and even Trump, who she blamed for the deficit. That won't win her friends in her own party.

She is very creepy and clearly ambitious (in the worst possible meaning of the term).

I think it was important that the American people, on widely watched program (by today's standards) do to see what's she's all about. MTG is repugnant. Ignoring her won't make her go away.

[LuckyCharms]

126. The American people knew what she was all about before the Stahl interview.

That interview simply gave Marge a platform to spew her already well-known hate, and to rile up her base on a national level two days prior to Trump's indictment.

CBS did this country no favors by airing this half-assed interview.

The average DUer would have been able do a better job rebutting Marge.

You're hailing Stahl as some kind of savior for "shredding" or "exposing" Marge.

Stahl was over-complimentary, and under-critical.

Marge is in everyone's face 24/7. CBS and Leslie Stahl had nothing to do with "helping the American people see what Marge is all about".

[calimary]

190. Boy is THAT ever true!

Ignoring her won't make her go away.

[Raine]

111. Agree, Stahl let MTG be MTG for all to see and it wasn't a pretty sight. 🤢🤮 nt

[betsuni]

120. Thank you.

[Aussie105]

113. Giving MTG air time

was the wrong thing to do.

Who decided that the interview needed doing? And why?

[edhopper]

125. No mea culpa

Stahl and 60 minutes has allowed MTG to become stronger with the GOP base. And have more influence in Congress.

Looking at this interview through the eyes of Liberal Democrats will not show it's effects.

[jcgoldie]

128. Your title is accurate

That interview was exactly what we expected. Your attempt at a trolling victory lap is just rather sad.

[LuckyCharms]

131. +1 n/t

[Marius25]

137. Is there a way to report this thread?

Even when we post comment after comment by prominent figures of how horrible Stahl did - OP keeps saying they're all wrong, Stahl is amazing. Stahl literally called a Nazi "smart and fearless." That doesn't show Greene as being a crazy Nazi.

[jcgoldie]

138. You can put the OP on ignore

Thats probably the most effective way to deal with a troll.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

150. Accusing Democrats who think that the best path to fighting extremism is by exposing them

to the light of "gaslighting" doesn't seem in keeping with the core principles of this forum.

We have a broad coalition and reasonable people can reach different conclusions over how to deal with the threats posed by people like MTG. Name calling is unnecessary.

[Celerity]

189. YOU yourself accused people disagreeing with you of gaslighting, and also of not being honest. SMDH

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100217786017#post6



https://www.democraticunderground.com/100217785639#post24




Oh the irony.

[BlackSkimmer]

159. Will you also report all the OPs that quote Fox? Newsmax?

Truth Social?

Surely you will.

[inthewind21]

170. Gaslighting

[Just A Box Of Rain]

143. It isn't the best form to accuse people who are happy to see right right extremism exposed

of being trolls.

[Conjuay]

134. Stahl didn't do anything

A real investigator would have done some research and would have the number of repugnantcan leaders who have actually been tried for pedophilia V the number of Dems tried for it.
She should have had challenged who is doing the grooming, who is trying to force us to live in their shitty dreamscape.

[BannonsLiver]

141. You've convinced me to watch it

If for no other reason than a bunch of posters here I can’t stand are so pressed about it.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

142. It's only a bit over 13 minutes.

I suspect you will enjoy it, and join me in regretting it wasn't much longer.

Only so much one can get into a segment of that length, but Stahl did admirably in my estimation.

[panader0]

145. Uhoh--it looks like EarlG disagrees with you:

https://democraticunderground.com/100217786910

[Just A Box Of Rain]

146. His prerogative.

However, I'd suggest going to 5:20 on the video linked in the OP and listening for oneself.

Stahl frames Greene's charge as over the top and then Stahl called Green out:

"They [Democrats] are not pedophiles. Why would you say that?!"

The Wow! moment (that came with the beautiful eye-roll) perfectly expressed just how flabbergasted a well-respected and well-seasoned journalist was with Greene's brazen lying.

The 60 Minutes audience understood that.

[aocommunalpunch]

147. I imagine she should get tons more attention.

You know, to keep everyone informed over how cray cray she is? Bring on the interviews! They could show an empty seat while they're waiting. This approach of giving airtime to fascists should have mild results, I imagine.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

156. Crossposting a response I made in EarlG's thread (for added visibility):

Let's examine some of the things Lesley Stahl had to say in the interview and a few word that MTG expressed as well. Shall we?

Here are some from Stahl:

Known for her sharp tongue and radical views…has a history of believing in conspiracy theories…Words that have been said about you: crazy, Q clown, looney tune, unhinged, moron, pretty ugly stuff…

People say you are Trump in high heel,..many consider MTG’s behavior outlandish, even thuggish…

That’s glib, that’s glib, what does that mean?…

Greene complains about the news media for harping on things she did in the past, like—as in this video [rolls tape] chasing after the survivor of the Parkland FL school shooting [then showing the evidence of Greene berating a shooting survivor]…

And things she’s says that are over-the top, like “the Democrats are the part of pedophiles"…They are NOT pedophiles! What would you day that?!…Wow! [roll-eyes]...

Shortly after she arrived in Washington the Democratic-led House outside her from her committees because of her past endorsement of violence against some Democrats and her embrace of Q-Anon [rolls tape as evidence]…

Did you ever apologize to Nancy Pelosi for the bullet to her head? [displays a “liked” Facebook post calling for Pelosi to be shot]…Did you apologize for your position on Parkland Florida [shows support for Facebook calling the shootings a “false flag” attack as Greene denies it]…

Here are some of the things you’ve said: That America should have a Christian government, that abortion should be banned nationally, that you want to defend the FBI? You want immigration to stop, you want 4 years, you’ve said those things, correct? MTG agrees]…The Constitution, the very first amendment, prohibits having a religion in government…

The latest nation poll shows her approval rating at just 29%.

And here are some words for Marjorie Taylor Greene's own mouth:

Margorie is crazy. Margorie is extreme. Margorie is a right-wing extremist…

They call me racist. They call me anti Semitic…

What made me run for Congress when [sic] I saw the Republicans in Congress, the House and the Senate, completely fail to deliver the agenda that we had all voted for…They failed us.. Paul Ryan, Mitch McConnell, Lindsey Graham, yea, those types, Mitt Romney, I’m not even sure why he calls himself a Republican.

***

Not exactly an endorsement of Republican fascism. LOL

[LuckyCharms]

168. Now post what Ms. Stahl didn't say. n/t

[Just A Box Of Rain]

169. She didn't sasy that MTG is the bee's knees and that we should all go out and support populist

extremist violence or embrace fascism.

I was a little nervous reading all the reviews written by people before they even saw the segment.

What a relief!

I'm a big fan of liberal democracy and the Democratic Party, myself.

Grateful to Lesley Stahl for this piece. Important work!

[LuckyCharms]

172. "MTG is known to be smart and fearless".

Do you agree with that statement?

[Just A Box Of Rain]

174. MTG seems like a moron to me.

Stahls comments were related to Green'e business dealings as a reportedly successful owner of a construction business. I can't judge her business savvy.

Politically, Greene is looney, which is another descriptor used with Greene, along with "Crazy, Q Clown, Unhinged, and Moron."

[LuckyCharms]

175. And how do you think that one statement played to the 60 minutes audience?

Do you think that statement cast MTG in a favorable light, or a neutral light??

How about the scene that was shown with MTG shaking hands with her constituents, including a woman from New York who was very fond of MTG? Do you think that had the effect of normalizing MTG?

Also, MTG "seems" like a moron to you? Do I have that correct?

[Just A Box Of Rain]

176. I look at the segment wholistically, and I think it made MTG look bad.

Very bad. Stahl revealed Greene's dishonesty and her populist extremism in a very effective fashion.

The piece painted Green in a very-highly unfavorable light.

[LuckyCharms]

178. Instead of looking at the piece wholistically, why don't you just

answer the questions that I asked in my response to you?

[Just A Box Of Rain]

179. I have.

[LuckyCharms]

181. My post #175 asked you three questions.

I'm having trouble finding an answer to each of them. Or any of them.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

182. I don't think Lesley Stahl's piece "normalized" Greene's lunacy to any degree. No.

Unfortunately Greene has considerable support in her district (which is unfathomable to me).

If memory serves Greene first won her seat with nearly three-quarters of the vote, and by an almost 50 point margin.

That's a shame on her district, which seeminging isn't "normal" to me, but Stahl merely reported the truth of the matter on that point--which is the way good journalists act.

It isn't good journalism to ignore inconvenient truths no matter how incomprehensible it is that people in her district made such appalling bad choices.

As to Greene being a "moron," that seem like the case to me. Do I have the results of cognitive testing to prove the case? I don't. So I need to opperate from my best judgement.

[LuckyCharms]

184. "Sexualizing children is what pedophiles do to children"

Ms. Stahl rolled her eyes slightly and whispered "wow" and then moved on. Did Ms. Stahl then state that gender identity hasn't a thing to do with sexualizing children, or pedophilia?

Ms. Stahl stated that CBS fact checked MTG's comments about Parkland. MTG then went off on a non-sensical rant asking if they fact checked all of her statements through 12th grade, etc. Ms. Stahl did not follow-up on this nonsense in order to nail down MTG's exact position on Parkland. Ms. Stahl's original question was whether or not MTG apologized for her position on Parkland. She never got an answer to her question, and the only thing MTG ended up saying about her position on Parkland is that "it's nothing to joke about", which tells the viewer nothing about why MTG made her previous comments about Parkland, as well as not answering why MTG chased David Hogg down the street, badgering him.

Do you think the above two examples represent "good journalism" that provides the viewer with truthful and useful information?

[Just A Box Of Rain]

185. Stahl called Greene's comments out for being untrue.

Clearly and directly.

[LuckyCharms]

186. She did? Again, I'm just looking for a direct answer to my questions above.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

183. Karma

Link to tweet

?s=20

[Just A Box Of Rain]

187. All credit to DU member "Cilla4progress" for finding this thoughtful response to the

60 Minutes piece. Highly recommended:

&t=72s