2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumWhy Are Public Broadcasters Parroting Conservative Talking Points?
Thttp://www.thenation.com/article/why-are-public-broadcasters-parroting-conservative-talking-points/
Take a look at how right-wing memes dominated the February 11 debate that PBS moderated between Sanders and Hillary Clinton. Judy Woodruff began the evening by informing Sanders that voters were asking, How big a role do you foresee for the federal government? Its already spending 21 percent of the entire US economy. How much larger would government be in the lives of Americans under a Sanders presidency? She presented no evidence to support her contention that a significant number of Democratic primary voters, or even potential general-election voters, actually care about this. And its hard to believe that many do. The size of government may excite Tea Party activists and conservative pundits, but in the real world, people concern themselves with what the government does and doesnt do for them. (Just ask President Rand Paul.) Woodruff might have asked Sanders to justify his plans on the basis of their efficiency.
For instance: Would single-payer healthcare really save people more money in healthcare payments than it would cost in higher taxes? Sanders tried to answer her this way, providing the substance Woodruffs question lacked. But she simply doubled down, demanding, My question is: How big would government be? Would there be any limit on the size of the role of government?
PBSs other moderator, Gwen Ifill, continued in the same silly vein. Her first question, to Hillary, complained that she too has proposed fairly expansive ideas about government. She recalled Bill Clintons announcement that the era of big government is over as if it had been Hillary, not Bill, whod said it. Ifill went on: When asked your feelings about the federal government this week, 61 percent of New Hampshire Democrats told exit pollsters that they are angry or at least dissatisfied. Given what you and Senator Sanders are proposingan expanding government in almost every area of our livesis it fair for Americans who fear government to fear you? Note the rhetorical, right-wing sleight-of-hand here: How does the percentage of New Hampshire Democrats who are angry or at least dissatisfied with the government translate into a complaint about the size of government, much less an undefined fear of Hillary? Is it not at least equally possible that Americans are angry or dissatisfied at Congresss refusal to address a tax code that benefits the superwealthy or to rein in the predatory practices of the big banks?
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)will dominate in the general, along with whatever "scandals" can be whomped up of course. Asking these now on "our turf" gives our candidates a chance to provide real answers, their own, to a mostly friendly national audience -- and to the press.
That said, just last night I watched Judy Woodruff in surprise as she used GOP phrasology with an unfriendly twist to our candidates. This wasn't a set-up for their answers, it was supposed to be reportage.
If I hear more of it I'll be contacting PBS. Names like Charles Koch on their big-donor list also gives them less leeway for maintaining credibility. But bottom line, WE ARE THEIR AUDIENCE, and we turn in to hear honest reporting.