Diane Rehm Explains Why She Asked Bernie Sanders Bizarre Israel Question

[oberliner]

During her show on Thursday, NPR's Diane Rehm addressed her questions to Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) the day before, which incorrectly stated that the Democratic presidential candidate has "dual citizenship with Israel."

"Before we end this hour I want to make a correction," she said with a minute left to go.

"On yesterday's show I raised the issue of dual citizenship with senator and presidential candidate Bernie Sanders," she said. "This is an issue that's come up over the years in American politics."

"One of our listeners suggested via Facebook that I ask Sen. Sanders about Internet speculation that he has dual citizenship with Israel," she went on, "but instead of asking it as a question I stated it as fact, and that was wrong."

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/diane-rehm-npr-bernie-sanders-question?utm_content=buffer0e261&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

This explanation doesn't wash. She didn't "ask Sen. Sanders about Internet speculation that he has dual citizenship with Israel" nor did she state as a fact that there has been such internet speculation. She simply stated as a fact that he was a dual citizen.

[geek tragedy]

1. Since when does "Internet speculation" rise to the level

of something to be asked of a serious presidential candidate?

[Omaha Steve]

3. Not even asked

Was told he is.

[geek tragedy]

7. there's just so many ways the whole thing was wrong. She talked about a 'list'

which is really creepy too.

A one-woman clown show.

[Coventina]

2. Then why her statement "we have a list"?

She's only digging herself in deeper....

[oberliner]

6. Exactly

I don't buy this explanation at all.

[smokey nj]

4. Why the fuck did she think it was appropriate to bring up in the first place?

[cali]

5. pathetic. she's coming off as an idiot or a bigot. there is NO excuse for asking that question

duh. If dear diane were interviewing Hillary and a question from facebook was based on the rampant rumors that Hillary is a lesbian would diane ask it?

Unless she had evidence that pointed to Bernie being a dual citizen, she had no business playing around with that anti-semitic canard.

she needs to be fired. and she's just not that good in any case. never was.

[oberliner]

9. Well said

Could've been fact checked in a matter of minutes.

Also, she brought up a list with other supposed dual citizens.

[KamaAina]

11. That list consists of every single Jewish member of Congress

'Nuf ced.

[enough]

15. And again, it wasn't a question.

It was put as a fact: "Senator, you have dual citizenship with Israel," which he then had to deny.

With your example: "Ms. Clinton, you are a lesbian."

Truly no excuse, as you say.

[hootinholler]

23. She didn't ask the question

She asserted it as a factual basis for asking a different question, which wasn't asked because Bernie interrupted her to correct her assertion.

[cali]

25. my point is addressing her lameass apology in which she said she shouldn't

have asserted it, she should have phrased it as a question. My point, for the reasons given in the post you are responding to, is that would have been virtually the same.

[frazzled]

27. It's the very assumption (about allegiance) that's wrong

It doesn't even matter if he were or were not a dual citizen. It's a thinly veiled question about "allegiance." Like when they used to question John F. Kennedy about whether he would be taking orders from the Vatican and owe his allegiance to the Pope. It was ugly in 1960 and its ugly now.

This really is just a question of bigotry.

[MissDeeds]

28. Excellent point

[Blue_Adept]

8. Why wait til the last minute?

It should have been at the top of the show and then a dialogue about proper interaction and questioning of candidates and how absurd the media has gotten in what it covers about politicians compared to what it needs to cover about them.

[cali]

13. it had no business being part of the conversation at all

[Blue_Adept]

14. You misunderstand

Rehm made her "apology" at the last minute of the show. She should have done it at the start of the show is what I'm saying.

[KamaAina]

10. "One of our listeners suggested via Facebook that I ask Sen. Sanders about Internet speculation that

we deliberately bombed the moon and covered it up."

[Bluenorthwest]

12. She's totally full of shit.

nt

[CharlotteVale]

16. +1

[MissDeeds]

29. Yes she is

And her lame "apology" is on par with Brian William's non apology. She's digging herself into a hole every time she tries to explain or apologize.

[oberliner]

17. Here are some more details from another article

JJ Yore, the general manager of WAMU, the radio station that produces "The Diane Rehm Show," said, "I know that Diane is deeply upset to have caused this controversy."

NPR distributes the show to stations all across the country, and was involved in the handling of Rehm's on-air apology on Thursday.

The awkward exchange with Sanders stemmed from a post on the radio show's Facebook page, which promoted the upcoming interview with the Vermont senator and said, "What do you want to ask?"

Nothing unusual about that. Shows solicit questions from listeners all the time.

One of the responses, from a user named Ryan, said, "Senator Sanders -- you hold dual Israeli/American citizenship. Why should the president of our country be allowed to maintain full citizenship in another country at the same time?"

That comment -- "liked" by several other Facebook users -- is what triggered the on-air error.

Producer Denise Couture included the comment (and three others from Facebook) in the prep material that was given to Rehm before the interview.

Nothing unusual about that, either. Hosts are routinely given articles and suggested questions.

But Ryan's comment was rooted in misinformation.

"One of the core elements of Diane's show is audience engagement," Yore said. "Of course, the show began doing this strictly through phone calls. But in an age of Facebook and Twitter, we have other ways for listeners to ask questions."

Yore said the producer did do "further research" on the comment from Ryan.

"In the Sanders Israeli citizenship case, the producers did not find a specific news article from a trusted news organization confirming that Sanders had dual citizenship, but did find references to dual citizenship held by members of Congress," Yore said. "The producer also found that dual citizenship was a longstanding issue in American politics."

Yore added, "The producer also found several articles in mainstream publications suggesting dual citizenship might create a conflict of interest or a perceived conflict of interest and thus was a legitimate issue for voters to consider."

The ultimate error, then, was Rehm's, by deciding to bring up the issue and by reading it seemingly straight from Facebook.

http://www.kspr.com/life/money/how-diane-rehm-came-to-accuse-bernie-sanders-of-being-israeli-citizen/21052342_33526038

It actually seems like the ultimate error is with the producer who decided to choose this question and then apparently provided "the list" as part of the prep material. Otherwise why would she say that she has such a list?

[Coventina]

18. So now they are saying they couldn't find any reliable info that Sanders was dual citizen, but

still decided to go with it as fact?!?!?

This still stinks.

They are still digging themselves in deeper.....

[oberliner]

19. I wonder why the producers still wanted to run with the question

Especially knowing that it is unreliably sourced.

[Behind the Aegis]

21. This may have been a false flag by the Sanders camp!!!

It would be excellent strategy if this was a plant question. It would make perfect sense and I would be impressed with Sanders and his team if that was the case.

Yes, I read it on the internet...here, in fact.

[madinmaryland]

24. What you said must be true, since I am reading this on

the internets!!

[Behind the Aegis]

26. How sad would it be if THAT question made it on a talk show?!

At least we would know where the rumor started! LOL!

[leftynyc]

30. I'd like to know where

this producer got his "list" that so coincidentally had every Jewish member of Congress on it.

[Agschmid]

32. *her

[leftynyc]

34. Apologies

That was sexist.

[surrealAmerican]

35. That's rather worse than I assumed.

So her "fact checkers" could find no credible references confirming that Sanders had dual citizenship, but they kept the question why?
... because it had facebook likes?


They just made their boss look like not only a shoddy journalist, but an anti-semite with an agenda.

[tishaLA]

20. But she didn't just tell Sen Sanders he had dual citizenship...

she also asked him to "inform" on other lawmakers who (might) have dual US-Israeli citizenship. And THAT, my friends, is classic antisemitism. I'd be much more inclined to forgive her if she asked an ill-informed--stupid--question about Sen Sanders, but when she extended it beyond that, she went into unforgivable territory.

[Snotcicles]

22. Like a cat in a litter box trying to cover it's turd. nt

[Sancho]

31. Given her antisemitism, it might be a good idea for Bernie to avoid the Rehm show in the future...

meanwhile, those of you who are upset enough and don't believe her apology should stop your contributions to NPR and let them know why you are no longer contributing. Delete your FB account now for allowing such trash.

Maybe Bernie supporters should also call CSPAN, NPR, and Thom Hartman to say that Bernie is NOT a citizen of Israel!!
After all, Obama put his birth certificate rumors to rest easily! He just let people know the truth and that settled it!

I hope that everyone who is outraged by lies and CT's spread on FB and picked up by the media will help put a stop to them - especially when they concern Democratic politicians.

The origin of this issue (the FB poster) is just the beginning. If Bernie stays in the race, there will be LOTS of rumors and lies and innuendo. At least Bernie was lucky enough this time to get a national audience and deny the accusation. There is one thing that really, really would help Democrats, no matter which candidate you prefer. One thing that YOU can do!!

Don't engage in spreading rumors or cast aspersions about Democrats!! If you participate, then your outrage is meaningless when it's "your" candidate on the firing line!

[brooklynite]

33. Did she ever ask President Obama about his Birth Certificate?

I understand there was a lot of "internet speculation".....

[Warren DeMontague]

36. keep diggin', Diane

...

[Warren DeMontague]

37. "Yes, it was someone from some Facebook group about weather prediction, I think"

"Something about storm fronts, or something."

[nadinbrzezinski]

38. Hey Rahm it does not pass any smell test.

I get using Facebook when we have wild fires,or you know the source very well. Like this. Nope

The autocorrect is getting humorous