Carlson Tries To Bully Guest During Abortion Debate

[JABBS]

Click here to read the whole article.

<snip>

Carlson certainly knows his ratings are awful -- MSNBC moved his show out of primetime, and it's been bounced around the schedule in search of softer competition. Maybe that's why he was so unnecessarily confrontational, trying to frame the debate to make it pleasing to conservative ears. It was as if Carlson was desperately trying to appease the Bill O'Reilly-Hannity & Colmes viewers -- on the off chance any of them actually were watching.

[sui generis]

1. It's ironic that most of the best arguments FOR abortion

have talk shows and argue against it.

[JABBS]

2. not sure of your point

I think the shame of it is that rather than have an honest debate, hosts like Carlson feel the need to use hyperbolic language, in an effort to paint those who favor abortion rights as extremists and "feminazis." It's a joke.

[sui generis]

4. what Swamp Rat said

. |
. |
. |
.\|/

[Swamp Rat]

3. Too bad he wasn't aborted

[JABBS]

5. arguments like that

only weaken the left, because they give the right new ammunition.

[Swamp Rat]

6. Nope

Cowardice does.

My statement was not an argument.

Worrying about what the so-called right thinks plays right into their fear mongering.

NOW we have an argument. :D

[sui generis]

8. I have to agree here

not to gang up or anything but as a general tactical rule modifying your own response because of how you believe your opponent will react means you are being manipulated by that abstract. Certainly it should be a consideration but here on DU, we're not arguing to our opponents, we're blowing off steam.

Don't be afraid of a little color - it's far better to have them blustering and red faced and out of control over some semantic sin than us.

[JABBS]

14. not my point

You attack the point, not the person. It's one of the first things you learn in debating class.

By saying, "Tucker should have been aborted," you are playing into the right's hands -- which says make this a war of name calling and personal attacks, rather than having to deal with things like facts and logic.

Frankly, anyone who limits him/herself to personal attacks has no credibility in my book, regardless of whether it's Rush Limbaugh or Janeane Garofalo. We should be able to do better.

[sui generis]

17. I apologize unconditionally

that I will not be able to change my ways. I have three first place highschool regional debate awards and require no lecturing on tactics.

Frankly, anyone who limits themselves, period, is a weaker opponent. Your credibility or my credibitility is not the issue, oh sideways ad hominem attacker. I would have your nads by the short hairs in a debate whilst you were spluttering about my subtle assault on your choice of hairstyle, which makes you the weaker opponent. And I'd have all those little index cards lined up to knock you down just in case you did decide to stop being a schoolmarm and got serious.

Following an ad hominem with a shaming and a scold is lost here, and especially on me. Blowing off steam is the operative context. Do you really believe that by critiquing style in place of substance you will get anyone to agree with you to talk substance? If you are a good debater you surely know better than that.

Anyway, my dander isn't really up as high as it might seem - peace. :P

Michael

[ProfessorGAC]

12. So?

I'm not sure what YOUR point is. That ammunition has no power. So, if we give them a few blanks to make them shout even louder and more stupidly, how does that help them?
The Professor

[jazzjunkysue]

7. He's such a pig. Gets you on and refuses to listen to you.

Why anyone would go on that show, I'll never know.

[Cygnusx2112]

9. To be fair, she could have spoken her point a LOT better...

He said something to the effect of "So you're for abortion".

She should have adamantly expressed, "Of course Tucker, no one in their right mind is FOR abortion, but I am for keeping it safe and legal".


How many times do I hear our side making attempting to make their points but missing the mark sooo badly :(

[Lars39]

10. The better frame is to keep it described as a medical procedure.

that is best decided between a woman and her doctor.
I am *for* abortion like I am *for* open-heart surgery.

[Cygnusx2112]

11. Exactly...

Or flip it around and make it personal for Tucker.

"So Tucker, say your daughter is tragically raped. Are you FOR abortion then, or does it unfortunately become a necessary evil".


I swear, we're so much smarter than some of these knuckleheads but it often doesn't show.

[Lars39]

13. Our politeness might be the death of us.

:(

[JABBS]

15. i thought she did very well

actually. she refuted all of his spin terms fairly well. she especially refuted his spin about her being an extremist.

[JABBS]

16. good point

to be fair, though, Tucker is very rapid fire, and it's easier to type out a reasonable answer than to sit there and avoid being bludgeoned.

I agree with an earlier comment -- why do people bother going on these shows?