Stephanopoulos Defends Questioning Obama About Palin: Thinks She Has Creds

[Me.]

“ABC News' George Stephanopoulos is defending his decision to ask President Barack Obama to respond to Sarah Palin's criticism of his nuclear non-proliferation policy, after several observers questioned the point of bringing the former Alaska Governor into the discussion.

On Thursday, the Good Morning America host, during an exclusive sit-down in Prague, pushed the president on Palin's insistence that his proposal to limit the use and supply of nuclear weapons was something "no other administration would do" and was tantamount to a child not retaliating after being punched in the face. Obama said he had "no response."

"Because last I checked," he added, "Sarah Palin's not much of an expert on nuclear issues."

The exchange was notable not only because of the dismissive tone of the president's response but also because the question seemed out of place for a weighty discussion on nuclear weapons policy. Why would Stephanopoulos treat Palin as some form of policy expert?

"In effect," wrote Steven Benen of The Washington Monthly, "the 'GMA' host was saying, "Some conspicuously unintelligent right-wing media personality said something stupid about a subject she knows nothing about. Mr. President, how do you respond?"

In an email to HuffPost, Stephanopoulos defended his decision to ask Obama about Palin.

"Whatever Steve thinks of Sarah Palin," he wrote, "she's a former VP candidate -- and potential challenger to President Obama -- with a strong following in the GOP. She made a pointed critique of a new Presidential policy. By asking the President for his response, I was doing my job."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/09/stephanopoulos-defends-as_n_531535.html

[HughMoran]

1. Stephanopoulos - repeats words of ignorant moron & then defends such

:wtf:

"a vice-presidential candidate" - so, any time a desperate old man gets a hard on for some young chick & decides to 'give her a promotion", said person is now a celebrity?

Moron.

[liberalmuse]

2. Palin DID have a brilliant analysis...

"It's kind of like gettin' out there on the that there playground, a bunch of kids, getting ready to fight, and one of the kids saying, 'Go ahead, punch me in the face and I'm not going to retaliate. Go ahead and do what you want to with me.'"


Kill me now. George Stephanopolous, you are a whore.

[Me.]

8. Silly Us

Making fun of her and thinking she's not credible.

[lumpy]

28. The only thing she has gained is name recognition and support

of disgruntled ignoramouses. Of course name recognition can go a long way with people who are not familiar with educated reality.

[walldude]

3. Guy's got a funny idea of what his "job" is...

My job is to make sure the loony talking points on the right become national news. I'm surprised he didn't ask to see the birth certificate.

[SpiralHawk]

14. He's just a knee-jerk corporate propaganda puppet stirring the shitpot

to see if he can raise a stink.

Talk about no cred.

[sui generis]

4. yes, and he wants to be the one to moderate that exchange

self aggrandizing sensationalism, which is not good journalism.

ABC News: that's embarrassing for you. Also, politically speaking, forcing a political response to mollify a sensation seeking journalist reflects poorly on your journalistic standards.

By responding to a non-entity, Obama would essentially be validating her, and she is ALWAYS going to have the last word because she is NOT the president. Stepho, have you lost your damn mind?

and to underscore what I just said:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8119815

[Supersedeas]

5. By asking the question, he gave a losing candidate, and a quitting Governor, and FOX News host

substantial standing and relevance on the world stage. Who is Stephy catering to now?

[TwilightGardener]

26. I'm sure that's what the media will do (and has been doing, since 2008)--make her seem like

a credible person to speak on such matters. They want a contest for 2012, even if they have to pretend she's not dumb as a post. They did it successfully with GWB, they will do it again.

[KharmaTrain]

6. Scared Little Shit...

He knows if he doesn't ape the talking points and give "credibility" to the most ignorant and inflamatory wingnut, he'll get pummeled by those nasty emails and, even worse, looked at funny at the drinkie-drinkie parties.

The corporate media is beaten down...another example.

[BeFree]

9. Exactly

The press has been and is cooperating in the teabagging.

[lutefisk]

27. George would have won “Whore of the Week” , if mediawhoresonline still existed

I really miss mediawhoresonline.com:

“The site that set out to bring the media to their knees—but found out they were already there.”

[elleng]

7. He's right, and we shouldn't treat her and others as not significant. imo.

Like it or not, they ARE significant, and we've got to treat them as such and not call them names. Fortunately Prez O recognizes this.

[Me.]

13. I Consider Her A Flame To The Moths

And will be very surprised, if, when 2012 rolls around, she still has the stage. The more exposure she gets the better. As Martin said, "no lie can live forever".

[elleng]

32. I do appreciate what you've said, Me.

Sorry it took me so long to reply.

[Supersedeas]

31. how many other failed governors and political shocks jocks deserve enough foreign policy

credibility to merit pointed questions to the PotUS.

Glen Beck, Shawn Hannity, Michael Savage, Rick Santorum, Rudy Guilliani...just how many questions does the President have to field.

Apparently as many as G. Stephie thinks are viable.

[Beaverhausen]

10. If he was doing his job, he'd interview Caribou Barbie and remind her that Reagan's views were....

...very similar to Obama's.

[tularetom]

11. What a pathetic whore he is

He knows goddamn well what an ignorant slug Palin is and yet he responds by defending her foreign policy credibility.

It's bad enough he lies to us but how sad is it when he even lies to himself.

I honestly believe he, like most members of the liberal media is physically afraid of the Palin supporters.

[GodlessBiker]

12. Nitwit is the most generous term that comes to mind.

[gratuitous]

15. So, when does George interview Sarah with the same clubbing touch?

That'd be on the 12th of Never. Note to George S.: A nitwit with a strong following is still a nitwit. Part of your job is to know that.

[Swede]

16. I don't see anything wrong here.

She was the VP candidate after all.

[alstephenson]

22. Did the media ever ask for Al Gore's opinion on anything?

Much less ask Bush what he thought about Al Gore's opinion. Come on, give me a break.

[Swede]

30. Al,we have to be the adults in this mess.

We are dealing with reactionaries. When the undecideds see the choice between the two,it will make that choice easier.

[liberal N proud]

17. I love his response

It does not phase the President when these stupid reporters keep beating him with stupid questions.

[NeedleCast]

18. "She made a pointed critique of a new Presidential policy"

No, she didn't. She rambled on with some complete Bullshit and outright lies about the new policy. There is a marked difference between making a pointed critique and spouting bullshit. In fact, they're pretty much complete oppsites.

[Johonny]

21. pretty much

[Hello_Kitty]

19. Jesus Christ. eom

[DainBramaged]

20. Stephanopoulos' not much of an expert on ANY issues

[blm]

23. When Gore or Kerry leveled LEGITIMATE, INFORMED criticisms what did Bush's buttlicker have to say?

They were generally treated by the CORPORATE mediawhores as running jokes. Men with serious credentials in world affairs, unmatched by most everyone that appeared as 'experts' in the newsmedia the last 20 years, yet, they were treated as nothing more than jokes.

FUCK YOUUUUUUUUUUU.....Mediawhores!

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

24. In his natural habitat:

[TwilightGardener]

25. LOL. Massive Snuffle-upagus FAIL.

[Oceansaway]

29. STEPHANOPOULOS=DICKHEAD...n/t

[City Lights]

33. He also thinks wearing a flag pin is important.

He's a corporate toady.

[CatWoman]

34. I went out for breakfast yesterday, and bought a newspaper

(that's the only time I buy print papers). Imagine my surprise to see this positioned prominently on page 1 (and continued on page A3):

Palin, Obama spar from a distance

By LIZ SIDOTI

The Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS — President Barack Obama and Republican Sarah Palin sparred from a distance over nuclear policy with each questioning the other's experience on the issue in a potential preview of the 2012 White House race.

"Unbelievable," Palin said earlier this week after Obama rewrote the U.S. nuclear strategy, and she suggested the president was weak on nuclear defense.

Obama, in Prague to sign a nuclear reduction treaty with Russia, countered by deriding the former Alaska governor who resigned midway through her first term as "not much of an expert" on nuclear issues.

Palin then shot back Friday during a speech to the Southern Republican Leadership Conference in New Orleans with a reference to Obama's early career choice. Mocking the president, she dismissed "all the vast nuclear experience that he acquired as a community organizer."

http://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/palin-obama-spar-from-449720.html