Diane Rehm Apologizes to Bernie Sanders for false statement about Dual US/Israeli Citizenship.

[sabrina 1]

Last edited Thu Jun 11, 2015, 02:34 AM - Edit history (1)

Well good for her but she certainly should have done some research before making that statement.

Radio Host to Sanders: Aren't you an Israeli dual citizen like some other members of Congress

One doesn’t usually dial up NPR or its affiliates to indulge in conspiracy theories, but perhaps they’re looking to rebrand. WAMU radio host Diane Rehm turned an otherwise dry hour with Senator Bernie Sanders into a surreal moment, falsely accusing Sanders of having dual Israeli citizenship. When Sanders forcefully denied it, Rehm went on to note that his name was on a list of several members of Congress who have dual citizenship with Israel, which Sanders called “nonsense.”

The Jewish Journal’s Jared Sichel picked it up first, and the Washington Free Beacon put the clip on YouTube:

From the above link, the text of the conversation:

Diane Rehm: Senator, you have dual citizenship with Israel.

Bernie Sanders: Well, no I do not have dual citizenship with Israel. I’m an American. I don’t know where that question came from. I am an American citizen, and I have visited Israel on a couple of occasions. No, I’m an American citizen, period.

Rehm: I understand from a list we have gotten that you were on that list.

Sanders: No.

Rehm: Forgive me if that is—

Sanders: That’s some of the nonsense that goes on in the internet. But that is absolutely not true.

Rehm: Interesting. Are there members of Congress who do have dual citizenship or is that part of the fable?

Sanders: I honestly don’t know but I have read that on the internet. You know, my dad came to this country from Poland at the age of 17 without a nickel in his pocket. He loved this country. I am, you know, I got offended a little bit by that comment, and I know it’s been on the internet. I am obviously an American citizen and I do not have any dual citizenship.

This is her apology:

“On today’s show I made a mistake. Rather than asking Senator and Presidential Candidate Bernie Sanders whether he had dual U.S./Israeli citizenship, as I had read in a comment on Facebook, I stated it as fact. He corrected me, saying he did not know where the question came from. I apologized immediately,” Rehm said. “I want to apologize as well to all our listeners for having made an erroneous statement. I am sorry for the mistake. However, I am glad to play a role in putting this rumor to rest.”

The issue wasn’t whether she offered it as a statement of fact or a question; it was that she brought it up at all without performing any due diligence. This isn’t a Jeopardy form error, it’s journalistic malpractice. Rehm admits she just looked at the Facebook comment and took it as fact. In doing so, she didn’t “play a role in putting this rumor to rest,” Rehm attempted to propagate it.

Her credibility is now in serious Jeopardy, though.

I would say so, especially considering WHERE she found the 'list':

Clearly an anti-semitic page on FB.

See for yourself if you can stomach it:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=836554619769208&set=p.836554619769208&type=1&theater

Bernie's campaign has issued what I think is a very graceful statement:

“Diane Rehm is an excellent radio host. There’s a great big Internet out there with lots of good and bad information. I’ve never heard the question come up before,” Briggs said.

If it was intended to be a 'gotcha moment' it certainly has backfired badly.

Bernie's campaign appears to want to move on. As he has repeatedly stated, he simply wants to talk about the issues. And wondered on the air, 'will you guys just let us do that'?

Rehm answered that question with her erroneous accusation.

All excerpts and links are from the original link at the top of the post

Edited to add the link to the full interview. Bernie Sanders on the Diane Reme Show

It's a shame that this happened, because for nearly an hour, it was a great interview. Bernie responded to questions from listeners, from tweets, emails, and never hesitated to address every question, including on the I/P situation, on Netanyahu, our policies in the ME and on racial issues re the police.




.

[Scootaloo]

1. Fucking what the fucking fuck?

That thing on facebook? Is that really where she fished it up?

The mind boggles.

[Nay]

10. I am SOOOO glad I wasn't driving when I heard her say that to Bernie. I would

have gone into the ditch.

[Scuba]

83. Right-wing disinformation. I'm surprised she didn't accuse him of being a Kenyan Muslim too.

[Betty Karlson]

181. Ethiopian in this case:

There are to this day some pre-Ezra Jewish tribes in the north of Ethiopia.

[hedda_foil]

221. From what I've read, the Ethiopian Jews went back a lot further than the Babylonian captivity.

To Solomon and Sheba.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

88. The mind boggles. It certainly does.

[Aerows]

171. Exact thing

I thought.

[Buzz Clik]

201. LOL! You believe the OP that FB was where Rehm got it?

And you are boggled by the allegation?

Oh, the irony.

[cali]

207. she said that's where she got it.

[Octafish]

2. She couldn't have defamed Bernie more if she tried.

Normally, I'd think all publicity is good publicity, but not this time. She just filled a bunch of liberals' heads with a masterful display of black propaganda.

And Diane Rehm is "an excellent radio host." She'll have him back on, with that comment right next to her and him.

[djean111]

6. I think what she did was deliberate. Mission accomplished.

[Octafish]

52. Potentially a whole lot of people just learned about Bernie Sanders.

The program is produced by WAMU 88.5 at American University and distributed by NPR to nearly 200 stations across the country. The program is also distributed by NPR Worldwide, SIRIUS XM satellite radio and the Armed Forces Network.

SOURCE: http://thedianerehmshow.org/about/host

[MissDeeds]

90. Yup

And what she said stuck with listeners who don't know the facts. What kind of a twit reads a statement on Facebook and not only believes it, without fact checking, but uses it as a major talking point when interviewing a candidate for president?

An apology isn't enough. She should be suspended for incompetence. Facebook as a source. WTH?

[appalachiablue]

109. Fired for incompetence, period. That was no 'mistake' about a long term US

Representative and Senator running for president of the United States.

[MissDeeds]

117. I agree

She didn't ask if he had dual citizenship, she stated it, and wouldn't take "no" for an answer. She should be fired.

I checked out the link to The Hill in post #56, and the comments about Bernie are horrendous. Just horrible. Mission accomplished.

I'm emailing NPR tonight and sending emails to everyone I know to do the same. This thing is dirty politics, pure and simple.

[appalachiablue]

133. Absolutely. She knew what she was doing and kept at it. At this point in her career

I'm sure the funds offered by the Kochs and other sponsors will be helpful if she is made to step down which I hope is the case. Octafish says the session was taped at American University's WAMU, which is distributed to 200 NPR stations, including Sirius XM, NPR Worldwide and the Armed Forces channels. So effective it was; damage done to a statesman of Sanders level and reflective of the dangers of consolidated corporate media.

I lived near AU for 10 years, and will contact NPR tomorrow to let them know my thoughts. Good luck with your email. We must fight these kinds of attacks. In advance I offer apologies for the loud thunder and tremors, the phone and keyboard will be in action!

On a lighter note, I just received my nice new Bernie tote bag in the mail and will order a yard sign from his campaign tomorrow-

[MissDeeds]

138. Thanks so much for the information

My head is about to explode, and my husband is so ticked that he's been calling and emailing everyone he knows. The comments on The Hill about it are terrible. The correction and the "apology" are meaningless. What people hear first is what they tend to believe, even when misinformation is corrected. I'm afraid it's going to be a long, dirty primary.

I ordered two Bernie bumper stickers and a tee shirt which haven't come yet, but will be ordering another shirt and lapel pins. I can't remember ever believing in a candidate as much as I do Bernie. I stand up for him because he stands up for us.

[appalachiablue]

152. Bernie Sanders has been serving in the Congress in Washington since 1990. Diane Rehm

has been a national journalist based in the Capital since starting as a radio announcer in 1973. She was born in 1936 in WDC where she was raised, educated and resides. Ms. Rehm's heritage is Arab American from Anatolia (Turkey) and Christian. A seasoned journalist needs a better excuse than using a FB comment as a source, and should know not to harangue a US Senator about anything, including 'other Israeli citizens of Congress' ? According to Wiki, Ms. Rehm is 78, has had a long career and her husband passed in 2014.

For a bit I was put out but am fine now, we have a long road and a dirty campaign as you say. And forget the apology now, it's pointless. Good for you husband's efforts and the Bernie items. Bernie rocks!

WIKI, DIANE REHM, NPR- Nation Public Radio Journalist
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diane_Rehm

TPM, Talking Points Memo, the Rehm- Sanders Interview, Wed., June 10, 2015
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/diane-rehm-bernie-sanders

[sabrina 1]

157. 'I stand up for him because he stands up for us'! Exactly. If the kochs and other nefarious

characters go after Bernie with their dirty politics, they are in for a shock I believe. I have never seen such devoted supporters who will act the minute these smears go out.

And we should not stop there, correcting the information, make them feel a backlash that will make them think twice about lying about someone as decent as he is.

Boycotts, EXPOSURE of who they are, all of them relentlessly.

AND maybe a fund drive so that Bernie's campaign PROFITS every time they do something to try to destroy his campaign.

Because when they do it to him, they do it to all of us.

NPR needs to make a general and heartfelt apology on every one of their stations, AND on their website.

This apology is not enough.

They should also be required to do several shows about DIRTY POLITICS and bring on guests who have knowledge of how these smear campaigns work.

And they should do it weekly if possible.

So that people LEARN to be careful about believing ANYTHING that takes the form of a personal attack with little to back it up.

Maybe something good can come of this.

[Dustlawyer]

190. Remember when NPR was being accused of liberal bias by Republicans?

All it took was threats to their funding and examples of ACORN and Planned Parenthood!

[sabrina 1]

212. I remember. The other side is much better at getting what they want than we are.

The Left is 'too nice' a lot of the time. What I've learned is there is no room for 'nice' in politics, FACTS yes, but you can't fire with words. And the Left must go on the offensive rather than always being on the defensive from now on.

We have a chance with Bernie Sanders to begin the process of restoring some semblance of a government that is for the people and we need to fight fiercely to protect him as the sole opportunity, from the nasty, vicious 'status quo' supporters who are definitely going to try to destroy him.

[Eleanors38]

205. Along with "...part of the fable," and the "list," her sequence had the redolence of the Fifties.

[appalachiablue]

208. I'm drafting a note to NPR now, including a request for the MCarthyite 'List'.

'Fable', what a choice of terms. ...'We have a List'...rubbish from an anti semitic website one DUer says.

[Roy Rolling]

200. A Facebook page as Source?

If there is an example of lazier journalism than repeating something from a Facebook page verbatim without any verification, I've never seen it.

This is worse than making something up completely. Making something up and you are malicious, quoting Facebook without verification and you are malicious AND stupid.

[Ed Suspicious]

209. I'm betting she's a strong Clinton supporter doing a little dirty work for the Clintonian cause.

I didn't read that on the internet. It's pure supposition. But it's just about as valid as her sources.

[Stargazer99]

214. NO I'm betting she is a paid shill for the GOP-think about it

[Paka]

108. I agree.

Absolutely.

[KingCharlemagne]

191. "I have here in my hand a list . . . " Hmm, now where have I heard those words

before?????

NPR should fire her immediately.

[sabrina 1]

8. I'm not that familiar with her, but from what people say, this is not normally how she conducts her

interviews 'doesn't like her' etc.

I can't say.

However the minute I saw the thread here on DU titled 'Diane Rehm presses Bernie Sanders on Dual Citizenship' I stated in the thread that this sounded like the Koch bros work.

I have read reports that they are going to target him, due to his outspoken attacks on their 'buying of our government'.

My comment was dismissed, however, the site she supposedly used doesn't seem like the kind of place someone with her reputation would go to in the first place to look for 'facts' about Jewish members of Congress.

I'm thinking a memo was handed to her, she, assuming it was letit, simply went with it.

She is taking the fall, imo.

I think that this should be pursued, at least to find out IF it was her own shoddy 'research' or she was provided with the info from someone at NPR.

[Octafish]

59. She is as center of the road, sensible as they come. So it is weird she'd do that.

It reminded me of what Reagan did for Poppy in 1988:

Reagan on Dukakis: 'I Won't Pick on Invalid' : 'Just Trying to Be Funny,' President Later Says of His Answer to Question on Medical Records

August 03, 1988|Los Angeles Times Wire Services

WASHINGTON — President Reagan took a shot today at Michael S. Dukakis for refusing to release his medical records amid rumors of mental depression, saying "Look, I'm not going to pick on an invalid." He later said he was "just trying to be funny" but "I don't think I should have said what I said."

In Boston, Dukakis said, "We all occasionally misspeak," and no apology was really needed. "I'm a very healthy guy," he added.

Reagan caused an uproar at an impromptu White House news conference to announce his veto of the defense bill when he was asked if the Democratic presidential candidate should release his medical records.

The question came a day after the Washington Times published a report alluding to "rumors" that Dukakis has undergone treatment for depression. The Dukakis campaign denied the rumors, which originated with handbills by a Lyndon LaRouche group circulated to reporters .

"I'm not going to pick on an invalid," Reagan said as he was leaving the briefing room.

The presidential crack drew exclamations of surprise from those assembled in the room.

'I Was Kidding'

He refused to elaborate on what he meant. But a few minutes later at a separate appearance, Reagan, without prompting, told reporters, "A short time ago, I attempted a joke. I was kidding. . . . I was just trying to be funny and it didn't work."

Reagan said that he believes the American people are entitled to know about a candidate's medical history.

Neither Dukakis nor Vice President George Bush has released full medical records during the 1988 campaign, although Bush said today he will do so and he did respond to a list of questions from the Detroit News.

Bush, Dukakis' presidential rival, said he wanted to talk to Reagan before commenting on his remark. He added, "I'm not going to be drawn into this mini-controversy."

CONTINUED...

http://articles.latimes.com/1988-08-03/news/mn-6862_1_medical-records

Dukakis' campaign was never the same. In the debates he came across as a beaten sort of fellow. He lost his lead, in part from that chunk of people who remembered the guy was a "mental invalid" or, today, a "traitor."

[sabrina 1]

64. That does sound eerily similar, a 'tactic' and a familiar one. But why would someone who many here

say is not that kind of person, participate? Unless someone with authority there gave her the 'info' and she assumed it was true.

Back in the days of Reagan/Bush/Dukakis however, there was no internet.

I do not believe this will harm Bernie, more likely to harm NPR who do receive funding from the Koch Bros.

[riderinthestorm]

65. It is very weird for her. She's a Democrat and her shows are not trivial BS gabfests

Im very, very surprised. I've listened to her for years and she's never been anything but respectful and fair.

I'm glad she apologized for a very bad error.

[FSogol]

110. I agree. She's a centrist. Probably nothing more than lazy preparation for the

show.

[OnyxCollie]

194. That sounds familiar.

Factbox: Main revelations of WikiLeaks diplomatic cables
http://www.reuters.com/article/2010/11/30/us-wikileaks-details-idUSTRE6AT1I720101130?pageNumber=3

ARGENTINA

-- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton questioned the mental health of Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez, asking U.S. diplomats to investigate whether she was on medication.

[yellowwoodII]

216. I'm Sorry That You Featured This

Diane Rehm is a wonderful host.
Obviously, this post has gotten DU people all excited. But they aren't people who normally listen to her.
Please go back and listen to some of her previous programs. Note the subject matter that nobody else touches. Note the quality of the guests that choose to be on her program.
I heard this program. When she repeated the error, I believed that it was she was making sure that it was wrong. That would be her style, not an argument.
People here are criticizing her voice? That's classy. Do they also dismiss other people for physical defects?
Please follow up on this. To get her fired over this misperception would be sad. She can't be replaced.

[drray23]

20. I was surprised.

This is not typical of Diane Rehm. She usually tries to be respectful and conduct debates/interviews professionally. The people invited on her show debate their point of view politely no matter which side of the aisle they are on. Really strange. Perhaps she did not check what was handed to her and tripped up.

[Octafish]

72. The whole thing was odd. She kept returning the discussion to Hillary Clinton...

...and when Bernie wanted to talk about "Democratic Socialist" they went to a break. They came back and talked about the growing wealth and declining standard of living and quality of life and how Sweden, Norway, etc. are good models. So...she followed up with "Does all of that make you a democratic socialist?" And when he started to talk about billionaires she went to a tweet...

http://thedianerehmshow.org/

The entire interview is a marvel. Bernie Sanders is somebody special who would make an outstanding president. And I still love Diane Rehm as a human being, but she creeped me out today in a new way as a journalist.

ETA: The dual-thing is around 24 minute mark.

[sulphurdunn]

97. NPR is just an appendage of the corporate media hydra.

It intends to do a Michael Dukakis on Sander's when his entertainment value vanes or it doesn't vane and he becomes a threat. Rehm had Bernie denying her allegation, putting him on the defense. That's a bad sign. Do presidential candidates normally give cold interviews?

[glinda]

112. She was most likely fed a long rope to hang both her self and him.

Directly from the oil barons themselves as they have major financial influence at NPR now.

[SusanCalvin]

123. That seems

The most plausible explanation to me. The shame is that she took the bait.

[sabrina 1]

148. that was my theory also, she was a tool and doesn't really matter to the the Kochs. Bernie is on

THEIR list of candidates to go after with all that money they have.

She may have been duped, but in her apology she stated that it SHE saw the 'list' on FB. So either someone gave it to her, or she found it on her own.

Nothing would surprise me.

I remember how Dan Rather was set up. I would not have believed it if I had not watched it happen.

However I do not think this will harm Bernie. Anyone who buys into it is probably a right wing bigot and would not have been voting for him anyhow.

He may even gain votes if people perceive that this was dirty politics, which people are fed up with right now.

[2banon]

202. that's what I mean regarding her level of political acumen is sorely lacking.

to say the least from past memory of her show. hmm. I'll have a listen to the link. thanks..

[CTyankee]

93. I am disappointed in Rehm. I don't like her any more...

[pangaia]

102. Hey there CT..

I have listened to her for years. This is NOT like her. I didn't hear her today, and don't know what happened. But I hope you won't give up on her too quickly.

[CTyankee]

114. What the hell was she doing, pangaia? It was pretty awful, IMO...

really bothers me...

[pangaia]

115. Yes, so it seems.

I just.. don't know the whole story.. especially where that 'came from.'
I don't mean the issue of exactly where she heard that, but... it just came so from 'out in left field'.. Not like her....
I AM surprised she didn't, for whatever reason, do her homework. That IS a bummer.

Still friends, I hope.

I was moving around a few of my Japanese prints earlier today. Thought about you and your "Fridays with CT."

[CTyankee]

168. I'll be back with another a week from this Friday...

and hope to see you if you are around...

[pangaia]

188. Super.

[appalachiablue]

101. The 'erroneous' false info. was deliberate, sloppy journalism if that. She should resign

or be fired, same for her superior. Period. I don't care how well liked she is, using an unverified Facebook claim without checking, if that's true, for a US Senator of Bernie Sanders stature and a 2016 presidential candidate is inexcusable.

[Rex]

3. Pundits suck, bring back real journalists!

And by that I mean bring them back to the M$M! Some of us older folks remember Walter Cronkite...so know what a low standard is set now for news.

SOME are doing it, but so few and far in between that they stand out and get called out sometimes for daring to report the news objectively and accurately. Even get fired for it.

[djean111]

4. She did her job well. This will be repeated ad infinitum. Even here.

[m-lekktor]

9. here they will say he is a white man therefore he won't be

discriminated against . that's been said here already when his being jewish was mentioned in other threads.

[TreasonousBastard]

5. Well, 500 or so shows a year she does...

two a day, five days a week-- generally being hardass on rightwingers or anyone else who makes unfounded claims.

And this interview is the one that gets noticed.

You think maybe someone is trying to manipulate us?

[sabrina 1]

12. I am sticking to my theory, which I stated in the 'other' thread, that this sounds like the Koch

bros work, who are said to be targeting Bernie due to his outspoken criticism of their corrosive influence on our government.

They now donate to NPR. I am thinking someone there slipped her the 'question' and she went with it.

I do not believe this will harm Bernie in the least.

Clearly SHE thought it was true, then had to apologize.

If anything this works to his advantage as each time a smear is tried, we can point to THIS and simply dismiss it.

[TreasonousBastard]

32. I'm thinking it's more devious than that...

let's say some wingnuts note that Rehm is held in fairly high regard by those who regularly listen to her show. (Like me.)

What better way to trash her, and Bernie, than to raise holy hell about one question that will put them all under a spotlight and make a fairly progressive radio host host look terrible.

Did anyone making all this noise about this one question in an hour-long show actually listen to the show and know what else she and Bernie talked about? I heard maybe half the show and she seemed to be giving him a pretty good platform for his ideas.

It's available at her website, or through npr.org

By trashing Rehm, we are doing the Koch's work better than they can do it themselves-- the circular firing squad strikes again.

[sabrina 1]

39. Possibly, however she didn't need to ask that qustion, which makes me think it was someone who

has some seniority at NPR, a producer eg, who gave her the question. She uses the word 'we' when talking about 'getting the list'. She doesn't say 'I'.

[TreasonousBastard]

44. NPR isn't that organized. She works for a local station...

like most NPR people, and is pretty independent, as far as I know. Unfortunately, yes, NPR's board has been largely cleansed of leftward thought, but some are still holding on.

Anyway, I notice that most of the people complaining aren't regular listeners and seem to getting on a bandwagon.

Said bandwagon will have the dual purpose of getting the "Bernie the Jew" meme out there for the anti-Semites and the "Diane Rehm is a rightwing idiot" meme out there for the left.

Destroy two targets for the price of one. Wotta deal!

[sabrina 1]

79. I don't think it's going to harm him at all, it does show how smears are made though and that is

important to keep up front in this election, because there will be more.

I think it's very important to correct these sort of lies. As for being Jewish, that is hardly going to go against him these days.

[Stevepol]

130. Diane is fair as they come. I am glad she brought it up.

Bernie is always good on his feet and uses such falsehoods to advance his agenda.

I hope others try to nail him with other false accusations. He's HONEST and that wins friends no matter what. He has got exactly what the Dems in the last election lacked: HONESTY. He has scruples and sticks by them and he's also up on his facts. If he's not, he declines to answer at that moment.

I think it's a tiresome thing to think that just because the Kochs and others are jerks that every time they make an accusation we ought to blame somebody.

WE SHOULD REJOICE. There's somebody up there finally who can use the falsehoods as a springboard to even greater gains.

GO BERNIE!

[Nay]

14. It was noticed for 2 reasons: one, it's unlike her, really. Two, it's such a big fat lie that

2 minutes of research would have disproved it, as would making a simple call to Bernie's office. Why confront him with false statements ON AIR??

[appalachiablue]

166. +1 Intentional

[Fumesucker]

15. The interview "got noticed" because that statement was so egregiously manipulative and false

[Rex]

26. That should be obvious.

[rhett o rick]

118. This was clearly a hatchet job and should be noticed. nm

[Egnever]

132. Well said, this is nonsense.

I particularly like the part where the poster knows from all of facebook, the exact page she got it from.

[sabrina 1]

158. Which poster knew 'which page' on FB?

Oh, and the only reason is it nonsense NOW, is because it was quickly debunked thanks to people who DID do their homework. I, eg, saw even here that he should be asked that question. Why? Why should just a Jewish candidate be asked that question?

I'm glad it was debunked as fast as it was. If had taken longer, he would be labeled as someone who is not loyal to this country, a despicable anti-semitic smear especially since it is not true.

[Egnever]

165. That would be you

[sabrina 1]

174. Excuse me? Did you read the OP, follow the links, read the linked ARTICLE which

contained the link to the FB Page? Or my note at the end of the OP stating that ALL excerpts and links were from the original link at the top of the OP?

Where on EARTH did you get the idea that I found that page? THIS is how smears happen, people do NOT take the trouble to read what is right in front of them and then for some reason accuse people of things they did not do. Just like what happened to Bernie.

So let me help you out so there is NO misconception as to where that FB page came from. I do not even do FB, wouldn't know where to start.

From the link to the article in the OP is where you will find the FB page, not from me:

Here AGAIN is the link: Radio Host to Sanders: Aren't you an Israeli dual citizen like some other members of Congress

A cursory search on Google of “Bernie Sanders Israeli citizenship” shows that his name comes up in the comments section of the “We are all Vittorio Arrigoni” Facebook page. Arrigoni was an Italian pro-Palestinian activist who was kidnapped and murdered by non-Hamas Islamists in Gaza in April 2011. In the comments section of the Facebook page, on May 2 a user posted a list of senators and representatives who “have both Israel and U.S. citizenships.” Sanders is on the list. No source is given because the list is a total fabrication, not to mention created by an anti-Semite and anti-Zionist, which is given away by the fact that it says “Jewish Lobby”, “#israelwarcrime”, “AIPAC: Buying Congress one seat at a time”, “Rothschild”, and features an American flag with a Star of David replacing the 50 stars.

Yeah … seems legit. The graphic in which the list appears shows the level of credibility the list has. That brings us back to Rehm and her strange decision to ask this question in the middle of this interview. She clearly had done no research on the topic, seems to have had no context in which to ask this, and didn’t bother to source the list at all other than being “a list that we have gotten,” emphasis mine. Did NPR or WAMU provide that list to Rehm, or was this an instance of the royal we? Why not double-check the list with Sanders or his office before springing it on him in the middle of the interview, and thus avoid a potential embarrassment — like what Rehm experienced?

The link to the FB page is within the blockquote in that excerpt.

Emphasis mine.

As is the case with Ms Rehm, jumping to conclusions without doing a minimal amount of research, not even necessary here since i did it for you, would avoid this kind of false statement.

[Kingofalldems]

7. She has always been standup from my perspective.

Listened for many years even when she was just local.

She's allowed a mistake. Move on.

[sabrina 1]

17. This was not a mistake, it was a deliberate attempt to smear him. I do not know if this

was HER work, but I'm guessing a memo was handed to her and she assumed it was true.

To use anti-semitic internet FB page as 'research' doesn't sound like something she would do.

I believe she is taking the fall for whoever did this 'research', at least for now.

Her reputation certainly will suffer considering her 'source'.

[Rex]

23. It is possible she thought the question was based on something her editors approved of.

However it was staged very poorly and Sanders destroyed it with his honesty. STRANGE that the most powerful weapon is just being honest and sincere. More like pathetic and sad, but here we are.

[cali]

41. she didn't ask shit. she did a flat out ugly "j'accuse"

[Rex]

43. She should have asked the editors before the program about it, she is slipping fast.

Like I said, this was staged and planned out. I give her the benefit of the doubt this one time...everyone gets one.

[LiberalArkie]

66. I used to listen to her every morning driving to the gym, overall pretty good, but

she is in the camp has the main stream Democrats. I have heard comments go by her that I knew was false that in the past she would have questioned. I have heard her make comments last month that I knew were not correct. I have changed stations to a local community public supported station.

[Rex]

76. I listened to her on the way to work for 5 years.

But this was before NPR started moving to the far right.

[sabrina 1]

87. Is she a Dem? Someone here said she is a Republican. I don't her at all so have no idea

where she was coming from with that.

[LiberalArkie]

91. She could be an old-style moderate Republican (Rockefeller type), which would put her to the left of

HRC a little bit. But not liberal I don't think. I used to think that Rachel was liberal, but not so much any more. People change when they move up in the world.

[riderinthestorm]

105. She's a solid Democrat. There are DUers who know her personally and vouch for her

she actually a fair liberal Dem.

It's a bummer that out of 500+ shows she does/year, this one statement may wipe her out.

We need all the democratic radio hosts we can get.

[sabrina 1]

139. I don't think that's what Bernie Sanders would want, that she lose her job. His campaign

has been very gracious about it and don't seem to want to make an issue of it. Bernie wants to talk about issues, period.

If she's a Dem then I have no idea why she would want to do such a thing, it's not as if she even had a solid source.

[riderinthestorm]

144. Agreed. Her show ALWAYS focuses on issues. It's a weird liberal Dem NPR show

especially because she's handicapped (with her voice handicap).

I'm sure Bernie must know her. Her show is VERY well respected in Washington. She's supremely fair and non-partisan even though she's a liberal Dem.

[sabrina 1]

149. That is what I am hearing from everyone who knows her. I hope it dies down and that she and Bernie

can bridge whatever gap this has created. Not with him but it is causing a lot of outrage which may be beyond his control.

[Ms. Toad]

160. I have noticed her slipping (mentally) for the last couple of years.

This does not surprise me in the least. (It would have a couple of years ago.)

[Kingofalldems]

24. Any evidence?

[sabrina 1]

40. Looks like you want STANDARDS when people make statements. That's great, yet you are willing to give

someone you say has a good reputation as a journalist a pass. Interesting.

No, like her, though I make no claims to be a journalist nor do I receive a salary as such, I am just going with what I saw on the internet.

So far, no one has proved ME wrong. She otoh, within minutes of the claim she made, due a list 'we' got from the internet, was completely debunked. So far I'm doing slightly better with my CT.

And at least I stated it was MY opinion. She presented her CT as if it were a fact.

[Warren Stupidity]

150. I think you have it exactly right.

Somebody on her staff put this on her interview notes. She doesn't do her research, her staff does. Think "anchorman", what goes on the prompter comes out the mouth.

So somebody else's organization got to a staffer and fed them this bullshit.

[6chars]

156. she really ought to clarify

not enough to just say "erroneous, oops" - she should say how it happened, what list.

[sabrina 1]

159. I agree she should say if it was a staff member who did the 'research' and who that was. As for

where the list came from, I posted it in the OP. I believe she did supply the source. It's a FB page that appears to be pretty anti-semitic, have no idea who they are. I would never have used a source like that, which makes me think someone slipped it to her. Though that's just a theory since she seems to have a decent reputation.

[6chars]

173. did she say it was that facebook page exactly?

if so, that is more than odd.

not only would i not have used that as a source, i would not have ever seen that as a source.

unless I googled sanders dual citizen israel or something like that. i don't see how this could be an honest mistake by all involved. it is something that whoever identified it was specifically looking for or maybe something that was being emailed around. this makes it all the more important for her to explain how it came to her attention - how did she come to see this page? if it was an assistant, why did they have it and give it to her? if it was really her, why did she have it?

if it was a rogue assistant who has goes to sites like that or trades in emails like that, and she fires the assistant, that would make her look better. but she hasn't indicated anything like that and i am having a hard time coming up with an explanation that doesn't look pretty bad.

[sabrina 1]

175. She said she got the information from a FB 'list'. If you read the linked article at the top of the

OP, apparently someone researched it and found that page which is linked to in the article. To my knowledge she did not say it herself, but that was what those researching it to try to find the list, found.

I believe it is towards the end of the article..

It really is too bad that this took away from what was otherwise a great interview with Bernie. She game him lots of time to explain his positions, and some good questions from callers, which he answered, about the I/P situation, about African Americans.

She has apologized and I hope people WILL listen to the interview in its entirety.

[6chars]

177. that looks right

but it just doesn't make sense that she would just happen to see that fb page. somewhere in this whole story, it seems like she or someone associated with her did something other than an honest mistake.

[sabrina 1]

179. I agree, that was my theory from the beginning, she was given the information and she thought it was

true which is why her initial statement was so direct: You have dual American/Israeli citizenship' which Bernie interrupted immediately to correct her. Whoever gave it to her she must have trusted. She did use the word 'we', 'we have obtained a list'. Bernie handled it beautifully imo.

[Rex]

18. What ever happened to reporting the news objectively and accurately?

She has gone downhill imo, use to love listening to her show about 5 years ago...however one does not make those kind of mistakes at her level, this was staged and poorly done too.

[DrDan]

19. agree 100% - have listened to her also for many years - very honest imo

just an error by a staffer . . . which she has apologized for

[cali]

46. so a staffer made her accuse him of being a dual citizen?

And she has no responsibility to ask the staffer what the source of said list is?

[DrDan]

54. she apologized . . . mistakes are made

I have listened to her for years and have always found her objective in her interviews

[cali]

61. turns out she was the one that read it on an antisemitic Facebook page

That's not just a simple mistake. She needs to be fired. My guess is she will be within a week or so. I just emailed NPR requesting they drop her. I expect this shit from Fox, not NPR.

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/244554-sanders-i-do-not-have-dual-citizenship-with-israel

[DrDan]

71. my guess is that she is not going to be fired or suspended - it was a mistake she apologized for

[cali]

86. we'll see.

The story is blowing up and her shit apology didn't help her.

[pangaia]

107. Fired?

Cali. I like and enjoy many/most of your posts here. but.. for what it is worth, I have listened to her for many years...maybe you have also... I do not remember her ever making this kind of mistake. I could be wrong.
Something is amiss.

I hope you will reconsider.. There are really 'bad guys' to go after. I don't think she is one of them...

[sabrina 1]

161. I agree, I do not think Bernie would want that either. We don't need to be militant about these

kinds of things, we DO need to be vigilant about making sure any lies or smears are corrected and the sources exposed whenever possible. But I'm not for ruining someone, who is NOT known to be a nasty person, by getting them fired. Bernie is bigger than that as his campaign's statement shows and we should be also.

[RoccoR5955]

33. And boring as hell.

I only turn her on when I want to go to sleep.
Her voice is just the kind of voice that does that to me.

[DrDan]

57. she has a neurological voice disorder

[rhett o rick]

37. The way she "asked" the question was Fox Journalism. Then followed it up with a second

terrible question, "But I saw it on a list." I don't know her but looks like she wants a job on Fox.

I am afraid this is the treatment we can expect for Sen Sanders. The DNC thinks he is "crazy." It's an attempt at killing via a thousand cuts. So far he has handled it very well, don't you think?

[cali]

47. again she didn't ask a question. she accused. period

[rhett o rick]

60. I stand corrected. She made a statement,"Senator, you have dual citizenship with Israel."

She even admitted it wasn't a question. "Rather than asking Senator and Presidential Candidate Bernie Sanders whether he had dual U.S./Israeli citizenship, as I had read in a comment on Facebook, I stated it as fact." and then what did she say? "However, I am glad to play a role in putting this rumor to rest." That's like falsely accusing him of beating his wife then saying, "Really, you don't beat your wife, well I am glad to play a role in putting this rumor to rest."

At best it was Fox Journalism at worst it was a anti-Semitic hit job. "Sen Sanders, has anyone yet pointed out you are Jewish? If not, I am glad to play a role in doing such."

Forgive me for going on and on, but really, "Is it true what I read on FaceBook?"

[appalachiablue]

167. See #152. Fox material maybe 50 years ago-

[drray23]

11. I do not think there is such a thing as a "gotcha" question for Bernie

Since he is just believing in what he says and does not have to pretend supporting a cause on behalf of rich lobbyists, I do not think that the media will be able to trip him up. Its easier to answer when you dont have to keep track of all the previous lies you have told.

I was surprised to hear Diane Rehm carry this line of questioning. The way she phrased it it was a fact and she was incredulous Sanders was denying it. Somehow with that much experience as her should have done her homework and fact check before acting like Joseph Mc Carthy.

[sabrina 1]

163. I agree. He has a gift that is rare, his honesty shines through, a rare thing in a politician

and it impresses people when they hear him speak. Now that I've learned more about her, I am less certain that it was an attempt at a 'gothcha' moment. Still, if she thought it was true, and if it actually was, that would have ruined his campaign. So why didn't she call his office before ambushing him with something she thought was true? What did she think would happen? If you are going ruin someone's campaign you SHOULD call them first, let them know what you have 'found out' and ask them if it is true.

So whether she intended it or not, it was an ambush, thankfully it wasn't true.

[guillaumeb]

13. What is wrong with having dual citizenship?

And being bilingual, for that matter?

Or is this a way of asking about the government of Israel somehow influencing his voting?

[JI7]

16. yes. that's why its mostly asked of Jews

It's part of the whole jews control everything smear

[guillaumeb]

29. Agreed. The whole "dual loyalty" concept

that is generally asked of Jews (and Arabs) in the US. Plus it is fairly easy to do research, especially with the Internet.

[sabrina 1]

28. Nothing so why was he asked the question, especially since it isn't true? Because it was intended

to play into the 'fear of Jews controlling everything' and was a despicable thing to do.

Whether SHE is the culprit, or was given a memo and assumed it was true, who knows, but it was an irrelevant question which she now must ask of EVERY candidate, or it appears that only Jews will be asked, and African Americans.

This was Rehm's Orly Taitz moment.

[guillaumeb]

34. The "Orly Taitz" moment!! Very nice.

And agreed. She should have done some research prior to deliberately asking a loaded question.

A variation of the old "Are you now, or have you ever been a......?" (Fill in the blank space)

[cali]

50. an accusation is not a question

[sabrina 1]

55. I'm not getting your point. She made a false allegation, whether it was in the form of a question

or not. She was caught within minutes and Bernie was once again, proven to have been honest.

[rhett o rick]

51. The way she asked the question was totally Fox News. Just sayin'. nm

sabrina

[Xithras]

136. As President? A lot.

By holding citizenship with two nations, you are obligated to obey the law in both (and many nations have laws governing the behavior of their citizens even when those citizens are outside the country). The elected leadership of one nation should not be beholden to the laws of another nation.

For you and me? Nothing at all. My father in law holds dual Mexican and American citizenship, and there's nothing wrong with that at all. The people who craft the laws guiding the nation are a different story.

[guillaumeb]

141. I am a dualie. Under the law I am eligible to be President.

I personally feel that there is no problem with it, but I am unlikely to be drafted to run for President. If drafted, I will not run, if elected,

[mainer]

21. Who'd a thunk it. Gabrielle Giffords is also Israeli!

According to that page, anyway.

Maybe it's time for Diane Rehm to retire.

[swilton]

22. Diane Rehm is no journalist -

has no college degree. Celebratory status has a way of anointing people with more respect than they are due. This is one of the 'the man behind the curtain is the Wizard of Oz' moments. Of note, here is the Wikipedia already published coverage.

Rehm should be put out to pasture.

On the brighter side - this happened early enough in the campaign that Bernie can overcome it and the staff had better fasten their seatbelts.

From Wikipedia
In June 2015, Rehm interviewed 2016 Democratic Presidential candidate and United States Senator Bernie Sanders and said to Sanders, "Senator, you have dual citizenship with Israel."[11][12][13][14] Sanders stated that her statement was simply not true.[11][12][13][14] Rehm responded to Sanders denial by saying, "I understand from a list we have gotten that you were on that list."[11][12][13][14] Once again, Sanders stated that he is an American and only an American.[11][12][13][14] Sanders indicated that he was offended by the assumption.[12][13] Rehm's statements were criticized in The Federalist for being an anti-Semitic smear, when someone assumes that a Jewish person is a dual citizen with Israel, to chill speech and question the Jewish person's allegiance to America.[11] Sophia Tesfaye of Salon pointed out that Rehm apparently fell for an Antisemitic canard and did not successfully fact-check her information before she conducted her interview with Sanders.[13] In Times of Israel, Gedalyah Reback stated that the interview was controversial because Rehm seemed to have accused a Jewish presidential candidate of maintaining secret Israeli citizenship.[14]

[Kingofalldems]

27. I honestly don't believe there was any damage at all.

[rhett o rick]

68. Sen Sanders handled it well, but the damage was done.

At best it was Fox Journalism and worst an anti-Semitic hit job. If a so-called journalist asks if you've stopped beating your wife, the question does the damage. She made a statement that he had dual citizenship which was false. She claims she read it on FaceBook. Really?

The DNC claims he is crazy. Death by a thousand cuts.

[historylovr]

100. Exactly so. We all know a lie travels around the world before the truth gets started.

[goldent]

95. I agree - he handled it fine and I see no harm done

I'd like to see the US press be more aggressive in their interviews.

[rhett o rick]

116. This was an attack job not aggressive journalism. At best Fox Journalism

at worst an anti-Semitic hatched job. She was telling her listeners, "If you didn't know by now, Sanders is a Jew." Her justification was she read in on FaceBook. Megan Kelly has nothing on this lady.

[rhett o rick]

169. Not surprised, but she knew what she was doing. She made it clear to her listeners that

Sen Sanders was Jewish, in case they didn't know. She made a statement that he had a duel citizenship. It wasn't a question. She has been around for decades and should know whether he had duel citizenship. Even when he flatly denied it she followed up with one of the stupidest things a journalist could say. She saw his name on a list in FaceBook. At first I thought it might have been Fox Journalism but now I am convinced it was a low, rotten anti-Semitic attack.

The billionaires and their henchmen are going to pull out all the stops to swift-boat Sen Sanders. The DNC says he is crazy. But you don't think there was any damage. LOL.

[Kingofalldems]

186. I am not anti Sanders at all.

In fact I like everything he stands for. So do not put me in a box of faux republicans. You know me better than that. I have fought to rid DU of republican disruptors. Gather yourself.

[rhett o rick]

187. Sorry if I overreacted. But your response made me wonder. This was clearly a hit job and

I expect Sen Sanders to get a lot of swiftboating in the future.

[Kingofalldems]

189. Exactly. And this is why I don't think

he can win the presidency. I remember McGovern and the way the media radicalized him. The media is 10 times worse today (Fox) and will destroy any chances Sanders has if he is nominated. That is the cold hard truth.

[rhett o rick]

192. I hope you are suggesting that we progressives give up without even a fight?

We haven't been represented in government for too long. The billionaires may win the fight for the presidency but they won't stop the Populist Movement, it's world wide.

[Kingofalldems]

193. I am not suggesting anything.

As a McGovern supporter I became wise to the willful ignorance of millions of Americans.

It's not gonna change due to several factors, two factors being race and the media.

That's just me, you do what you must.

[rhett o rick]

195. With the help of the Democratic Leadership all Democrats could get behind

Sen Sanders. But the billionaires have their eye on a HRC v Jeb Bush general. Win-win as the CEO of Goldman-Sachs explained to his executives.

The American people are the frog in the soup pot. The Republicons want to turn the heat up high, the conservative Democrats are ok with the current simmer, the Plutocratic-Oligarchs are happy either way. I am hoping that the frog follows the lead of Sen Sanders and jumps out of the pot and flips-off Goldman-Sachs, the king of the Oligarchs. I guess I'd rather die trying to save our democracy and economy than "simmer" for another 8 years.

[sabrina 1]

31. "I understand from a list we have gotten that you were on that list." Shameful really.

Does she ask this of every candidate? And was it HER idea? She says 'we' not 'I'. And anyone looking at that site would know it was not a source to use in a serious conversation.

[SusanCalvin]

126. Really.

Curiouser and curiouser.

[olddots]

25. I'm going to type this anyhow

NPR has sucked since 1980...just my old fart opinion

[Rex]

30. Past ten years it has caved in to GOP demands it be more conservative toward news reporting.

I guess threatening to yank money from public broadcasting does get results!

[RoccoR5955]

35. Not to mention putting in "ombudsmen"

who were very conservative.
It has turned into a Fox News Ultra Lite for me.

[Rex]

38. I'd rather watch Newshour any day of the week, than listen to NPR for news.

Of course PBS was also under the gun by the GOP to change their format and they balked. Some.

[sabrina 1]

36. Yes since they were taken over by right wing CEOs and are now receiving funds from the Koch Bros.

[PowerToThePeople]

78. Iraq is when I heard it turn to shit. N/t

[valerief]

42. "Have you heard of fact-checking, Diane?" nt

[KamaAina]

45. Dear FSM, Diane!

That meme has been going around the intertubes for months. I've even seen it pop up here from time to time. Does the woman have any factcheckers at all?!

The list in question is in fact a list of every single Jewish member of Congress.

[63splitwindow]

48. 'If it was intended to be a 'gotcha moment' it certainly has backfired badly."

It turned out to be a "gotcha moment" all right. Maybe she can get a job doing the TV weather in Alaska.

[madokie]

49. Fire her ass

[jtuck004]

53. "I understand from a list we have gotten that you were on that list." <Keeping McCarthyism alive n/t

[cali]

56. it turns out it was dear diane herself who read it on Facebook. she is totally dicredited

And she didn't notice the in your face bigotry? She needs to be fired.
http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/244554-sanders-i-do-not-have-dual-citizenship-with-israel

[Rex]

62. Wow...now that is sad.

Yeah I change my mind then, she needs to go if she did it herself.

[sabrina 1]

75. I don't know her so my initial reaction was that she was a right wing host who was trying to

smear Bernie. But so many people stated that this is not her normal style, that she is actually a fair host. So I wondered then if someone had handed her a memo.

Reading the dialogue she seemed to be certain she was right and was implying that he was lying.

Not ever having heard her before, I certainly was not impressed and yes, and if she did the 'research' herself she should go.

In the dialogue she uses the word 'we' rather than I.

.I understand from a list we have gotten that you were on that list.

[Rex]

81. And how completely and utterly monstrous is it to demand he was on a list!

Think about that for a minute. Think about his background and how offended he must really feel about that (gee, what other group like to make lists of Jews). I have listened to her for years and years, this is the first time I've heard her act like a Fauxnews reporter...but NPR really did sell out to our corporate overlords. Long ago.

At one time sabrina1, she was an awesome investigative journalist. It is sad to see her fall this low.

[orpupilofnature57]

58. Have Amy Goodman interview him again, she's the best NPR Radio Host .

[RufusTFirefly]

103. Just to clarify: Amy Goodman is not an NPR host

She's broadcast on many NPR stations, but her show is independently syndicated. That's why Democracy Now is so hard-hitting and fearless. It doesn't have to kiss the asses of NPR-style "corporate underwriters" (aka "advertisers&quot .



https://www.democracynow.org/donate

[orpupilofnature57]

119. Thanks for the info, her and Juan Gonzalez are a great team .

[RufusTFirefly]

120. Indeed! I've met them both. Both very nice, genuine people despite their fame. n/t

[orpupilofnature57]

122. Cool ,Thanks .

[Enthusiast]

63. I refuse to turn it on. NPR has gone over to the dark side.

[neeksgeek]

67. NPR is not what it used to be. n/t

[rhett o rick]

70. I gave up on them years ago. The Oligarchs bought them out. nm

[drray23]

69. here is the so called list she was alluding to

https://m.facebook.com/notes/we-are-all-vittorio-arrigoni/list-of-politicians-with-israeli-dual-citizenship-/175479365845092

written by a lunatic called dan eden.

[cali]

74. wow. I need a shower. And fuck Rehm.

[sabrina 1]

80. Yes, it is in the OP, a clearly anti-Semitic site that anyone going there would see.

[drray23]

82. did not notice.

if you think my post is inapropriate i can delete.

[sabrina 1]

84. Absolutely not, please leave it, others may not notice it in the OP so it's good that you posted it

here. Sorry if I gave a wrong impression!

[glinda]

113. I reported them to FB for review.

[bullwinkle428]

127. Jesus. This reads like "Protocols of the Elders of Zion : The New Edition".

Didn't "Tricky Dick" have an official/unofficial "Jew counter" in his administration? Google says "he certainly did"! Fred Malek is his name...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Malek

[frazzled]

73. That doesn't do it

There are a number of problems here:

(1) That's not a question that should even have been asked in the first place and;

(2) What on earth would make a supposed journalist, even a pundit, make a presupposition based on a Facebook posting? I mean, honestly, I can't even ...

[SusanCalvin]

128. Yep. nt

[PowerToThePeople]

77. On par with most of today's "journalism" n/t

[Bluenorthwest]

85. She's a lazy, entitled fool and I personally can't stand her and see her as a prime example of NPR

systemic rot. They have people on the air for their entire careers. It's like being on the Supreme Court, a perma gig.

[Codeine]

89. This accusation has even been posted on DU before.

http://sync.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=6288194

[Fumesucker]

106. That was .. interesting

[Rex]

151. Wooooowwww...did you follow the link? Seriously, 'educate yourself' if not.

I can't believe someone got away with posting that here!

[Fumesucker]

155. Oh, I wasn't that surprised when I noted the identity

All animals are equal don't you know.

It has been a very edifying couple of days here on DU.

[tishaLA]

211. I kept scrolling down the thread, hoping someone would post that

it's vile antisemitism and it's been posted here on DU before. I had been inclined to say that Rehm made a stupid mistake, but because this is not just an ordinary mistake of fact, but one based on long-discredited antisemitic canards, and the fact that she asked a followup question about "other" lawmakers who might have dual US-Israeli citizenship, I have come to believe she should be fired.

[appalachiablue]

92. I've listened to her a few times & have read about her. It doesn't matter how well

like she is, what she did is inexcusable journalistic malpractice and deliberate. She should resign or be fired, like her superior. Period.

[TheKentuckian]

96. Establishment hack doing the dirty work of establishment hacks.

[chknltl]

98. Something smells funny over at WAZU radio.

Oopsy, should have said: Something smells funny over at WAMU radio.

[matt819]

99. That is so unlike her

Really strange approach for DR. And you know that the nutbaggers are going to run with this.

[KoKo]

104. Disgusting! I stopped listening to her a few years ago...Now I know Why!

They all can sound impartial...but, when one "digs into the weeds" they find they are "Wolves in Sheeps Clothing." I really used to like her but she is now dealing with the PBS TakeOver by Koch Brothers that's been ongoing for a long while.

At least she apologized but without PUSH BACK she would have gotten away with it. It's shabby reporting and her reputation has to suffer from this because there may be people who still watch her thinking she is PBS of Old and not this new RW Crap Entity that still tells people their "Small Donor Dollars Matter SO MUCH."

What do we do about this though. If even our PUBLIC AIRWAVES are NOW ALL PROPAGANDA for the RIGHT...then HOW do WE TAKE THEM BACK?

[lumberjack_jeff]

111. Diane Rehm has the worst voice for radio I've ever heard.

Her cadence and diction make her entirely incomprehensible.

[Codeine]

121. She suffered a voice disorder called spasmodic dysphonia well into her career.

From what I understand she basically had to develop a new way to talk, and it's very difficult to manage.

Her sudden leap into crypto-antisemitism is far more displeasing to my ears.

[lumberjack_jeff]

142. Tragic as it is, the disorder rendered her completely and entirely disabled in that field.

Perhaps writing is her thing.

[Codeine]

143. I agree she's largely unlistenable. nt

[Demeter]

124. I am not surprised at this

I don't like Diane Rehm because she doesn't have the courtesy of admitting that her voice is so bad it hurts to listen to her trying to force out the words. It is such a relief when she's off on a botox treatment and some other person takes over.

She's also got a tendency to take the bit in her mouth and run off with it, regardless of what the guest or the caller is trying to say.

Truthfully, she is way past her prime as a host for a call-in show. She should retire now, with whatever honor she has left, before she's forced out.

[navarth]

125. DAN RATHER was FIRED for saying something that was TRUE.

I still remember when I started to dislike Diane Rehm. In 2000 she disavowed any support of Al Gore on her radio show. I'll never forget it. I haven't trusted that woman since.

If Dan Rather got fired, she sure as hell deserves it.

[SusanCalvin]

129. Absolutely

I've always been convinced Dan was set up.

[MissDeeds]

153. +10000

Yes she does, and we need to do everything in our power to make sure that happens.

[spanone]

131. america, the laziest media in the world.

[carolinayellowdog]

134. DR-- Arab American of the Year 2013

I can't believe no one has brought this up yet. Have been a great admirer of DR for more than 20 years, but can imagine how she was misled into this disaster. And NO, DU Islamophobes, this has nothing to do with Islam; Diane's background is Christian so don't even go there.

However, one can easily envision that lies about a Jewish American could circulate among Arab Americans, and one of the latter could fail to do proper vetting of a hatemongering rumor about one of the former.

[choie]

135. So now "journalists" use Facebook as a source????

WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON??????????????????//

[REP]

137. Fuck her for using that slander; she should know better

That she fell for this so easily reveals a lot about her, and it isn't flattering.

[X_Digger]

140. She's losing her ever-loving mind. n/t

[Blue_Tires]

145. At least she apologized

90% of the media industry doesn't even do THAT anymore...

[cali]

146. it was a for shit apology, containing the same bigotry.

[Blue_Tires]

147. Yeah, the quality and sincerity of the mea culpa could have been better

[kwassa]

162. You don't know Diane Rehm

nor do 98% of the posters here, despite the fact that she is syndicated on NPR stations all over the country.

This is unfortunately so typical of DU. The uninformed getting morally outraged over items they know little about.

[cali]

164. sorry. I have listened to her show many times.

So you are the one ignorantly blathering, sneaking excuses for bigoted shit. And if you didn't know that accusing a Jew of dual citixenship/loyalty is an ancient well established part of the antisemitic lexicon, now you do.

[beam me up scottie]

180. "Senator Obama, you have dual citizenship with Kenya."

How would that have gone over, kwassa?

Would you still be apologizing for her overt bigotry if it was directed at a poc?

[sabrina 1]

178. Yes she did and the apology came quickly even as the false claim was making its way around the

internet which hopefully will minimize any damage done.

The rest of the interview was excellent so it's a shame this happened.

Bernie was asked about his views on the I/P situation eg, did he agree that Palestine should have its own state. He answered with a firm 'yes'. On Netanyahu, it is clear he does not like him and stated how he opposed what he and the Republican Congress tried to do to undermine Obama on Iran, which he supports. He praised Obama and Kerry for their efforts on Iran.

Other topic he addressed was police brutality, Ferguson, the militarization of our police etc. She would be receiving accolades for that interview as well as Bernie, had that statement not been made.

I hope he appears on her show again, he seems to respect her from what his campaign is saying.

[pa28]

154. Bernie handled the situation with his usual aplomb.

As the weeks go by and the polls narrow it's only going to get worse.

[rhett o rick]

170. Let Ms. Rehm know what you think at this contact

http://thedianerehmshow.org/contact

[Babel_17]

172. Have to wonder how that question made it into a big league interview

Frankly, even in a regular forum on the internet one can get blasted for posting poorly sourced "information". Who here hasn't double checked a lot of stuff before posting?

Well, no sense in us dwelling on it. I think we can leave it behind and just note that Sanders was cool as a cucumber and showed maturity and class in his handling of it.

Back to the issues.

[sabrina 1]

203. Good post, and that's precisely what Brenie wants to do, get back to the issues.

[ALBliberal]

176. She did NOT apologize immediately! she strung her comments out trying to cover her ass! Bernie

Handled brilliantly. America will fall in love with this candidate! I love him for his matter of fact no nonsense approach. He rocks!!!

[Roland99]

182. LONG past time for her to retired. Can hear it in her voice

she doesn't sound well. Her speech has slowed greatly.

Apparently her mental faculties are starting to fail her, too.

[mwrguy]

183. Koch brothers? No.

Hillary? Maybe.

[deutsey]

184. I listened to Diane's show from the early '90s through about 2000

I liked her show a lot at first. She gave very intelligent, well-researched interviews. The more she became part of the inside-the-beltway cocktail circuit, however, the more annoyed I grew with her show.

Her comment "as I had read in a comment on Facebook" reminds me of one of the reasons why: very intellectually lazy and presumptuous on her part.

[HoosierCowboy]

196. Let's ask the bigger question...

...why should any representative of the US government hold dual citizenship in the first place? No one can serve two masters. What would the reaction be if a Congressman held dual Iranian citizenship?

Even the Bush Administration busted Israeli dual citizenship as far as security clearances being issued in their first term.

....this shit has to go!!!

[appalachiablue]

198. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) held dual citizenship until recently when he dropped Canada-

Go figure...

[cali]

199. let's address the fact that she had no evidence on which to base her assertion

[L0oniX]

197. It's time for her to leave the air waves to others that know FaceBook is not FactBook.

[underpants]

204. She got Rehm-ed

[Eleanors38]

206. LOL! BA DOOM-BOOM!

[heaven05]

210. that facebook page

is truly misinformation for the low information and more importantly, for the 'not wanting truth crowd'. And they will just keep voting GOP out of hate for all they see as 'others'.

[yellowwoodII]

213. Standing up for Diane Rehm

Clearly, people who want to see her fired don't listen to her. She is one of the most evenly based moderators I know. I listen every day, and I would have the judgment to discern her perspective.

So she made a mistake. We don't know where she got that information since lists such as that go viral. A member of her staff probably researched it for her.

What is so awful about saying that he had dual citizenship, other than it was an error? It seems to me that to suggest that that was a criticism of Bernie is anti-semetic. I'm glad it came out. If that's the rumor, then it was good that it was cleared up. He answered very well. Now we know.

I'll bet that Bernie wasn't upset. He's a big man. He can stand an error.

By the way, I'm a Bernie Sanders supporter.

Calm down.

[Stargazer99]

215. The "mistake" smells of GOP manipulation

[Rex]

224. She got the list from a facebook comment and read it as a fact. The list was neo-nazi garbage.

And it did upset Bernie Sanders, so now what?

[DrBulldog]

217. Now just watch the Hillary people use Rehm's outrageous question against Bernie.

Not to mention also the GOP after Bernie wins nomination . . .

[Romeo.lima333]

218. she did it b/c she's hillary's lesbian lover and is trying to clench the nomination for hill. i KNOW

this b/c I read it on facebook, right diane?

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

219. A FACEBOOK COMMENT!!!??!?????!!?!??????!!11

We should have a WTF smiley.

WTF!!!

[hedda_foil]

220. So she accused him on the basis of "A COMMENT ON A FACEBOOK PAGE"?????

That strains credulity to the breaking point ...

Ah,I see on edit that it was a Nazi Facebook page that she believed as gospel.. I think it's time to start calling and emailing both PBS and her broadcast station to demand they cancel her contract and her show.

[turbinetree]

222. I guess if Miss Rehms were to look up Last Names and Semantics she would have concluded

Rehm = (German)
Sanders = (Scottish, English, North German) ------------not quite Israeli

Just a thought

[4_TN_TITANS]

223. Diane has had a great career,

but it's long past time for retirement.