MTP Interview With Edwards pissed me off.

[PresidentObama]

It seemed to me that Tim Russert was less concerned with giving a hard hitting interview with one of the great Democratic candidates, and more concerned with nailing Edwards to the wall and making him look bad on national television.

When he asked Edwards how he would pay for his 900 billion (?) dollar universal healthcare plan, he asked if John would raise taxes? I really wish Edwards instead of saying yes and then going onto explain that he would repeal the tax cuts for the wealth he should have explained he would repeal the tax cuts for the wealthy only. I can see it now if the nominee is Edwards, the GOP slime machine cutting a television spot with that one clip. Russert saying will you raise taxes, and Edwards saying yes.

I really didn't like Russert trying to knock out Edwards with questions about homosexuality, and if it's something you're born with and if it is a sin. I think Edwards handled both questions very well, but it was obvious Russert was trying to nail him on national television.

And Russert seemed to be obsessed with getting Edwards on the record about the other candidates, and getting him to bite and attack one of his primary opponents.

All in all, very disappointing interview by Russert. Which was kind of expected. Edwards did pretty good, but I felt he knew Russert's strategy and was being very careful.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

1. I want ONE of our candidates to mention to Timmy his involvement in the Plame trial.

The Dems need to quit kowtowing to this RW shill. MKJ

[neoblues]

5. I'd like ALL Democrats to eschew MTP.

Just refuse to appear on Russert's show--and make a point of explaining to the Press why they no longer care to bother with that partisan hack (I don't hold Tim or any similar "journalists" in very high regard). That'd put a dent in Russert's standing. Indeed, I wouldn't be unhappy if all Democratic candidates (and even all Democrats period) chose to abstain from all such/similar shows entirely--if it weren't for the fact that then they wouldn't have much access to the people (as the media is by far the primary information highway to the populace).

Alas, in addition, doing so might backfire in some way (and perhaps several ways) with the public--at least the entire Repub/Conservo segment and bleeding into the Independents, and the media itself might retaliate. Still, they don't even deserve our participation in their gamey shows.

Hmmm. Did I mention I think we need to act to force media reform? Operative words: act, force, reform.

[bullimiami]

2. russert is an asshole. he softballs bush and cheney and lets total bastards

get away with anything and he pounces on anyone he isnt scared of. ie decent people.

he is a coward. why does anyone watch his shit?

[PresidentObama]

3. I agree he seems to give some free passes.

I watch "his shit" because I try and watch all the Sunday morning news shows, and plus I wanted to see Senator Edwards speak while keeping a relative open mind about the 2008 election.

[bullimiami]

6. it makes me too mad to watch. i dont want to stroke out.

:)

[billybob537]

4. Russet is cheney's Mouth piece

Timmy Pushes the WH line. Don't look for fairness he's a bought and paid for shill.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

8. As documented in court evidence. n/t

MKJ

[JNelson6563]

7. Timmy really wanted

Edwards to dis Kerry. Glad ol' Timmy failed miserably.

Julie

[PresidentObama]

9. It's red meat.

That's all Timmy wanted. And I'm glad Edwards didn't give it to him. He didn't bash Obama or Clinton, he may have gave some criticism here and there. But he handled the fact Russert wanted him to go on the attack very, very well.

[high density]

10. If you're looking for fiscal discipline, I don't think Edwards is going to be your man

He's already stated that he's not concerned about the deficit and he would rather just keep spending money.

[stray cat]

12. Clinton took care of fiscal discipline and one repub ruined it all.

at least Edwards would permanantly reform health care. Repub run up the deficit everytime they are in office for their wealthy constituents and Dems always end up picking up the pieces trying to repair the damage and get nothing that lasts. The republicans strategy even has a name: starving the beast. Maybe its time the Dems didn't fall into their same old trap.

[high density]

14. So you're fine having all of this debt owned by China?

I'm not.

[stray cat]

15. No - but I'm also not in favor of wealth built on the back of workers

the way it stands now we are in debt to China while workers lose their health care, any political clout and their jobs and livlihood. And we're still in debt to China.

[VA_08er]

13. Oh c'mon

be realistic. MTP is a fine show and TR needs to ask tough questions. You HAVE to ask how someone is going to pay for a huge new program. You HAVE to ask about homosexuality. What's wrong with answering questions? That's what debate is all about. If Russert didn't ask the tax question, then he would not be doing his job.

[newyawker99]

20. Hi VA_08er!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Missy M]

11. Too bad John Edwards couldn't say.....

cheney likes to be on your program because he says can control you but I prefer you asking me the tough questions that you do, so I can answer honestly. What would Russert say then.

[napi21]

16. I don't have a problem with TR asking tough questions and

insisting a candidate answer them. Certainly I want him to do that with EVERY candidate, and just maybe, after the exposure during the Libby trial that TR has been USED by this admin, he might be equally rough on all the candidates.

Answering rough questions is part of the job of any candidate, and the higher the office being sought the ore difficult the questions need to be.

[Alhena]

17. Universal health care is a political loser in the general election

At the end of the day, politics is largely about self-interest. Most voting Americans have decent health insurance. They know full well that to give similar benefits to the have-nots, the money is going to have to come from the haves. Yes, there are some noble souls who are willing to dig deep and help others out, but most will not want to do so.

Hillary, Edwards and Obama all favor universal health care, and I fear the Republicans will be able to make some effective scare ads about raising taxes to pay for universal health care.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

23. I disagree with you on just about every point you made.

The majority of Americans have health insurance through their employers. The cost is rising horrendously and they know the business world is precarious these days. Most know someone who is screwed on healthcare. Also the cost of healthcare for the self-employed and small business is just unsustainable. We rank 37 in terms of quality of healthcare in the world.

Universal health care IS NOT A LOSER in the general election. Universal health is a clear-cut winner in a general election.

[saltpoint]

18. Edwards should have asked Russert if he felt heterosexuality was a sin.

And if high school reading assignments like the blatantly heterosexual ROMEO AND JULIET should be banned from our public education curricula.
______

Edwards did pretty good this morning, I think. He sounded a lot more fluid in his answers than anything he was asked by Tim Russert. Russert's goal on MTP is to embarrass people, whether deserving or not. "But back in 3rd grade, Senator, you said this..."

[rep the dems]

19. "'But back in 3rd grade, Senator, you said this...'"

:rofl:

[zulchzulu]

21. I refer Meet The Press as "Meet The Russert"

Gotcha interviews...

[Clark2008]

22. Not that I'm defending Timmah, but Edwards did his part in

making himself look bad on national TV, Timmah or not.

[Auntie Bush]

24. Edwards should have said he'd destroy the Military Industrial Complex

and pay for Health Care from all the fraud and waste and there seems to be plenty of that...billions and billions!

[Auntie Bush]

25. Dupe, sorry.

[madmunchie]

26. Edwards needs to be pinned down as does every other potential

candidate.

Edwards is really taking a strong stance in things now that he doesn't have to vote in Washington. His recent pushing on Iran, defunding Iraq, Universal Healthcare...now that he doesn't have to do the nuts and bolts and negotiate and be tied to votes in Washington, he is spouting off, what he thinks, are populist views. As they say the "Devil is in the details" and so far I don't see many details, just a lot of rhetoric. Since we cannot track his performance by his actual votes, hard questions have to be asked and analyzed, since that is all we have to go on, seeing that his 6 year record in Washington was less than impressive.

[wisteria]

27. Russert never interviewed a Democrat he treated fairly. n/t

[Apollo11]

28. It was a tough interview

I am not a regular viewer of MTP, but I will make a point of watching the potential candidates.

I hope every candidate gets a grilling as tough as the one given to John Edwards.

It's a good way to see how they would deal with the pressure of a Presidential Debate.

Let's be fair to Russert - he allowed Edwards to answer each question in his own words.

He did not try to cut him off or put words in his mouth. I think Edwards did OK.

[jenmito]

29. I think Edwards is talking tough about what the Senate should do

because he's not IN it anymore. Just like he said Obama was against the war from the beginning because he didn't have to vote on it and he didn't see all the information he saw.