Free Candy Crowley!

[loyalsister]

I know a lot of people here dislike CC, but I think as a moderator having the opportunity to ask follow questions gives us an opportunity to get more detail.

Do we understand why the campaigns want Crowley, one of the best political journalists in the business, to be seen but not heard? Absolutely. Is it an absolutely ridiculous request? Absolutely.

While we are all in favor of “regular” people getting to directly question the candidates, the simple fact is that the likelihood is that these questions will be broad rather than narrow — a reality that will allow Obama and Romney to stick with their pre-determined talking points.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2012/10/15/let-candy-crowley-moderate/

[sadbear]

1. She's a political journalist?

Damn, I thought she was just a political hack.

[loyalsister]

9. People say that about Wolf Blitzer

Yet, he is the one who asked one of the best, most revealing questions during a R primary debate. "What would you do if a person without insurance is in and accident that results in a coma?"
It seems like anytime a journalist pushes someone on our side to answer questions, they are tagged RW hack.

[CreekDog]

17. you aren't making any sense, you are suggesting she ask her own questions

but the questions are supposed to come from the audience.

and you're supporting this with an example of Blitzer's question, which wasn't from an audience, which makes no sense because tomorrow night's debate will have the audience asking.

do you even know what you want?

[loyalsister]

19. Follow this...

A 20 something audience member -- "I have a pre-existing condition, do you support my right to have healthcare?"

O's obvious answer is it kicks in in 2014.

Mitt Yes, but....

Crowely could follow with "how do you plan to make it work, Mr. romney?"

My mention of Wolf Blitzer was to point out that people pretty much always accuse moderators of being RW hacks even when they do push Rs during debates.

[CreekDog]

21. you haven't stated why she's professional, fair or good

still waiting on that.

in fact, let's be clear: you've accused people here of being unfair, while saying that Blitzer and Crowley are fair.

you probably don't even realize you're doing it.

[loyalsister]

28. Pointing out that there is disagreement is unfair?

My opinion is different than that of many. That seems to be the only fact in this discussion.

[Oilwellian]

37. That's not what O's "obvious" answer would be

Obamacare's pre-existing condition insurance is available NOW. That has already kicked in. I think it's important that at LEAST one thing you say is based on fact. LOL

[loyalsister]

39. For children that is

For adults it's 2014

[Oilwellian]

40. That is just not correct

Here's a link to the insurance offered in my state:

To qualify for coverage:

You must be a United States citizen or reside here legally.
You must be without health coverage for at least the last six months before you apply.
You must have a pre-existing condition or have been denied coverage because of your health condition.

http://www.healthcare.gov/law/features/choices/pre-existing-condition-insurance-plan/va.html

[loyalsister]

41. That is a specific plan for pre-existing conditions

The specific regulation I was referring to under ACA, is that it will be illegal to deny coverage for adults based on pre-existing conditions in 2014.
http://healthreform.gov/newsroom/new_patients_bill_of_rights.html

[FSogol]

2. LOL: "one of the best political journalists in the business"

Sure, I don't mind the moderator injecting themselves into the debate. However, I do not feel Crowley will be unbiased.

[loyalsister]

14. Not my words

But I do think she is less biased than people think.

[CreekDog]

18. yes, you keep saying this but you don't back that statement up

[loyalsister]

22. So, I am supposed to simply accept your belief?

You are talking about an opinion here. I don't believe she is as biased as other people think. It's a pretty simple difference of opinion.

I think that whomever the moderator is, they should be able to follow up on the questions asked by the people. It opens an opportunity for the candidates to offer more detail and it gives them more time to make their case.

[Whisp]

3. CC one of the best political journalists?

o come on.

she's a hack. she practically megaphones what side of her bread is being buttered by the Repuglicans.

wtf. man this is a backwards twisted world of lies.

[HappyMe]

4. "best political journalists"

She's a pundit. Right wing pundit.

[Zen Democrat]

5. Best in the business? She's a hack.

[UTUSN]

6. Title should read, "Free US FROM Candy CROWLEY" or "Free Haley BARBOUR from being stalked by her" nt

[closeupready]

7. She was the biggest freaking Bushbot - I'll never

forget how unfair she was to John Kerry. 'One of the best in the business' - propagandists? Yes, indeed.

[alsame]

13. Remember Bush's nickname for her?

"Dolce", meaning sweet or Candy. She used to giggle whenever he addressed her this way. It was nauseating.

[mitchtv]

8. "best political journalist"

they haven't been around much , I presume

[okieinpain]

10. man please the less we get from her the better.

i watched a little bit of wolf's interview with romney this weekend and it was nothing but a romney commercial. he threw up softball after softball with no follow up questioning at all.

allowing crowley to speak would be the same thing all over again.

[sad sally]

15. Here's some of Blitzer's interview with then Senator Obama, who smacked down Mittens:

BLITZER: There are major differences between you and John McCain...

OBAMA: Exactly.

BLITZER: ... on a whole host of domestic issues...

OBAMA: Exactly.

BLITZER: .. and foreign policy issues. And I want to go through those right now.

OBAMA: Sure.

BLITZER: Already, some of his surrogates, some of his supporters, are suggesting you're not ready to be commander in chief, president of the United States.

Mitt Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts, said this. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MITT ROMNEY (R), FORMER MASSACHUSETTS GOVERNOR: He has not accomplished anything during his life, in terms of legislation, or leading an enterprise, or making a business work or a city work or a state work. He really has very little experience. And the presidency of the United States is not an internship.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Wow. That's a strong statement.

OBAMA: Yes.

Well, the contest didn't work out so well for Mitt Romney. I think he was making those same arguments against John McCain, suggesting that John McCain, as a senator, hadn't done what Mitt Romney had done. And, yet, here we are, and there Mitt Romney is.

Look, when it comes to national security, I think that what people are looking for is good judgment. They're looking for somebody who is going to be able to assess the very real risks that are out there and deploy our forces, not just military, but diplomatic, political, economic, cultural, in a way that makes the American people safe.

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0805/08/sitroom.01.html

[joeybee12]

11. One of the best journalists?

[backscatter712]

12. Candy wants to feed Obama to the Sarlacc... n/t

[TheKentuckian]

16. Crowley sucks on a good day. False premise.

[Baitball Blogger]

20. She is a partisan hack. She has a hardon for Republicans and doesn't hide the fact.

So, no, she should not be allowed to do anything but hold the microphone up for the townspeople to ask their questions.

Hey, townspeople can present some seriously difficult questions on their own. This is THEIR 90 minutes.

[Puddy]

23. She needs to ask the questions... shut-up and let President Obama and Mitt go at it.

[loyalsister]

27. That would be juvenile

A debate style for 5th graders maybe, but most grown-ups would not be impressed.

[DJ13]

24. Free Candy

[loyalsister]

25. This article is not about the moderator!

It is about the format of a debate which happens to be moderated by Candy Crowely.

I think she should be able to ask questions that would naturally follow the original question and answer. Would that be offensive if Rachael Maddow or Chris Mathews were moderating?

[madinmaryland]

26. Oh FFS! She is a right wing hack.

If she is allowed to run free at the debate, she will work on screwing President Obama and give Rmoney a free pass.

Fuck her. She's a right-wing hack.

[OldDem2012]

29. To whom do you believe CC will ask her follow-up questions to "get more detail"??...

...As a long-term right-wing hack, what kind of "detail" will she be seeking when she questions the President? What kind of follow-up questions will she ask of Mitt Romney?

Think about it, and then "free" yourself from thinking she will be fair and honest.

[loyalsister]

30. The candidates

I don't buy into the operating assumption that she is a RW hack. There are obvious follow up questions. It's an opportunity to ask romney for details about the "plans" he keeps talking about. It is pretty obvious that that is where he is weakest.

[OldDem2012]

31. You must be one of the few posters who believe CC is not a RW hack. nt.

[loyalsister]

34. I don't assume that she is

It seems that all journalist other than s\pundits Maddow or Chris Mathews are considered RW hacks here. On the flip side, all journalists and pundits other than Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly, etc are part of the librul media.
Among some of our most dedicated partisans, there are no fair journalists.

It's subject to interpretation and opinion.

[OldDem2012]

32. By the way, have you noticed that nobody has recommended your OP?....

...that by itself should be telling you something.

[loyalsister]

33. Unfortunately no one bothered to consider the substance

I work with the LWV helping to moderate candidate forums which are almost always in a town hall format. We have been advocating for this on a national level for a long time.

[ashling]

35. Did you see all the righty comments to that article

They think she is downright a downright communist

[loyalsister]

36. lol I missed them

But it's no surprise.

[Bucky]

38. She asks good followups like a .190 batter hits homeruns.

About twice a season, usually in games when it doesn't matter.