Let's Hear it for Katie Couric!

[torbird]

I, for one, was already geared-up to burn Couric for cozying-up to Palin, being her buddy, and going easy on the VP candidate in the interview.

INSTEAD, Katie hammered Palin on the economy, on McCain's record, on the campaign's record, and exposed Sarah Palin for the vapid, craven fool that she is. Inside, outside, walking down the street, and sitting down face-to-face, Couric never wavered, never missed a follow-up question, didn't let Palin hide behind tired talking points or incessant repetition of the same empty words.

Please show some appreciation for Couric, either by emailing CBS to laud her, or by posting on DU. She did her job. That's the highest praise a journalist can receive.

(CBS) CBS Evening News, Weekdays editions:

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[gateley]

1. Will do. And I concur. Where most interviewers would let a banal answer

just drop and move on to the next question, Katie pushed for clarification. I was surprised, too. As I was a few times with Charlie.

[bigscott]

3. in what respect?

I'll get back to ya!

She is a dolt and an embarassment to the entire nation

peace

[nycmjkfan]

4. I missed it

Was she better than Charlie? Anyone have a transcript handy?

[torbird]

The sit-down killer

Part of the sit-down interview:

" Couric: You’ve said, quote, “John McCain will reform the way Wall Street does business.” Other than supporting stricter regulations of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac two years ago, can you give us any more example of his leading the charge for more oversight?

Palin: I think that the example that you just cited, with his warnings two years ago about Fannie and Freddie - that, that’s paramount. That’s more than a heck of a lot of other senators and representatives did for us.

Couric: But he’s been in Congress for 26 years. He’s been chairman of the powerful Commerce Committee. And he has almost always sided with less regulation, not more.

Palin: He’s also known as the maverick though, taking shots from his own party, and certainly taking shots from the other party. Trying to get people to understand what he’s been talking about - the need to reform government.

Couric: But can you give me any other concrete examples? Because I know you’ve said Barack Obama is a lot of talk and no action. Can you give me any other examples in his 26 years of John McCain truly taking a stand on this?

Palin: I can give you examples of things that John McCain has done, that has shown his foresight, his pragmatism, and his leadership abilities. And that is what America needs today.

Couric: I’m just going to ask you one more time - not to belabor the point. Specific examples in his 26 years of pushing for more regulation.

Palin: I’ll try to find you some and I’ll bring them to you."

[torbird]

15. The outdoor part

Via Politico:

"PALIN: My understanding is that Rick Davis recused himself from the dealings of the firm. I don't know how long ago, a year or two ago that he's not benefiting from that. And you know, I was — I would hope that's not the case.



COURIC: But he still has a stake in the company, so isn't that a conflict of interest.



PALIN: Again, my understanding is that he recused himself from the dealings with Freddie and Fannie, any lobbying efforts on his part there. And I would hope that's the case because, as John McCain has been saying, and as I've been on a more local level been on a much more local level been also rallying against is the undue influence of lobbyists in public policy decisions being made.


COURIC: Then we focused on the $700 billion government bailout of bad debt and I asked her if she supports it.



PALIN: I'm ill about the position that America is in and that we have to look at a $700 billion bailout. At the same time we know that inaction is not an option and as Senator McCain has said unless this nearly trillion-dollar bailout is what it may end up to be, unless there are amendments in Paulson's proposal, really I don't believe that Americans are going to support this and we will not support this. The interesting thing in the last couple of days that I have seen is that Americans are waiting to see what John McCain will do on this proposal. They're not waiting to see what Barack Obama is going to do. Is he going to do this and see what way the political wind's blowing. They're waiting to see if John McCain will be able to see these amendments implemented in Paulson's proposal.



COURIC: Why do you say that? Why are they waiting for John McCain and not Barack Obama?



PALIN: He's got the track record of the leadership qualities and the pragmatism that's needed at a crisis time like this.



COURIC: But polls have shown that Senator Obama has actually gotten a boost as a result of this latest crisis with more people feeling that he can handle the situation better than John McCain?



PALIN: I'm not looking at poll numbers. What I think Americans at the end of the day are going to be able to go back and look at track records and see who's more apt to be talking about solutions and wishing for and hoping for solutions for some opportunity to change, and who's actually done it?



COURIC: If this doesn't pass, do you think there's a risk of another Great Depression?



PALIN: Unfortunately, that is the road that America may find itself on. Not necessarily this as it's been proposed has to pass or we're going to find ourselves in another Great Depression. There has got to be action — bipartisan effort — Congress not pointing fingers at one another but finding the solution to this, taking action, and being serious about the reforms on Wall Street that are needed.



COURIC: Would you support a moratorium on foreclosures to help average Americans keep their homes?



PALIN: That's something that John McCain and I have both been discussing whether that is part of the solution or not ... you know, it's going to be a multifaceted that has to be found here.



COURIC: So you haven't decided whether you'll support it or not?



PALIN: I have not.



COURIC: What are the pros and cons of it, do you think?



PALIN: Well, some decisions that have been made poorly should not be rewarded, of course.



COURIC: By consumers, you're saying?



PALIN: Consumers and those who were predator lenders also. That's, you know, that has to be considered also. But again, it's got to be a comprehensive long-term solution found for this problem that America is facing today. As I say, we are getting into crisis mode here."

Bear in mind, Palin was gesticulating wildly while saying this, also looking at the ground/her feet while talking (couldn't look Couric in the face -- Palin also appeared to be glancing at a card in her lap at one point during the sit-down). And when Couric said Rick Davis still had a stake in the lobbying firm, well, Palin actually just stood still and stared for like 5 seconds. I almost could hear crickets in the background.

It was a debacle the likes of which no Republican has ever imagined.

[No DUplicitous DUpe]

19. I've only seen the first part that aired last night in CBS evening news...

But I liked Katie's style of interviewing - I believe there is more on tonight.

[seabeyond]

2. what i noticed. could see the smart and intellectual in couric and empty vapid of sarah

was so different in the two women.

[oldtime dfl_er]

5. Hey anyone that can make Katie Couric

look like Einstein ... well, let's just say she ain't qualified for dogcatcher.

[seabeyond]

6. i know a lot arent fans. i dont care. a person can have a brain or not

she has one. bush/palin, empty. you can see it in their eyes

[AndyA]

7. I really can't give Katie Couric much credit for anything.

Over the years, she's given more than one Republican a pass on the facts.

I think her latest aggressive interviewing is more an effort to try to improve her dismal ratings than anything else. I think she's been told to get more viewers or get out! Yes, she did hold Palin to task but more often than not she will let a Republican get away with lies and misinformation.

Good job this one time, but how long will it last?

[Egnever]

16. spot on

I agree.

ABC's rep had fallen so far the media practically shamed him into giving a hard interview. Same with couric after her fiasco with creative editing on the mcsame interview.

[tbyg52]

23. I don't know, but at least this is a bright spot. nt

[RichGirl]

8. I hope the freepers are reading/watching this.

Yesterday they were in agreement that Palin should fill in for McCain in the debates as if SHE WOULD CLEAN HIS CLOCK. They really believe that she's a genius. Of course, they'll blame Katie for asking the wrong questions.

[Jennicut]

9. Katie and Charlie, two for two. Who would have thought?

[Egnever]

12. I think they realize they needed to salvage their reputations.

Before these two interviews most of us thought of them as a joke. Mcsame is a lost battle it cost them nothing to tear him down and gives them the appearance of objectivity.

[Orsino]

17. I still think they softballed as much as they could stand...

...but Palin is too much of a lightweight for even those two to prop up successfully.

[Neecy]

10. I was impressed as well

She didn't let Palin get by with her memorized non-answers, and was pretty dogged throughout the interview.

Nice change from her Condi interview where they showed her working out and playing the piano before they had some 'girl talk'.

What amused me, though, about the interview is that Couric had that sour, nasty look on her face that she normally reserves for Democrats. Then I knew Palin was in deep trouble.

[Egnever]

11. after she replaced mcsames answer to questions earlier?

Think I am going to pass on congratulating couric on making an idiot look like an idiot. She did her job whooopie!

I guess with her track record we should all just be grateful she didn't spend the interview trying to get into sarahs pants but....

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

13. Hurray for McCouric!

:party:

[Max_powers94]

14. yeah

[nycmjkfan]

20. That is hysterical!!!

[firedupdem]

18. I think that they are realizing that their careers and reputations

are done if they continue to kiss up to these assholes.

[MBS]

21. Good suggestion.It's super-important to thank

both journalists and politicians when they do their job. Positive reinforcement works!

[Bluenorthwest]

22. Let me know when Katie

reports a follow up on the regulation question. Palin said she'd run and fetch some examples of McCain's record on deregulation. When Katie reports that Palin never got back to her on that, I'll send her a note.

[nc4bo]

24. She shocked me. Responsible journalism or $$ doesn't matter, she did her job. nt