Couric Criticized for Edwards Interview

[RedEarth]

CBS News has been slammed today over Katie Couric’s interview with John and Elizabeth Edwards on “60 Minutes,” the criticisms whipping around the blogosphere and permeating all quarters, including Mr. Edwards’s discussion about global warming in California today and at his wife’s appearance at the City Club forum in Cleveland.

Here’s Mr. Edwards’s statement, released tonight:
The Edwardses appreciated the opportunity 60 Minutes afforded them to respond to tough questions which have been raised in response to last week’s diagnosis that Mrs. Edwards’ cancer had returned. Mrs. Edwards also called Ms. Couric today to thank her for the interview and to say that she and Senator Edwards thought the interview was both thorough and fair.”

During a roundtable today in San Francisco to discuss his plan to halt global warming, Senator Edwards was asked about the matter and said: “My reaction was that Katie Couric asked questions that the American people are asking themselves, and I think they were completely legitimate questions.

And I think the American people deserve answers from me and from Elizabeth to those questions. I mean, I’m asking America to support me and vote for me as their next president, and I think part of the evaluation of a candidate for president is a personal evaluation of the character and integrity and honesty of a candidate. So, no, I thought the questions were fair. Tough. I thought they were tough, but they were fair.”

.........

On her own blog, Ms. Couric late this afternoon cited a New York Times article on Saturday that gave her pause:
I was also surprised to read an article in the New York Times about how people viewed this story through their own personal prisms – some in a negative way. I really used some of those voices as a framework for my questions. I knew that everyone was reacting differently to this, and I wanted the Edwards to have a chance to elaborate and respond to issues people were raising. When the interview was over, the biggest compliment came from Senator Edwards, who thanked me and said: “You asked all the questions that were out there.” I think they appreciated having an opportunity to respond.



more reaction to the interview here.........


http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/03/26/couric-criticized-for-interview-with-edwardses/

[MADem]

1. "Some say" is a cheap shot. Name those who say, I say! NT

[no_hypocrisy]

2. The use of "some say" is worthy of girls room chatter in middle schools.

[goclark]

3. Someone should interview Katie about the interview and her ratings

They should ask her some FAIR questions about her poor performance.

John and Elizabeth define the word CLASS!

Katie does not.

[kirby]

4. CASE CLOSED

"she and Senator Edwards thought the interview was both thorough and fair."

If The Edwards' thought it was fine, then its none of my business any longer.

[jbonkowski]

7. No way

Sometimes, the gracious thing to do is say that you weren't offended by something, and let others who support you make the complaint.

The Edwards campaign doesn't want to pick a fight with (potentially) an entire network, but those with some sense of fair play and journalistic integrity should complain until CBS acknowledges the interview had problems.

jim

[ClassWarrior]

9. Agreed. Let the Edwardses be Presidential. WE can handle the outrage.

NGU.

[kirby]

11. Weird sense of fairness

I'm quite amazed that most of us here were willing to accept the Edwards' decision as a personal decision, but when they publicly announce they thought the interview was not a problem, we ignore that.

For full disclosure, I haven't seen the interview, so perhaps I'm not spun up about it like others. But I think the double standard is disconcerting for me.

http://johnedwards.com/news/press-releases/20070326-couric/

[depakid]

15. Hypocrisy in the corporate media is everybody's business

Just because Edwards is being gracious doesn't mean that the rest of us who look at this objectively have to think so.

Couric was a disgrace- and it would seem that a lot of people are calling her on it.

[Morgana LaFey]

18. not to mention Gotcha Politics played by so-called journalists

That's what offends me the most: every damn question was an insult disguised as an inquiry. Shameless!

[winston61]

5. That's great-repeating what Limbaugh says is now news and

worthy of acknowledgment. I guess that repeating slander from talk radio is easier than being thoughtful and original.

[fasttense]

6. I don't care if the Edwardses didn't have a problem with it.

I care that our corporate media has sunk to such lows. Rumor and propaganda are not adequate sources for a once professional TV news magazine. The fact that the Edwardses don't see the problem does not make it any less of a problem.

[ClassWarrior]

10. I doubt they "don't see the problem"...

Heck, Mrs. Edwards is registered DUer. I'm sure, if nothing else, she's read our posts on the subject here. She and JE are just staying above the fray - as well they should.

NGU.

[Cha]

12. Exactly!

The Edwards came out like shining stars from that interview with couric.

But, that doesn't change couric's hypocritcal, "some people say", "stinkbomb look" approach.

[liberal N proud]

8. Isn't it amazing how these whores use and view "tough questions"

[WorseBeforeBetter]

13. She giggled her way through Colbert, then decided to show her fangs...

with the Edwards, three days after their sad announcement. Why the hell wasn't she baring her teeth with Kindasleazy rather than asking such hard-hitting questions as "what's it like to date as Secretary of State"? I can't believe someone who is such a lightweight and so disingenuous has risen to evening anchor on CBS (actually, given the state of Corporate Media, yes I can). You reading, CBS? You shoulda stuck with Schieffer!

I agree with the other posters--the Edwards' showed true grace in the aftermath of this interview. Ms. Couric could learn a thing or two from them. Let us do the dirty work.

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ixion]

16. yep, I've heard 'some' say that

:rofl:

[MasonJar]

17. I was very offended by the interview on a personal level. I was looking

forward to seeing the Edwards, because I admire Elizabeth Edwards as much as anyone I know. The interview was caustic, ill-timed and unnaturally (under the circumstances) belligerent.

[Morgana LaFey]

19. Well put. And THAT doesn't necessarily equal "tough."

The questions were tough, and many of them were probably okay. But as you point out, the framing, the sneering, the obvious "set up" for inherent criticism and the thinly veiled insults just made it quite odious. That's not journalism, that's an attack.