What's wrong with America was on display on ABC tonight...

[milkyway]

Judy Dean is one of those people that radiates human decency. Watching her for only a few seconds on television is a humbling experience. She is so appealing precisely because she doesn't try to be appealing. She is a genuine human being, and exemplifies all that we should be.

Sitting across from her was her polar opposite, Diane Sawyer. She reeks of phoniness, with her schmaltzy sincerity (except tonight, she made it clear she wasn't a big fan of the Deans). She kept trying to get Judy to admit to Howard ever losing his temper and Sawyer wouldn't take no for an answer. She was desperate for Judy to give her just one example so she could have her big scoop. (And so what if he had occasionally lost his temper? Most people get angry and yell once in a while, including Presidents, but we need evidence that Howard Dean had done it just once so we can convict him).

But what really upset me was the subtext of the question about why she would subject herself to being First Lady and getting dressed up for State dinners. They showed a picture of a perfectly coiffed pickles with a Miss America smile walking down a runway. The clear subtext of the question was, "Why would a plain, simple woman like yourself want to humiliate yourself trying to live in a world you're not meant for? Wouldn't you rather be home knitting sweaters and munching granola? After all, I'm sure you were never the Prom Queen like me."

Diane Whore, a shallow and empty human being.

[VolcanoJen]

1. I'll never forgive her for her ruthless, and cruel, Dixie Chicks interview

"Ashamed? Ashamed???" she questioned, in her moralizing, demeaning, silver-spoon beauty-queen manner.

It was disgusting, and an assault on journalistic ethics and free speech.

I didn't see much of a change in Diane's tone during the Deans interview.

[aquart]

2. Who came out looking better?

[question everything]

8. You have to remember that Diane went with Nixon to San Clemente

to help him with his memoirs (or something)

[dawn]

19. Funny thing

She doesn't look like a beuaty queen to me.

[Melodybe]

3. I really hate DS, She really is one disgusting bitch

One would think that she would understand what it is like being a career woman herself, but she definitely implied that Judy was lesser for not traveling with Howard.

I was glad that Howard watched her back, saying that they get tons of letters talking about how refreshing it is.

[JI7]

4. wasn't she the one who did the elian florida family interview ?

i don't think i have liked her ever since then. she kissed their ass big time.

[texasmom]

21. Yes

She did an interview, played over days, of Elian himself, and was clearly on the side of the family in Florida and against the father. The NYTimes wrote an editorial criticizing her journalistic ethics I stopped watching her then. When she interviewed the Dixie Chicks she was again incredibly biased and rude. I haven't watched her since. After that I researched her background and saw that she had worked in the Nixon White House. I had known there was some sort of Republican connection before that.
I don't know why anyone would allow her to interview them in this sort of setting. She is horrible and definitely has an agenda.
I didn't see this interview, and now I'm glad I didn't. It sounds like Judy Dean came out great, though.

[countmyvote4real]

5. The press did that to Rosalynn Carter, too.

But I agree, I think Dr. Judy was quite charming. Plus it was nice to get to see her.

[Orangepeel]

6. but it was kind of funny how awful Laura looked in that picture

I've never been one to pick on Pickles for the way she looks and dresses because I hate the fact that it is so important to people. But, since ABC brought it up, she looked like a bridesmaid at a tacky wedding.

Judy, on the other hand, was fantastic tonight. I loved her answer to the question about why she'd want to go through the first lady nonsense. I can't quote it verbatim, but the gist was that the good that Howard can do for the country is worth the sacrifice.

[BurtWorm]

7. I liked her innocent zing about TV being something to avoid!

Right to the gut of Miss TV Supreme. It was priceless! :loveya:

[MinnFats]

9. Readers of Woodstein's "The Final Days" may remember Sawyer..

....
worked for the Nixon White House.
She wept the day Tricky Dick fled with his tail between his legs.

What more do you need to know?

[AntiCoup2K4]

20. But but but the media is so LIBERALLY BIASED!!

Geez, haven't you been paying attention to the Prophet Sean Hannity and His Exalted Oxycontiness?? All the media is controlled by those damn dirty liberals. Especially ABC with Diane Sawyer who did not work for Nixon that's a liberal lie and Peter Jennings who did not lie about Our Great pResidnet being a deserter - so stop saying that!!

/end Freep mode

[BeyondGeography]

10. Didn't see it, but your characterizations

are on the money. Judy Dean is obviously a decent human being. Howard clearly loves her (his face lights up when she's around). She has a wonderful life in beautiful Vermont doing essential work. So she's not the "model" political spouse? A credit to her.

As for the botoxoid, Diane Sawyer, she would roll her own mother under a bus if it meant getting an Osama Bin Laden interview.

[mitchum]

11. That lipless harpy Sawyer is dirt compared to Dr Judith Dean

Dr Dean is an outstanding woman

[jburton]

12. Judy said she doesn't care for TV much

That absolutely boggled the mind of Diane Sawyer.

"Journalists" can't fathom that not everybody is glued to news shows to catch the latest expert "analysis"

How can such a smart woman like Judy Dean not be glued to the TV to get her "news"??? How can she survive???

:eyes:

[Metrix]

13. Howard Dean should not have referred to his wife in the third person

in her presence over and over and over, while talking to Diane Sawyer, who also did it. It was painful to watch. He should know better.

[BurtWorm]

14. It wouldn't have been proper grammar to use anything but

the third person when talking to someone about someone else.

[Metrix]

15. He should have said "Judy" instead of "she"

But I'm sure you really knew what I meant.

[BurtWorm]

16. No, actually I didn't. I apologize for being snarky.

I didn't notice that myself.

[snyttri]

17. Doesn't sound like Sawyer would impress many Democrats with her

prying.

[dawn]

18. Yeah, Diane Sawyer is very shallow.

She reeks of emptiness. She always has so much soft light on her face, too. I noticed that right away.

She should be glad she had to interview someone as nice as Judy Dean. Many others would not be so gracious answering such rude questions.

[Cheswick2.0]

22. I thought Judy Dean seemed amused at Diane's antics

It was great. I probably would have been annoyed and shown it, but Judy Dean was smiling and almost laughing at one point when Diane wouldn't get off the silly topic. She made Diane look silly.

[dusty64]

23. Its a shame the

media minions don't try to get their scoop on chimp or crashcart, it sure as hell wouldn't be very difficult with their tons of crimes and scandals. Its a small wonder why no one who is not a rightwing extremist would not want to go any where near these disgusting regime puppets.

[adadem]

24. I agree with you all

I thought Sawyer was incredibly rude in comparing pickles to Judy Dean. She is not that kind of person and came across as down to earth and honest. I also agree the media is showing "the scream" video too much...if I have to see it one more time I'm going to scream.

I'm very impressed with Judy Dean...she is a genuinely honest and unassuming person.

[ludwigb]

25. Absolutely right

Great post.

[Ripley]

26. Great post. Sawyer looks like the Bride of Frankenstein.

I mean she's what...62? And strives to look like 20-something Britney Spears. How many facelifts and botox injections can you have in a week? I try not to watch her, but in the past I have noticed she always flirts very grossly to the male celebrities she interviews....I mean really outwardly like "Please let me touch it after the interview.." I honestly believe she would have done that to Dr. Dean if Judy wasn't sitting there.

I think they came off as a very loving, natural couple and were honest and sincere. And like you said...her phoniness only highlighted their "normalcy."