Katie Couric just made me have a flashback

[Tsiyu]

I had to turn her off.

Watching her grill John and Elizabeth Edwards, I found I was suddenly transported back to a Fundy church social, my plate of fried chicken and potato salad balanced on my knees, slurping down some sweet`tea from a Mason jar when along comes the most gossipy, judgemental person out of the entire congregation. An ugly, bitter soul who asks the most inappropriate questions and who always seems to gloat over the misfortunes of others.

I start getting hit with an onslaught of this person's insulting, mannerless queries and I have to hold back an urge. To. Just. Slap. That. Nasty. Look. Off. That. Face.

Wow. She showed the whole world - and the Edwards' - just what a socially brutal creature she is.

[Dover]

1. A little dramatic don't ya think? She asked the question most people wanted answered.

She asked it several times, from different angles. But that was really the ONLY question that needed to be asked and answered. It was a delicate thing to talk about, I don't care WHO did the asking.

[DeepBlueC]

2. and asked it, and asked it, and asked again

and then offered alternative answers to the one they offered.

[Tsiyu]

13. I guess we tuned in for different reasons

I trust the couple to make their own decisions and I don't need some rock-solid promise to stay in the race no matter what. Hell, who of us knows what might happen in any future? Can you swear with all certainty that you'll be posting on DU next November?

And which human being on the planet doesn't have family issues to deal with? Couric is using the same logic used against women in the workplace: "Won't your personal obligations keep you from performing your job, Little missy?"

Give it up! As if the guy in the White house now is the cream of the freakin attentive crop!!!!!!!

Maybe she should have just said, "You know, I've been supporting a real idiot in the White House now and he's screwing things up so badly we need Superman. Can you be Superman?"

Give me a freakin' break, please....

[Dover]

18. I'm not judging Couric's questions because I think she was simply asking

what she thought people wanted to know. That's her job. If she hadn't asked them then I'm guessing she'd be on the hook for that too. I'm not a Couric OR an Edwards fan, OR a fan of the idiot in the White House so I don't feel any particular bias. Just an observation.
If there were some good alternative questions to enrich us, then I'm all ears. But I think that Couric asked exactly the questions that are on many people's minds. Couric lost both her husband and sister to illness, so I'm sure she's sensitive to this issue. I don't know how that affected her professional life, but at least I know she's not insensitive to the issue.

[Tsiyu]

23. Oh. I thought you said there was one question and one question ONLY

that needed to be asked. Call me confused.

I think there are so many damned questions to be asked of any potential presidential candidate that Couric had a wealth of avenues to pursue.

Of course the cancer would occupy most of the interview, given the events of the past week, but there are many other vital issues she could have switched to after the couple answered the question.

But, "Navy Seals Rock!"

[dflprincess]

3. I agree with the OP

I thought Couric was extremely negative and enjoyed harping on how this could go badly. A balanced interview would have spent as much time discussing how the disease also has a chance of being controlled and that Elizabeth could have many, many years left.

[Cha]

14. "Harping"..that's the word I've

been looking for to describe couric's bulldog approach questions to Elizabeth's prognosis and why they would want to continue on the campaign trail to give their message to Americans.

[Tsiyu]

16. I was more interested in their ideas for the country

I know her cancer is of vital concern, and would be discussed, but when Couric refused to move away from her morbid inquisition, I was left wondering why such a shallow, hopeless person was put in charge of the interview.

[babylonsister]

4. I bit my tongue and listened, but I don't like that woman. I suppose

she had to ask the questions, but she could have used some tact, which I didn't hear. I'm sure the Edwards were ready for it and probably have read/heard worse.

[Tsiyu]

20. Elizabeth Edwards seemed to give her a look

of pity mixed with disgust. The couple held their own because they have grace and tact and all the other qualities Couric lacks.

[Solo_in_MD]

5. At first I thought you had retinal flash burns...but then again, I am reading things funny

Couric is not cutting it as an anchor. Had it been a traditional anchor a change would have already been made.

Its a shame really, I had hoped she would make it, but its clear that she is a host not a reporter or journalist.

[CTyankee]

6. Well, I think your problem is because of the far right response, who would have a similar

response to what you recounted.

This is an emotionally charged issue. I thought Eliz. and John did a great job. It was obvious to me that they wanted to continue to save this country.

I am considering my vote now and will probably vote for John Edwards if wehave a CT primary.

[never_get_over_it]

7. Although I gave up on Katie a long time ago

sounds like she was pretty insensitive and if she was SHAME on her - her husband and sister both died from cancer. I salute Elizabeth and John for going forward. If people have concerns about "it going bad" then don't vote for him. I for on plan on voting for him in my primary and would be more than happy to vote for him for President.

[Tsiyu]

25. I don't usually pick a candidate this early

I let the race sort itself out first, watch and wait. I am not a die-hard Edwards fan who can't bear to see anybody say an unkind word.

I am just a human being who feels that, when talking with a couple going through a diagnosis of cancer, a normal person would show some level of empathy and kindness.

I am just a citizen who feels you can ask questions of a Democratic politician that DO NOT ALWAYS involve that Democrat's personal life.

[DeepBlueC]

27. I am SO with you nt

[Tsiyu]

38. Thanks for that

:hi:

and welcome to DU if you're new!

[Nitrogenica]

8. My letter to CBS regarding "Couric".

Katie Couric is too politically biased to adequately interview a Democratic candidate, and tonight's interrogation of John Edwards and his wife proved this. "Some people say...,some people say....some people say..." and every example cast negatives upon John's decision to continue to run.
Some people say John Edwards is an inspiration, some people say he was more Presidential this week than we've ever seen him. You wouldn't know this from that "grilling".
Isn't CBS curious why their evening news is in the crapper? It's because Katie is and has been a shill for the GOP, and cannot be trusted. I'm sure her boyfriend has been spoon feeding her talking points for quite some time.
I will continue NOT to watch the CBS nightly news.
Thank you.

[Tsiyu]

22. Cool

:thumbsup:

She could have tried to be human, a tad friendly even. Instead, she seemed ill-tempered and vindictive.

You can bet that if she had been interviewing Republics, she would have had a much softer, more hopeful, more humane approach.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

9. I tuned Couric out years ago, but did sit through her nauseating gigglefest with...

Steven Colbert. I wonder if CBS had kept Bob Schieffer as anchor whether they'd be in last place. At least he doesn't giggle!

[otohara]

10. When Her Husband Was Dying of Cancer

did she quit her job?

I wanted to slap her too.

[Delphinus]

15. Ooh,

send her that question and see if she responds!

[Tsiyu]

19. I agree

As did the posters above, I wondered about that very same possibility: that she continued to work away from her sick hubbie and kids. I do not know.

[libnnc]

29. Ding. Ding. Ding.

Excellent response.

[abluelady]

11. I Don't Watch Katie Couric

but I remember hearing her husband died from cancer. Did she stop working and stay home and take care of him? I was just wondering.

[dflprincess]

34. Even if she did, so what?

She could afford it and NBC would have held her job on the Today Show for her. Staying home is not an option most people have. My job only gives 5 days of paid leave for the death of a spouse, child or parent, I don't know many people who can afford to take a lot of time away from work regardless of how serious the family crisis is.

[abluelady]

41. Why Was She So Insistent He Stay Home

We're talking two wealthy folks here. Money is not either of their issues. Did she give up her job for a sick spouse is all I was wondering because of the way she interviewed them. If she did stay home with her sick husband I can understand her viewpoint; if she didn't, where was she coming from?

[WorseBeforeBetter]

42. Perhaps guilt that she didn't stay home? (n/t)

[Tsiyu]

43. I understood that

and I wondered as well, the entire time she was sitting there looking like the town's meanest gossip practically bitching the couple out for wanting to carry on despite their troubles.

She almost seemed to be......projecting? Like maybe she has some deep-seated guilt about her own work schedule?

Again, I don't care that she asked a few tough questions, but about the third time she said, "Some people say..." I said, "Some people say you are an idiot, Katie."

Ans some people say you can interview a couple facing a cancer diagnosis and show a LITTLE compassion, even if you are brown-nosing * for a living.

[madrchsod]

12. i thought maybe you saw her in an acid flash back but

a church social is close....i`m watching the bands "the last waltz" now that`s a really good flashback

[Tsiyu]

26. Nice choice for a flashback

and I see you've been to a Fundy church social :(

[Colobo]

17. I think Couric did a very good job.

[Cha]

21. Yeah, for a

harpy.

[Fla Dem]

36. No win situation...if she didn't ask the questions, then she

threw softballs, she grills them AS A JOURNALIST IS SUPPOSED TO DO, and she's the wicked witch of the west. I'm for Edwards and if he can't handle these questions now, then he should get out of the race. These are questions they will be asked in every way and manner possible. It great he got a chance to set the baseline before anyone else could distort his and Elizabeth's situation. I frankly think Katie did them a service letting them address so many variations of the type of questions that have been raised since their announcement. By the way, I think they did a great job.

[Colobo]

39. Thank you for your common sense

[2Design]

24. I was surprized they agreed to this interview n/t

[undeterred]

28. You know, compare her to Barbara Walters

who always asked the tough questions, but underneath you knew (or at least I felt) there was still some human compassion.

When Katie asks the tough questions, I don't get the feeling that she has compassion for the people she's talking to, any more than Matt Lauer does. She's just a newsbitch.

[Tsiyu]

40. Exactly

You can ask tough questions without being judgemental, while maintaining some warmth in the interview.

[biscotti]

30. Couric is

disgusting!!!!!:puke:

[MagickMuffin]

31. Such a contrast of her PERFORMANCES On The Colbert Report and her 60 Minute Interview

That's ALL I could think about. She was just sooooooo giddy on The Report, yet here she out performed herself with the scowling mouth. It didn't change my opinion of her at all, only made them worse.

Shame on you:puke:Katie.

[Vox Acerbus]

32. I don't like Couric but I look at it this way...

Katie lined up all the Neocon hate talking points, and let the Edwards' (Edwardses?) bash them down one after the other.

I've seen her do this before. Sometimes she seems to be a shill, and in this interview I can see why she comes across that way, but in essence she basically lines up what the RW is going to throw at them, and lets them hit each lie out of the ballpark.

[Dover]

33. Agreed. AND I think the Edwards WANTED to answer those questions.

They needed to. So it worked for them I suppose, although it's really a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation. Callous and ambitious vs. dropping out in the face of trouble. The GOP could hit from either angle...and will. Count on it.

I'm sorry for the Edwards, but don't support his presidential bid.

[Goblinmonger]

35. I think you need to be applauded for the line

"slurping down some sweet tea from a Mason jar." THAT was hilarious.

[Eric J in MN]

37. Did the congregants each get a mason jar to drink from....

...or was there a big mason jar with iced tea to pour into cups?