Did You Ever Consider that Katie did John & Elizabeth Edwards a Favor?

[Vox Acerbus]

Everyone's filled with Katie hate tonight, as I knew they would be. And hey, I don't fault you for it. She's a lousy anchorwoman and often simply a braindead cheerleader shill for the RW.

But tonight's interview, while on the surface infuriating as it may seem, was actually a favor to the Edwards' campaign, as I view it.

Katie asked all the hateful, callous, insensitive questions that your average RW pigdog is throwing out there. She set up each hate-filled "talking point" the RW is using, and then gave John and Elizabeth Edwards full opportunity to address and discredit each and every one of them. They hit it out of the park with every question, and Katie let them.

If Katie were truly deserving of hate for this one, she'd have been like a slobbering Chris Matthews, arguing every point back at them. But she wasn't. She teed every hateful RW comment up, and let them do what they wanted to it.

I personally think she did a favor to the Edwards campaign by letting them address each point so clearly and so eloquently right at the lead in 60 Minutes.

Katie's annoying, and I don't respect her, but she did what they needed to have done, and well, tonight.

[karlrschneider]

1. I didn't watch it so I don't know but hope you're right.

;-)

[TomInTib]

15. She was just awful

Tonight was the first time I have seen her in action.

And I guarantee you right now that it will be the last.

The Edwards were great.

Ms Couric sucked.

[SpiralHawk]

2. Vox Acerbus indeed

Dudette !

Excelsior !

[Vox Acerbus]

9. Hehehe :)

Yes, "dudette" indeed. :-P

[libnnc]

3. Well, that's true...

She still sounded like a broken record.

Yours is a point I hadn't thought about.

[Vox Acerbus]

6. Oh she's totally annoying, to be sure!

In fact, I was saying to my husband as we watched it, "Oh man is DU gonna be lit up tonight over this one..."

I was tremendously annoying to watch her directly ask all those attack-like questions, but if she'd come out and softballed the interview, all fuzzy Barbara Walters-lighting and all, the questions would never go answered in such a public, prime time forum. And John & Elizabeth deserved the chance to answer them, and I think they were glad to have a chance to address the attacks of right wing jerks, without having to ... you know ... actually talk to Rush & Hannity, etc. directly.

[Fla Dem]

4. I don't find her annoying, maybe a little too cheery at times, but I just posted a

similar respose in one of the messages below. I too think it was a win/win for the Edwards and Katie knew just what she was doing.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=501363&mesg_id=502089

[Vox Acerbus]

8. Yup...

In fact while watching it, seeing how comfortable John & Elizabeth Edwards were with the questions and answering them directly, I got the distinct feeling that pre-interview Katie probably said she'd be asking all the RW talking points, to give them a chance to address them.

I saw a win/win too, except for DU, where I knew it would NOT go over well... And honestly I wouldn't expect it to. People here worship Elizabeth Edwards (and I do too!) and don't want to see her hurt, but I think she's one tough cookie.

[youngdem]

5. Uh, NO. She tried to hatchet job them, but she is TOO incompetent to pull it off

[Vox Acerbus]

7. We will have to agree to disagree...

An attempted hatchet job would have been if Katie had interrupted John & Elizabeth while they were answering, or kept coming back to a question to try to break down their story, etc.

Katie asked jackass questions, but she asked them, gave them full chance to answer them, and let the answer stand. So as I saw it -- no hatchet job.

[papau]

10. I agree - it was a classic tee it up and watch the problem go away - transcript link below

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/03/24/60minutes/main2605038.shtml

[Laurab]

26. Thanks for the link.

I agree, too. I really have no opinion on Katie Couric, as I've never watched her, except on Colbert the other night, but she asked questions that were going to be asked by someone. John and Elizabeth passed that test with flying colors.

[MLFerrell]

34. Call 1-800-DOCTORB!

The "B" is for bargain!

What's your "B" for. Laurab?

[Laurab]

36. It's actually for my last name and I admit

I was NOT thinking when I registered with DU, because my first name isn't really Laura, it's Lori, but I was using a little bit of an alias because I was paranoid someone would know who I was. It did not occur to me until after that it was sort of a bad choice....I'm not all that bright sometimes!

[splat]

11. She asked what people with rigid ideas are grumbling about

I posted this on an earlier post that didn't see it this way, but it belongs here, too. I agree, but it's not just RW. This society is fairly rigid about what's appropriate behavior. She took on that role, the "Mrs. Grundy" of Emily Post, passing judgment on social behavior. Good to get it out there. Not the usual Mike Wallace approach.

I thought she looked tight, and drawn (and glaring, at the beginning), which is unfortunate for her. She doesn't look enthusiastic in her new roles.

But I also think she was trying not to do a Barbara Walters-style softball interview. And she was a foil for the Edwards' responses, letting them address responses that a lot of people besides Rush are having. Why make it about him at all?

She probably did herself no career favors with this one, but this was their moment and she let them have it.

No harm, no foul.

[Cha]

12. Oh yeah, as much as I deplored

the way couric tried to bring them down..I know I went away from it thinking how gracious and eloquent the Edwards are under fire.

[givemebackmycountry]

13. I agree with the OP and let's face it...

Katie should be back where she belongs, standing in front of a pot of soup with Al Roker on the Today show.

She's a horrible presence on anything that's "news" related.

I was counting how many times she used the old FOX NEWS tactic of leading off each question with:

"Some people say"
"Some say"
"Some are saying"

Who is this "some" person, and why does he or she have so many questions?

:shrug:

[libnnc]

18. That "some people say..." shit really ticks me off

Psssst.

Hey Katie...

"Some people say you're a vapid, ditzy little cheerleader who should never have gotten past the local snooze desk or a stint doing PM Magazine...some people think you're an absolute twit in heels."

[barb162]

29. Your question

Who is this "some" person, and why does he or she have so many questions?


It's my sister-in-law and a million others like her. They're snooping ignorant morons.

[sandnsea]

14. I'm watching now - WOW

She really will not let go of this. How bizarre, considering she worked all the way through her husband's cancer.

[babylonsister]

17. I forgot about her husband; thanks for the reminder.

She was doing her 'job' as a 60 Minutes correspondent, or her perception of what one should do.
I thought she was pretty bad, but the OP is right. It again shows the grace of the Edwards.

[femrap]

16. Does everyone hate Katie just cuz she's a woman?

It seems that there is a special kind of hatred for the gals....be it Hilliary, Condi, etc. Usually extra vile words are used to describe their looks and behavior.

I agree with the OP....I think Katie did the Edwards' a big favor....a BIG one.

[libnnc]

19. I have no problem with her as a woman

I just wish she'd do her job.

[tavalon]

21. Nope, she's just stupid

and stupid isn't gender based. Remember who is trying to pretend to run this country.

[sandnsea]

23. No

You don't see shit against Christiane Amanpour or, well, Elizabeth Edwards - do you?? No. People who are lousy at their jobs are called on it. We shouldn't give women a pass just because they're women.

I can't see how an endless right wing rant helps anybody. All people will remember is that we should worry about a President who doesn't quit to take care of his sick wife. They may never have thought about it before - but they will now.

[MethuenProgressive]

24. I'm sure that's one reason the Right hates her - almost as much as DU does.

:shrug:

[VelmaD]

25. Of course that's part of it...

though almost no one here will admit it. There's already a post tonight where the OP, a woman no less, called Katie a "bitch" 3 times in one post. It's ridiculous.

[tavalon]

20. I just went and read the interview and while Katie is no Edward Murrow

this did give them the platform to discuss the things the reichwing is trying to stir up. Also, at least from the transcript, it looked fairly respectful if a bit blunt. But I give her a small pass because she is a member of a group that no one wants to be a part of, she is a widow and her husband died of cancer. Remember? So, she gets a pass on this one from me.

She's still a moron but it looks like this isn't such a bad one.

[DeepBlueC]

22. hmm, interesting thought

Didn't make it any less painful.

[liberal renegade]

27. she'll be kicking rocks before long...

[JohnnyLib2]

28. I agree with you, Vox. My cancer -survivor spouse and I

have learned that if you are willing to open up the (cancer) subject, people ask things in every conceivable manner. Fear and ignorance abound on this topic; Couric certainly did "tee every .... comment up."
The Edwards handled the questions well, which is why they made this appearance.

[barb162]

30. Yes

[crim son]

31. I didn't see the interview, but you're describing a pretty

standard interviewing technique so you may be quite right.

[democrat2thecore]

32. Complete Interview (video) Now Up

http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/i_video/main500251.shtml?channel=60Sunday

I thought it was fine. They both did great and katie wasn't bad at all, imo.

[newyawker99]

35. Hi democrat2thecore!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[earth mom]

33. Katie's intention was to hurt, make no mistake about that.

But she tried to do it in a way so that she herself wouldn't look bad. You know, that kill you with kindness, "bless your heart" B.S. while she stabs you in the back repeatedly.

Unfortunately for Katie it all backfired big time on her because the interview clearly showed to the entire country that the Edwards's are good, kind, decent, classy and ethical people and that Katie is nothing more than a total b*tch.