American Idle: MSNBC Gets To The Issues After An Hour Of Self-Obsession

About all you need to know about last night's debate is that the third sentence out of Brian Williams' mouth, introducing the many bunk questions about race that would follow, was, "Our sponsors expected it of us." Just so you know what was driving these distractions into action. The tragic hero of the affair was the nameless member of the crowd who Howard Bealed, "Could we stop talking...[unintelligible] race-based questions coming from you two?!" A nation salutes you, whoever you are. Don't tase him, bro.

Unfortunately, the efforts of this anonymous patriot were for naught, as debate moderators Williams, Tim Russert, and Natalie Morales were bent on spending the first segment of the debate enjoying a long, smug look into the mirror and at their Great Works--the various process storylines they enjoy perpetuating and the race/gender sideshow into which the campaigns got themselves mired since the New Hampshire Primary. The first question that contained substance-like substance was the twentieth. Here's what preceded that:

• "Senator Clinton, why are we talking about race?"
• "Senator Obama, why are we talking about race?"
• "Senator Edwards, what do you think of how we're talking about race?"
• "Senator Obama, I'm going to re-ask the question, and pretend that this speaks to 'accountability."
• "Senator Obama, do you think anyone has noticed that you are black by now? Because you are totally black!"
• "Senator Obama, are you sure that the people in New Hampshire didn't suddenly notice you were black? How else can you explain what happened with the polls?"
• "Senator Clinton, I think I'll re-ask the question I just re-asked and again pretend that I'm concerned about accountability. I'm Tim Russert, serious journalist!"
• "Senator Clinton, any chance I can get you to criticize one of your own surrogates? No? Okay, over to Natalie Morales."
• "Hey, Natalie Morales here, and by sheer luck, I happen to have a question from a voter that is at least as asinine as the ones we've been asking!"
• "Senator Edwards, you're white. And male! Don't you feel guilty about running for President?"
• "Senator Obama, you made Senator Clinton cry! Don't you feel bad about that?"
• "Senator Edwards, isn't it true that you and Senator Obama have privately formed the No Girls Allowed Club?"
• "Senator Clinton, why do you and your husband hate Senator Obama so much?"
• "Would you at least acknowledge that your opponents are allowed to be President?"
• "Senator Obama, I'm going to take a remark you gave to an obscure newpaper and blow it wildly out of proportion, okay?"
• "Now we're going to ask each of you the sort of question that really bad managers ask during really cliched job interviews."
• "Senator Obama! Have you heard all the terrible things they're saying about you on the internet? We got three emails just this week! Let's talk about these things in detail!"

And then they took a break, and if America had any sense at all, they switched over to American Idol, where candidates are actually tested on the merits and where people's bad ideas are exposed without the need to "balance" them with false arguments.

Comments

[Ginzaman]

Just as I thought. The Great Race Debate in America that lasted for about five minutes after Imus got fired came back for about another three. But then the neocon media decided that we the public are too stupid to handle anything other than "American Idol" and the latest boring crap between Olbermann, Anderson Cooper and psycho O'Reilly. How much more f****d up will this get?

[Purple Girl]

This is the staged 'wedge issue' which will be ultimately won by both- Running mate (surprise)
clinton and Obama are Fred & Ginger- edwards is merely leading the band. All three have voted -one way or another- in supoort of this Admins agenda. I'm sick!!
the media has crowned the both Queen & King- as they've been instructed to do.
SAVE US THE MONEY AND THE HEART ACHE ALREADY AND CROWN THEM!!!
Besides they are the best defense against any bigotted assisination attempts once in office right?
SOB- We're being Cattle herded again!!!

[contrariandy]

Sorry MSNBC, but as soon as I saw that Tim (Excrete of the Press) Russert, was there to ask his crap-loaded questions, I left for sports talk. Apparently, it was far worse than I expected it to be. Did they really ask questions like that, or did it just feel that way? If only we could swap our media for some real journalists who give a damn about America. Fantasy Hardball?.

[zippywpinhead]

sent to msnbc.comsnbc.com

Re: last night’s debate coverage

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/01/16/american-idle-msnbc-gets_n_81767.html

This blog and the ensuing reader comments sum up rather well what the voting public thinks of your coverage of the Nevada debate. In fact, it is completely representative of all the blogs and comments I’ve seen today on the subject. Would you people please, PLEASE try to act like adults for a change and cover the issues instead of focusing on promoting ”the story” in order to create artificial drama? The whole first part of the debate was an absolute joke- nothing more than a nauseating, self indulgent attempt at pushing storylines that your editors have apparently deemed “entertaining”, no matter how many times the candidates made it clear they were not interested in rehashing this nonsense. I was embarrassed and deeply saddened by the blatant, repeated efforts to stir up controversy over non issues, rather than any attempt to act like the journalists you purport to be and actually do your job of informing the public about issues that matter to them. I was tempted to take your online poll re: last night’s winners and losers, but it did not have any of the correct answers to choose from… The big losers? Tim Russert and Brian Williams for failing miserably as moderators (and the viewing public for being subjected to their inanity) - the big winners? All three candidates for not sinking to their level and participating in the continued race baiting and gotcha questions. The biggest winner? The heckler who spoke for the rest of us when he shouted out a protest against this self serving stupidity.
I implore you to quit underestimating the intellect of your viewing audience- this is not a beauty contest, nor a soap opera or reality television show- it is an election that requires a sober, in depth analysis. And please remember, your job as journalists is to cover the news, not create or manipulate it for your own ends.

signed, (XXX)

[GhostOfSchlesinger]

ANNOUNCER: In a world where ratings are horribly ephemeral and the career prospects of a spokesjournalist can rise on a slender fresh millimeter at the hairline or fall in the tragic wake of an unfortunate false-toothy smile, there is only one sure path to the establishment of an unassailable media brand; only one vessel that virtually guarantees safe passage across Nielsen's stormy sea. Some might say that vessel is journalistic integrity. Yet, it is a media axiom that the weighty substance of Pulitzers triggers an involuntary audience yawn response to which the only antidote is a former-reporter's retreat into academic irrelevance. No, it is not by integrity that our brave and yellow spokesjournalists win the hard-earned hearts and minds of Americans. For such can only be earned via the profligate expenditure of that most precious of broadcast substances . . . pandering. Base pandering. Carnival freak shows called "Reality TV." Race and gender baiting as a "brown, black and pink" debate. The lurid excess of youth exploited to trample hope, leaving only a choking dust and a teaser tag about "Super Duper Tuesday!" Fear and weakness and self-loathing all twisted up into diverse public angers aimed with all the foresight of an overblown balloon released as a rubbery flying fart. And look at the ratings! "Isn't this inspiring?!"

[riano]

I've loved watching Chris Matthews for as long as I can remember, but I feel like I am watching him implode. I love Keith O. but was disappointed that besides a cusory mention, he didn't comment on the exclusion of Kucinich. However, I may have figured out why NBC fought so hard to exlude Mr. Kucinich. Apparently Brian Willams and Time Russert needed the extra time they couldn't afford to waste hearing answers about important issues facing America from the 4th Democratic candidate because they wanted to waste all of that time themselves asking endless meaningless questions about race and rehashing who said what and what did they mean. We deserve better.

[abbiehoffmansghost]

Yeah, there's no way that Dennis Kucinich could have added anything to the debate for the American people. If we had real candidates that care about the American people they would refuse to answer questions meant to dumb us down and just talk about issues that they care about. Instead we get the dross of public life; the corporate whores.

[Snowspot]

Great read!

I'm so sick of the media giving republicans a handicapped cause their brain is malfunctioning. Stop trying to make everything equal! That's like democrats calling for universal healthcare, then a news anchor will ask a barbed question like: "So you believe in SOCIALIZED medicine?"

Think we can have an actual debate sometime soon? Ya know... like people actually debating stuff. Not a question to each different person. It's more like a talkshow than a debate.

Fox news has always been obvious, now NBC and ABC and CNN are joining the crew.

[Manx]

I was irritated by the first 19 questions. I thought I was watching "Entertainment Tonight."

[NoGoodNamesLeft]

The first question about the "race" issue was appropriate. Get it out of the way. And, all the candidates handled it well. There was no reason to discuaa the issue anymore after that. But, self-important Russert had "papers" he wanted to wave around in the air to show what a good investigative journalist he is and nothing was going to stop him from the limelight.

Too bad we had to wait for a heckler. Can you imagine just how much applause would have come from the audience if the candidates themselves had told Russert to move along to substantive issues since we have already covered the race issue completely....

[zendem1]

I used to like Russert, but I can't stand to watch him anymore. And they definitely need to leave Matthews out of the postgame. Let Olbermann carry the whole thing, and it's all good. Matthews adds zilch to an already lame process.

[LarBear]

Is there anyone in the Media that actually cares more about America anymore, instead of their ratings? Talking heads... Sheeeesh! Talking Heads! Experts... EX = has been, or former + spurt = drips under pressure... Talking Heads = former Journalist, Patriots, Reporters, Hosts, now feeling inner pressure to Spin, Lie, ambush, create news, ETC, and all to get Ratings... I mean, who would watch if it was all about the Media actually Defending the Constitution and the Ideals of America?

Bad enough MSMBC starts the day with Mourning Joe the Republican and his sidekick Mika the Obama supporter... At least she occasionally stands up to Waterboard Joe, who wants to make music with the Huckster Flea, while the Huckster Christianizes the Constitution...

Then there is little Timmy the Russet Potatohead with his ambush questions, trying to support Timmy's Ego... In last night's Nevada Debate, the Media's desire to keep the Media's Race Card Spin going was so very obvious! What a waste of our time. And, Gee Whiz Timmy, your ambush buddy, Hillary fearing Castrated Chris Maggot-Ooze didn't manage to back you up... Timmy, Matthews, Joe, Mika and Carlson, like Fox Network's "it's always the Left Wing Liberals Fault" are becoming long past boring... I like Mika's occasional gutsiness, but I never wanted to see her gushing over a Candidate...

The Debates were worth watching... The Media attempt to manipulate the Candidates at the start was a blatant and obvious ploy and waste of our time..

MSNBC... Replace Tucker with someone like Ron Reagan Jr, and replace Matthews with Rachael Maddow, and like Olbemann, stay hard hitting on both Political Parties... We do NOT want to know which Candidate any of you might support, either... That might begin to give an impression MSNBC actually cares more about the USA than Ratings and rating might actually soar... WOW! Care about the Constitution and the Ideals of the USA, what a novel idea...

[jeaton]

Russert: One of many "dead men walking" in today's (yesterday's?) mainstream media.

[dadixon]

The first portion of the debate lacked any resemblance of "debate" or "discussion". Tim Russert simply tried to continue a story he put together himself about race and decided to waste another 45 minutes of American TV.

The candidates handled themselves well but this wasn't even about their policies. Tim Russert has yet again proven that he is still a waste of time. Fulfilling his own prophecy.

Upcoming debate moderator Russert added to record of distortions on Sunday's Meet the Press (14-Jan)
http://mediamatters.org/items/200801140007?f=h_latest

[coonce]

I totally agree with this article. Brian Williams and Tim Russert must have spent at least a half hour of the two hour debate discussing race or asking Obama about HIS religion (they ask nobody else).

MSNBC should be ashamed for PUSHING such HATE.

I wrote my Debate thoughts out on my website for those interested.

Coonsey's View
www.freewebs.com/coonsey/