Biden Slammed During Florida Interview, Same Anchor Gives McCain Softballs

Vice Presidential candidate Joe Biden gave it to Florida WFTV anchor Barbara West Thursday when she asked him a slew of questions straight out of John McCain's talking points.

West began the interview by asking whether Biden was "embarrassed" by Barack Obama's association with ACORN. Biden refuted the false association between ACORN and Obama and rightly mentioned John McCain's speech during a rally sponsored by ACORN in 2006. Watch the interview below:

If you don't think West was laying a trap for Biden with rhetorical questions that are central to John McCain and Sarah Palin's speeches, then watch her treatment of John McCain in an interview on October 14th.

Biden asked her if his interview was a "joke" and wondered aloud who was writing her questions. Conservative writers, like Michelle Malkin, are trying to use Biden's negative reaction to biased questions as proof that he's even more erratic than John McCain. It's a huge stretch. Not only has John McCain increasingly accused the entire media establishment of being in the tank for Obama after years of calling the press his "base," but on Thursday he showed clear erratic behavior by snapping at a reporter over an immigration question:

At one point in the interview, McCain grew frustrated with a Tampa television reporter during her questions on immigration issues. McCain twice said illegal immigrants who have committed crimes would be rounded up. Katie Coronado of WFLA-TV asked if that meant using raids to round up immigrants.

"What did I just say that had any connotation of raids?" McCain said, raising his voice with impatience. "Let me try one more time."

He again explained the idea of forcing illegal immigrants out of the country by issuing ID cards and fining employers who hire illegals. He then softened his tone.

"I apologize," he said to Coronado. "I understand how important an issue it is. I didn't mean to be flip."

The Obama campaign responded to Biden's treatment by canceling a subsequent WFTV interview with his wife, Jill. Obama's Florida spokeswoman, Adrianne Marsh, called Biden's interviewer, Barbara West, "both combative and woefully uninformed about simple facts."

WFTV news director Bob Jordan refuted the bias by saying, "Mr. Biden didn't like the questions," Jordan said. "We choose not to ask softball questions."

Yes, tough questions are great Mr. Jordan, but not if some of them are 100% false or aim to equate the Democratic candidate for president with Karl Marx. Even John McCain wasn't subject to that kind of questioning when he flipped on Ms. Coronado on Thursday.

Comments

[nonconformist2]

Frankly that interview was so over the top that even Fox news might not want to hire her for being too bias.

This woman can kiss her career goodbye, she had made herself into a joke.

[Foucek]

May she go the way of Bachmann....now we need to get Hasselbeck on Hardball.

[nonconformist2]

Does this woman know what an i,diot she sounds like? She's sounds like Michelle Bauchman

[Darrell34]

I'm sure you meant to say she sounds like Michele Obama. Only she is probably proud to be an American and always has been proud.

[IndianaMeg]

Wow. Insulting Michelle Obama? The classiest lady in this whole mess. Way to go, Darrell.

[watchTVgetSTUPID]

Obama and Congress need to balance the media through legislation. In Orlando, all the talk radio programs are blatent nonstop Republican propaganda tools. There is no counter point of view or public fact checking anywhere on the radio. For instance, many local people here have been so brainwashed they believe Obama will raise their taxes and McCain will lower their taxes. They believe McCain has been for Wall Street regulation and against deregulation, while Obama and democrats are the deregulators responsible (and beneficiaries) for the Wall Street white collar crimes.

The most important action by Obama will be to rectify the right wing control of media.

[bannorhill]

Talk radio is a balance for the left leaning TV and print. It raises concerns that are not raised elsewhere. The airways are free and accessible to both Democrats and Republicans. In the free market of talk radio liberal Air America has been unable to attract listeners. That does not mean we should stop the free speech rights of Rush, Sean, and others. The first amendment insures each American the right to free speech. We can not limit their rights.

[rudolfhern]

I filed an online complaint with the FCC.

http://esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm

[Darrell34]

Because someone actually had the courage to ask some real questions? Are you kidding or just stupid?
Did you also file a complaint about all the out right attacks and lies against Sarah Palin? What about Senator McCain?
Have you complained about all the biased questions and comments made toward the Republicans or is it an outright attack on one women asking real questions that the rest of the media doesn't have the stones to ask?

[MuseScavenger]

Whoa! Tough talk! "...Real questions" "the rest of the media doesn't have the stones to ask".

Grow up.

[Icantbelieveher]

Do you mean the questions about the Alaskan Independence Party or McCain's friendship with G. Gordon Liddy or Charles Keating? Or the question about Reverend Muthee, who cost innocent women their lives in Kenya, and his prayers over Palin protecting her from witchcraft?

Are those the tough questions you're talking about?

[tdelamatter]

The reason this election is so important, and need not be about partisanship is because with China and Europe organizing themselves (Economically) against us, we need to know what these guys will actually do. This next administration will see huge differences, with respect to foreign trade, who to trust, etc. etc. It's not a time to pick someone just because he may or may not hold your social view. Its time to pick someone who will do what is best for us, not him or his party.

[tdelamatter]

You guys are so partisan you can't ever see, or even enter into honest debate. My voting or not voting for Mr. Obama will be dependant upon me, not bullying tactics by the huffington post mob. I thought people would engage me and not just put down whatever they do not agree with. Can I get an honest discussion started about things that matter? This same old same old, 'my party is better than your party' crap I'm tired of.

CaliTLC,
I would love to know where Mr. Obama really stands with respect to Constitutional Law. He said in Saddleback, he believes the main reason the Supreme Court Justices are there, are for limiting the power of the executive. I put a quote from the Constitution about what the framers thought should be followed. I do understand there have been clarifications through case law, and amendments to better understand, or open up the Judicial system to arena's not foreseen by the framers. What I do not see is the need for the the Supreme Court to limit the powers of the Executive.

Quote from the Constitution on the Courts Jurisdiction "In all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, and those in which a State shall be Party, the supreme Court shall have original Jurisdiction. In all the other Cases before mentioned, the supreme Court shall have appellate Jurisdiction, both as to Law and Fact, with such Exceptions, and under such Regulations as the Congress shall make.

[MuseScavenger]

If you could afford my hourly rate, I'd deign to answer your marginal question. And I'm Just a CPA, but I have read the Constitution.

[Pacpelez]

That was the most bizarre interview, outside of Fox News, that I have witnessed in all my years of following political campaigns. If one didn't know better, they would think that they stumbled onto a SNL parody of some whacked out Southern news anchor. Poor Florida. No wonder they have been so confused these past eight years.

[Indubio]

I agree with you totally. Barbara West? Biden treated her with kid gloves. She embarrassed herself with such inane questions. Her question about MArxism was perhaps the most inane question I've ever heard posed to a politician on a major media network. And Biden gave her a chance to correct herself but she insisted her question was a serious one. Incomprehensible. Is it any wonder that many American voters are confused. Is West completely ignorant of US history? The progressive income was introduced in 1913 under a REPUBLICAN president William Howard Taft. It has been a part of American tax policy for 80 years and until Palin and McCain made the ludicrous comparison to socialism, I'm not aware of a single individual previous to 2008 ever making such a comparison. Obvious West is a clueless about socialism as Palin and McCain. Ic an understand Palin and perhaps even West but McCain should know better.

[Pacpelez]

I have to say that was one of the most biazarre interviews, outside of Fox News, I have ever seen in all my years of following political campaigns. If one didn't know better, they would think they were watching a SNL parody. Poor Florida. No wonder they have been so confused these past eight years.

[Tonto2]

I just sent a note to WFTV demanding that they fire that despicable woman. If they don't, I intend to file a complaint with the FCC and ask that WFTV's broadcast license be revoked.

http://www.wftv.com/contact/index.html

I suggest that anyone else that was outraged by this woman’s blatant and unethical display of partisan politics while mimicking a journalist do the same.

[ekwbowen]

I sent a complaint email to the General Manager and a harshly unkind email to Ms. West. I also sent one to ABC (they're an ABC affiliate). I'll be sending emails to some of their sponsors as well. The rich ones. They get very sensitive about their money.

The "interview" was appalling and that's exactly what I told them. It wasn't news. It wasn't concerned with the issues facing us. It wasn't even one of those "process" discussions. It was almost surreal. Senator Biden handled it like a pro but I totally identified with him when he got that look on his face and said, "Is this a joke?" or words to that effect. He wasn't the only one starting to wonder if this was a gag from "The Daily Show."

Anyway, those folks deserve all the hell they get over this. It was unprofessional, unacceptable and rude. Obviously, WFTV is a Fox affiliate yearning to breathe free.

[pjburns11]

OOoh, it's getting scary! Like some political Poe!

Happy Halloween!

Quoth the Maverick...

http://thetruthburns.wordpress.com/2008/10/28/quoth-the-maverick/

[breezyholler]

I lived in the Orlando area ..Barbara West is a posing twirp ..Republican mouthpiece...a litlte less important than Sarah Palin ...but a bird of the same feather !

[aaronsanders]

Oh really? They didn't ask McCain about Karl Marx too?

http://www.votesmarter2008.com

[cortezian]

Biden Slammed? How about B. West Slammed! or Thank you Babs! If she'd only asked "aren't you
embarrassed to be working for a Muslim?" Joe could've cleared up the rest of her followers misconceptions. Bye the way, if she and her's wouldn't benefit from Obama's tax plan, they're over payed!

[TheAndrew]

It sounds like the losing side wishes to get their digs in while they have time. Very sad, very unprofessional.

[dicer]

Just viewed both interviews, Biden and McCain, unbiased? Not exactly! Every question McCain was given offered him an opportunity to berate Obama. Every question Biden answered was to put him on the defense. Not what you expect from an interviewer on a local level. For her to defend her actions as being non biased is nothing short of ridiculous. If you have access to a public forum and air your political views, at least have the backbone to acknowledge it when confronted.