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

[madentiwon]

tdlamatter -you were never going to vote for obama..ple­ase..that interview was a joke.....s­he needs love...loo­ked so angry...so much hate from that side...com­e to the bright side...ple­nty of room....lo­ve trumps hate all day

[gretcheno]

All the republican supporters look that way mean and constipated.

[luluy]

Well it looks like Obama Will be our Ruler if things dont change this week. I expect we will lose our freedom. we will have more people not even trying to find a job, they will be waiting on that wellfare check, believe me it wont be much.

[CaliTLC]

Wake up, please. You can't possibly really believe that gibberish. Barack Obama has taught Constitutional Law and embraces the freedoms therein. You won't lose your freedoms under an Obama-Biden administration. Also, whether you know it or not, the unemployed would rather earn a living than be given a hand-out. Try this: The next time you hear Sen. Obama speak, try to silence the voices in your head so that you will hear what he says. He talks about giving tax breaks to the WORKING MIDDLE CLASS. He talks about giving opportunity to those who work hard. Remember, silence the voices in your head.

[gretcheno]

My mom always said you can't teach an "old dog new tricks." Igno.ran.ce is bliss. I wonder what the heck has happen the last 8 yrs with McBush in command. They gave the wealthy and corporations low taxes and AMERICA still lost close to a million jobs this year. If what McBush has done why is the whole world bankrupt because of Bush.

GMAB you really need to become a voter who is informed try watching MSNBC today and maybe you will get some true facts.

[pjones006]

There are few freedoms left, your boy Bush saw to that.

[jnah]

you could follow mccain back to the desert and dig yourself a hole

[Amomma]

Ahh, media bias hurts doesn't it.

[Fremon]

Most bias has been against Obama. Just listen to the right wingnut radio stations/Fox/AP/ MSNBC business channel, etc.

[dimplesmile7]

Here is the WFTV news stations email address: wftv.comv.com

[madentiwon]

tdelamatte­r...please u never considered voting for "that one". spare the b.s.....th­at interview was clearly biased...a­ny sane normal human being could see that...she looked like mommy dearest on an overdose of botox but we cldnt expect anything different from a mccain supporter,cld we...our side has lights hope,love.­..we have tons of room and so many of your "conservative smart" ones have already joined...s­oits not too late...hop­e trumps hate everytime.­..that is why we're winning;o)

[rebelrebel]

Can you imagine if anyone asked Sarah Palin pushy, aggressive questions like that? First of all, she wouldn't answer. Then she'd complain that they didn't ask her the right questions. The GOP would complain of sexism.

This, of course, is why they don't let Sarah go on TV without Daddy to hold her hand. They're afraid that someone will ask her tough questions and she'll get all flustered.

Biden did a magnificent job of sticking to the campaign's positions and fending off these snide remarks.

[gretcheno]

IA why has she not been on the nightly news answering ?

[TellitLikeItIs]

Re: Jordan's statement that WFTV "chooses not to ask softball questions". He should have clarified that by saying----"unless we're interviewing John McCain or Sarah Palin".

[tonydon]

But, does any one mention that her husband is a Republican Media Consultant. Oh why did she not ask McCain about, Troopergae, the Bridge to nowhere, Bomb Bomb Iran, or the biggy KEATING 5

[crewmaster]

Amen.
I think Joe Biden performed at the top of his game. I especially loved it when he said, "Are you serious? Is that a real question?", and laughed. It relegated that drivel to the place it belongs, in the realm of the incredible.

[T Pol]

I'm not complaining. Joe Biden handled those questions beautifully, with a touch of humor to boot. But yeah, I wouldn't subject sweet Jill Biden to nastiness like that either. Todd Palin certainly hasn't been grilled, so why should Jill be?

Joe Biden scored 100
Barbara West scored Zip, Zero, Nada, None.

[tdelamatter]

You guys need to thank your stars it was only ONE reporter out of the literally thousands that have interviewed Mr. Biden, who was willing to ask him tough questions. Mr. Obama's campaign is like the schoolyard bully who when is called on their bluff, chooses to run away. His call for unity is ringing false now that he won't allow this news outlet to have any more contact with him. It shows how superficial and fake Mr. Obama truly is. When he or his campaign is asked tough questions, he flees never more to return. Then tries to say it wasn't his fault but the fault of the reporters. It's sickening that you people love this type of politics. If it is unity that is truly needed and wanted, he needs to answer these questions and not flee when they are brought up. Mr. Biden had no choice but to respond and he did, but now the campaign is going to exercise some unseen muscle to not be bothered by this station, the voters will see the truth through this. I thought Obama was different, but I see he is exactly like any other politician, only about his own spin. Thankfully this David is standing up to Obama's Goliath (the supposed rock star/unifier). I will be voting differently then I would have before this incident.

[Torita]

Nice try, mole. There is no way this ridiculous incident would make any intelligent person change their vote. You are obviously a Repub who never intended to vote for Obama but, you know, you're not fooling anybody or influencing them with this totally transparent tactic of pretending to be an independent voter who has "seen the truth about Obama."

[ekwbowen]

Yeah, there's a touch of Ashley Todd going on up there.

[SKonnery]

Why do republicans take pride in being ignorant?

[swbks]

Why do liberals have to refer to everyone as ignorant and stupid that disagree with them...sto­p it...It's childish. Even if you hate the Republican views it doesn't mean they are all stupid.

[absolument]

What "bluff" is Obama (or his campaign) "called on"? They didn't try to make a spectacle of their "Straight Talk Express" or their relationship with the media, then kick every reporter off their bus. That was what the McCain campaign did.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/28/reporter-recalls-moment-s_n_138604.html

"When he or his campaign is asked tough questions, he flees never more to return. Then tries to say it wasn't his fault but the fault of the reporters. It's sickening that you people love this type of politics. If it is unity that is truly needed and wanted, he needs to answer these questions and not flee when they are brought up."

If you honestly think the question was reasonable, take a look at national wealth distribution

http://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1GGLS_enUS291&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=wealth+distribution+united+states

...then compare to how the tax burden is distributed.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A61178-2004Aug12.html

The question was not reasonable, in fact "disingenuous" at best, because the rich currently pay LESS than their fair share of taxes. Increasing their burden is not socialist, it's simple justice.

[androgony]

read about the Palin-Stevens relationship on Populista.com

[rcsnyc]

I have a question for McCain for the next B.West interview with him..these aren't leading questions like the ones she asked Biden are they?

1. "So tell me Senator, aren't you ashamed that you left your first wife for a trophy wife that you felt would better benefit your aspirations to reach the highest office in the land?

2. "Senator McCain, as you continue to aspire to your father and grandfather's greatness, aren't you being phony when you talk about reform but use the same shameless team and tactics that you derided during your first run for president?

3. "John, can I call you John? Good, John, aren't you embarrassed when you hear your vice president deride fruit fly research in the same breath that she aspires to support research into diseases that have been greatly impacted by that very research? Is she a complete dunce, or does it just seem that way?

[lydiajean]

Not as embarrassed as having Biden with his uneducated remarks.

[tonydon]

just like fumbles McCain and red neck Sarah

[Fremon]

You wish you could have Biden's education. You have no room to judge!

[barackobam]

I have not heard one person in the media state this was example of "conservative bias" in the media.
I mean to quote Karl marx and then not disclose that her husband is a GOP ocnsultant is ridiculous!!
This is bias at it worse.

What BHO needs to do is really hammer on MCain's medical paln and how it is actually a tax. I think BHO is coasting.

The Political Archivist have run polls on a scientific basis and they state that there is 7% racial bias in the polling. Apparently they came to the same conclusion as some other scientific poling. The question is there really a Bradley effect. That 7% mean that biased people are lining up behind Obama. That does not make sense.

What was also fascinating was the there is a statistical anomaly between 50 and 51% that adds in a extra micro number and make s tough to get to 51%. Once you do, it is amazing how the correlation goes to 52%

The point is that if he is leading with 7 per cent average he is actuially even but there is the "Obama " effect- that is new voters actually voting. As we know, most Demoractic voters who register only vote at a 50% rate compared to Republicans. That will cover approx a 3% increase. Basically the race is actually even.

Please GOTV!

[swbks]

I agree with you on one point....I don't think you will have too many "right wing" reporters worried about disclosing their political agenda. I think it would be perfectly fine if you want ALL of the reporters to disclose who they voted for, who they give money too.....et­c.... Be very careful of the things you wish for.

[Geranium]

Exactly how and why was she suppose to disclose anything about her husband???

[ekwbowen]

If her superiors were not already aware of Ms. West's family connection to the Republicans then she had a duty to make them aware of it. Any responsible journalist practices full disclosure. In her case, this piece should have been handed off to someone else.

The why is obvious and was pointedly demonstrated in the "interview" itself. Ms West was incapable of performing her job. If she had managed to hide her personal bias like a professional journalist, nobody would care. But she didn't and we do. In the old days she would have been fired for pulling a stunt like that.

[berrycooda]

Hah hah hah.....wh­y was it so funny when everybody was making fun of S. Palin.....
Biden...un­scripted..­...

Dems.....c­homping at the bit......

They are already counting on their victory...­..

[ej3]

I guess George Steohanopoulos isn't the only interviewer that gets his questions written by Sean Hannity or Joe McCarthy's ghost.