Stephanopoulos Defends Asking Obama About Palin Critique

ABC News' George Stephanopoulos is defending his decision to ask President Barack Obama to respond to Sarah Palin's criticism of his nuclear non-proliferation policy, after several observers questioned the point of bringing the former Alaska Governor into the discussion.

On Thursday, the Good Morning America host, during an exclusive sit-down in Prague, pushed the president on Palin's insistence that his proposal to limit the use and supply of nuclear weapons was something "no other administration would do" and was tantamount to a child not retaliating after being punched in the face. Obama said he had "no response."

"Because last I checked," he added, "Sarah Palin's not much of an expert on nuclear issues."

The exchange was notable not only because of the dismissive tone of the president's response but also because the question seemed out of place for a weighty discussion on nuclear weapons policy. Why would Stephanopoulos treat Palin as some form of policy expert?

"In effect," wrote Steven Benen of The Washington Monthly, "the 'GMA' host was saying, "Some conspicuously unintelligent right-wing media personality said something stupid about a subject she knows nothing about. Mr. President, how do you respond?"

In an email to HuffPost, Stephanopoulos defended his decision to ask Obama about Palin.

"Whatever Steve thinks of Sarah Palin," he wrote, "she's a former VP candidate -- and potential challenger to President Obama -- with a strong following in the GOP. She made a pointed critique of a new Presidential policy. By asking the President for his response, I was doing my job."

To the extent that Palin is a leading figure in the Republican Party, her remarks are worth covering. (Rudy Giuliani, who also has no discernible expertise in nuclear proliferation policy, has also criticized Obama on this front -- but his criticism, perhaps owing to his lesser stature, wasn't brought up in the interview).

That said, it would be delusional to dismiss the likelihood that Palin was brought into the discussion in large part because a spat between her and the president would so clearly grab viewer attention. Indeed, Obama's reply to the 2008 vice presidential candidate has so far received the preponderance of the coverage.

Comments

[cornsilk]

03:16 PM on 04/19/2010

After hisinterview of the President in Prague, the unamusing and less than entertaining attempts to get a rise out of Pres. Barack Obama, George Stephanopoulos left the viewer feeling flat and dismayed.
Is this really what you flew all the way out to Prague to do Mr. Stephanopoulos? To try and get a rise out of President Obama while in the midst of a Nuclear Summit? Not so productive.
What happened to respect? When we have a man of this “stature” interviewing the President of the United States in this manner, how can we teach children, our future, any respect?
And we wonder why the United Stated doesn’t get the respect it would like from other world countries. Simply put, because its own ‘respected’ news anchors are permitted and more likely encouraged to behave in these undignified manners.
You are a disrepectful little man Mr. Stephanopoulos.

[ivyalice]

02:50 PM on 04/13/2010

Someone has to ask him questions, he is afraid to have a news conference. How long has it been now? Maybe a year. I guess there is no prompter at a Q and A.

[Pogo Bock]

03:11 PM on 04/13/2010

Clang clang clang went the TR@LLey...

[BlueNotRed]

03:28 PM on 04/13/2010

LOL. When he has a news conference, you complain. When he doesn't have a news conference, you complain. At least he's not writing notes on the palm of his hand like the quitta from wasilla.

[Denemator]

01:58 PM on 04/13/2010

He has become such a despicable little man.

[revealinganswers]

02:02 PM on 04/13/2010

amazing how ob's minions go into a frenzy any time someone dare question His Lord Barack....let him stand up for himself, for once.

or are you worried that the empty suit will be seen by the American public, finally.

[Pogo Bock]

03:12 PM on 04/13/2010

Ding ding ding went the bell...

[StopMakingSense2]

01:16 PM on 04/13/2010

Pandering for ratings... What else... The only thing palin is an expert on is quitting.

[KataVideo]

12:36 PM on 04/13/2010

hey george snuffleupagus , why stop at sarah palin?
let's ask the President to react to judge judy and nancy grace.

[loonwalk]

12:34 PM on 04/13/2010

High hopes for George 10 years ago now in sub-basement.

[dax49]

12:33 PM on 04/13/2010

This guy just keeps proving that he is third rate, soon his wife will give another interview about their sex lives so they can get a little more publicity, and he can maybe hold onto his penny-ante job

[Dbos]

12:00 PM on 04/13/2010

George Snuffulacafuss is the George Will of TV, a 19th century voice being caught up with in a 21st century world.

[Electronicsboy]

11:35 AM on 04/13/2010

He was never a journalist. He was a fired Clinton flack who each week got the chance to stage mock interviews with other right-leaning flacks and hacks.

Why are so many of you surprised?

[Jetro]

03:42 AM on 04/13/2010

This is a sad weasel out to do his masters' work. Another sad event was Candy Crowley's program on Sunday. She also acted like she was asked by her minders to go get ratings with Sarah.

[Greg2000]

10:42 AM on 04/13/2010

Did you see the one with Candy? Man, it was like a macabre orgy.

[sftbreeze1970]

03:00 AM on 04/13/2010

I'm sick and tired of "journalists" pretending that Sarah Palin's gleefully evil rendering of outright lies while simultaneously being responsible for absolutely nothing since her resignation is some horrible demonstration of perky chutzbah or God Help Us, to be seriously considered. Honestly it's getting to be a bit tiresome. The whole journalism-formed-as-a-question thing is so cowardly and lazy. Is Sarah Palin right about President Obama's stance on nuclear disarmament? Will return to discuss with our panel, one a conservative, the other a Tea Party member and me playing the part of concern troll. It's the same thing with the Tea Party movement. Pretending these angry, anti-government rage-a-holics have a coherent argument and touting Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh and operating under the impression that everyone is supposed to ignore the vitriolic, dangerous level of hate and intolerence they spew. Well George at least you won't have to do as much work while flushing your credibility straight down the t0ilet.

[revealinganswers]

01:59 PM on 04/13/2010

weak attempt...you have penned many words and spoken zero truth

[sftbreeze1970]

12:48 AM on 04/14/2010

Bless your precious little heart. You took the time to read all that truth? I'm surprised you didn't faint from the shock. Try again TROLL.

[sftbreeze1970]

12:52 AM on 04/14/2010

Bless y0ur precious little heart. You went and read all that truth by your 1ittle old self and didn't faint from shock? Try again TR011.

[lmt78]

01:02 AM on 04/13/2010

GEORGE SNUFFLEUPAGUS

[Palaver]

01:51 PM on 04/12/2010

I guess Stephanopoulos is helping the media seal the coffin lid on journalism.

[Eykis]

12:17 PM on 04/12/2010

George reduced himself to teevee morning show host - no more Mr. Journalist.


His comments regarding Snowbilly Grifter are RIDICULOUS. Snowbilly Grifter is NOTHING, REPRESENTS NOTHING, and KNOWS NOTHING.


It was a WASTE of time - time POTUS could use for IMPORTANT WORLDLY REMARKS, not replying to a nasty little snarky mean girl from nowhere.

[karenann]

12:02 PM on 04/12/2010

Rather than ask the Pres what he thinks of Palin's comment, the more appropriate question should be directed to Palin herself:

Would you please explain those portions of the Nuclear Treaty you do not like, and why, and then, can you offer specifics as to what you yourself would do?

[lisaman]

12:13 PM on 04/12/2010

While I agree that would have been fun to watch, I have NO problem with what Obama said. Did you hear her response? Her response was to claim Obama doesn't know much either. She sounds more like a 3rd grader every single day.

[Libgirl746]

06:04 PM on 04/12/2010

'' Would you please explain those portions of the Nuclear Treaty you do not like, and why, and then, can you offer specifics as to what you yourself would do?''

Great post, Karenann. I'd pay money to hear her response, but I would see nothing but Sarah blinking, you know, like the proverbial deer in the headlights.
'

[Justdontgetit]

10:31 AM on 04/13/2010

Well, you know, "all of 'em".