Channel Your Debate Outrage: Be A Weekend Watchdog

What's notable to me about the ABC debate is conservative radio host Sean Hannity was able to get his question asked, simply by suggesting it on-air to George Stephanopoulos. That is in large part because conservatives have engaged and pressured traditional media outlets for years.

A subtext to their criticism has been that "liberal media elites" shouldn't dismiss the views and suggestions from "real Americans" in "the heartland." In other words, "conservative" = "heartland." So when Hannity suggests a question, that must be what's on the mind of voters in the heartland! Therefore his question, no matter how factually flawed or irrelevant to the job of being President, gets prioritized.

But also notable is how the spontaneous outrage after the debate, decidedly not from conservatives, countered conservative pressure and influenced the media in a positive way -- forcing media outlets, including ABC, to explore on-air how debates should be conducted (instead of what Hannity wanted, a media frenzy about the smear he was trying to inject in the political discourse).

We can take this to next level, and start positively and pro-actively influencing the media, so that media elites know there are people in "the heartland" who want quality, aggressive, investigative journalism, not right-wing smear jobs.

Over at the Campaign for America's Future blog, we have a regular feature, the "Weekend Watchdog." On Friday evenings, we recommend questions for the Sunday shows, and give contact information for the shows, so readers can forward them or suggest their own.

Afterwards, both on our CAF blog and on Air America's "Seder on Sundays," we hold the shows accountable and see if our questions actually were asked. (Though this week, "Seder on Sundays" is airing a taped broadcast for Passover.)

This can only work over the long-term if:

1) We respectfully and politely offer good questions, not simply copy the right-wing strategy of pushing smears and misinformation. We have to build a level of trust with our friends in the media so we will be heard.

2) We engage traditional media outlets in large numbers, so they know there are lots of people in the heartland who simply want good journalism that help us make informed decision in our democracy.

This week's Weekend Watchdog, along with the Sunday show contact info, is below. And HuffPost's Cliff Schecter has plenty of suggested questions as well. There's no monopoly on suggesting questions. So get to it, and be a Weekend Watchdog, this week and beyond!

***

Two questions for Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. (ABC's This Week)

1. In January you said, "I don't believe we're headed into a recession. I believe the fundamentals of this economy are strong." But this past Monday you said "I certainly think so" that we are in recession.

On Thursday, when asked by Bloomberg's Peter Cook if Americans were better off now than seven years ago, you said, "I think if you look at the overall record and millions of jobs have been created, et cetera, et cetera, you could make an argument that there's been great progress economically over that period of time." Then during a Friday interview with Bloomberg's Al Hunt, you said, "I think Americans are not better off than they were eight years ago when you look at what has happened to middle-income Americans."

Why haven't you given consistent straight answers about what seven years of conservative economic policies have done to the American economy?

2. After originally opposing the Bush tax cuts, you now support a continuation of his strategy: extending the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans beyond 2010, and also proposing new tax cuts for corporations.

As the conservative approach failed to spark the investment needed to create good jobs, strengthen infrastructure increase wages and lower costs for health care, energy and education, why would your proposals produce different results than what we've experienced in the last seven years?

For Karl Rove (Fox News Sunday)

A Republican lawyer accused you of political intervention in the investigation of former Alabama Governor Don Siegelman, who is now out of prison while appealing the case.

Your lawyer previously told MSNBC that you would testify about the case if subpoenaed by Congress, and the House is interested in your testimony. But on Friday, your lawyer backtracked from that pledge.

If you had no role in orchestrating the political prosecution of an innocent man, why won't you testify to Congress?

For Clinton campaign strategist Geoff Garin (NBC's Meet The Press)

The Huffington Post reported that Sen. Clinton attacked MoveOn.org at a private fundraiser in February, after praising the 3-million member group last year. In particular, she accused them of opposing military action in Afghanistan after 9/11, which is a false statement.

Will the campaign acknowledge she made a false statement and apologize to MoveOn.org?

***

Email Fox News Sunday at [e-mail]

Contact ABC's This Week by clicking here

Contact NBC's Meet The Press by clicking here

Remember: always be brief, polite and respectful when contacting the media, so our voices will be taken seriously.

Follow Bill Scher on Twitter: www.twitter.com/billscher

Comments

[doctordawg]

No no no. You don't get it. Your questions to McCain about recession are VALID QUESTIONS! You should ask him THIS:

"Senator McCain, as your wife was caught stealing prescription pain killers from a CHARITY, tell me sir, how can we be SURE YOU didn't share those illegally obtained narcotics WITH your wife, and what proof do you have that she, and YOU are no longer prone to illegal drug activity?"

THAT'S the kind of question Obama got from ABC. You are much too ethical for your own good. :-)

[tizzyfit]

OK, this is a test. Did you Obama supporters learn anything during this debate? If you didn't, shame on you! You were either asleep or not listening! Charlie and George should be commended for asking questions that no one else had the balls to ask. Obama isn't running for GOD (even though most of his supporters seem to think he is), he's running for the Presidency of the United States of America, representing all 300+ million of us. If the dolt can't answer some rather straightforward questions that had been posed, how's he going to handle the truly important issues IF he makes it to the White house? Let's hope he continues to step on his Johnson over the next few weeks/months, maybe the light will come on for some of his supporters - God help them!

[libbyshaw]

W. and Cheney wore flag pins when they lied us into Iraq. They wear flag pins when they authorize torture. They wear flag pins when they trample upon our Constitutional rights. They wear flag pins when they illegally spy on Americans. They wear flag pins when they borrow money from China to fight their debacle of an oil war in Iraq. They wear flag pins when they award no-bid contracts to corporate buddies and soul mates.

Where are the tough questions from the Charlies and Georges in this regard?

Wednesday night's debate was a travesty of everything American.

Where the hell were the Charles and the Georges when the Bush Administration idly sat by while thousands of hurricane victims were left to "go it alone" or die, which far, far too, too many did. Remember the elderly lady in New Orleans who was left for dead on the street in her wheelchair? She died alone and no one cared. What a disgrace. What shame. What kind of people have we become? Was the Bush Administration grilled for this fiasco as Senator Obama was for not wearing a flag pin?

No.

The Georges and Charlies gave W. & Co. a pass. They continue to give W. and everyone else in W. land a pass.

All of the time.

And yet these two poor excuses for journalists and other self-serving hypocrites in the punditry are holding Senator Obama to a standard they do not hold for W.

Shame on them.

[helloworld2008]

Thanks Bill

You are certainly right that liberals need to have their voice in the media as well.

For too long, the rightwing has been pushing its agenda in the mainstream. Our MSM has been run by Drudge and Rush and Fox. This has to stop. These rightwing extremists are hurting the country.

[elevando]

Why are the Obama supporters complaining about the debate? Obama and Clinton are running on the same platform, agreeing on maybe 98% of the issues. Also, we have seen 20+ debates already, so it was refreshing to see a debate about character. C'mon, Obama supporters don't be so militant.

[sylamore]

Appearing soon on a TV screen near you: DID OBAMA GIVE HILLARY THE FINGER? Welcome to our next news cycle. I cry for my profession (journalism) and my country.

[tizzyfit]

YES, without question, he did. Isn't it great he's reduced his campaign to the level of a 5th grader.

[wearyvoter]

Faux News trumped this up: Follow this link--http://mediamatters.org/items/200804180010

[whatevertoo]

The whole world is laughing at America and probably saying to themselves "no wonder they are in the mess that they are in, in the middle of a presidential nomination debate they are asking questions about pins, and if a pastor is patriotic, WOW, how is knowing the answer to those questions going to help them solve their problems"?

[garrett12101984]

ABC IS NOW FOX NEWS JR. They are even still to this day calling that a debate. That is laughable, considering their 3 0n 1 hit job did not work.

http://obamavsmccain.typepad.com/

[hhkeller]

Obama finally gets to answer a few questions and the hacky sackers take offence.
Reminds me of the Bushy right wingers. Gag me

[PrdAmerican]

I have no problem with Obama answering questions...but for the love of god, what the F*ck to flag pins have to do with getting troops out of Iraq? What do Snipers have to do with the price of gas? What does Rev. Wright have to do with rising food costs? What does the weather underground associations and pardons have to do with jobs?

Try asking questions that truly matter to the average american...not the average republican.

[tizzyfit]

How many times do the same questions need to be asked and answered? Isn't it refreshing to hear Charlie and George ask you hero about items that he actually has to think on his feet and answer immediately. It's obvious, he sucked badly with his answers so are we suppose to blame Charlie and George, I think not! Obama, go look in the mirror, you'll see the problem.

[JesusHC]

What's scary about HRC supporters and Right Wingers, who oddly enough behave very much alike, is this blatant disregard for reason. It is the sort of fanatical rhetoric and spirit that Hitler's henchmen displayed; many of whom well after the war was over continued to claim that they had acted on the best interest of the German people. Sounds familiar? I recommend everyone read about the Third Reich's propaganda machine. It will make your skin crawl, not because of what happened then, but what is happening now.

[rwe]

Right Wing smear, Sean Hannity, the almighty Karl rove, .... well now George Stephanopolousand Joe ?wilson had the audacity to confront the cult of Obama...Wth actual legit questions... racism,ant­isemitism, weather underground, taxes: capital gains will hurt 100 millioname­ricans...A­nd Obama ccomes from chicago, Cook County, Illionois .. the most corrupt , over taxed enttiy in the country... But deflect it to the Right wing smear and the lapel pin

[Brutus1]

That was the best debate so far. It revealed, finally, just how weak and unqualified Obama is. I guess that's why all the Obama supporters hated it. Oh well, the truth hurts sometimes.

[Querent]

The truth hurts every time, if you're a Repig. Repigs don't tell the truth, because they can't face it. That's why they live in la-la land and tell each other bedtime stories disguised as facts.

[ILliberalPedagogue]

Whats the big deal that the presidential candidate gets asked questions. He trying to be the most powerful man in the world. While knowing if he wears boxers or briefs is an essential part of my voting decision, i just assume he answers ALL question asked and quit crying about it.

[lorla]

On Sunday mornings, I usually have to switch between Face the Nation, Meet The Press and This Week. One third of my problem is now solved. I won't watch This Week anymore.
I also noticed on a picture on Huffpost that Russert and Careville were attending the opening day baseball game together. Any tough questions to him on the show are just for show. All of these pundits and analysts make a ton of money and have the last laugh on us.
I now get most of my news from the internet and I learn much more from everyday people like me who are really concerned about our future. My peers provide me with info, insights, and links that give me all the information I need to keep up with what's going on.
Power to the people.

[josephjsalas]

Silence in this case is fools gold! Either be noisy or purchase 5% of a MSM outlet.