Arianna on ABC's 20/20

John Stossel writes about his interview tonight with Arianna on ABC's 20/20, in which they spar over the presidential election and discuss HuffPost and her new book, Right is Wrong.

She was on the right, now she's on the left. These days, it seems as though Arianna Huffington is everywhere. For decades, Huffington has been a political gadfly and a perennial pundit on news shows. Now she's editor in chief of the popular news and opinion Web site The Huffington Post.

Huffington's politics lean left, but that wasn't the case in the mid-'90s when she was a friend to Newt Gingrich and a card-carrying member of the Republican Party. Now she's written a new book called "Right Is Wrong," in which she argues that the "lunatic fringe" of American conservatives have "hijacked" the country.

Below is a quick sneak peek from tonight's 20/20. Tune in to ABC tonight at 10 pm to watch. Also tonight: Arianna will be on Real Time with Bill Maher, 11 pm on HBO.

Arianna's appearance on ABC's 20/20 with John Stossel Friday, April 25th, 2008

Comments

[saltpeter]

John Stossel is another one of these conservative hacks parading around like he's a real journalists. He, like others like him, use facts and figures (to make him look impartial) that are taken completely out of context or not qualified at all. To suggest that the welfare rolls have been lowered with also informing us that people were kicked off (and did not leave voluntarily) shows that he's purposely leaving out crucial information. To state that incomes for the working poor have gone up 3.2% and not divulge that the cost of living has gone up a lot faster (including healthcare and gas costs) is again intellectual disingenuous. And to say that unemployment has gone down 5.5% but the quality of those jobs have also gone down (including the growing rates of lack of benefits for working poor) is also an overlooked factor. That's not an accident. He uses the facts that bolster his claim and ignore the ones that do not.

He's only going after Ariana because he thought that he had the corner on the market for opinion-based info-tainment but now the blogs have supercede his influence. That's why 20/20 has become a fluff "murder of the week" news magazine less relevant than the old PM Magazine.

[chromodynamics]

I just saw John Stossel conservative hit job on Arianna Huffington, and I can't believe the liberal media let him get away with. Oh, wait a minute, I forgot, that just a myth the conservative control media been peddling. Of course ABC news is going to do a conservative hit job on her.

Notice how John had all those phony, oversized charts to ambush Arianna with. How would he have them ready if he weren"t intending to smear her? And did you notice that he made editorial comments to visual aids he ran throughout the entire interview. He had no intention of doing a proper interview. He just wanted to make Arianna look like a fool. What kind of yellow journalistic trick does John Stossel think he's pulling.

[mediamarv]

Fortunately, Arianna is a pro and always smarter than the person interviewing her, especially on the networks. She has no problem with tools like Stossel, who looks ready to pee his pants in glee at every comment he makes.... his biggest fan is himself.

[heretical_eggs]

Here we go. Gary Shandling and his big mouth. He's already started making lame assed jokes trying to dominate the panel. He's a CLOWN. Jesus, he is bloody annoying. He does nothing but make jokes ONLY to get a laugh...nothing wrong with getting a laugh, but lord he totally leads the panel OFF TOPIC with his pain pill humor. God dammit. Phil D hasn't even said a word yet. Gary Shandling is my least favorite panelist on Bill's show.

[manumoka]

He's a boring Jabba the Hut. Calling him a "clown" is an insult to clowns everywhere.

[heretical_eggs]

Oh my, I just watched the 20/20 thing. Arianna, dahlink, why did you go to this man for an interview/story? You lost the match. His editing didn't let you say what I'm sure you wanted to say. Of course many people who know what kind of thing John S. has become know your quality is there and that your ideals are right on. However, many ignorant people watch this show. You came off badly from his team's editing. Oh well, turning on Bill Maher, now. Please put a foot on Gary Shandling and don't let him usurp the panel with his off topic joking. Anyway, glad to see you on Bill Maher again. It's been too long. Peace.

[SCG2]

I miss Hugh Downs, he was a class act.

[dugan45]

Arianna, not Ariana........sorry

[dugan45]

OK. Here it is. It's 10:45 EST. Stossel's about to interview Ariana. I vowed not to watch anything ABC anymore. Because I want to see Ariana kick Stossel's ass, I'll violate my vow and watch the interview.

[SCG2]

From_wikipedia_John_Stossel

"Controversies"

Liberal economist James K. Galbraith said that Stossel, in a story on laissez-faire economics in September 1999, used an out of context clip of Galbraith to make it seem that Galbraith had said nearly the opposite of what he meant. Stossel denied that Galbraith's views had been misrepresented and changed the words with which he introduced the Galbraith clip in rebroadcasts of the program.

"Organic Vegetables"

A February 2000 story about organic vegetables on 20/20 included statements by Stossel that tests had shown that neither organic nor conventional produce samples contained any pesticide residue, and that organic food was more likely to be contaminated by E. coli bacteria. The Environmental Working Group objected to his report, mainly questioning his statements about bacteria, but also managed to determine that the produce had never been tested for pesticides. They communicated this to Stossel, but after the story's producer backed Stossel's recollection that the test results had been as described, the story was rebroadcast months later, uncorrected, and with a postscript in which Stossel reiterated his claim. Later, after a report in the New York Times confirmed the Environmental Working Group's claims, ABC News suspended the producer of the segment for a month and reprimanded Stossel. Stossel apologized, saying that he had thought the tests had been conducted as reported. However, he asserted that the gist of his report had been accurate.

Continues: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Stossel

[dugan45]

Arianna...sorry, not Ariana

[realpolitic]

I feel that John Stossel, with his arguments against global warming, is one of the most intellectually dishonest people in America. He even argued that we should have no laws tracking where donated organs come from for people who need transplants because there are already laws against murder in all countries around the world. What foolishness!. He thinks that going against conventional wisdom is always indicative of intelligence when often it is just inane.

[The 13 Colonies]

Let's make Arianna Speaker of The House!

[SolidRepublican]

How about using an OPEN mind and listing to what is said? It may be that something Logical is said and it may change your mind!!

[BlackWidowPilot]

Soild,

care to comment upon the actual performance record of your vaunted "party of family values:"

http://armchairsubversive.org

I'm an *independent* voter BTW, and no "liberal" as one such as you would be inclined to define it. I look forward to your response concerning how your party has degenerated into the "Gang of Pedophiles."

"Family values" worthy of Caligula or the locals in THE HILLS HAVE EYES.

Leland R. Erickson

Citizen

[strifeknot]

To whom are you addressing this?

[realpolitic]

That was my question. Maybe he is speaking to George Bush?

[SolidRepublican]

What do you say that we WAIT and see what they say FIRST, before we condemn anyone.

[realpolitic]

I still do not get it!

[longnow]

Everyone here plays nice. No one is going to bitch slap Stossel
even with words although I would love to see it again either way.
Stossel, "consumer advocate" is a water carrying joke.
Even the crooked preacher documentary he made picked on the
70 year old phonies with big grey wigs and
making it easier for guys like Parsley and Haggard and Hagee.

[IamPhenom]

Let me guess....

John Stossel pretends the Republicans are still small government Libertarians who cut spending, and portrays Arianna as crazy for moving towards the left. She will be viewed as a radical for even daring to promote a government program, let alone thinking a government program can improve things like poverty.

[realpolitic]

Very true. He may portray her as 'intolerant" or "elitist," which have become the new buzz words on the right.

[manumoka]

Yes, he did this so he could cherry pick comments and extra "evidence" edited to make him "right" while pretending that he is an independent thinker. The only thing he is independent of is independence. He just follows the right-wing line (especially with his condescending tone of voice; WTF is up with that?). Typical ABC.

At the same time Bill Moyers was doing a liberal white guy interview with Jeremiah Wright. I can only imagine Stossel's take on that.

[jubo]

Suddenly the medea, er , media takes a sharp turn to the right. Just as this medea - curses, media, observes the cadaver of the Right smoldering in its stench...

It revives it... why? Because it SELLS.

Left wing outlets buying right wing opinion is a case of throwing kerosene on embers.

Responsibility? The fuck is that? Does it make money?

[jubo]

Arianna your epiphanies must feel incomplete, no? Enough HuffPo...

How about a HuffParty?

[jubo]

In fact, lose the husband's name altogether....

[Tyrione]

How the hell do you think she got recognized? Her husband's name made it possible and her ardent Conservatism was just ducky until the marriage was over.

[Exit]

I love Arianna. No really. I have a crazy crush on her.

[realpolitic]

She is very hot and that accent is very sexy.