Unchallenged Lies and Unexamined Cliches -- CNN Interview of Sarah Palin by Drew Griffin

It is no wonder people criticize and revile the mainstream media, especially CNN. Just a few hours ago, CNN showed an interview with Sarah Palin and a CNN reporter, Drew Griffin. Griffin had already sullied his reputation by repeating lies about Obama and Bill Ayers or ACORN, and then CNN chose him to interview Sarah Palin -- in one of only 4 or 5 interviews she has ever given to national media?

In the interview with Palin, Griffin allowed her to openly lie about a number of issues without any interruption or challenge. She claimed Obama had never reached across the aisle to work with Republicans, even though his work with Sen. Dick Lugar on nuclear weapons is well documented. She lied about Obama's tax plan over and over again, saying that he will tax ordinary Americans and small businesses, even though he as clearly stated he will not do that.

Most of her answers revealed her proclivity to jumble multiple talking points into a single sentence, never pausing long enough to think (or "blink"), and never providing any specifics about what either she or McCain would do -- on Day One or any day. Her responses were an amazing collage of cliches. A true Saturday night parody happening in prime time. Drew Griffin just sat there, smiling and feeding her the easy questions.

The most quoted part of her interview will be her so-called apology for her remarks about "real America" being small towns. That remark has drawn strong rebuke from both Democrats and Republicans. Or her mischaracterization of what Joe Biden said about a potential international crisis. When will the mainstream media challenge this? Drew Griffin only asked her if her message was being "trapped" in media reporting.

I have tried to figure out if she has any sense of irony at all -- when she speaks of Obama's inexperience (as if being Mayor of Wasilla, which we now know from the Daily Show has almost no responsibilities whatsoever, except to sign checks and meet with staff once a week! ) Or when she outright lies about Obama's policies, even though she must know she is not telling the truth. Is there no voice in the back of her head that says, "Come on, now. It's not completely true?"

But what is most disgraceful about this interview is the flaccid and uncritical role of the interviewer -- Drew Griffin. How can he call himself a journalist? And how can CNN put this interview on the air and brag about it? Was there no other journalist at CNN who the Palin camp would approve? And was that how Griffin was chosen -- by the McCain campaign? What a disgrace!

Here's the transcript of the interview.

Comments

[MrHueyD]

Standing up to nuclear weapons nearly 20 years after Reagan ended the Cold War. Now that’s leadership we need.

[Melissa]

He also misquoted an article from the National Review about Sarah Palin. He owes her an apology. It is also amazing that you quote The Daily Show as a point of reference.

[mac1987]

You have again brought out a major problem with a lot of the media. There have been very few that have stopped the person they are interviewing and corrected them on the REAL FACTS. If all of the media did correct and set the facts straight we would not have so many people believing lies. I really think the media is afraid to confront some of them. I do know, Chris Mathews, Keith Oberman and Sometimes Anderson Cooper will put the record straight. I am so tired of listening to interviews with these candidates and they continue to spread information that is not true. I would really like to see one news media do that. Come on media gets some guts! Call them on the lies.

[felric]

Why am I not surprised at this interview? Drew Griffin aside, this woman cannot be saved byt any interview however soft. Intellectually she is incapable and that's the bottom line.

[idest]

To be fair, the Mayor of Wasilla also has to try to combat the meth epidemic sweeping that sleep little burb.

[NicoleW]

I am very tired of the press just giving McCain and especially Palin a platform to say anything they want without being unchallenged. To Kathie Couric's credit, she did not let Palin get away with that and if you all remember she actually held Palin to the fire. That was the real Palin. I was hoping last night that Brian Williams would of done a Couric type of interview, but instead he just gave them another platform to mainly say anything they wanted. Additionally, you will notice the demeanor of Palin when interviewed by a woman. She acts coquettish with men. Palin doesn't understand the role of the VP, she has been asked this question before, maybe she should of at least read a grade school civics book.

[Jaxy]

It appears they are living up to their 'name'.
CNN = Continuous Namby-Pamby News.

[keng52]

The Democratic Party should be thanking their lucky stars that the McCain/Palin campaign has chosen the course they are currently on. It seems like there must be a "deep cover" DNC operative actually running McCain's operation.

[glaze]

Is it just me, or doesn't this sort of fly mach one in the face of the never-ending claim of the "LIBERAL MEDIA"?

Of course, the answer will probably come back, "Wuull,... uh... oh yeah!... CNN is the one exception!"

Here's a news flash for those... DUMMIES. The term "liberal media" was coined by some facsist/hack presidential advisor back about two or three republican administrations ago.

[dbrockx]

Yeah, it seems the only network, or should I say anchor man/woman that i calling out Sara and her lies is Keith and Rachel. CNN is overated, they are not the best news show in town, They are clearly anti Obama, and a lot of them so called news people are suppose to be reporting news, not spitting their own opinions. Yes keith and rachel have a lot to say, yet if you consider the type of reporting, the investigation they do , I rather listen to them, then Wolf, Campbell, Nora. How about it CNN

[jblisscamp]

As Senior Investigative Correspondent for CNN's Special Assignment Unit for nine years (a casualty of the network's nerve gas debacle, though not directly involved), I was astonished at the free ride given Ms. Palin. Why have an investigative reporter ask Larry King-like questions. Having gone head to head with Ross Perot and disassembled the myth that surrounded him, I had hoped for a more challenging interview of Alaska's Governor. When I told a former colleague that my walker was greased and I was ready for a comeback, he jokingly said the purpose of the interview was to dispute the notion that CNN only hires liberal reporters. Considering the reporter's previous tilt-to-the right "investigative" stories on ACORN, Troopergate and an outrageous report on the doctor who tried to save lives during Katrina, I should not be surprised by the Palin interview.

John Camp

[keng52]

The McCain/Palin operation will not tolerate any forseeable instance whereby Sarah Palin will have to answer a question that requires ANY independent thought.

[Berettasskeeter]

I wonder, Linda, if you missed the news that Palin is the Governor of Alaska? If she were only Mayor of her town, she would still have more executive experience than Obama, no? But as Governor, she has some control of a State Legislature, and of a rather hefty State budget, no? That certainly makes her more qualified than Obama, no?
Her "lies" about Obama's tax plans are not lies, but rather accurate depictions of a Socialist agenda.
Semper fi

[jp5472]

No...check facts, not the Republican memo you recite this all straight from.

[ReportThis]

And that's not to mention her beauty pagent experience, her tv weather person experience, and her educational experience -- was it 6 colleges over 5 years?

[tsand19151]

We REALLY are missing Tim Russert......... No mention of the AIP in the interview.­...amazing­.

[jp5472]

Yes, I have been saying for weeks that we have been missing Tim Russert - from no one bringing up Liddy, to no one bringing up AIP, to the real record that exists on "Songbird", not the "Hollywood" type spin from the last two decades. Also, Russert would have replayed all of McCain's past comments on taxes, etc, against all of the cuts to the wealthiest 5% that have been given by Bush. "Socialism" - people need to crack open a book on Lenin before ever claiming that a rollback of tax give aways and the "drunken sailor" spending that went on under the Bush administration and a Republican congress is socialism.

[daddynuke]

Drew Griffin ..."flaccid". That pretty much sums up his professional "capabilities". If the GOP ticket doesn't see a 3% bounce after this shocking dereliction of duty by CNN they should forfeit the election immediately.

[tsand19151]

Again, no mention of the AIP in the interview. Amazing.

[bluepearl2001]

I completely agree with you, Linda. Palin was on a roll--her usual nonsense, completely lacking in any intellectual honesty or integrity. How she looks at herself in the mirror in the morning (or all day as she admires her $150,000 outfits...) is beyond me.
My husband and I kept looking at each other in utter amazement. It was like we were stuck in the Twilight Zone. Griffin may call himself a journalist, but he completely castrated himself in that interview. No one will take him seriously after that poor excuse for an 'interview'.

[silverball]

i agree....and also for me it was a bit like watching a snl interview...not to be taken seriously......