Wolf Blitzer was the big loser in CNN's recent Democratic debate twixt Clinton & Obama in Hollywood. It was clear that the two candidates decided not to replay their South Carolina squabble or duplicate the cross-talking Romney-McCain slap-back from the previous night's GOP debate. But Blitzer was having no part of civilized talk. No. Throughout the evening, he persistently tried to deliver the brawl, battle, smackdown, and fight he, and CNN, promoted during the run-up to the event. The candidates were having none of it. At one point, an audience member actually called out "Nice try, Wolf' during one of his attempts to pump up things. Hillary echoed the words. But Blitzer wouldn't let go and kept it up. Now, every reporter understands the concept of friction in a news story. Without friction -- who's up, who's down, who's in, who's out, -- without friction it just isn't a 'good story.' Friction makes the world go 'round since the beginning of recorded history. Nation against nation, West versus East, capitalism-Communism, nature-nurture, religion-science, North-South, Sunni-Shia, Red States-Blue States. Friction, as a concept, is embedded in news reporting. But broadcast news, in particular, tends to be binary in language: 0 or 1, yes or no, right or-wrong. Nuance and subtlety is not broadcast news' strongest suit -- which is another way of explaining the Blitzer Blitz to generate a brawl that just wasn't there. It would seem CNN, and others, underestimate their audience. They tend to favor the Jerry Springer approach to friction where folks actually pummel each with words and fists. They don't see friction as a give-and-take of ideas and issues. Clinton and Obama tried to do that. There doesn't seem to be a whole lot of daylight between these two candidates' approaches to governing. Their debate agenda was to differentiate their positions without sounding like the Bickersons. CNN's agenda was to do the Bickersons.
The debate newsrooms around the country should be having is how to cover a presidential election without contributing to the fractious and coarsening that's now embedded in our public discourse. Charlie Rose, Jim Lehrer, Bill Moyers, Terry Gross, or any of the other fine broadcast newsies out there get it. They understand there's enough natural friction during an election without the broadcast media juicing it up with its steroidal approach.
Other than that, I thought he did a very good job-and I like Wolf very much.
I do agree with other commenters on here about some major cables being very divisive and part of the problems with out country.This need to frame every oppositional opinion-especially during campaign politics-as one solved in 2 minute soundbites/punch/counterpunch plays to the stupidity of viewers who want to think these arguments are just that simplistic. It also does nothing to bring about any resolution.
The more all of us as citizens, stick together-and not allow the focus of the problems we want to be solved to be wedge-issued to death by the msm-the higher the liklihood we have of solving them.
I'm turning off cable for a while.
The last 2 terms of the Presidency has been run on 60 second sound bytes! It's all about the bumper sticker slogan! (John Edwards called it first - again). "Islamo-fascism" "With us or against us" "Bring em on" "Dead or Alive". "I'm the Decider" "It's hard work" "Cut n run" "The surge is working" etc...
If it can't be boiled down into a 60 second sound byte / talking point / bumper sticker slogan, it's not worth talking about or considering. It's "elitist" or "high brow". Think about it. Every policy this Administration has instituted/enabled has been a 60 second talking point for the deluded, brainwashed, braindead masses.
Clearcutting and destruction of our wild places is the "Healthy Forests Initiative". Rampant and unchecked pollution is "Clear Skies". Illegal and unconstitutional giveaways of taxpayer dollars to religious operations is "Faith-based Initiatives". Opression and repression of women and their sexuality is "Abstinence-only education". Sacrificing a woman's life and wellbeing and right to choose what's done with her own body is "Pro-life" Etc. Etc.
And my favorite of all? "They hate us for our freedoms!" When any reasonable thinking person knows they hate us because we occupy their sovereign countries, meddle in their politics, and steal their resources while killing their people! Duh! But that won't fit on a bumper sticker.
The world and the people in it are more complex than 60 second sound bytes. But as long as the MSM feeds us this pablum, they deaden our logic processors, and they have us right where they want us...
"Mission Accomplished"!
CNN stopped being an actual news network years ago.
When you start working at CNN, part of your orientation is finding out that yes, Wolf Blitzer does have ties to the Mossad.
All that being said, why do people continue to watch? Oh, I keep forgetting. That means massive boycotts, marching in the streets and more. Which most Americans can't be bothered with anymore.