Chicago Trib calls Binden interviewer a JOKE...LMAO

[gaiilonfong]

http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/10/biden_tv_interviewer_hits_new.html


====================
If journalism schools ever needed a perfect example to show their students of how an interview should never be conducted, it would be the recent encounter between Sen. Joe Biden and Baraba West, an anchor for WFTV in Orlando, Fla.

Embarrassing and painful are two words that quickly come to mind to describe West's interrogation of Biden last week. It may be the worst interview of a major political figure by a "professional" broadcast journalist I've ever witnessed. It was like something out of the old Soviet Union where propaganda masqueraded as news.

[tabasco]

1. It reminded me of the kangaroo courts for the people

who plotted against Hitler.

Nothing but a harangue.

[pinto]

2. Kick. It was *head shakingly* bizarre.

[wndycty]

3. Everyone should e-mail this to her

Her e-mail address is: [e-mail]

[Forkboy]

8. Sounded like a good idea, so I did just that.

:)

[sunnystarr]

9. Just did and ty for the addy :) (nt)

[lunatica]

13. I already emailed her and her station manager and also posted a thread about it in GD

Here's my email,

Regarding Barbara West's interview of Joe Biden

Anyone who does interviews for public consumption should first be educated
in the subject they ask questions about. Ms West's question about Marxism is
so baffling and bizarre that it only leaves a shocking disbelief in her
knowledge of history. By asking the question regarding Marxism she has questioned Obama's
patriotism while obviously trying to smear his image in an attempt to
conflate his policies with Communist ideologies. There is not even a
remote connection between the two. Yet it's obvious that she actually
takes herself seriously as seen by her lack of any self awareness about
her appalling ignorance and obvious bias. It behooves you to make an
effort, in light of her profession as journalist, to require your journalists be knowledgeable about the subject
of their line of questioning. Until such time as Ms West begins to use facts as
the basis of her questioning she is and will remain an embarrassment to
her profession and an appalling reflection on your managerial skills.

Sincerely,

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x4311794

edited to add GD link

[Cha]

16. Thank you, lunatica, and thank you

all for email barbara west..like she thought she could get away with this.

NOT THIS TIME.

[abumbyanyothername]

27. Dear Ms. West:

I saw your "interview" of Joe Biden over the internet and all I can say is, I was shocked by the appalling partisanship apparent in your harangue. To ask if a major party candidate competing for election to the Presidency of the United States of America is "Marxist" is something that no second-year journalism student would do. I am not sure that even hacks like Sean Hannity or Rush Limbaugh would stoop to such tactics.

On the other hand, your comically biased interview may have been a blessing in disguise. I do want to thank you for giving Joe Biden the opportunity to show grace and poise under the most ridiculous of fire. Certainly, Senator Biden in his responses to your over the top inflammatory questioning proved what Barack Obama has been saying all along. "We can disagree without being disagreeable."

I would hope that the management of your station strongly considers taking you off the air after that childish display.

[Kalyke]

4. Amen.

I was a reporter for 12 years. In fact, I have interviewed both Biden and McCain.

However, I would have never taken the opposite side's talking points and turn them into interview questions. What a farce!

[chat_noir]

5. "Binden"??????????

[mediaman007]

6. I watched the interview for the first time at this site.

Biden "got it after the second question." He proved to be way more than Ms. West could handle. He slam dunked her and she didn't even know it!

Any right winger who celebrates her interview lives in mom's basement. West is an idiot. What ever school she attended shouldn't be accredited.

[The Backlash Cometh]

7. Wow, wow, wow.

Chicago Tribune = Orlando Sentinel.

[Starry Messenger]

30. Link from the Sentinel:

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_politics/2008/10/barbara-west-wo.html

The Obama campaign canceled a WFTV interview with Jill Biden, the candidate’s wife. “This cancellation is non-negotiable, and further opportunities for your station to interview with this campaign are unlikely, at best for the duration of the remaining days until the election,” wrote Laura K. McGinnis, Central Florida communications director for the Obama campaign. McGinnis said the Biden cancellation was “a result of her husband’s experience yesterday during the satellite interview with Barbara West.”

Her station should be *thrilled* she fucked their press avail with important public figures!

[L. Coyote]

10. Baraba West, an anchor who epitomizes the old Soviet Union. Could not happen to a better R. LOL.

Ironic isn't it, how the Rs are discovering they have so much in common with the right wing dictatorships they so hated.

[gratefultobelib]

11. Barbara West was rude, hateful and smug. She deserves to be condemned.

[Eric J in MN]

12. It's not "painful." It's fascinating to watch how far out she gets.

I've never seen someone interviewing a candidate quote "The Communist Manifesto" before.

[Brundle_Fly]

14. RATE IT UP

& more people will see it.

[Occam Bandage]

15. That "interview" was hilarious, until you realize that she isn't on the Colbert Report.

[K Gardner]

18. LOL.. t hat's EXACTLY what it was like !

[quantass]

17. nk

[steve2470]

19. my email to Ms. West

Hi Ms. West,

I am not in the habit of writing journalists. Usually there is no reason to, or I could care less. However, as a lifelong resident of Central Florida, I had to write you. I don't care what your politial party affiliation is, be it Republican, Democratic, Libertarian, etc. That's your private business.

However, as a journalist who "represents" the Central Florida media, I do take umbrage at your uninformed interview of Biden. For the record, I'd say the same thing if you interviewed Palin or McCain or any other prominent political figure. It is your JOB and your duty to be informed before you question a politician. Otherwise, I could do your job or anyone who read the internet rumors could.

Your interview was the worst I've ever heard from someone in the local media. Go back to health reporting, because you were good at that. Don't bother to write me back and try to justify yourself. You made a fool out of yourself all over the internet. Best of luck to you.


Steve in Casselberry

[bluedawg12]

20. Another pagent queen repig

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=7601026&mesg_id=7601470

Edited on Sat Oct-25-08 05:55 PM by bluedawg12
http://www.wftv.com/station/1874549/detail.html
>>"For the past 16 years, I have served as health reporter and anchor for WFTV's news at noon and 5:30.

I have covered stories of people, politics and medical breakthroughs. My work has taken me across the country and around the world. From Washington, D.C. I covered the inauguration of President Bush and the impeachment of President Clinton."

Prior to working in television news, I was an assistant professor at the University of Vermont and represented Vermont in the Miss America Pageant. I hold a Master's Degree from the University of Vermont.

I am married to Wade West, an international media consultant to politicians, professionals and organizations. Together we often serve as auctioneers at various fundraising events throughout the state.<<

Her husband:
http://www.solgamesusa.com/www/sol/view_page.php?catego...

Wade West - President
As a television news anchor with experience in the "major leagues" at both ABC and NBC in New York, Wade West's interviews with business, professional and political leaders give you a unique insight into what really brings increased results, profits and performance. Your group will benefit because his programs and books focus on what works in the REAL WORLD. He provides you with simple, proven strategies for applying this information to benefit your group and situation.

Founder and President of American Fundraising Auctions, Wade is a licensed auctioneer who has traveled the country appearing before audiences, lecturing, consulting, and conducting fundraising programs. His great public speaking and platform skills are known to motivate and capture an audience’s attention so everyone wants to get in on the bidding.

His depth of experience adds to his skills on any event. He is a former television news anchor and reporter. His media communication and fundraising skills have made him a popular consultant for political candidates ranging from local elections, to more than 85 members of Congress and members of the President’s cabinet. Drawing on that deep and varied background, Wade West founded American Fundraising Auctions with the goal of helping organizations around the country be more successful in serving their constituents.<<
--------

Wade West political contributions:
1999/2000
http://www.city-data.com/elec2/00/elec-ORLANDO-FL-00-pa...

2005/2006
http://www.city-data.com/elec2/06/elec-ORLANDO-FL-06-pa...
------

David Tazik, Dr. Rose Kress, Dr. David Price, Dr. Jean O'Neil, and Wade West. ... so that our nation can deter aggression, encourage political stability, provide ...
cecer.army.mil/techreports/.../Balbach_The_SEMP_Approach.pdf

-------

So, this solgames is a non-profit?
http://www.lanparty.com/parties/11059.shtml
>>More than just a lan. Be sure to check out the website about LIVE WaterDEATHMATCH with real NERO weapons on a beam across the pool. We ask for a $10 a day donation. You choose how many days you want to stay. All procedes go to the cover the costs of running the LANparty and funding SolgamesUSA Foundation. SolgamesUSA is a nonprofit 501(c)(3),509(a)(1) under the NHF and shares its tax status. The focus of Solgames of Central Florida is to support a Local Area Network Party that provides computer gaming and entertainment as well as training and education in repair of computer systems to teens and young adults in the Orlando Community.<<

[seabeyond]

21. i think it is a wonderful representation of who the repugs are and should be seen

far and wide.... across the nation. biden couldnt have been any more perfect.

[windoe]

22. This interview style is straight from the movie, '"Starship Troopers!"

Remember the prophetic Faux-style newscasts, eerily like post 911 propaganda style crap we see now??
MSM corporate announcers have become these abysmally poor caricatures that only in the past appeared in fiction.

I cannot call them journalists, because they are not---they are corporate announcers, representing them, watching them is watching a commercial.

[Liberal Mommy]

23. I emailed her & the Station Manager

I will not sit silently by any longer and watch these people distort the truth! :mad:

[Overseas]

24. He's right! And Biden did a great job !! //nt

[lady lib]

25. The comments section to this article is being freeped.

nt

[quiet.american]

26. Sure is; I left a comment over there; waiting for it to be posted. nt

[Cha]

28. Same interviewer interviewed mccain about

two weeks ago..

'If you don't think West was laying a trap for Biden with rhetorical questions that are central to John McCain and Sarah Palin's speeches, then watch her treatment of John McCain in an interview on October 14th.

Biden asked her if his interview was a "joke" and wondered aloud who was writing her questions. Conservative writers, like Michelle Malkin, are trying to use Biden's negative reaction to biased questions as proof that he's even more erratic than John McCain. It's a huge stretch. Not only has John McCain increasingly accused the entire media establishment of being in the tank for Obama after years of calling the press his "base," but on Thursday he showed clear erratic behavior by snapping at a reporter over an immigration question:.."

<much more>
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/25/biden-slammed-during-flor_n_137830.html

[tomg]

29. I love Biden.

Favorite comment by Joe:

BIDEN: I don't know who's writing your questions.

Those look like they came off an internet swift-boat spam letter. I'm surprised she didn't ask "Isn't it true that Barack Obama is going to make Bill Ayers Secretary of Education and require all children to be raised in state homes."

[tanyev]

31. I had cable TV for a few days last week on vacation and was stunned by how much CNN

and Headline News looked like state-run channels. I haven't had cable at home for years. Last time I saw Headline News it was a boring half-hour with an anonymous talking head delivering the top headlines. Now both channels have uber-patriotic flag backgrounds swirling behind them. Headline News has personalities who host and guests who yell at each other. How is that any different from CNN? Every time I flipped to either channel all I saw were the talking heads yukking it up with each other or talking about what McCain/Palin need to do to pull it out and win. It was appalling.

[progressivebydesign]

32. all the nutjobs in the comments haven't mentioned her GOP consultant hubby.

And have conveniently forgotten that she gave McCain the softball interview recently.

[StrictlyRockers]

33. This interfview was awful! Right wing talking point much?? Stupid automaton, repuke, robot!

[Number23]

34. COMPLETELY agree

Not only with this statement:

"It may be the worst interview of a major political figure by a "professional" broadcast journalist I've ever witnessed. It was like something out of the old Soviet Union where propaganda masqueraded as news."

But with this one!

"Are local TV anchors now paid to be cut-rate versions of Bill O'Reilly and Rush Limbaugh or, on the other side, Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow?"

Channel 9 should hang its head with shame that she somehow got to the anchor desk. She was disgraceful.

[Poseidan]

35. is the glass half-full or half-empty?

Truth is, as any objective person can see, the glass is half-full and half-empty.