Maria Luisa blasts CNN over being forced to ask dumb question....
By John Amato Thursday Nov 15, 2007 2:08pmThis doesn't reflect well on CNN's idiot factor.
Maria Luisa, the UNLV student who asked Hillary Clinton whether she preferred "diamonds or pearls" at last night's debate wrote on her MySpace page this morning that CNN forced her to ask the frilly question instead of a pre-approved query about the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository.
"Every single question asked during the debate by the audience had to be approved by CNN," Luisa writes. "I was asked to submit questions including "lighthearted/fun" questions. I submitted more than five questions on issues important to me. I did a policy memo on Yucca Mountain a year ago and was the finalist for the Truman Scholarship. For sure, I thought I would get to ask the Yucca question that was APPROVED by CNN days in advance."
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Did anyone expect the debate to be "real?"
Missed it. I was watching reruns of "The Munsters".
One of the CNN "Barbies" was on this morning talking about the 'debate' and spouted that Kucinich 'didn't belong there'. So I'm guessing they never even prepared any canned questions for him.
I see the Ministry of Information is hard at work making sure we hear about the "real, serious" issues.
I didn't see the debate. Did Hillary wear her flag lapel pin on the right lapel or the left?
Is pearls or diamonds a question loaded with sexual innuendo?
We are living in the twilight zone, funny how every one else in the world knows our elections are rigged, yet we allow the idiot box to dictate how we are suppose to believe.
I didn't bother to watch this one. But I bet I can tell you about it. The 3 frontrunners got most of the questions. Everyone piled on Hillary. Hillary was defensive. Stupid question? Covered by CNN, apparently.
Is the right wing going to explode with clries of "planted question!! how dare they!", somehow i doubt it.
Damned librul media strikes again!
Che's Lounge @ 2:
What channel!?!
Weaseldog @ 5:
Only if you are talking about necklaces, I suppose...
I guarantee the "rules" for the upcoming rethuglican debate will be very different than last night's fiasco.
Come on now people don't seriously believe these things aren't completely scripted do they?
They missed some questions we all need to know the answers to:
What is your favorite color?
What sign are you?
Do you have any make-up no-nos?
Are you wearing Grecian Formula?
And, What aftershave do you prefer?
Otay @ 14:
Did you have long hair when you were in your 20's?
Who's your favorite band?
Do you play computer games?
How much do you surf a week on the net?
Have you seen Amy Winehouse live?
Otay @ 14:
And...
Do you dress to the left or to the right? (Hillary included).
Do you use toner and moisturizer?
What SPF sunscreen do you use?
Boxers or briefs?
On top of that it appears to me they seeded the audience with people to make noise against Obama and Edwards calling Clinton to the carpet for her doublespeak and her obnoxious positions. The right wants her as the candidate.
CNN forced her to ask the question? What? Did they hold a gun to her head?
Jeezus, kid, grow some freaking balls, would ya?
"Oh, CNN tells me what to do! I can't think for myself." B-S.
Ask your freaking question and then watch everyone at CNN piss their pants cuz you didn't do what they told you. Stand up for your goddamned country, you weak-kneed automaton. All you people who are afraid to speak out are the reason the Republicans are just walking away with this country while all of us polite Democrats are "too afraid" to rock the boat.
Give me a F***ing break.
Couldn't she just ask the question anyway? She had the mic on live TV and if CNN cut her off they would look bad. So, say you will ask there pre approved question then ask something out of the norm. And if you want to ask a funny question that means something ..... ask about marijuana legalization or how we are loosing the first amendment in regards to strip clubs. Funny, but serious.
So what's the difference between someone from Hillary's campaign planting a question from the audience, and CNN planting a question from the audience? CNN tried to crucify Hillary because someone from her campaign did exactly the same thing as their staff did in the debate last night.
The Yucca Mountain Nuclear waste "facility" sits in an earthquake zone. It might not quake for 10,000 years, but when it does, nuke waste goes flying.
But let's not ask any questions.
What I wonder is why are the candidates wasting their time like this. Our time and theirs. How much useful information do they actually get to impart?
We gave up on CNN about 4 years ago. A Fox wannabe. Glenn Beck and Nancy Grace pretty much sealed the deal. .
budda @ 19:
They would've tasered her. But at least she'd get a zillion hits on You Tube!
budda @ 19:
You could ask that very same question about the student who claimed that someone from Hillary's campaign made her ask an approved question instead of the question she wanted to ask at a prior event.
Otay @ 14:
You missed; If you were a tree, what kind would it be.
Che's Lounge @ 2:
Good choice I think.
maria, you're young and you now have had experience with how the right can manipulate. you're not so young though or naive to just say no. when your original question was discounted and they cited the question regarding preference for diamonds or pearls, that would have been the time to say adamantly, get someone else. each of has decisions, hard decisions, that we must make. sometimes when we make those decisions we do not realize the far reaching consequences of those decisions.
in this case it's done and gone. just learn the lesson. the right will manipulate those whom they feel to be vulnerable.
budda @ 19:
That is what I was thinking. Or did they "advise" those who were picked to ask questions that they better not "disrupt" the event with unscripted questions?
Regardless, she should have asked the tough question, quickly before they could turn off my mike. Something like:
"Nuclear waste" (in one breath). And then asked the question about Yucca Mountain.
Piren @ 7:
Actually I thought it was a very good debate. The CNN questions were stupid of course, but the audience questions concerning Iran, the Patriot Act, and Supreme Court justices were intelligent and pointed.
All you people talking about the debate but didn't watch it should shut up.
Missed it, I was watching a Beavis & Butthead video.
Think CNN wil cover this planted question like they did Hillary's?
The funny thing is in the movie On Her Majesty's Secret Service, George Lazenby played scenes of James Bond undercover in a medical clinic filled with women. His cover was Sir Hillary, or Sir Hilly they called him, the geneologist.
Couldn't findy any scenes of that online, so here's the ending instead.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoMJt8Kyvlo
It was clear that the debates were crap when Ralph Nader was denied admission even as a spectator so long ago.
If we had real debates it would require much more time since there would certainly be some frivolous and useless questions and real answers take more than 30 seconds. I think it would be worth the time if we could ask real questions and sweat real answers out of these bastards.
As far as CNN as a "quality" news source, well, it sux but there's worse. I call it FOX.
Tell the people what they want to hear, then do what you want to do.
Nothings changed.
Well firstly, there was a definite script CNN wanted to go buy - pretty crappy for even CNN standards. But something happens to people when they are in a CNN audience. Their brains just turn off and act like a bunch of sheep. But again, Wolf Blitzer didn't want anything of substance to come out of these debates.
LibertyLover @ 11:
No that's cuffs and collars not matching.
So instead of refusing to ask the dumb question, or asking the important question that she wanted to ask, it was more important for her to be on television, and if that meant doing what she was told, she decided to obey because she didn't want to ruin her moment. How sad that our youth places exposure above integrity or accountability.
first: i haven't seen it. my question is, upon reading a few blogs: was it not possible for her to just go ahead and ask the yucca question? if she was upset about being relegated to "frilly" questions, was she not upset enough to risk being cut off by the network? i'd rather go down clawing at a cnn anchor than ask a presidential candidate some pitiful crap like that. i think people forget that cnn isn't here to be your objective news source. if she wanted to ask the question, she should have asked it. cnn doesn't control her voice, only the sound boards. i'd be upset too if i asked a throw-away question and looked like cnn's monkey. please, people, don't be afraid to tell wolf blitzer where he can stick it. he's just a man, with an animal name.
OneFish @ 31:
Exactly that was the end of it right there. Thats the night the fascist spooks took over America and sent out the message.
It's our way or the highway. Your either with us or against us.
L.A. Confidential @ 15:
Maryann or Ginger?
Maria Luisa should have asked her Yucca Mountain question anyway. What would CNN have done? Sent goons to tackle her and drag her out of the room?
God forbid that we remain forever ignorant on the vital jewelry question.
Why not just play the CNN game?
Pretend...until you get the microphone. Then ask what you want to ask.
Isn't it really that simple, or am I missing something?
Dr. Matt @ 10:
The losers channel,
George Bush, great President or greatest President?
Can God make a rock so large that even he/she can't lift it?
Have you accepted Jesus as your personal lord and savior?
Wolf's beard, dashing or just plain sexy?
What's the strangest place you and Bill have ever made whoopie?
Dr. Acula @ 16:
I guess It's ok to ask planted questions if you're CNN or Fox.
This story won't get as much airing as Hillary's.
Maria Luisa apparently wants her face on TV more than she'd like to be known for having integrity. TP has a similar post regarding Maria Luisa, in which, she chastises one of her classmates for taking her to task for asking such a moronic question. In that exchange, Maria Luisa responds that it's not her place to educate her peer(s) as to how politics work. I'll bet she'd have blown Blitzer for the chance to be on TV (and that would be okay with the Republicans, 'cause Blitzer ain't the President).
Dr. Acula @ 16:
Depends....
mo_dems @ 29:
Touchy. From watching the clips and reading the comments I pretty much nailed it.
and (I do not want to provoke a riot, but I have to ask the hard-hitting questions that CNN will not ask),
"which is cuter, puppies or kittens?"
if you answered "kittens", then the terrorist win.
Gregg @ 43:
Can God microwave a burrito so hot, that even he can't eat it?
Marcus Aurelius @ 46:
Marcus Aurelius @ 46:
No, that's Fred Thompson, the other party.
Couldn’t she just ask the question anyway?
Yeah, as long as it's prefaced by Don't tase me, Bro!
Here's what she should have said:
"CNN wanted me to ask a dumb question about jewelry. Instead, I'd like to know what you think about the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository. I'd also like to know your opinion about the media trying to make these presidential debates focus on stupid, frivolous issues."
Did they hold a gun to her head? Forced to ask the question my ass.
Shut up and vote for one of the two candidates the media chooses for you!
Dr. Matt @ 10:
You probably got a higher livel of intellectual stimulation. Does it not speak volumes about the...ahem, kinds of people...that make up the media?
Yellow Elephant Safari @ 50:
Teleken @ 1:
Obviously, Wolf need help skew
ering the debate.L.A. Confidential @ 37:
I'm surprised no one really caught that.
Gregg @ 48:
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.crazyphotos.com/thumbs...
I'm getting a bit sick of hearing stories about how people are being "forced" to ask questions. Did CNN hold a gun to her head? NO? Well, golly gee, once you get up to the podium, why not just ask any question you please? Because CNN didn't approve? What exactly are they going to do to you as a result? Hell, what CAN they do to you as a result. Pathetic. I'm just as disgusted as people who shy away from asking real questions as news networks or candidate handlers that shun them in favor of pre-approved crap.
my2cents @ 54:
not worth 2 cents
Faux news is going to have a field day with this! I can see it now - they can smear CNN and Hillary all in one swoop - for weeks and weeks....
Sorry about the link, the one I was trying to get is labelled drunk kitten.
Roger Bixley @ 35:
Yes, she had her moment. And now the entire country thinks she's an idiot
Eris23 @ 61:
the real point is that CNN staged the asking of trite, pointless questions.
Scott in Chicago @ 55:
Spoken like a true Kang supporter.
Kodos 2008!
This was a sham event from beginning to end. Hillary's the annointed of the corporatist media an you can bet that censored questions was only the tip of the Iceburg!
The audience was stuffed full of her supporters and O'Bama and Edwards got boos even when they asked pointed questions about her statements and voting records.
The pundits all swooned about how "Hillary is back" even though a substantial number of commentators say she scored no knockouts during the debate. If you go over the debate threads on this site and others you will find plenty of posters who asked "what debate were they watching?"
It is no accident that the you tube video on crooks and Liars story below of Hillary's NAFTA debate answer has suddenly disappeared and is no longer available:
David Sirota on Hillary’s Response To NAFTA At The Democratic Debate
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/11/16/david-sirota-on-hillarys-respon...
Never under estimate the power of a Corporatist Democrat!
The most telling comment of the debate was when Jonathan Edwards recalled that in 1993, with a Democratically controlled House, Senate, and White House... universal health care was killed and NAFTA was passed.
"So what happened? Universal Health Care which was desperately need by the American people was killed by the lobbyist and corporations and NAFTA, which cost Americans million of jobs and the American people didn't need was passed!
Nothing is going to change in Washington if you replace a corporate Republican crowd with a crowd of corporate Democrats!"
----Jonathan Edwards
Whether you like Edwards or not... that is the real fundamental truth of the situation. O'Bama and Edwards both took the pledge not to accept any money from the lobbyist or PACs during this campaign. They have honored that pledge, but Hillary has accepted more lobbyist and PAC dollars than any candidate in either party and that is the real bottom line.
Why! Why! Why!!! . .Why the fuck did CNN pull this shit with that girl dammit!!! This is exactly why CNN's credibility is in the toilet and in the broader sense why media in general is more and more being viewed as either a bad joke or instrument of propaganda used by politicians of either side who don't want to face 'real questions'...That Yucca Mountain B.S. is an example of exactly the right kinds of questions needing straight answers...
But these cowards running for president and these cowards managing the media would rather jerk us all off, themselves included, then face the real issues and talk about it!!!!
This is BULLSHIT!!! Might as well be the fucking national enquirer or some other scandal rag doing these phony assed events.. It's just about the same pablum now! BULLSHIT DAMMIT! FUCKING BULLSHIT!!! She probably should have asked her question anyway, but this situation is NOT on that kid or if, why, or how she was coorced... CNN is solely responsible along with whatever Clinton flunky staffer is involved... Fuck me to tears, why indeed, do we even bother anymore......GODDAMMIT I hope Kucinich is for real... I've had just about enough of this stage managed crap about 'Ohh Clinton is the new black'. She just lost whatever little bit of sympathy I had for her as a female running for president. Hope that makes you happy Hillary!!!!
This shit we are in now as a nation is a hell of a lot deeper than 'what's yer fucking sign' or just wanting a woman in the whitehouse just because.......FUCK!!!......JD
gene214 @ 65:
you have no idea how much her situation was controlled.
Although is sounds far-fetched that she had to ask CNN's question, the accusation that they were screening all of them make it sound like a boosh no-brainer.
I give her credit for coming forward with this information, but I take at least half that credit away for her actually following through with that idiocy.
What happened to acting for yourself? CNN didn't actually tap into her central nervous system and control her speech; she could have easily changed the question when she had the mike.
Grow up, people. The mass media can only get away with what we allow them to. Act up and show them who's in charge.
Jack Damage @ 69:
apparently, PRAVDA-USA comes in six tasty flavors, Murdoch Feces, GE Feces, Disney Feces, Clearchannel Urine and two others. Why get outraged over the inevitable - that they own the process and they are flaunting it.
I found a video of her at the debate:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTWTjRiXDEI
for all the very couragous and resourceful people who would ask "any question they damn well please":
You were NOT there.
You have not seen the screening process.
You have no idea what, if any, intimidation may go on.
You would not have known about it if the young woman had not come forth today.
Ease up.
jimi13 @ 72:
Maybe CNN rented Billo's Faux security for the night and she was scared.
CointelPro, yes, it's lame as hell that a supposed "news network" plants questions. But, I expect them to do this. They aren't a public entity. They're a commercial entity that sells advertising time, and seeks to stick in newsbites in between that the public finds just interesting enough to tune in for, but doesn't allow enough time to really go into any detail. It's why I don't bother watching political stuff on any of them. It's politics without soul. However, I don't expect people to ask lame questions on TV, only to whine to the press later about how they were "forced" to ask a question. The fact is, they weren't. They could have asked whatever they wanted to, but chose not to. One is opportunistic, but the other is opportunistic and cowardly.
Weaseldog @ 74:
:lol:
ysbaddaden @ 71:
the sad fact is that boosh has made this SOP.
Marcus Aurelius @ 57:
HDon @ 3:
Meanwhile he gets one of the largest rounds of applause for his Impeach them now comment.
CoIntelPRo @ 70:
For all those piling on Maria, remember the Jessica Lynch saga. It took, what, two years before she got up the courage to speak against the lies told about her capture, and about the staged melodramatic "rescue." Jessica was a woman who had the courage to be in combat, but still submitted to "the script."
Maria probably didn't realize the gravity of the situation until she saw her question played on the screen in comparison to the more substantive questions asked by the audience. Shame on CNN and double shame on the entire debacle of the media's attempt to control this election.
============
As for the questions, though, I just wish someone in the audience had asked the ultimate personality definer question: "If you come back in your next life as an animal, which animal do you want to be?" /snark
Straight Shooter @ 82:
Hehe, I would've asked what object, not animal... :)
CoIntelPRo @ 75:
"Ease up" and drop back on your knees like good sheeple.
Thank you. I call bullshit on her story also.
From that ridiculous debate question, to marginalizing Kucinich, to their right wing spin machine in the afternoons/ prime time people have to realize this is a new CNN not the trusted old one of the 80s and 90s.
I want to say that what do you expect from a network based in Georgia, but they did seem more honest in the past.
I want to ball up in the fetal position and rock
Why didn't they ask Richardson about diamonds or pearls or would that be sexist?
CoIntelPRO@73;
Why??? Why my friend is because 'we the people' are suppose to be the owners of this nation and the process of electing its leaders to represent us, not a bunch of goddamned propagandizing warmongering greed driven elitist fascists dammit! Thats why....And by god I wish everyone here would lay off that kid and direct your focus and anger properly! And goddammit, we should ALL be outraged at this, and tell those who are solely responsible for this carpetbagging snakeoil sideshow exactly where to get off!!...
And that would be the DNC, the RNC, CNN, Fox, and the rest of those feces networks you alluded to, and finally, the Clinton campaign people.. Not some teenager who was invited to submit questions and then manipulated after the fact... Whoever it was that pointed out that we wouldn't know dick about any of this IF that kid hadn't gone ahead and revealed it all on myspace (was that you CoinTel??) was totally on POINT!
I'm really beginning to hate this whole charade and every underhanded bit of scheming of the last 30 plus goddamed years that has led us to this sick result... It started with Reagan and now here we are willingly sandbagging ourselves....THAT'S what I call pathetic.... JD
Thank you Maria Luisa for putting this up on your MySpace page.
Now you know the truth about the Main Stream Media and about politics in America. I only hope more in your generation are also beginning to realize the truth of the situation here. Your understanding is critical to the future of this country.
*
Jessica Lynch was not a civilian. It's an entirely different context.
Either way, as I said, this is why I don't wtach debates on private for-profit networks. They are utterly worthless. We can all learn more about a candidate by simply going to their webpage and reading over their policy proposals, while also seeing how it relates to their record over at votesmart.org (assuming they have a record there). Everything else, except for something with no quick time limit on PBS or information we can check out on our own, is just entertainment. For-profit networks are in the business of offering entertainment and nothing else. No thank you.
Jack Damae said: Whoever it was that pointed out that we wouldn't know dick about any of this IF that kid hadn't gone ahead
and revealed it all on myspace (was that you CoinTel??) was totally on POINT!
-
So what? She could have asked her question AND told us they tried to make her ask about Hillary's preference for diamonds or pearls. No, this kid represents a problem. There was no "force" involved. There was merely a bad choice made by an individual who felt dumb about it later. And she should feel dumb about it.
This was a staged event and yes... the audience was packed with Hillary loyalist. Her version of Bush giving speeches in front of military audiences.
This was just posted and D-Kos by someone who was there:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/11/16/32040/765
Hillary has taken the pages right out of the Bush/Cheney play book... censored questions, phony reporters, and audiences stuffed with her supporters by the DNC.
Anyone watching more than 5 minutes of the questions posed by the group of participants
categorized by CNN as "Undecided" could easily tell that the questions were selected by
CNN by the way they were scripted. I used to devote most of my attention to Faux Noise
as to justifiable criticism concerning it's boradcasts, but CNN(Crappy Nothing News) is
not in the same category and will get less and less of my viewing time
Doggiebobo @ 94:
Opps. should read..."...is NOW in the same category..."
CoIntelPRo @ 79:
boosh is a sop.
HDon @ 3:
Not ONE single voter in ONE single state has voted for ONE single candidate and yet the corporate owned media think that THEY get to decide who is a viable candidate and who gets to debate. This nonsense needs to end and it needs to end now and I don't really care whether it's voluntary or whether it involves a wooden platform and a rope and a trapdoor. Hijacking a democratic election in this country is a crime and it's time we began to treat it that way. And it's time we began to treat the criminals involved like criminals and not like smiley faced pretty boys and pretty girls who are just reading us the so-called "news."
Eris23;
I'm going to respectfully disagree with you.. I don't know how old that girl is, or what her background is, but kids make poor choices.. That's a fact. IF she made a poor choice out of fear or whatever reason, she is still a teenager being a teenager. IT may very well have been a stupid choice on her part to not ask the original question but it is equally true that NOONE here can know how CNN had the sound set up or what kinds of delays were put in place... There is often what's called the seven second delay on live broadcasts that noone talks about but is clearly in evidence in many live situations.. Football as just one example. It is supposedly in place to account for and bleep out the kind I language I like to use when I'm angry and writing about things I don't like, And by god I don't like this shit!
Regardless, however, she is a teen but the people running that network and the people in the Clinton campaign camp are full grown adults dammit! There is NO excuse for trying to stage manage an event based around the idea of cadidates responding to questions from a supposedly representative audience of citizens... And btw, as regards the question this kid did want to ask? I damned well would ALSO like to know just what the hell the rationale is for storing nuke waste under a mountain on top of what has been charactorized as either a serious earthquake fault and/or a phenomenom known as a supervolcano... And more to the point, what is Hillary Clintons thoughts on that.. Actually what are all these wouldbe presidents thoughts on that? JD
Rasputin @ 93:
Yep. And it's also looking like her campaign has its minions hitting the blogs with their scripted comments (a la Rove?). I'm seeing a lot of Hillary commenters claiming anyone who disagrees with them are not now and never were Dems, or are wearing their tin foil hats, or have smoked too much dope, etc. I don't see a lot of those personal kinds of insults being thrown by commenters who support other candidates.
drtoxic @ 18:
WELL PUT!!! I AGREE.
Nah, Jack. I hear you. I am being a bit too hard on the girl. I was a bit different when I was in college though. A News Network scripting a dumb question, or any question, for a debate is something I would have pretended to be down with, and I would have asked my question anyways. I don't see how it's a hard thing to do. The amount of delays they may have used or whatever is pretty much irrelevant. She could have asked her question anyways and still had the same story to tell us the next day. Like I said, I expect this from entertainment networks. I expect this from politicians if they can get away with it. That's why I prefer to only hear them speak in a situation where they don't have control. Where booing audience members would be rightfully ejected from the studio.
However, what I don't expect is the citizenry to back down to an unarmed media network, and then claim they were forced. It's simply not true. We're not about to pretend it's a revalation that networks like CNN do this stuff all of a sudden, right? Frankly, I'm surprised they let the public participate at all. It's not like I want to see this girl drawn and quartered. But, I'm really disappointed in her. She could have asked her question and told us about CNN's action. But, how this went down, I'm inclined to believe that if she was fed a "smart" question, she wouldn't have put up any more resistance than she did to "diamonds or pearls" and likely wouldn't have said a thing about it later.
Dog and pony show.
If you thought it was insightful, informative or even a debate for that matter you deserve the country you live in.
When can we expect Laura Logan to do interviews while in a thong bikini?
South Park has that male midget interviewer in a bikini.
This doesn't say much for CNN, but it does say volumes about CNN's opinion of their audience if those are the types of questions they're pushing.
Poor child. She thought CNN respected her as a Citizen. And wasn't it great when Hillary hit it out of the ballpark? Hardy Har Har Har, it's all a barrel of laughs.
Peace.
I think it's very important to define words as they ought to be defined.
The word force is being defined wrong. That girl was not forced to say what she said. Force implies physical force, for that is the only real force that mankind has, everything else is up to the people's use of persuasion and logic.
I may seem to be splitting hairs here but to use the word force so casually makes the real use of force, which is the real danger, also seem casual.
She was asked by CNN to ask that question. If she disagrees with this request then she simply cannot ask the question on CNN. She can ask it on her myspace page, which she did! So there was no force involved here. If there were, then it WOULD be force if she COULD NOT write something on her own property. CNN didn't keep her there against her will and told her to ask that question or else she will be harmed, she had free will the whole time.
If you are upset that she asked what CNN wanted, then you should also consider the girl. She should not be labelled as completely right. She agreed to do it voluntarily. Obviously she wanted to be on TV more than asking what she wanted to ask. She simply wants to have her 15 minutes on TV. Many kids in this country want to get on TV, by any means neccessary sometimes. In this case, she clearly valued being on TV more than asking the right question. If she would have written in her myspace page:
"I was asked by CNN to ask Hillary about diamonds and pearls, a topic that I was not in the least bit interested in. I wanted to ask about what I think is important, i.e. nuclear energy. Since I do what I value most, I declined to ask the diamonds and pearls question and walked away."
THEN I would have said good for her. But she didn't do that.
Jesus Christ.
Just sign up for the dumb question and ask the one that you want. How hard is that?
Given how pathetic and loaded the CNN democratic debates where I wonder how bad the republican debates will be.
"Hillary has taken the pages right out of the Bush/Cheney playbook . . ." She did, and didn't she turn the "debate" around to the boys taking THEIR page right out of the Republican book? 1984? The Spy Who Came in from the Cold?
drtoxic @ 18:
Good point. What is CNN going to do to you if you don't ask their questions? Forcibly remove you from the audience? Just ask your own question.
Excuse me, but wasn't that a live debate? What, did they have her mom captive with a gun to her head? Why not ask the question without CNN approval. Just say, "Sure, I'll ask your trivial question" and then when the microphone is in hand, do what is right.
Eris23;
You are not the only one here being hard on that kid, but I'm glad for the sake of the discussion that you copped to that much. I agree that had a similar situation had been attempted back in the mid 70s when I likely would have attended college I too would have refused and asked my real question... Don't know if I would have faked it beforehand or not and I agree on a certain generational level it was disappointing that she allowed herself to be manipulated in the end. But the truth is, these are not those times and this generation was not raised in the same envronment that our (I'm assuming we might be in the same general age grouping give or take 10 years) generation was raised in. The reality of that era is significantly different than now. Back then, this kind of bullshit wouldn't have even happened in that post watergate environment with a living breathing Walter Cronkite and a Peter Jenninngs in his prime... I think you know that as well as I if you are anywhere near my age.
I think you have hit on something significant in all this though, that many here allude to if not outright say... Yes, we all 'expect' this sort of thing from the media and the politicians nowadays...even if we are outraged when it happens as is the case with me here and now. That is a type of conditioning not so far removed from the kind of brainwashing exemplified in literature such as the Manchurian Candidate or in fact what it all came down to for Winston in 1984..THAT kind of mindset didn't happen overnight and IS significant. I think that is the real bit here that needs to change...That, I think, may be the real moral of this tale. Instead of 'expecting' or 'accepting', perhaps, hell, it's damned well, high time to start DEMANDING real debate with real question posed and DEMANDING and accepting nothing less than REAL answers instead of expecting and accepting bullshit and telling ourselves it has any meaning..... This girl and her entertainment tonight staged question and whether or not she should have or shouldn't have isn't really the issue... It's the fact that the situation has devolved down to this sorry state that is the issue. That is what needs changed. Fix that part and we, none of us, will have to worry so much about stage managed political theater and we can get back to honest debate between would be presidential candidates which this nation sorely needs, now perhaps more than at any time in our lifetimes............JD
I wonder if Poland is coming up with some good American jokes...
errr....Bitch! no one forced you if you asked the "DUMB QUESTION" with your own lips as you smiled about it.
Someone seriously has to ask Giuliani if he prefers Diamonds or Pearls at the YouTube debate. PLEASE MAKE THIS HAPPEN
I can almost stomach the question more than the remark the questioner threw in at the end, "that's the only shiney thing up there!" What was that about?
Rather than just asking asking the question she wanted to ask, I'd rather have seen her totally embarrass CNN by prefacing something like this: "I came here to ask you about Yucca Mountain, but CNN has demanded I ask you this inane question instead..."
J.C. @ 115:
that would have been priceless. She'd probably be tasered though.
On CNN: CNN and all the networks choose personality over policy to such a degree that personality IS the policy. It's the horserace, and dissecting the personalities of each candidate that will make him or her successful in the horserace. It is about winning - it is Chris Matthews book, "A Recipe for Sadness."
But this is a known thing.
On the dumbass girl: I blame her more than CNN. By a wide, wide margin. I can't believe nobody in the comments is highlighting the fact that this "Truman Scholar" semifinalist or whatever generated two questions in her precious little brain. One was about Yucca Mountain and the other was the diamonds and pearls question that she generated from her synapses and such. CNN didn't write that question. This Luisa person did. She wrote it, submitted it, and CNN happily jumped on it because it confirms for them their self-script that personality trumps policy and it was a cutesy way to end their night of bizarre stagecraft. Luisa herself is the kind of person who wants to know this trivial bullshit in terms of judging who to elect. She is CNN's audience. That question Luisa created and CNN are a perfect match.
Only someone as oblivious as Luisa would complain that she didn't get to ask HER special Yucca Mountain question, regardless of whether another YM question had already been asked (it just had been asked and painfully answered). This girl is so oblivious that she blames CNN for apparently censoring what she could ask because CNN had decided that like healthcare and all the other topics, only one question per topic. Gee, what jerks. And since Luisa had thought to herself that it would be fun to submit a cute question that ironically summarizes everything that is wrong with our political discourse, CNN had at its disposal this cutesy angle.
And CNN was super-happy, to be sure, because they love personality stories. They love trivia. They couldn't wait to dissect HOW Hillary handled the diamonds or pearls question, dissect how the tone with which she replied reflected on her personality, and speculate whether the manner in which she replied would influence some voters in the horserace. Did it humanize Hillary? Did that resonate with voters? Would there be a reflection in the polls? All that retarded bullshit.
So fuck off, Luisa. You are part of the problem. You and you alone generated this question in your mind. You thought that the two most important questions were 1. Yucca Mountain and 2. Trivial Bullshit. You want people to stop giving you a hard time? Stop buying into and fueling this psuedoentertainewsporn-of-personality culture, which you clearly do. CNN wants to run this script. People like Luisa just make CNN feel ultra-secure in their editorial decisions. See, people do really want to know this stupid shit! It's not us - we're just responding to our audience's demand!
Jeff @ 116:
EXACTLY ! Just ask the question and IGNORE what CNN or the MSM has to say. All they can do is cut your mic off and then when everyone wants to know why, they'll find out on the person's MySpace. It is time that people started ignoring the confining "cutouts" that MSM talking heads continually try to impose on average Americans whow ant to ask REAL questions. That they had people submitted numerous questions days in advance is just absolutely ridiculous. Only Wolf Blitzer on his own accord could ask as many dumb questions as have been asked over the course of both campaign debates.
And on another point, what was with all the cheering in the audience last night? Is this a sporting event or a debate? Keep your mouths shut and listen....there'll be time enough for cheerleading at the campaign RALLY.
You mean CNN "scripted" a question? How disgraceful!!
Just one more thing that proves the whole system is RIGGED.. The media, the elections, the government of the US and several other nations are wholly-owned and operated by the "powers that be." Democracy does not exist on the face of this Earth; fair and open elections are a joke; and freedom is an illusion.
write to cnn. they won't do anything about it but at least they'll know you know what their game is and that you're not stupid.
Boxers or briefs?
Depends....
No, that's Fred Thompson, the other party.
Thanks, that's the only real laugh I've had today.
It was the episode where Herman takes up photography and snaps a picture of two bank robbers. When they come to get the picture they are stuck hiding out in the Munster house til things cool off. It's then that the hilarity begins.
ha ha. And you folks wasted your precious time on that stupid exercise in political kabuki. So who's the loser? If they won't acknowledge Kucinich, then they can all go fuck themselves. There are better shows to watch than The Further Adventures of Hillary and Barack.
hope @ 99:
Yup indeed! Her minions have been hard at work and you see yet another example of Karl Roves play book ala Hillary... don't address the message... attack the messenger!
Interestingly enough the media isn't buying it except on CNN who did the rigging. Chris Mathews and David Gregory were just talking about how it was "a carefully scripted event with an audience that was clearly being cued to respond to Hillary."
Hillary's response on the NAFTA questions that Crooks and Liars had linked to was suddenly pulled down, but David Sirota has supplied some of it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBypp2hqxaQ
hope @ 115:
She could have said: "that's the only thing on stage that isn't dull"
Otay @ 126:
Sorry, couldn't help myself. No offense meant to the candidates.
This is typical. The media, and the vast majority of double-digit IQ Americans don't care about real issues - they care about nonsense like this. They care about nonsense like who's screwing whom in Hollywood and whatever train-wreck Britney Spears is involved in this week.
We're a nation of idiots and we get the idiots we deserve as our politicians. It is only getting worse, too, as the younger generations are more self-absorbed and ignorant than ever before.
If we as a nation DEMANDED accountability, integrity, and honesty of our media and our politicians, things would change, but we're too fat and pampered for the most part to actually do anything about it.
more at my blog...
Forced? Give me a break! No one opened her mouth and forced words to come out.
Was a CNN executive holding Maria Luisa's jaw and forcing her to mouth their stupid "diamonds and pearls" question?
No.
Hard lesson, Maria Luisa. Remember Rage Against the Machine?
"Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me." That line doesn't just apply to fascist cops, it also applies to the media.
Ten times more anger, ten times more defiance. Learn, student, learn. Cindy Sheehan knows.
This is retarded and there's a chance she's a rethug who smugly took the opportunity to be "influenced" only she could create bad press. I mean how hard is it to just ASK WHAT YOU WANT ANYWAY? What is CNN going to do? I just don't buy this it smells like Dean Scream/Swift Boat/and all the other manipulative rethugs who will do anything to create a stir.
hope @ 99:
Yes Sireee... the Hillatrolls are out in force! Attack the messenger... Rove 101!
Why not ask one of the other five or more questions? I'd like to learn more here.
To elaborate, in some accounts it seems she only had 2 questions, but she says she had more. There's no doubt most media coverage is shallow, but I'd like the full context here.
drtoxic @ 18:
I'm with you on that one... though I would have phrased things a little less harshly.
There is a reason we are made to be such insufferable smartasses in our teens and early twenties. That automatic distrust of authority is SUPPOSED to work FOR us every once in a while.
All the good questions you've heard on this campaign so far? Yeah, those weren't the questions they were supposed to ask either. That's how the game has always worked. Of course it is STILL a possibility that she really did ask the question she wanted to... and now regrets it quite a bit (I'm sure her friends are all over her). Just a learning experience for her I guess.
Senator Clinton... is it true that an angel dies in heaven when ever someone asks you to explain your contradictory statements?
That was CNN's next question but it had to dropped for time limitations.
This is just another wake up call to those who support Senator Clinton. She sits and laughs at this shit, knowing that this sick debate was promted by her leading supporters in the media who would not dare show the huge band of supporters for the Obama camp and I know this because I was one of them and believe me folks. It was at least 20 to 1 until they got so scared and shame, they bussed in a load of people with Hillary signs and still could not top the Obama crowd.
Just as I said yesterday. The Las Vegas Journal carried a huge picture of Hillary and blasted everyone else.
CNN, delibertly screened everyone who was let into the debate and decided what questons would be asked and this is getting out of control, when we have to allow these right wing ass holes to run these debats into the ground as they are doing.
After the debats was just as disgusting as the debats themselves were, when we are forced to sit and look at these crack pots distroy our candidates with their sick anology of what they think of our candidates. They know that no one even watches the Republican debates because we have no intention of voting for any of them, so they are going to do all that they can to distroy ours.
There were no questions at all about this illegal war and I think we all know that Senator Clinton is way off base in that arena so they decided to by pass the most important subject matter possible. She cannot mesure up to the heat and does need to get the hell out of the kitchen and take her broom with her.
I don't give a dame who we support as long as this woman is not it. It would be like putting Bush back in office for another 8 years and that we cannot afford folks.
Even Matthews and Gregory were talking on Hardball tonight about how the whole event was carefully scripted and the audience was clearly cued to respond to Hillary!
She's taken her play book right from Bush and Rove.
1. Staged audience of supporters... Check!
2. Pseudo-spontaneous questions.... Check!
3. Fake reporters.................. Check!
4. Evade legitimate questions by name calling and attacking the messenger............ Check!
5. Organized blogg attacks......... Check!
hope @ 99:
I could only get about halfway through the comments on that KOS entry before I wanted to slap some of those Hilliary sycophants upside the head. It is really tragic what passes for politics these days.
Kucinich would fit right in with The Munsters
I'm sure others commenters have said this, but how could CNN "force" the student to do anything? Did they hold a gun to her head? This was live tv, right? She should have asked any question she wanted to.
Wag @ 106:
Whether the girl is right or wrong is what CNN wants you to focus on. ??Who gives a sh8 about the girl?? The real story here is that CNN SET UP A DEBATE !!!
This is actually a HUGE story in the history of our country, in our path to facism.
angelo @ 142:
Well, if the world had more people like this girl, then the remaining group would help in making decisions for them more and more. CNN OBVIOUSLY knew people would focus on the girl's childishness, that's why they put her on TV!
Oh and its not fascism if CNN made that decision voluntarily. This is appropriate behaviour; they would be wanting to gain viewers, that's it. That's what the news is under freedom.
But in fascism, the politicians would be telling CNN to ask these questions, and they would try to do this by the threat of using guns or imprisonment or fine or whatever goes against the interests of CNN. If CNN comes to fall into line voluntarily, then the threat of the state must be very intimidating indeed.
Remember that business leader a while back who announced that everyone should get used to living with a new definition of privacy? Isn't he simply reporting what the government is really interested in, and how they want to take control over it? He is simply saying that our society is turning fascist. Isn't it better to start calling something this bad for what it is today and not ignore it? If we ignore it, it will one day take over, for it is hungry.
If I knew I had one shot, I wouldn't waste it on such a spurious question. I'd agree to do it, but then start with, "CNN said they would only let me speak if I asked a frivilous question, so I would like to ask a serious one instead...."
She doesn't work for CNN, and if they had censored her mid sentence, it would make CNN look bad, not her. Besides, what are they going to do, physically accost her? Liusa could have written about the censorship afterward and call it a protest to defend her integrity instead of pretending to be the victim.
She dropped the ball by giving in to CNN. She gave up her credibility, so she shouldn't whine about those who question her actions.
The CNN plot thickens... “Random” questioner at debate was Arkansas Democratic Party officer in 2003?
She's the one who prostituted herself to get on television.
If she didn't like asking the dumb question then she should not have. This reminds me of "RETIRED GENERALS" critiquing the war in Iraq. Jeezum! We bemoan the lack of a backbone in our leaders but just tag along and go wherever the media tells us to.
Weaseldog @ 23:
"DON'T TAZE ME CNN!!!!" That would have been f%&*ing awesome.
Did anybody else notice that the the casino teller lady who asked Obama the tortured, half-forgotten, useless question was identified by Obama as an officer of a specific union even though she was not introduced by CNN as such? That's when I knew for certain that this "debate" was fake. That lady was clearly having problems recalling a question she didn't write.
Also, the boos for Edwards were also coaxed just like the Rethuglican debate audiences boo and snicker at Ron Paul whenever Giuliani gives the cue.
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