Lame bias allegation of the day
September 22, 2009 1:06 pm ET by Jamison Foser
Newsbuster Geoffrey Dickens:
Worried Lauer Asks Bill Clinton if NY Gov Hurting Democratic Party
During a wide-ranging interview with Bill Clinton, on Tuesday's "Today" show, about his Clinton Initiative summit, NBC's Matt Lauer wanted to get the former President's advice on whether current New York Governor David Paterson should run again. Lauer, seemingly concerned about the GOP capturing the governorship in New York state, asked Clinton if the unpopular Democrat's reelection bid might "hurt the Democratic Party."
Gee, another way to interpret that is that Lauer's question -- which included a statement that Paterson's "popularity ratings are anemic," called Paterson "embattled," noted that the White House suggested he step aside, and asked Clinton to side with either Paterson or Obama -- was a tricky one that highlighted a political challenge for Clinton's party.
But Dickens would rather attempt to read Lauer's mind and just assert that Lauer is "worried" and "concerned" about Republicans winning the governorship. Based on absolutely nothing. Based on a question that asked a Democratic politician about political peril facing the Democrats. That's evidence, according to Newsbusters, of bias.
Any bias Lauer might have isn't indicated from the question he asked Clinton.
http://mediamatters.org/research/200606140009
http://mediamatters.org/research/200905270018
http://mediamatters.org/research/200905150021
http://mediamatters.org/research/200806110010
http://mediamatters.org/research/200805160008
So Lauer could have avoided the appearance of bias if he'd just phrased the question as whether Paterson's run "might help the Republican Party."
That makes perfect sense.
I think Gillibrand was probably a decent choice for Senator. I wouldn't have picked her, I'd have picked me.
I think Paterson has given every speech, so far, without cue cards or teleprompters (he can only see out of one eye, and only patches of light and dark, there).
The problem in the NY Senate wasn't really his doing. The NY Constitution should have made the (Democratic) Senate Majority Leader into the Lieutenant Governor when Paterson was raised to Governor. "In case of vacancy in the office of lieutenant-governor alone, or if the lieutenant-governor shall be impeached, absent from the state or otherwise unable to discharge the duties of office, the temporary president of the senate shall perform all the duties of lieutenant- governor during such vacancy or inability."