Despite airing praise of Huckabee's "ability to answer the questions," CNN again didn't acknowledge he didn't answer WWJD question
In a November 29 report on CNN's The Situation Room on the reactions of "24 undecided Republicans" to the previous night's CNN/YouTube Republican presidential debate, CNN congressional correspondent Dana Bash reported that former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee "scored the best on likability." She then aired a clip of "undecided voter" Lace Mobley saying that Huckabee "impressed me with his candidness and also his ability to answer the questions that were broached to him." Following Mobley's comment, Bash reported that "with undecided voters," Huckabee got the "most laughs" with the statement "Jesus was too smart to ever run for public office, Anderson. That's what Jesus would do." But Bash did not note that in making that statement, Huckabee failed to answer both the question originally presented to him and debate moderator Anderson Cooper's follow-up.
As Media Matters for America has documented, Huckabee's statement came after YouTube questioner Tyler Overman asked: "I have a quick question for those of you who would call yourselves Christian conservatives. The death penalty: What would Jesus do?" After Huckabee -- who has repeatedly invoked Jesus Christ and Christianity to explain his position on matters of public policy -- responded by defending his support for the death penalty but failing to say anything about "[w]hat ... Jesus [would] do" regarding the death penalty, Cooper pressed: "I do have to, though, press the question, which -- the question was ... [w]hat would Jesus do? Would Jesus support the death penalty?" During CNN's November 28 postdebate discussion, Cooper praised the response as "certainly, probably one of the best answers you could possibly come up to, to that question."
From the November 29 edition of CNN's The Situation Room:
BASH: Rudy Giuliani is often ridiculed for constant references to 9-11.
GIULIANI: Well, the most important thing to do is to make certain we remain on offense against Islamic terrorism.
BASH: But it works. He got one of the highest marks, especially among men, talking terrorism.
Mike Huckabee scored the best on likability.
MOBLEY: Mike Huckabee actually impressed me with his candidness and also his ability to answer the questions that were broached to him.
BASH: And with these undecided voters, this got the most laughs.
HUCKABEE: Jesus was too smart to ever run for public office, Anderson. That's what Jesus would do.
BASH: Many of the Republican voters last night said that they were frustrated the candidates didn't talk more about things like health care and education, issues that really affect their lives.
And all of the 24 undecided Republicans who watched the debate came away still undecided. Wolf.
From CNN's November 28 broadcast of the CNN/YouTube Republican presidential debate:
OVERMAN: Hi, this is Tyler Overman from Memphis, Tennessee, and I have a quick question for those of you who would call yourselves Christian conservatives. The death penalty: What would Jesus do?
COOPER: Governor Huckabee?
HUCKABEE: You know, one of the toughest challenges that I ever faced as a governor was carrying out the death penalty. I did it more than any other governor ever had to do it in my state. As I look on this stage, I'm pretty sure that I'm the only person on this stage that's ever had to actually do it.
Let me tell you, it was the toughest decision I ever made as a human being. I read every page of every document of every case that ever came before me, because it was the one decision that came to my desk that, once I made it, was irrevocable.
Every other decision, somebody else could go back and overturn, could fix if it was a mistake. That was one that was irrevocable.
I believe there is a place for a death penalty. Some crimes are so heinous, so horrible that the only response that we, as a civilized nation, have for a most uncivil action is not only to try to deter that person from ever committing that crime again, but also as a warning to others that some crimes truly are beyond any other capacity for us to fix.
Now, having said that, there are those who say, "How can you be pro-life and believe in the death penalty?"
Because there's a real difference between the process of adjudication, where a person is deemed guilty after a thorough judicial process and is put to death by all of us, as citizens, under a law, as opposed to an individual making a decision to terminate a life that has never been deemed guilty because the life never was given a chance to even exist.
COOPER: Governor?
HUCKABEE: That's the fundamental difference.
COOPER: I do have to, though, press the question, which -- the question was, from the viewer, was: What would Jesus do? Would Jesus support the death penalty?
HUCKABEE: Jesus was too smart to ever run for public office, Anderson. That's what Jesus would do.
COOPER: Congressman Tancredo: 30 seconds.
Theological **** storm in 5..4..3..2..1...
Who Wants Jelly Donuts ?
Donuts?
[link to wilstar.com]
A JELLY DONUT????
The suspense is killing me...
The question was a "gotcha" question and played no part in the decisions of the Republican base.
It just served the purpose of the Clinton News Network to attack Conservative stereotypes.
As of now it has been confirmed that at least 1/3 of all questioners had political ties to Democrats or liberal interest groups.
Maybe a NEWS network could have googled the people submitting the questions.
Copey D., your link is defective, just like the ones that go to your blog.
A NEWS NETWORK, like FOX. Cpoious, you are too funny. I think that XOF NEWS is doing a story on you...now that is a good news station.
Poor baby, if republicans can't answer questions from a democrat, how can they have the stomach to lead the country?
I was thinking the same about the Dem candidates who chose not to attend the Fox news debate...
OK, that was funny. Good on you!
Too funny. That would really be fair. Remember, Hillary appeared on Fox and showed her true feelings towards their questions...Need any more proof.
Damn Media Matters, doing what they want to do on their OWN website. Selfish vermin. ;)
In otherwords Contains No News didnt show slavish devotion to rightwing talking points. What a useless troll you are.
Another dumb article. Politicians on both sides dodge questions all the time, and I knooow MMfA only criticizes conservative stuff, but please.
I think the point is how the Media Bobblewhores are fawning all over Huckabee as if he's Winston Churchill and Will Rogers rolled into one.
America loves an underdog.
"There's no need to fear! Underdog is here!"
Ha! I agree with you there Nerzog.
Huck reminds me of Gomer Pyle...looks & the golly gee aw shucks personality.
Of course the question is just plain dumb.
He should have answered it truthfully & said: How the hell would I know?
I'm inclined to agree. I personally think this question is more out of line than the one from the Gay General.
Sure they dodge questions all the time. How often to DEMS get PRAISED for how well they dodge questions is the point. It isnt dumb, it further demonstrates the extent right framing is accepted by the media
Why is it you feel that Huckabee dodged the question? He did answer it, did he not?
Dodging questions to be deceitful and responding to an irrelevant question in such a way as to avoid more drama then there needs to be, are two different things.
Ask a stupid question you get a stupid answer.
His answer, in my opinion, demonstrated his faith. His answer, in itself, was an example of WJWD.
Another dumb article. Politicians on both sides dodge questions all the time, and I knooow MMfA only criticizes conservative stuff, but please.
I disagree about "dumb article" but agree that politicians dodge questions all the time.
But this is a question I want the bible thumping candidates like Huckabee to answer. I want him to put his hypocrisy out there for everyone to see it.
If he doesn't know WWJD, how would he know who the BIG GUY would support for president?
At a Republican Governors Association Dinner in 2004, Huckabee took the stage and began to deliver remarks when his cell phone rang. He took the phone out of his pocket and proceeded to have a conversation with God about President Bush's reelection:
Huckabee then engaged in a 3-minute back-and-forth exchange with God, in which Huckabee asserted that God was with the Republicans and President Bush:
Huckabee then ended his conversation and walked off the stage to roaring applause.
Yeah, it's kind of like that church that said they couldn't tell you who to vote for, but that you'd go to Hell if you vote for Democrats.
which was my church, which was why I left it
In reality, it's damn near every church. Which is why I left.
LOL.
Doesn't Huckleberry have God on speed dial? Who better to ask WWJD? He can get Jesus on the phone and get the real skinny.
Is anyone seriously questioning this non-response or is this just another bloated exercise in trying to sharpen ones arguing skills? I have no doubt that were the shoe on the other foot like it was recently in the Democratic debates, that MMFA's ire would be about the question posed, not the non-answer given.
Again, I think MMFA's beef is not so much with Huckabee's answer, but with the Media's mischaracterization of it as a brilliant response.
Nerzog, I think that it WAS a good response because Huckabee actually answered with some substance, but I think that Cooper acknowledging that it was a good response was in effect calling his question a "gotcha" or illegitimate in the first place. I think I get now that MMfA just wants people to stop fawning over Huckabee as if he really wasn't just another politician, which he is.
Okay, I can see that angle. If they are acknowledging that it was a stupid question, and that Huckabee's response was a witty deflection, you have a point.
Nerzog,
I think the implication of the question was a fair one - how does a Christian conservative candidate like Huckabee reconcile his personal beliefs with his support for the death penalty? To that, Huckabee's answer was perfectly reasonable and acceptable, with honesty and candor.
The WWJD reference was an attempt to make the candidate choose between the two - Jesus or the death penalty - and that is unfair if a candidate states emphatically that his personal religious views do not affect his public policy decision making, which Huckabee has done satisfactorily, in my opinion. Which is why he answered it the way he did.
Yeah, he certainly shows how much of a factor religion is when he mocks God's word by making believe his political party is God's political party.
I believe you've hit paydirt with this link of yours enough now, so you don't have to keep doing it.......but as we all know, humor is hard to come by for liberals, so this is expected.
Tommy, if someone on the left had done this it would have been one the most sacrilegious things imaginable.
Dobson and Robertson would have declared armageddon.
Not to me.
OK, OK, you're right, moving on...
Here's some new dirt...
"Interestingly enough, if there was ever an occasion for someone to have argued against the death penalty, I think Jesus could have done so on the cross and said, 'This is an unjust punishment and I deserve clemency.'"
--- Mike Huckabee, Jan '97
Yeah, ok, not 'new' in the historical sense.
Poor choice of words.
Different dirt.
Tommy, I would ask you to remember your words over the next several months when Huckabee continues to insert his faith into every issue he talks about. He can't go five minutes without mentioning his religion.
I don't care how much he talks about it - as I said, as long as he keeps it out of public policy decision making, then it is irrelevant to me. If you don't think he means it, or can't do it, or is lying, or it won't fly, or whatever, that is your choice. Religious people who hold office don't scare me anymore than non-religious people who hold office - as long as their personal faith is their personal faith and doesn't get in the way of doing their elected job in any way regarding laws and policy.
Oh, come on. You know what I meant. He isn't just talking about it in general, he's talking about how it is the basis for his policy decisions. All the time.
He is?
"I find that very important because my faith will let people know what my judgments are based on, what my values system is about and where it comes from," Huckabee tells The Salt Lake Tribune. "It's a good predictor of how I would likely make decisions and what I think are the important factors in that."
"At the heart of my governing is my faith," Huckabee told WORLD on Jan. 26, the morning before he announced on Meet the Press that he was setting up a committee for a run to the White House.
I don't care how much he talks about it - as I said, as long as he keeps it out of public policy decision making, then it is irrelevant to me. Tommy
"I find that very important because my faith will let people know what my judgments are based on, what my values system is about and where it comes from." Huckabee said. "It's a good predictor of how I would likely make decisions and what I think are the important factors in that."
Looks like Huckabee's faith WILL play a major role in his decision making.
Very nice summary, Tommy.
But this politician can talk to God on his cell phone. With that in mind, I'm beginning to think it was an excellent question for him, since he has the inside line.
;-)
I wonder who else is in his "Five" besides God and Jesus? Does the Holy Ghost have a cell phone?
Maybe the fundies will come out with a service plan that has "the three" instead of "the five". It'll be the father, son, and holy ghost.
Off topic ...
How long till some media cr@p mouth says something like
"Can we know for certain the Clintonista's did'nt set up this whole hostage taking, bomb threat situation?"
I'd say that angle will be floated on the next FOX and Friends...that seems to be where they float their trial balloons...unless Drudge does it first.
It will also be interesting to see how they use it to slime Hillary. The perp is demanding to speak to her. If she complies, they'll accuse her of appeasing a terrorist. If she refuses, they'll say she was being cavalier with the lives of the hostages.
Hide and watch.
FDL reported some freeper floated the possiblity one minute and 53 seconds after it occurred. At 3:30 PST the individual has been taken into custody. A troubled guy from all accounts.
I have to say that MMFA is a bit off track with this here... he DID answer the question. It was a dumb question to begin with, impossible to answer, so as much as I despise Huckabee's politics, his answer WAS an answer, and it made sense, the way the question was asked.
Fawlty, MMFA and other sites on the conservative side have like a quota system. If Human Events has 7 articles about CNN being part of the ulta liberal main stream media then MMFA bosses crack the whip and the interns find 7 things that show how conservative CNN is. Does that help?
No, he did what a lot of politicians do and answered a question of his own choosing. He did not address what he thinks Jebus would do with regards to the death penalty. And I think it's a perfectly valid question to ask someone who waves his faith around every chance he gets.
It's a valid question if framed differently. Since nobody knows what Jesus would do, the question is useless. Huckabee's non-answer was as good as the question deserved.
If no one knows what Jesus would do about anything, why invoke him to forward your political agenda?
Believe me, I hate when people do that. That doesn't change the fact that this was a good reply to a dumb question.
Media Matters (VERY LITTLE) and less and less everyday....
Why waste bandwidth on something as silly as this unless of course it is willing to devote as much time following the next debate of the democrat party candidates when they are all asked about what their lord Satan would do?
Pretty funny.
But seriously, when you look at the desire for revenge, torture, wealth and warfare that the Republican party represents, you have to wonder who their spiritual leader really is.
ProudMoron once again shows he is so stupid he doesnt even KNOW the name of the largest political party in the US. Sad and pathetic and far too ignorant to even learn it. Who cares what such a moron has to say?
Be nice, Solon. The "bottom-third" of our fellow Americans are going through a pretty tough time.
They've already thrown their golden chimp under the bus, chanting "Bush isn't running!" until their throats are sore.
They've got a pack of presidential candidates who probably couldn't run a garage sale between the lot of them.
And some of them have been mentally damaged to the point where their discussion of political issues is reduced to seeing demons and other mythical creatures.
I think it might be wise to treat them with a little kindness. The next hostage could be a loved one of yours.
They've already thrown their golden chimp under the bus, chanting "Bush isn't running!" until their throats are sore.
LOL
HBL, speaking of monkeys, I checked out the "free repulsive" site and they're going after that CNBC reporter Erin Burnett for calling Junior a monkey on Morning Joe, twice.
Evolution "controversy": do monkeys and humans share a common ancestor?
Monkeys speak out:
Yes, Bush descended, that we clearly see
But, my brothers, not from our family tree...
http://home.att.net/~scorh/Monkey.html
Oh and I forgot since you ignorant ReNAMBLAcans clearly worship Mammon you cant even CLAIM to serve God without illiciting peals of laughter
It was the best answer, dodge. People will just remember his nonanswer, and we can just get back to Wheel of Fortune.
Republicans have nominated another candidate that led his state in executions...these guys are hateful.