Bob Schieffer and Helen Thomas will be appearing in a Virtual Journalism summit in Second Life in April.
It would be justice to present Helen Thomas with a long-winded attack on her shameful behavior, mockery of a career, petty refusal to make way for other members of the White House Press Corps, and antagonism-instead-of-journalism without actually asking her a question. That would be an exact mirror of her own living parody of journalism during the W. years in the White House.
No, the guy wasn't an angel. Or a saint. Or much of a success.
But it is possible to question the man for his motives and results without just letting loose with a pointless harangue.
Helen Thomas is currently seen by the mass media as some kind of martyr or heroine, but I think history will treat her less kindly as all that remains is her bitter, vicious pettiness.
Instead, I will focus on Bob Schieffer. I've read all of his books, understand the stupid mismanagement-driven tragedy of why he's not the anchor of CBS News instead of that chipmunk-cheerleader damaged spawn of Barbara Walters, and have this to ask:
What do you see as the long-term effects of what Dan Rather and Mary Mapes did with failing to confirm and then refusing to retract stories on the faked Bush memos to Network News and its credibility?
If not that, then:
I've read your books, seen the hard decisions you had to make between family and career. Looking back, do you feel you've made the right decisions when you chose career over family?
What questions would you ask him?
Comments (3)
AIUI, Schieffer is still employed by CBS, not retired.
So ask him #2... You probably wouldn't get a candid answer to #1.
Posted by Old Grouch | March 9, 2009 2:46 PM
Posted on March 9, 2009 14:46
I'd ask him if in cramming in as many segments in Face the Nation's half hour as Meet the Press's full hour, he gives short shrift to his guests or does MTP waste our time?
I think if Helen Thomas keeps asking Obama the kinds of questions she asked Bush, she's going to become much less popular with the overwhelming number of people who don't like to see Obama face really tough questions. For those who like the press to take an adversarial role, it will further cement her reputation as someone who doesn't kowtow to power or the shifting tastes of the hoi polloi.
Posted by Caleb | March 10, 2009 6:41 AM
Posted on March 10, 2009 06:41
Agreed on Face The Nation. The format has become a joke, since nobody's answering questions. But it's cheaper to do these bogus "interviews" than to do investigative journalism.
I think Helen will just retire and claim victory. Good riddance to her.
-ls/cm
Posted by Laurence Simon | March 10, 2009 8:04 AM
Posted on March 10, 2009 08:04