Norah O'Donnell's interview of Joe Lieberman on MSNBC, diaried here yesterday, is perhaps one of the most egregious examples of the pathetic state of our media.
I know this interview made big news because Joe indicated he might switch to the Republican Party.
That is not a big surprise -- Joe can go as far as I'm concerned.
The disgusting part is the subtle way that MSM pundits adopt right wing talking points and slip them into interview questions.
Here is an excerpt:
MS. O'DONNELL: Senator, you have broken with your former party, the Democratic Party specifically, on the Iraq war. There have been questions. Can you rule out that you may switch to the Republican Party?
SEN. LIEBERMAN: I wouldn't rule it out, but it's certainly not my intention, it's not my desire --
MS. O'DONNELL: What would cause you to switch to the Republican Party?
SEN. LIEBERMAN: Well, I'm not going to set any conditions. But, you know, my real hope here is to stay and fight for the kind of Democratic Party I joined when John F. Kennedy was president, which was progressive on domestic policy and very strong and muscular on foreign and defense policy. I --
MS. O'DONNELL: But, Senator, arguably, there's not one Democratic presidential candidate that is espousing that particular position, right?
SEN. LIEBERMAN: So far, right. I mean, obviously, it'll be more than Iraq. It'll be how do they feel about Iran and the rest of the threats that we face.
But, look, the central challenge to our security in our time is from radical Islam, the people who attacked us on 9/11. And to be as direct as I can be, Norah, in this question of who I will support for president, I'm going to wait until both parties have their nominees, and I'm going to support the candidate that I think is best for our country, regardless of party. And obviously the positions that they take on the war on terrorism will be very important to me.
MS. O'DONNELL: And, Senator, I think you've made some news here today, not ruling out a switch to the Republican Party and also I think indicating that you may also endorse a Republican candidate for president.
What the fuck?! I was ready to throw up when I heard that question from Norah O'Donnell. She supposed to be a journalist, and she has the nerve to assert that NOT ONE SINGLE DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE IS IN FAVOR OF A STRONG FOREIGN POLICY. And she adopts the Lieberman/Bush frame that somehow attacking Iraq and Iran represents a "strong and muscular foreign policy". At this point, most people know that the Iraq War has weakened our country, our military and our security in every possible way. And that an attack on Iran would be a disaster -- the final nail in the coffin.
Lieberman is disgusting. How can he possibly equate the Bush presidency with that of John F. Kennedy? Kennedy fought to avoid war...he never sauntered into war on a whim.
I've had it with politicians and pundits equating foolish wars with strong foreign policy.