Nikki Haley, the Governor of South Carolina, was interviewed by Christiane Amanpour on ABC News "This Week". The interview was boring and offered nothing of real insight for the viewer. The interviewer had weak follow-up questions and very little in the way of facts and figures. For example, Amanpour asked Haley about Mitt Romney and healthcare in Massachusetts. Haley responded that Romney had made mistakes in Massachusetts.
Haley said,
(link: ABC News)
"I will tell you we do not want a Massachusetts health care plan in South Carolina."
Amanpour followed that up by asking Haley if Romney had "laid that issue to rest" with his speech this past Thursday. The interview then proceeded with questions about other potential Republican presidential candidates.
Come on Christiane, you can do better than that. The Governor of South Carolina just said that the state of South Carolina does not want the heath care plan available in Massachusetts and you don't have any follow up?
The following fake transcript is an example of an interview that happens in my dreams. One where facts, figures, and policy actually play a role in the discussion.
Interviewer: Today, on Facts, Figures, and Policy with Midagedlib, we are delighted to have with us the Governor of South Carolina, Nikki Haley. Welcome to the show Governor Haley.
Haley: Thank you, and its a pleasure to be here to discuss the issues of the day.
Interviewer: On Thursday, Mitt Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts gave a speech in which he laid out his argument about how the Massachusetts health care plan is a great state plan but would not be applicable at the federal level. What is your state's health care plan and how does it rate with the Massachusetts plan.
Haley: I will tell you we do not want a Massachusetts health care plan in South Carolina.
Interviewer: What health care plan do you want in South Carolina?
Haley: Again, I will tell you we do not want a Massachusetts health care plan in South Carolina.
Interviewer: For the last few days, my staff and I have been doing some research on the health statistics for South Carolina and Massachusetts. There are many factors that determine the health of a population. Some of the most important factors include infant mortality, life expectancy, percentage of low birth weight babies, obesity rates, etc.
Haley: Again, I will tell you we do not want a Massachusetts health care plan in South Carolina.
Interviewer: From the US Census Bureau, South Carolina has an infant mortality rate of 9.4 per 1000 live births, giving your state the 3rd highest infant mortality rate in the nation.
Massachusetts has an infant mortality rate of 5.2, giving it the 4th lowest infant mortality rate in the nation. What is your response?
Haley: How the heck did Massachusetts do that?
Interviewer: From Harvard's Initiative for Global Health, South Carolina rates 47th out of 50 for life expectancy at 74.8 years. .
Massachusetts ranks 5th out of 50 with a life expectancy at 78.4 years. What is your response?
Haley: That takes a lot of hard work and effort, congratulations Massachusetts.
Interviewer: From Kaiser Health Facts The percentage of low birth weight babies born in South Carolina is 9.9%, making it the 4th highest in the nation. The percentage of low birth weight babies born in Massachusetts is 7.8%, putting at 19th lowest out of 50 states. What is your response?
Haley: Having a state lowering the percentage of low-weight births takes a coordinated effort, including education of expectant mothers, pregnancy monitoring, and access to health care. Again Massachusetts, I congratulate you.
Interviewer: From the State Health Facts, South Carolina has an obesity rate of 22%, tied for 11th highest in the nation. Massachusetts with an obesity rate of 16% is the 2nd lowest rate in the nation, Only Colorado scores lower. What is your response?
Haley: I think I might look at what they are doing in that state and see how I can learn to make my state better.
I can dream, can't I?
