You know, I used to like NPR. Then, along came the Republican Presidency and control of congress and something happened. They started towing the Republican line and now, I can't even listen to them. WUNC, yes, NPR, no.
So, it was with trepidation that I went to the NPR site to listen to their morning interview with John Edwards. I should have tuned in to the John Boy and Billy show instead. Renee Montagne's questions were not aimed at determining what was going on with Poverty in America or how the Road to One America Tourwould address those issues. The questions didn't follow-up on the answers, they simply brought up in order the right-wing talking points about how John Edwards.
The transcript of the interview is here. A few excerpts of the interview questions about his "Poverty Tour". Bold words are Renee's questions, when they are italicized was when she asked them in her haughty, snide, crass, voice.
You say "taking time off from the presidential campaign." But isn't this part of the presidential campaign?
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The last Democrat elected president — Bill Clinton — he won in part because he promised to reform the welfare system while emphasizing very much personal responsibility. How does that fit into what you're doing?
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Now, you're beginning this tour in New Orleans. This city is still struggling to come back. Can you really make people care about fighting poverty when it appears that Katrina and its aftermath didn't?
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Let me just put this to you, though. When you stake out the high ground on an issue like poverty, you open yourself up to accusations of hypocrisy. In this case, you've been criticized for living in an expensive mansion, for getting a very expensive $400 haircut, working for a hedge fund, and possibly more seriously — using monies from one of your foundations to raise awareness about poverty — using that money to effectively stay on the campaign trail. How do you answer those criticisms?
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Voters ranked the war in Iraq at the top of their list of concerns right now. Why make fighting poverty a central theme of your campaign?
Well, there's a difference between looking at a poll to see what voters care about and only talking about those issues and leading.
I realize this is an ongoing issue — poverty in America — but it isn't just a poll with the Iraq war. It's a hugely momentous feeling across the country. It's a big issue for many, many people.
Ah, but don't worry, the interview ends with the disclaimer that details are available on the website. Yep, 60 seconds of details about ending Poverty that were LESS important than her questions about haircuts and houses.
NPR - our newest right-wing shills.