A few tough questions to Joe Biden (D., Del.) from a veteran Florida TV reporter-anchor didn’t set well with the vice presidential candidate, so the Obama campaign spanked WFTV (channel 9, Orlando, Fla.) with “further opportunities for your station to interview with this campaign are unlikely,” notes Grumpy Editor.
It started with last Thursday’s quizzing of Biden by Barbara West, with 16 years at the station and at one time the principal assistant in London to the late Peter Jennings when he was anchor for ABC’s World News Tonight.
West quoted Karl Marx and asked Biden if the comment by presidential candidate Barack Obama (D., Ill.) to Joe the Plumber about spreading the wealth wasn’t being Marxist.
“Are you joking?” said Biden. “No,” replied West.
West asked Biden about Obama’s ties to ACORN, a national advocacy group facing FBI investigations on whether it helped to foster voter fraud.
Then she asked if Biden, through earlier comments, was implying the U.S. no longer was the world’s leading power.
“I don’t know who is writing your questions,” growled Biden.
Explained West later via an Orlando Sentinel blog: Facing four minutes of satellite time, “I got right down to it and, yes, I think I asked him some pointed questions. These are questions that are rolling about right now and questions that need to be asked. I don't think I was rude or inconsiderate to him. I think I was probing and maybe tough. I can't believe that in all of his years in politics, and all of his campaigning and such, that he hasn't run into some tough questions before. He's certainly up to it in giving good answers."
WFTV news director Bob Jordan said, “When you get a shot to ask these candidates, you want to make the most of it. They usually give you five minutes.” Political campaigns, he added, in general pick and choose the stations they like and stations often pose softball questions during the interviews.
Biden “didn't like the questions," Jordan mentioned. "We choose not to ask softball questions."
Comments