NIGHTLINE'S ANTI-WAR "TOWN HALL" MEETING; KOPPEL, PRODUCERS MISREPRESENT PUBLIC OPINION ON IRAQ

DC Chapter ^ | March 4, 2003 | Kristinn

[Angelwood]

Just to put all the comments together in the after-action report, I am including the preliminary post from the announcement thread.

_________

Preliminary report -- audience 50-50 but the producers asked everyone to write their questions and they picked those to ask their questions -- skewed it anti-war questions 12-2-1 (French and German ambassadors there and a girl asked them a question). After editing we will have to see how the program comes out.

Aziz Al-Taee was fabulous and got the floor for a few minutes. And, believe it or not, John McCain wasn't too bad -- he was looking at the French ambassador he said, "With all due respect, Mr. Ambassador, France will not come on board."

James Woolsey was excellent.

Kevin Martin stood at a microphone for an entire hour and he was never called on to ask a question. They just skipped over him to go to anti-war people.

They skewed the questions from the audience to make it appear that the overwhelming majority of the people in attendance were against the war with Iraq.

[Petronski]

I applaud your courage, in climbing into the lion's den, but still, I must insist:

BOYCOTT DISNEY: a vortex of seductive evil™

[Right_in_Virginia]

Watching...and taping.

[Vortex]

vortex?

[Petronski]

:)

[jimkress]

NIGHTLINE'S ANTI-WAR "TOWN HALL" MEETING; KOPPEL, PRODUCERS MISREPRESENT PUBLIC OPINION ON IRAQ

The sun rises in the east, too. What other obvious statements will you post tonight?

[swheats]

WOW! Freepers are truly well informed. Thanks for the writeup.

[solzhenitsyn]

Thanks for the report, and thanks for representing us!

[Reagan Man]

Why didn't the members of the FR chapter, just get up and walk out, when it was clear the event was slanted for anti-war questions?

A walk out, protesting this blatant type of liberal media propaganda, would have been highly appropriate, under the biased set of circumstances.

No?

[tgslTakoma]

PING! Sounds like Nightline needs to hear from a lot of rightfully outraged viewers.

[NautiNurse]

Thanks for the great post. I am tuned in to the broadcast.

[catfur]

And in true Bill Clinton style, Ted Koppel said, "I accept the responsiblity." He said that when they do these town halls, and he's done a lot of them, the producers bring people to the mikes and they tell him through his earpiece who to call on; he took it upon himself to mix it up and call on people just by looking at their faces.

Sure, he changed just for this show.. Wonder how many times he rehearsed this response? He probably recognized Kevin and wouldn't dare risk calling on him!

Thanks for the heads up.

[Vortex]

I think Levin's reading glasses make him look more intelligent. </sarcasm>

[sauropod]

The woman who held up two pictures of baby corpses (it looked like to me) was someone I have seen before in the anti-war rallies we have FReeped.

Aziz nuked her by holding up his book of Halabja pictures and asked her "What about Halabja?"

Koppel got out of this situtation by saying that all sides could furnish pictures of atrocities blah blah blah...

Mainstream media biased? Nah...

[Humidston]

Watching now. Does this mean I can tune it out after the first few questions?

Frankly, the only reason I'm watching is to possibly catch a glimpse of my DC FRiends! I certainly don't expect to learn anything from ABC/Nightline's propaganda machine.

[sauropod]

Ahhh.... another thread pooper.

[Mo1]

Thanks for the heads up .. and somehow I am not surprised with Koppel and Nite Line

[Swede Girl]

Thank you, Angelwood, for the great report. And, thank you to all who were there to represent FR.

[Cinnamon Girl]

Maybe they just invited Freepers in hopes of a rumble with the anti-Bush punks. ;)

[Mo1]

HELLO ... I sitting screaming at this nit wit with the red turtleneck sweater ..

HELLO .. can I PLEASE smack her .. pretty please