Both Sides
Reported by Eleanor - August 11, 2004 -
On Studio B with Shep Smith (Aug. 11, 3:00 p.m.), James Rosen covered Bush in New Mexico, and Carl Cameron covered Kerry in Arizona, back to back. It makes sense to think that in each case, Rosen would cover Bush issues, and Cameron would cover Kerry issues from each candidate's perspective, but it didn't work out quite that way.
James Rosen on Bush:
- Bush is campaigning in five states.
- He's questioning his opponent's fitness to lead in a time of war.
- Bush ridiculed John Kerry for belatedly agreeing to support the war, and how to end the war in six months with Bush saying (something like) Gosh, all we have to do is wait them out.
- Kerry voted for authority to use force, but it wasn't to go to war.
- It was not a vote to send a message, but a vote about war.
An ending note by Rosen was that Kerry says he doesn't support going it alone to war. Nothing here about Bush issues.
Carl Cameron on Kerry:
- Kerry opposes the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste disposal.
- In 2002 Kerry voted for the first time against it. Before that he voted six times to advance the plan. Election year flip flop.
- Today Kerry is focused on health care.
- Kerry says Bush has chosen to side with drug manufacturers instead of the elderly, and Bush has not done enough to help people get drugs from Canada.
- Bush will support drugs from overseas if safe.
- Kerry was against the Medicare bill, but on the final vote he was absent. Didn't vote for or against.
Comment: Kerry got the short end in this report, i.e., Kerry's leadership is questionable; he belatedly supported a war he thinks he can end in six months by doing nothing but wait; Kerry thinks a vote for the use of force is sending a message, and not for war; Kerry would not go to war alone; Kerry flip flopped on Yucca Mountain nuclear wastes and the Medicare bill.
On the other hand, Bush supports the Medicare plan and getting drugs from Canada. Kerry's opposing comments about Bush's stand on drugs were neutralized in the report.
I wonder what an independent, casual viewer would glean from this report?
