As Twitchy reported earlier Wednesday, the Washington Post’s Margaret Sullivan put together a list of five ways Tuesday night’s Democratic debate could and should have been much better. Second on her list of complaints was moderators not “framing the (apparently unavoidable) question about universal health care and how to fund it in a non-gotcha way.”
Sullivan gave credit to Elizabeth Warren for refusing to take the bait (i.e., not answering), but now HuffPost editor-in-chief Lydia Polgreen is echoing her Sullivan’s sentiments. It’s a gotcha question to ask how candidates intend to pay for universal health care.
“Will you raise middle class taxes” is a lazy, gotcha question based on untested premises. A fairer question would be to ask candidates to explain how they’d convince voters of the tax tradeoff’s benefits. https://t.co/BLqtVXpJZ9
— Lydia Polgreen (@lpolgreen) October 16, 2019
They have, in a way. Rich people will pay a lot more taxes which will enable the government to offer all sorts of free stuff like free college, free childcare, and free healthcare. As for middle-class earners, sure they’ll pay more, but they’ll still get a lot of free or lower-cost stuff. It’s just getting the “sure they’ll pay more” out of Elizabeth Warren’s mouth. At least Bernie Sanders admits it.
But a gotcha question?
here for da ratio
— Guy on the interweb (@SandwichTheorys) October 16, 2019
This is a joke.
— Person from place (@WindyCitybro) October 16, 2019
Journalism in America is garbage. https://t.co/80t4qBzSzo
— EducatëdHillbilly™ (@RobProvince) October 16, 2019
— Kelly Beck (@SouthMetroAFC) October 16, 2019
How dare we want to know if our livelihood will be impacted – the words of an elitist who is so wealthy, tax raises mean nothing.
— Paige Sullivan (@PaigeSully88) October 16, 2019
They are #NarrativeJournalisming right in plain view.
And think we are too dumb to notice.
— boomdudecom (@boomdudecom) October 16, 2019
It’s the most basic question a voter with a job want answered
— David Brewer (@dabrewman7) October 16, 2019
That’s one of the most important questions for regular tax paying Americans.
— ScaryMe (@Cylina) October 16, 2019
It's almost like the goal of modern journalism is to hide the truth from the public.
— Victor Tango Kilo (@GenghisKhet) October 16, 2019
It’s not a lazy question at all. It’s going to be a ton of money, and she’s being a weasel not answering it.
— Don't Fake The News And Don't Embargo It, Either. (@JaxBemused) October 16, 2019
Not really a lazy question, but rather one everyone already knows the answer to. Of course they'll raise taxes
— John Blackout (@ReigningBrain) October 16, 2019
No! What's lazy is a candidate who won't articulate an answer that admits what we all already know. They avoid it rather than persuade us. We've had enough bait-and-switch!
— Militant Slebens (@MrSlebens) October 16, 2019
Asking who will have to pay for all the free stuff Warren wants to give away is lazy journalism.
— KSLawWolf (@KSLawWolf) October 16, 2019
Asking for the truth is now “gotcha” journalism? Gotcha.
— Stephen King's RG Jordan (@RGJordanWords) October 16, 2019
No kidding
— Michael K (@WHIZOH) October 16, 2019
A competent human being would do what Bernie did, and answer the damn question, before explaining exactly why he would do it that way. Warren cares more about taboos and buzz words tham being honest with the American people about their healthcare.
— Orange Juche (@OrangeJuche) October 16, 2019
That’s a chicken sh|# reply on your part. As a taxpayer I WANT to know if elected will they raise my taxes. Based on historical past performance we can’t spend within our means so why should I give more based on the continued poor performance we get from our elected officials
— Chris Thomas (@ChrisPThomas1) October 16, 2019
Right, because its the job of the press to lob big fat softballs to the candidates.
— ag (@AgAmgran) October 16, 2019
Why not just answer the question? If you had a real answer, that would convince people. Not answering means you don't really have a plan.
— Brad Koenig (@MavsLaker) October 16, 2019
So asking for a truthful & direct answer is a “gotcha” question. That is the dumbest thing I have read on here today.
— Melissa (@MelBear26) October 16, 2019
That is a follow up question that you ask after she answers the first part. If she acknowledged the first part, there wouldn't be a need to keep asking the question but she won't answer it. It isn't that difficult to understand.
— bucs2829 (@bucs2829) October 16, 2019
How can you ask that question if they won't admit the premise that there are trade-offs!?
— Nick of Earl (@NickofEarl) October 16, 2019
The question "will you raise middle class taxes" is perfectly legitimate, and middle class taxpayers want to know the answer.
It is up to Warren to justify why it makes sense (if it does).
You and Rosen are carrying her water. Pathetic, but expected for propagandists.
— Matt Bennett (@mattben10) October 16, 2019
That’s not the definition of a “gotcha” question unless the answer is “yes” and you want to hide it. Stop running interference for your favourite candidate
— Sean Garman (@SeanGarman1) October 16, 2019
Nah totally fair question. People have a right to know about where their tax levels are going. That's a baseline amount of information politicians should provide
— Adam (@AHeat86) October 16, 2019
Wouldn’t that require the candidate to be candid and honest about the tradeoffs? If they aren’t being candid about them then the folks who can demand an answer (journalists/moderators) should be pressing them for one.
— Matt Fleck (@flec0029) October 16, 2019
Giving even $1 more to any government taxing authority is contributing to a verified fraud case. It is inefficient, overhead, not necessary and it’s most likely being requested by a liberal democrat.
— Mr Teats (@MR_Teats) October 16, 2019
I can't believe you do this for a living.
— Plàya Manhattan (@PlayaManhattan) October 16, 2019
Oh look…another journalist trying to cover for Democrat candidates. This is getting so boring and predictable. Just ask them if they are gonna tax.the majority of Americans..yes or no..period.
— stay positive (@JandEsdad) October 16, 2019
You wrote this and then hit send. I am impressed. Not in a good way.
— Fabulous Cramden (@FCramden) October 16, 2019
You're in #journalism?
Ok.#Trump2020
— Josh Hall (@jh901) October 16, 2019
It isn’t lazy. If you’re going to raise taxes you need to explain why. If you can’t do that, you don’t deserve to be elected.
— BrassStones (@BrassStones) October 16, 2019
Ignoring the question, dodging it, complaining about it……that just makes you look shady and manipulative.
— BrassStones (@BrassStones) October 16, 2019
Counterpoint: It’s a simple, important question that you are trying to obfuscate
— bob (@notgreatrobert) October 16, 2019
Well, when she doesn’t answer it, I know she has something to hide.
— Abandoned Eskimo ☃️ (@potrzebie_tower) October 16, 2019
It's actually based on math and economics. Dismissing it is lazy.
— JDDJ??⛳?? (@irishfiveo) October 16, 2019
Your "fairer" question assumes there are benefits. This is assuming a position and trying to support said position and is not real journalism. Ask how they plan to pay for it and let them explain why
— Chase Murray (@c_murrayiii) October 16, 2019
This is the most basic of political questions asked of every person from school board to city council to county commissioner all the way to the president.
Your framing is an obvious advocacy position.
— Shannon, the Wise (@stg3095) October 16, 2019
In other words how will you deceive people into believing you wont be raising their taxes
— billydevo (@imbillydevo) October 16, 2019
This is world class hackery. Are you being paid directly by the Warren campaign or are you using a cutout?
— Alex Hodge (@Patslifecoach) October 16, 2019
this is why Americans hate the biased liberal mainstream media propaganda hacks and their fake news
— Leonard Dye (@PutterX) October 16, 2019
Shameful day when a journalist says that questions shouldn't be asked that lead to an informed voter base. Maybe quit the partisan hackery and get back to basics.
— Meraxes (@Meraxes75) October 16, 2019
You're not a journalist. Youre an activist.
— Eric Newbury (@newbury_eric) October 16, 2019
LOL no its not a gotcha question. It's literally what voters care about.
— Facts Matter (@convoice) October 16, 2019
Elizabeth Warren’s got a plan for that … just don’t ask too many “gotcha” questions.
Related:
Elizabeth Warren refuses to say if taxes will go up under her Medicare-for-All plan, gets 'CALLED OUT' by Pete Buttigieg https://t.co/kbFOzhSpJg
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) October 16, 2019
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