Charlie Rose

Dr. Frank Braio  03/27/2008 08:53 AM Report

Dear Mr. Rose,

Governor Rendell suppested that Candidate Obama had been treated in an extraordinaily helpful way by the press. Or words to that effect. You acted as if you did not know what he meant. And you asked him for evidence of this. The governor responded fairly well. And parried several of your replies. But Mr. Rose, I recall your show the night before the New Hampshire primary. Every guest you had on the show talked about the great imminent victory by Mr. Obama--running through New Hampshire straight to nomination. My recollection is that you asked what was accounting for the 'tidal wave' of support for Mr. Obama's candidacy. The following night there was only one reference to the unfairness of what had happened. My recollection is that your guest from Newsweek mentioned that he felt there was 'egg on his face.' There might have been some comments on the unreliability of polls. Whatever the excellences of Senator Obama's campaign and of his personal appeal, and whatever the deficiencies of Senator Clinton's, I think there has been strong media bias in the former candidate's behalf. I hope that has stopped now. And a much, much deeper probling of issues and personal competency and stands on issues of vital importance to the nation as a whole will ensue. Thankyou for your great show.

maria bittinger  03/27/2008 07:59 AM Report

I assume that Charlie Rose will have someone who supports Senator Obama on to counteract Gov. Rendell. The media certainly has been covering Senator Clinton and it is not the media's fault that she has had misleading statements about Senator Obama or that she has faulty memory of situations. It would be refreshing if the media only covered what candidates have said about issues but the quick sound bite is what is on air

Marjorie Sunderman  03/27/2008 05:22 AM Report

I can tell you Charlie why Hillary did not want to be on your show and I hope Gov. Rendell does not succeed in getting her on. Why? Because you are a card carrying dyed in the wool Male Chauvinist Pig, and you would be ripping away at her underbelly for the entire show. If you can sit there and deny that the media has done everything in it's power to destroy her, you must be not just unconscious, but down right brain dead. but it's men like you who have not evolved beyond Neanderthal who think women should be barefoot and pregnant. You have only one thing that women don't have, the ability to stand up to pee.

God bless Gov. Rendell, she will bless you for your courage.

Deborah Moran  03/27/2008 01:33 AM Report

Several points: Regarding caucuses vs. primaries, we had controlled experiments in two states where both occurred, and in both cases, there was a large difference between the primary and caucus results, with the caucus results favoring Obama much more. I can tell you for sure, that the caucuses in Texas would have been hard on an older person. I do know that in some cases, people were kind to older voters, allowing them to go to the front of the line, etc., but that would have been impractical if there had been hundreds instead of just a few of the elderly.

On the media treatment of Hillary Clinton, Ed Rendell only mentioned in passing one of the worst offenses, and that was the repeated twisting of normal campaign rebuttals and citing of experience and credentials into racist rhetoric that did not exist. It was shocking to me. There was a concerted effort in which the press was complicit, to destroy the reputations of two people who have worked toward civil rights for decades.

Also, there are still real policy differences between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama as mentioned in the Houston Chronicle, but the much of the press elsewhere behaves as if they are identical politically and instead chooses to create hard feelings where none should exist. John Hofmeister of Shell Oil touched on Hillary's energy policy, praising her understanding of the issues on Charlie Rose last night, even though no oil company likes her desire to tax them more. See:

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/politics/5546810.html

Deborah Moran  03/27/2008 01:33 AM Report

Several points: Regarding caucuses vs. primaries, we had controlled experiments in two states where both occurred, and in both cases, there was a large difference between the primary and caucus results, with the caucus results favoring Obama much more. I can tell you for sure, that the caucuses in Texas would have been hard on an older person. I do know that in some cases, people were kind to older voters, allowing them to go to the front of the line, etc., but that would have been impractical if there had been hundreds instead of just a few of the elderly.

On the media treatment of Hillary Clinton, Ed Rendell only mentioned in passing one of the worst offenses, and that was the repeated twisting of normal campaign rebuttals and citing of experience and credentials into racist rhetoric that did not exist. It was shocking to me. There was a concerted effort in which the press was complicit, to destroy the reputations of two people who have worked toward civil rights for decades.

Also, there are still real policy differences between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama as mentioned in the Houston Chronicle, but the much of the press elsewhere behaves as if they are identical politically and instead chooses to create hard feelings where none should exist. John Hofmeister of Shell Oil touched on Hillary's energy policy, praising her understanding of the issues on Charlie Rose last night, even though no oil company likes her desire to tax them more. See:

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/politics/5546810.html

dee anne moore  03/27/2008 01:15 AM Report

I'm a 67 y.o. white woman from Indiana. I am a supporter of Barack Obama. I am also a board member of the Indianapolis Peace & Justice Center. Governor Rendell seems to think that Sen. Obama is blessed with positive treatment from the press while Sen. Clinton is getting negative coverage.

I wish I could help him see her thru my eyes. Hillary supported a law that would have made "flag burning" against the law. She suggests that Obama is naieve because he has said that he would speak with world leaders even if they do not measure up to our standards. I am supporting Obama because he speaks to my core progressive values. She, however, reflects the status quo. It is not the press that makes Hillary seem less appealing. She accomplishes that by confusing abrassiveness with strength of character. I will vote for her if she is the democrat nominee but I am hoping that Sen. Obama is the representative for our party to run against McCain.

joye Winey  03/27/2008 12:51 AM Report

Gov. Rendell is misinforming the public about caucus'.

I am a 70 yr. old Iowa Caucus attendee. Actually, a huge majority of Iowa Caucus people are over 55. Many caucus states hold caucus' at different hours of the day. The clinton people are trying to to snow people who don't know any better. Then they try to tell us that Primaries are fair when their opponent isn't even on the ticket.

Sen. clinton Pledge to not campaign or participate in Michigan and Florida. She should have taken her name of the ballots too.

Irma Ocanas  03/27/2008 12:41 AM Report

Charlie Rose, I feel about Keith Olberman as Gov Rendell does and as much as I have enjoyed your shows, I find it simply UNbelievable that you feel the media has not shown bias favoring Obama, but tonight it was obvious that you are part of that media. Gov. Rendell - you were superb in your support of Hillary, in spite of Charlie Rose!!

John  03/27/2008 12:19 AM Report

Gov Rendell, previously said Hillary had to win Ohio and Texas to be viable. Obama won Texas. So now Rendell is moving the bar.

Gov Rendell has no credibility, he is such a shill for the Clintons.

JaniMayNYC  03/26/2008 11:48 PM Report

God bless you, Ed Rendell, for speaking about your newfound realization and appreciation of how women feel about Hillary's mistreatment by the media, and about our culture's invisible misogyny. Case in point: On Monday, what was billed as a major policy speech was completely drowned out by the Bosnia landing strip gaff. Details, information, anything at all? Clinton's plan to help the nation's housing market and financial situation wasn't even covered on the evening news. To say that the media who repeatedly predicted her demise and said she was running a negative campaign, even after she'd win a state, is biased against her because she's a woman, is the understatement of this election cycle.

Ron Anderson  03/26/2008 11:47 PM Report

Having been a regular viewer and admirer of Charlie Rose for years, I was extremely disappointed in the interview with Governor Rendell. If I were betting man, I'd say that Charlie is a strong Obama supporter. I find it quite amusing that you are either unable or simply unwilling to admit that the tabloid media in the US has been extremely unfair to Hillary.

If Rendell gets you the Hillary interview, please, please, loose the attitude and go back to what you have done so well in the past.

Jade and Michael  03/26/2008 11:36 PM Report

Charlie Rose interviewing Gov. Rendell about the unfair treatment of Hillary Clinton by the media. Gov. Rendell stated that she has been and continues to be treated unfarily by the Press and Obama has been given a free ride. Mr. Rose repeatly says this is a perspective. Well Mr. Rose, it is a fact and the Center for Media and Public Affairs has stated that the media ever since the primaries began, continues to give Obama 25%-30% more positive air time. Fact, Mr. Rose, Fact. Well you have the guts to state it on the air?