Was Laura Kuenssberg Right To Ask Such A Loaded Question?

[vortex]

Should we be proud or embarrassed?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4165220/President-Trump-mocks-BBC-s-political-editor.html

[anneasquith]

She as , pity the president didn't answer the questions .

[anneasquith]

She was right , pity the president didn't answer the questions .*

[Buenchico]

Political journalism at its very best.

[anneasquith]

She was doing her job,

[Mamyalynne]

Newshound, possibly but as the political editor of BBC News she has a right to pose her questions just as he has the right to answer or wave them away.

[Buenchico]

It's the duty of any journalist to act as 'devil's advocate' in regard of all policies put forward by politicians, Divebuddy. So a Tory politician needs to be challenged by a Socialist viewpoint and a Labour politician needs to be challenged by a capitalist viewpoint.

Similarly a xenophobic idiot who dismisses both human rights and climate change science needs to be asked questions which are based upon opposing views of politics.

[Buenchico]

I've got a reasonable knowledge of journalism, Divebuddy. (There's a certificate on the wall behind me declaring that I was awarded a distinction in my journalism finals). I've also known quite a few journalists and I fully recognise that there are some incredibly sloppy practices out there. (e.g. simply reproducing press releases or political handouts). However, as I stated above, a journalist who is any good at their job must ALWAYS challenge the 'facts' put forward by the people that they're interviewing.

[Peter Pedant]

// After President-elect Donald J. Trump insisted during the campaign that “torture works” and promised to bring back waterboarding and “a hell of a lot worse,” it was just a matter of time before the former C.I.A. official Jose Rodriguez and the former Air Force psychologist and C.I.A. contractor James Mitchell resurfaced to defend the indefensible.//

from the New York Times

I mean yeah it is clear that Pres Trump clearly states he is not in favour of torture
how coold I be in doubt ?

[vortex]

Buenchico - why ask questions about facts that are not factually correct or unproven?

That is a shabby version of journalism that I don't want to see.

[Buenchico]

>>> Couldn't those reporters you are talking about at least report honestly what Trump said in answer to their questions. All this Trump is in favour of torture stuff is just nonsense.

OK. Let's get rid of any bias from journalists and simply listen to exactly what DT actually said:

June 2016:
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/video/2016/jun/29/donald-trump-istanbul-airport-attack-video

This week:
http://www.wsj.com/video/trump-on-waterboarding-torture-fight-fire-with-fire/D33D0FAC-EF77-4781-A6C9-1C2F86FCCA6E.html

[anneasquith]

DB, if you are leaving the thread, please read the lnks posted by chris tomorrow.

[pastafreak]

Ms Kuenssberg knows her job...she was last year's British Journalist of the Year. I'm sure that was because she asked the right questions at the right time. Questions a lot of people want answers to.

[Buenchico]

>>> Trump has said that he believes waterboarding works

He also said "I like it a lot. I don't think it's tough enough".
(See my first link above if you need proof).

As I see it, that's not exactly a neutral stance on whether or not it should be used!

[anneasquith]

Do any of us actually believe TM was as surprised as DT at the question by LK.?