Web Letters | The Nation

Web Letter

This is the best question one could ask Obama these days, and it would help him: do you know how many trillions in toxic assets are in the hands of, say, the richest 0.1 percent? And have your people calculated to which extent your plans to "save the financial system" will "save" these billionaires, as measured in billions of good dollars that they will get for their trash ? And do you think the citizenry would want to pay for the failed financial gambling of the nation's richest 0.1 percent? Etc. If he was asked the question directly?

Web Letter

The voting system being used and the other factors involved will assure that Obama is only asked weak questions. If that's what you want, this effort is great. However, if you want him to be finally asked tough questions--the type the MSM has consistently refused to ask--this effort is yet another in a long line of shams.

For a quick example, imagine what would happen if ObamaGirl submitted a video to this effort. Wouldn't it very quickly become the most popular video in the contest? At the same time, wouldn't a video with a talking head asking an arcane but very important question get few votes?

The better way to do things is to have pundits, bloggers, etc. vote on whether a question is tough or not. All their votes will be public. Thus, if a transportation expert votes up an ObamaGirl video and votes down a policy question he doesn't want Obama to be asked, he'll help discredit himself.

After the toughest questions are selected, those involved in this effort can send someone to Obama's public appearances and ask the questions on video, whether Obama agrees or not.

If The Nation wants Obama to be asked tough questions whether he likes it or not, that's the only way to do it. If The Nation wants him to be asked weak questions, then just keep on keeping on.

More on this issue here.