A not so undecided “undecided voter.” At 10:12 AM EDT Wednesday on CNN, faux “undecided voter” Susan Katz, who had asked Mitt Romney at the debate the night before how he’s different from George W. Bush, told Carol Costello she voted for Barack Obama in 2008 and plans to do so again this year because “I saw in President Obama someone who has ripened with time who deserves another four years to see his vision through.” (“Ripened”?)
A little more than eight hours later, NBC’s Andrea Mitchell, on Nightly News, looked at debate reaction from “undecided voters chosen to ask questions” who “were not entirely happy with what they heard,” starting with Susan Katz whom Mitchell showcased trashing Romney for liking “to be in charge,” as if that’s a bad thing for a President.
Katz, outside of the event venue: “I know he is a very bright man, but I got the feeling that he likes to be in charge, and he doesn’t necessarily allow for other people to express their points of views.”
Audio: MP3 clip [1] that matches the video of CNN and NBC
Following a clip of Katz posing her question and of Romney trying to first answer a previous charge from Obama, Mitchell reported “Katz was put off by his manner” and ran more of her critique without bothering to note her true allegiance to Obama. Katz: “He took time to continue the debate on another issue before he addressed my question. That was his style last night. He seems to have to have the last word. That was disappointing.”
Mitchell proceeded to run soundbites from three more people upset by the “bickering” by both candidates.
From CNN’s Newsroom at 10:12 AM EDT on October 17:
CAROL COSTELLO: Did you decide who to vote for after all is said and done?
SUSAN KATZ, AT HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY: Yes, I did. I did. I guess you want that answer. President Obama. I found him to be -- first of all, let me put it this way. I think he has matured tremendously as a result of the first four years. There’s no question that we expected more from him. I voted for him the first time. I had great hopes for him. I’m disappointed and that’s why when I got the phone call from the Gallup poll, I was truly, truly undecided. I don’t base my decision – let me put it this way: When I had to work up four questions, I wanted to ask questions that would give me an insight into each man’s character and the kind of leader he was because the questions about specifics were not necessarily going to make up my mind because things change and you don’t always know what kind of cooperation a President is going to get from the Congress.
So I saw in President Obama someone who has ripened with time who deserves another four years to see his vision through and I saw someone who I thought was very earnest who listens as well as speaks.
From Wednesday’s NBC Nightly News:
ANDREA MITCHELL: We circled back today to some of the questioners from the debate and to others watching from home, who thought the candidates argued too much and didn’t answer what they were asked. They had front row seats to history, but today some of the undecided voters chosen to ask questions were not entirely happy with what they heard. Susan Katz got to question Mitt Romney.
SUSAN KATZ, WEDNESDAY: I know he is a very bright man, but I got the feeling that he likes to be in charge, and he doesn’t necessarily allow for other people to express their points of views.
KATZ, AT TUESDAY’S DEBATE: What is the biggest difference between you and George W. Bush? And how do you make a differentiate yourself from George W. Bush?
MITT ROMNEY: Thank you, and I appreciate that question, I just want to make sure, I think I was supposed to get that last answer, but I want to point out that I believe-
BARACK OBAMA: I don't think so, Candy, I want to make sure our time keepers are working.
MITCHELL: Romney did go on to explain that he and George Bush were different people with different policies. Katz was put off by his manner.
KATZ, WEDNESDAY: He took time to continue the debate on another issue before he addressed my question. That was his style last night. He seems to have to have the last word. That was disappointing.
-- Brent Baker is Vice President for Research and Publications at the Media Research Center. Click here [2] to follow Brent Baker on Twitter.