Every Friday in our Weekend Watchdog feature, we post suggested questions for scheduled Sunday guests. You can add your own questions in the comment thread. We’ll also include contact information for the shows, so we can let them know what their viewers want asked. We’ll post a wrap-up here on the blog on Monday.
With the financial crisis still dominating people’s concerns, here are three suggested questions that could be asked to any of this Sunday’s slated guests: Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass.; Rep. Roy Blunt, R-Mo.; Former Treasury secretaries James Baker and Lawrence Summers (ABC’s This Week); Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.; Gov. Bill Ritter, D-Colo.; Mayor Doug Wilder, Richmond, Va.; Rep. Adam Putnam, R-Fla.; C. Fred Bergsten, director, Peterson Institute for International Economics (CBS’ Face The Nation); Gov. Jon Corzine, D-N.J.; Former Rep. Rob Portman, R-Ohio (NBC’s Meet The Press); David Axelrod, campaign adviser for Barack Obama; Rick Davis, campaign adviser for John McCain; Gov. Ed Rendell, D-Pa.; Gov. Tim Pawlenty, R-Minn. (Fox News Sunday).
1. It is still unclear to what extent our government will either give money to banks in exchange for toxic assets, or buy shares in banks and claim an ownership stake on behalf of taxpayers. To what extent do you believe our government should purchase equity stakes in banks?
2. Do you believe that purchasing equity in banks will prevent us from making critical investments in infrastructure, clean energy, health care and education, when in the short-term increased deficits are appropriate during an economic recession, and in the long-term having taxpayer equity means a share in the profits when financial markets recover?
3. Why did Sen. McCain’s campaign initially say that in his new plan to take over bad mortgages, “Lenders in these cases must recognize the loss that they’ve already suffered,” but then drop that part of the plan, benefiting irresponsible lenders?
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Contact info for the Sunday shows
Contact ABC’s This Week by clicking here
Email CBS’ Face The Nation at ftn@cbsnews.com
Email Fox News Sunday at FNS@foxnews.com
Contact NBC’s Meet The Press by clicking here
Remember: always be brief, polite and respectful when contacting the media, so our voices will be taken seriously.
