The Watchdog had a better than usual day with the Sunday shows this week.
Face The Nation’s Bob Schieffer kicked off his interview with the anti-immigrant Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y. I wanted Schieffer to ask: You criticize the Senate immigration deal as an “amnesty proposal” because it would allow illegal immigrants to stay in America. But the vast majority of Americans support giving illegal immigrants the opportunity to stay here, after paying penalties. Are Americans such a welcoming people that branding the bill an “amnesty proposal” doesn’t concern most voters?
Schieffer cited poll numbers similar to what was mentioned here, and concluded that “American people seem much more relaxed about all this than their leaders and opinion makers.”
While Schieffer didn’t directly ask King why his charges of “amnesty” we’re falling flat with voters, the accurate poll analysis put King on the defensive, and precluded leaving the impression—left by other media outlets—that a defeat of the Senate bill would be the result of massive anti-immigrant sentiment.
Fox News Sunday failed to ask U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker about the administration’s new rhetoric—comparing our strategy to Korea, where we continue to have troops stationed after 50 years. I wanted to know: As the President just signed into law a ban on funds for permanent military bases in Iraq, would a “Korea” strategy violate the law?
ABC’s This Week host George Stephanopoulos did ask Rep. Jack Murtha, D-Penn., for his response to the “Korea” strategy. (Murtha called it “absolutely not realistic.”)
But the specific Watchdog question was not asked — what will Congress do to enforce the new law banning funds for permanent bases?