Katie Couric's Notebook: Fear and Frustration

By: Katie Couric
Topics: Katie Couric's Notebook

At a town meeting hosted by Senator Arlen Specter, a Pennsylvania resident stood up to say that the health care debate has "awakened the sleeping giant."

Not exactly.

What's it's done, it seems, is stirred a hornets nest, and uncovered disturbing attitudes and emotions that have nothing to do with policy.

Are we really still debating health care when a man brings a handgun to a church where the President is speaking?

How does a swastika spray-painted on a Congressman's office further a discussion about Medicare?

These are tough and challenging times and lots of people are scared about their jobs and the economy. But we can't let fear and frankly ignorance - drown out the serious debate that needs to take place - about an issue that affects the lives of millions of people.

It's time for everyone to take a deep breath and to focus on the task at hand before this sideshow drowns out the main event.

That's a page from my notebook.

I'm Katie Couric, CBS News.

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by juleelynn-2009 September 1, 2009 10:21 AM EDT: Really??? I don't remember Couric and others being offended when many of these same attitudes were being directed at Republicans.

I've been a fan of yours Katie--but this whole double standard of the media is getting to be too much for me. You're a reporter. Your opinion isn't more valuable than mine. It's not more enlightened than mine. Please stop condescending to me and others who don't happen to share your opinion. I don't see a valuable, realistic discussion of health care reform taking place on either side, frankly. A little more critical coverage of the left would give you and your colleagues a lot more credibility with mainstream America. I'm tired of entertainment journalism. I'm tired of propaganda journalism. Therefore; I am turning you and all other off.; Reply to this comment


by sunpie51 August 31, 2009 2:09 AM EDT: Katie Couric: unless you deny your employment as a "journalist" - it is your moral & ethical duty to give a fair and balanced portrayal of the world. Similar to CBS News' ongoing portrayals of the world, your "commentary" presents a one-sided viewpoint that is supported by false information.

I am a democrat who sits in FULL and vehement oppostion to the current administration, on all counts. In this position I have attended dozens of tea parties and 3 different townhall meetings.

As you falsely stated in your commentary, we in opposition do not bear swastikas. Perhaps you are confusing us with the policies, practices and procedures put forth and/or fostered by this current administration - many of which are either hard left or give off the wonderful aroma of fascism. This administration has repeatedly attempted to silence us. You must know that these attempts are illegal and that our first amendment rights necessarily carry the day. Or, do you?

This administration employed shocking tactics in their repeated attempts to silence us. They pummeled and bullied us with paid-off ACORN members and SEIU thugs. Most disturbing is the fact that this administration authorized use of our own taxpayer dollars to forcefully "persuade" us to shut up.

I want to know why you failed to mention THESE facts? I was present at these events - but you were not. How can you capably speak on this subject without having personal knowledge of such? Why do you falsely condemn us without personal knowledge and without a shred of evidence to prove your claims? Why to you portray the opposition falsely but fail altogether to mention the harassment coming from ACORN and the SEIU? Why have you abandoned your journalistic principles in favor of rote, 24/7 pro-Obama commentary?

Do you approve of this "oppressive" type of behavior stemming directly from the current administration? What is YOUR commentary about THAT?

In my opinion this abandonment of journalistic principles coupled with clear bias on the part of CBS News tells me that CBS is now officially a "state-run media" outlet.

Understanding that "journalism" has jumped the ship - what is your "commentary" about THAT?; Reply to this comment


by cmaltese56 August 30, 2009 9:38 PM EDT: Thanks, Kate, for another example of your keen sense of fairness. Oh, and thanks for all your biting commentary when the BusHitler parade was making so much noise too. What a dame!; Reply to this comment


by RN75 August 20, 2009 3:38 PM EDT: Ms. Couric,
It never ceases to amaze me how you in the media, hone in on the one negative aspect of any endeavor that opposes your views. When it is the left it is okay to call Bush a Hilter or paint a mustache on his face, but now that apparently one misinformed person does it on the right, and all hell breaks loose. It was glossed over that there were over 1000 people that turned out at a town hall, but all we heard about was the one with the gun. Try being fair in your reporting and maybe your ratings will go up, since that is the only direction they can take. Amazed RN75; Reply to this comment

by weary1 August 20, 2009 2:14 AM EDT

Katie,

Obviously, Fox "News" has instructed their loyal followers to descend upon your blog. Please ignore them -- we need you to do your job, which definitely involves exposing the insanity behind the so-called protests at healthcare town hall meetings. Thanks for keeping it real!

Reply to this comment


by schooldiva August 20, 2009 11:51 AM EDT: Pathetic response. The answer to everything is blame. Fox news has not "instructed" me to do anything. I have eyes, ears and I can read. Have you read the Health Care Bill? I do NOT need anyone to tell me to speak up and voice my concerns. If you would truly educate yourself on the health care bill and all of the repercussions it could have long term if it isn't well thought out then perhaps you would understand the worries of the people who are informed. I have been uninsured, I have friends and family uninsured, I understand the problem, but I am not a sheep and none of us need the government, who can't run the post office, in charge of any of my loved ones health care. We need reform, we need competition among insurance agencies across state lines. Use your brains weary1. I responded to Katies blog because I saw her report and what she said infuriated me. You also think it is ok to clump anyone who disagrees with the status quo into a category, knowing ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about me! That is so ignorant and typical. I am a Democrat. I am fed up with people like you who see everything along party lines instead of using your own brains and actually thinking, researching and paying attention to the details.


by schooldiva August 19, 2009 3:00 PM EDT: I cannot believe what I heard you say about the public participation in the town hall meetings. I am a not a Republican, and no one would have to encourage me to attend a town hall meeting to voice my opinion about the rush to push through a 1000 page Health care bill, which is filled with legal jargon, and fraught with problems.

Do we need to reform health care? Absolutely. We need to reform health care in a responsible way. Having our elected officials push this bill through, without reading it and with the attitude that the American people either don't know what's best for them or that those people at their town hall meetings are planted there is ridiculous and it is wrong. How dare you assume that the public is misinformed and that we are being irrational.

I am extremely disappointed in your lack of journalistic objectivity. I thought at one time that you were fair and that you were able to look at a story from all angles and then report it in an unbiased fashion. Now I feel that you are misinformed yourself. There is no way you could have read this health care bill and said what you said about it. Get with the program Katie. It is your responsibilty to inform the public, not call them hysterical. I am shocked at your lack of professional judgement in this situation.

I hope you will personally (not your staff) read this health care bill, apologize to the American people who have just reason to be concerned and then revise your statement.; Reply to this comment


by MarkBoabaca August 19, 2009 9:29 AM EDT: In defense of Katie Couric and other journalists, I believe they gave up their core beliefs and principles in favor of fleeting fame, popularity, and the chance to meet other famous people who have also become human vacuums.

To deny that this health care (insurance? reform? I don't know) debate has not awakened a sleeping giant is disingenuous. Okay it's a lie. But there is more to this debate than just healthcare. Democrats and Republicans have been asleep too long, myself included, and we are standing up for what we believe in. Better late than never I guess.

Katie and others like her are or feel trapped because they can't hold down a regular job, nor could they find one with soaring unemployment, so they continue to carry the water for this administration.

Our voices will only get louder and louder - regardless of what Katie Couric chooses to say about us.; Reply to this comment


by schmamebah August 18, 2009 5:48 PM EDT: Katie's comments are exactly why I don't watch one minute of ABC,CBS NBC MSNBC, etc... Katie, you have no clue whatsoever. I am one of those people that are upset and believe me, it has everything to do with policy! You say we are ignorant because we are yelling. This administration and this congress won't listen. We have been pushed to the limits. When the congress doesn't even know what's in the bills and they are about to change the way health care is in this country, we shouldn't yell? This administration and this congress are the most arrogant I have ever seen in my lifetime. I for one will not sit back and let them do whatever they want. They will hear my voice. This has been going on for too long. It is so obvious to so many Americans Katie that the networks are in bed with this president.... so you go "take a breath"....; Reply to this comment


by susanjmaki August 18, 2009 12:16 AM EDT: How dare you suggest that the opposition to this slapped together health plan is anything less than issue oriented! Perhaps you feel guilty for being a rich, white person? I've been blessed not to be born with your guilt and blindness. Look at the problems not the personalities. It should always be about what's right and not who's right. Nationalized health insurance is like going after a mosquito with a machine gun. There are so many things that could be done to promote better care without handing over such a big chunk of our economy to yet another government agency. Do we really want the same people that brought us $400 hammers to start shopping for our health care? What CBS and the rest of the news media has forgotten is that there is zero trust in our elected officials. We need lobbying reform, term limits, and other controls on congress before we can even think of putting them in charge of anything else. Has anyone even spoken to doctors and insurance professionals about this. And when I say insurance professionals, I'm talking about the guys in the front lines, dealing with consumers, the doctors who know what gaps truly are missing.
And please, please stop treating people like bigots because they don't want to hand over benefits to illegals. It's hard to extend a hand of friendship to someone who begins their career in the US by breaking all the laws they've come across.; Reply to this comment


by chefjas1960 August 17, 2009 11:00 PM EDT: All of us agree there should be some reform of our system of health care. However the 1,000 page bill that the House and Obama are promoting is not the answer. As a matter of fact, although health care may need reforming, there are many issues that need reformation before health care. Let's start with campaign finance reform (Federally funded campaigns), kick the lobbyists out of Washington. How about term limits? I've heard all of the arguments against it, but my response is this; if it takes 2 to 4 years for our Congressmen and Senators to learn their way around the system, then the system is broke. All one has to do is try and read the health care bill that has passed Congress to understand how complicated our system has become.; Reply to this comment