Katie Asked, They Answered
(CBS)
Which led me to wonder: well, what about the answers? The purpose of an interview is not to create memorable questions, but to elicit compelling answers. Did the answers shed any light on the Edwards' decision? Did they offer insight into the character of the man who wants to be President? Did they give others who are facing this kind of crisis some perspective? Did the answers have any value or add to our knowledge? (Well, among other things, Elizabeth Edwards revealed for the first time that the cancer had spread to her hip.)
Herewith, a few of the answers that came out of the Edwards interview. You can read a full transcript right here.
Elizabeth Edwards: You know, you really have two choices here. I mean, either you push forward with the things that you were doing yesterday or you start dying. That seems to be your only two choices. If I had given up everything that my life was about – first of all, I'd let cancer win before it needed to. You know, maybe eventually it will win. But I'd let it win before I needed to.
And I'd just basically start dying. I don't want to do that. I want to live. And I want to do the work that I want next year to look like last year and... and the year after that and the year after that. And the only way to do that is to say I'm going to keep on with my life.
Elizabeth Edwards: I... I... I... I think that it is our intention to deny cancer any control over us.
And though I know there are people who live short lives, I feel optimistic, not because I've got rose-colored glasses on, but because I know that I have only low-volume... a small amount of cancer in my bones.
John Edwards: We don't understate or misunderstand the seriousness of this. I mean, this could kill her, and we know it. And what we won't choose to do is... we choose to live our lives fully, and with strength and optimism. We get to make that choice.
And that's what we choose.
John Edwards: I say all of those judgments and questions are entirely legitimate. I mean, you offer yourself up for service to the country as the President of the United States, you deserve to be evaluated. I am perfectly open to that evaluation. I think that I know, when I'm running for president, I'm running for president because I want to serve this country, and because I want all people in America to have the same kind of chances that I've had.
I've come from nothing to now have everything. And I think everybody in this country, no matter who their family is, or what the color of their skin, ought to get that chance.
But, throughout this process, people will be able to see very clearly into what we do, what we say, how we behave, and they can evaluate for themselves whether they think I'm, in fact, doing this for the right reason.
We know the truth. We know the truth, but I think it's a fair judgment for Americans to make.
Elizabeth Edwards: Cancer took a lot away from us a few years ago. It took a year of my life and a lot of John's. I didn't want it to take this away not just from me but from those people who depend on our having the kind of president he would be.
Katie Couric: Here you're staring at possible death...
Elizabeth Edwards: Aren't we all though.
Katie Couric: And you're thinking, "I don't want to deprive the country of having my husband lead us."
Elizabeth Edwards: That would be my legacy wouldn't it, Katie. That I'd... that I'd... that I'd... that I'd taken out this fine man from the possibility of giving a great service. I mean, I don't want that to be my legacy.
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See all 31 CommentsKatie, I advocated for early on -- back in September -- when comments about you on the boards were far from flattering.
You sliced and diced John and Elizabeth Edwards with your condescending attitude. I was embarrassed by your rudeness and lack of sensitivity.
"People who live in glass houses should not throw stones."
When you first started, there were": freespeech segments, Dr. John Lapook and his medical stories, "this week on the web segments, less smiling, and other subtle changes. You and Rick Kaplan are doing great to "toughen" up the broadcast. Your questions were straightforward and to the point. But Katie, sometimes these "tough" questions should be reserved for criminals, like when Ann Curry just recently interviewed thes African president in Sudan. Those questions were intensive and eye-opening. On the last day of "TODAY", I remember they aired these exclusive clips of hard questions that you fired to presidents, prime-ministers and etc. But Katie, to have a successful broadcast, you need these tough questions and at CBS News you've got them here. Good Luck Katie.
Go back to a morning show, any show. You are a likeable person, but you are not meant for prime time hard news coverage. Here's what I came away with from your interview:
So, how does it feel to know you're going to die?
How did it feel to tell your children you're goint to die?
Is it selfish to run for president when she's going to die?
Will you be able to concentrate on the campaign when she's about dead?
How do you cope with thinking you're getting better, but you're going to die?
Are you starting to feel dead yet?
I had the same response. I wonder if it is Katie or CBS leadership? Someone needs to critique the shows. Katie's smile was inappropriate for an interview with an incurable-cancer patient. In hard news, the smile is rare and only when obviously caqlled for.
Once the question (regarding continuing the campaign with the new cancer diagnosis) was asked and answered, Katie should have done her job as journalist by allowing a bonafide candidate to differentiate himself from the other Presidential candidates -- "Why should you get the vote for President of the United States over the other candidates?"
I would applaud any choice the Edwards want to make about how to deal with her cancer. But if they choose to continue to campaign, these are the kinds of questions voters will take into consideration, not just his position on health insurance or Iraq.
Where I do agree with Katie's critics is in her overreliance on the "some have said" dodge in framing her questions. Ugh! She's transparently using a straw man for her own opinions, but doesn't want to own up to it. If she had been more clear and forthcoming as to where these questions were coming from, a lot of the criticism might have been avoided.
admirer of yours, but after the 60 minutes interview I no longer believe in you. Your behavior was downright shameful; How could you judge the Edwards after your action after losing your first husband to cancer with young girls at home?
"SOME PEOPLE SAY THAT" you should be fired from 60 Minutes - I agree; maybe it's time you spend more time with your girls.
Couric%u2019s deliberate accusatory tone as she was mocking the Edwards' decision at every turn available was astonishing. She implied over and over, %u201CHow dare the Edwards' pursue their life%u2019s work in the face of a disease?%u201D
Who in the hell is she to tell someone how to live their lives? And even worse was Couric telling the Edwards what Americans think of their decision. Katie Couric does not speak for me! And she should refrain from making such generalizations about what America thinks.
In the past I was a fan of Katie Couric%u2019s. But she has proven her true colors in this shameful interview. What she hoped was a %u201Chard-hitting%u201D interview only showed her incompetence and desperation. I will not be watching Couric as a news anchor or at 60 Minutes. It%u2019s time for her to go back to the fluff she came from and where she belongs. I am so outraged at her performance and disgusted with her ethics %u2013 she truly owes the Edwards an apology.
Did Couric stop working and stay home with her children when her husband, Jay became ill. No! She is a big hypocrite!
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