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December 12, 2006
Failing the Pop Quiz
Another journalist decided to get cute and throw a pop quiz at a political leader.
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Rep. Silvestre Reyes of Texas, who incoming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has tapped to head the Intelligence Committee when the Democrats take over in January, failed a quiz of basic questions about al Qaeda and Hezbollah, two of the key terrorist organizations the intelligence community has focused on since the September 11, 2001 attacks.Sure, there's a sense of schadenfreude involved in watching a Democrat botch questions by the press, but I still hate this sort of "gotcha" nonsense in journalism. Journalists should report news, not create it.When asked by CQ National Security Editor Jeff Stein whether al Qaeda is one or the other of the two major branches of Islam -- Sunni or Shiite -- Reyes answered "they are probably both," then ventured "Predominantly -- probably Shiite."
That is wrong. Al Qaeda was founded by Osama bin Laden as a Sunni organization and views Shiites as heretics.
Reyes could also not answer questions put by Stein about Hezbollah, a Shiite group on the U.S. list of terrorist organizations that is based in Southern Lebanon.
This does provide us, however, a glimpse into the new politics of personal pique under Speaker-to-be Pelosi. I've seen Rep. Jane Harman, who was in line to become intelligence chair, on the news. She is partisan, but she knows the issues. Perhaps it's time for the media to subject Pelosi to some questions about why, exactly, she denied Harman the post.
Posted by slublog at December 12, 2006 08:44 AM
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Comments
It really isn't gotcha, he wasn't asking questions with difficult answers, it was multiple choice. I think it actually demonstrated the "disconnect" that we always hear about.
Posted by: Wickedpinto at December 12, 2006 12:52 PM
I wouldn't mind more of these kinds of quizzes, though yeah, they should be done a little more tactfully.
Maybe some kind of politician/candidate/pundit game show.
Posted by: Some Guy at December 12, 2006 02:18 PM