Dear George Stephanopoulos, When Did You Become Such a Tool?

Dear George,

Hey! Remember me?  We went to college together.  We met on a very unfortunate blind date, which I think ended with you calling me a communist and me calling you something that rhymes with "ick". Bygones, I hope.

Still, as I got to know you a little in college from our intersecting circles of friends, I started to think that you were probably one of the brightest people I knew in a college full of brainiacs.  I mean, dude, Barack Obama himself graduated the year I did, one year after you.  Did you know him?  I didn't, but I imagine the two of you furiously debating during Zbigniew Brzezinski's honors seminar on Cold War Politics or having a brewski at the West End. Maybe not. 

I watched your career with interest, from your creation of the now archetypal preppy-but-earnest Presidential aide (Michael J. Fox played you to Michael Douglas' President in some movie or another), to reading your book about how the Clintons made you turn to antidepressants and C-list actresses for comfort, to your rise through the TV news ranks from cub reporter to Sunday morning show host.  I've always told people with a little bit of pride, "I knew that guy when he was just a short Greek guy with good hair and a lot of ambition."

But tonight, George, you let me down.   You let me and America down, in fact.  You had a real chance to show your stuff.  I don't expect a lot from Charlie Gibson, but you?   You could have pulled out all the stops by drilling down to the details on economics and foreign policy and education policy.   You could have shown why at  Columbia in 1982, we all thought you would be running for President someday. 

You could have asked about the issues that will affect your two little kids.  Things like how will they earn enough money to pay for George Bush's war?  I know you have enough money now that you don't worry about healthcare for them, but what about all the kids who can't afford to go to the doctor because S-CHIP didn't pass?  Why not deviate from the script a little and ask the candidates if they know how much a gallon of orange juice costs and what they think about genetically modified foods and the use of hormones and antibiotics in livestock? You know, something that they haven't been asked ad nauseum, so they don't just spew the stock answer?

No, you didn't seize the opportunity to ask about issues that affect families.  Instead, you asked about some guy who was in the Weather Underground 40 years ago and said something stupid about 9/11.  Was the Clinton campaign feeding you questions in your little earpiece?  Is that the standard now, that a candidate is not judged on his or her character or record, but by the people they know? 

Instead of asking about how the candidates would reform or end No Child Left Behind so that third graders don't have to take tests that last longer than the Bar Exam, you asked about affirmative action for white people.  Now there's a wedge issue for you.  Were you trying to show Barack Obama to be an elitist (if he's for it) or a racist (if he's against it)?  If I could have reached in and bitchslapped you inside the TV, I would have. I'm kind of dreaming that Hillary took you backstage and did it for me.  If she did, I'd go walk precincts in Philly for her tomorrow.

I'm beginning to think that my initial impression of you was not wrong.

Sincerely,

Glennia

Comments

[Robyn]

Remind me to never piss you off, Glennia.

And I thought he was gay?

[andrea]

Hurray for this post! I had to turn the channel because I couldn't stand it anymore. I wanted to reach into the television and slap him!

[Jill Asher]

You went on a blind date with George? Really??? Now hod did this NOT come out in our many conversations... .ya see, the things we learn through blogs!

Really? Like if things went well, you could have been his wife?????

hmmmmmm....

[All Adither]

I didn't watch and now I'm glad.

[Motherofbun]

I didn't watch either. But it sounds like I didn't miss much. (Or I missed out on being frustrated with Georgie.)