Ari Melber Gives a Review of Condi's Stanford Performance and a 4th Grader gets his chance

Ari Melber has a review of Condi's Stanford performance and he didn't rate it very many stars. You should read Ari's blog about the interview and get his take on it.

With several outside links and references to back up everything he says, he breaks down her story and refutes her facts. But, then that's what good reporting is all about. Too bad we have so little of it now.

In fact it has taken some university students and a 4th grader to get answers from Condi, before Congress, or any media person has bothered to ask her any tough questions.

Yes, that's correct, a 4th grader also asked her questions over the weekend. Of course his teacher wouldn't let him ask the question he wanted. But, Misha Lerner, a student from Bethesda, did get to ask, "What did Rice think about the things President Obama's administration was saying about the methods the Bush administration had used to get information from detainees?"

Her answer was about the same as it was at Stanford. Must be a standard answer.

Rice took the question in stride. saying that she was reluctant to criticize Obama, then getting to the heart of the matter.

"Let me just say that President Bush was very clear that he wanted to do everything he could to protect the country. After September 11, we wanted to protect the country," she said. "But he was also very clear that we would do nothing, nothing, that was against the law or against our obligations internationally. So the president was only willing to authorize policies that were legal in order to protect the country."

She went on to say,

"I hope you understand that it was a very difficult time. We were all so terrified of another attack on the country. September 11 was the worst day of my life in government, watching 3,000 Americans die. . . . Even under those most difficult circumstances, the president was not prepared to do something illegal, and I hope people understand that we were trying to protect the country."

This statement is from the mother of the young inquisitor..

Misha's mother, Inna Lerner, said the question her son had initially come up with was even tougher: "If you would work for Obama's administration, would you push for torture?"

Notice there was no torture involved in his asking of the questions, and no harsh interrogation either.. He was forced by his teachers to reword his question in order not to offend, and had to take the word "torture" out.

Freedom of Speech anyone?? Guess it isn't practiced at Jewish Primary Day School of the Nation's Capital when Condeleeza Rice is there anyway. The teachers definitely censure the questions and make sure she isn't offended.