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The Best Notable Quotables of 1997:
The Tenth Annual Awards for the
Year’s Worst Reporting
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Good Morning Morons Award |
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First
Place
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"Well, for centuries, I mean, Scandinavia has really been known, all these countries, for
their innovative and their progressive social systems. But when it comes to protecting women's
rights and children's rights, Norway could really teach most other countries a thing or two. They are
the top priorities here. Largely responsible for this, former Prime Minister Gro Harlem
Brundtland, and she is the first woman to hold that post...
"She's been very instrumental in pioneering some of these sweeping changes that have
really greatly improved the quality of life for women and for children in Norway. Nice to have you
here. I think most women, when they hear that, they just want to pack up and come right over
here. But these have been sweeping changes that really have improved life here for women
and children. Why do you think it happened in such a short time?....And they also have the
lowest crime rate in the world. This is a very, very interesting country that we could learn a little
bit from. Hopefully, we can get some of those programs instituted in America. Thank you for
having us here."
-- Good Morning America co-host Joan Lunden interviewing former Labour
Party Prime Minister Brundtland during May 13 show from Norway. [94 points] |
Runners-up: |
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"It is clear that day care in this country is inaccessible to many, cost prohibitive for
others, substandard in many situations. What can the government actually do to alleviate some of
these problems?"
"As you know, Mrs. Clinton, regulations for at-home day care vary so much from state to state
in terms of the ratio of children to day care provider, do you think there should be some kind
of overall federal regulations?"
-- Today co-host Katie Couric to Hillary Rodham Clinton, October23. [62]
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"But in fairness, what is wrong with Newt Gingrich reaching out to some other
groups, extending himself? I mean, can't you catch more flies with honey? Isn't there something
about that? And perhaps the rigidity of some of the conservative Republicans and their almost
religious adherence to the Contract with America, didn't that ultimately backfire on them?"
-- NBC's Katie Couric to Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.), April 2 Today. [52]
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Satan of the South Award
(for Hating Jesse Helms)
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First
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Sam Donaldson: "I think Governor Weld has done this country a service in a sense,
even though I think that he's been shot down in the ocean now, and that is by allowing the country
to see Senator Helms in action. Over the years I've run into him two or three times at
receptions here and he's the most gentlemanly, courtly, friendly, pleasant individual you would ever hope
to meet. But, when you see him in action, you see beneath that courtliness beats the heart of
a dictator and I think the country is appalled."
George Stephanopoulos: "Or a terrorist. The President is really, I think made a mistake
because he's been negotiating with a terrorist here."
-- Exchange on ABC's This Week, September 14.[106 points] |
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Runners-up: |
James Warren, Chicago Tribune Washington Bureau Chief: "I also find interesting
this revisionism about Senator Helms. We've sort of turned his dogmatism and bigotry into now,
the iron-willed principle of a man of the right."
Mona Charen: "What bigotry?"
Warren: "Oh, his gay-baiting, his union-bashing. His hatred of any fundings for the arts. His isolationism."
-- Exchange on August 3 edition of CNN's Capital Gang. [68] |
"He had deep roots in the conservative traditions of the Old South. In his campaigns,
Helms had been known to exploit the race issue for political advantage, which is exactly how
slave owners and conservatives used to dominate Southern politics."
-- CNN's William Schneider in the Los Angeles Times, August 10. [64]
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Bryant Gumbel Journalism Fellowship Award
(for Liberal Advocacy)
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First
Place |
"[Food] stamps, a blessing, allowed them [able-bodied adults without children] to
purchase about $25 worth of food a week. They would not be able to eat like a President or member
of Congress, but they could have some soup, maybe a little pasta, some tuna, some beans.
They wouldn't starve, and they would have enough energy to continue looking for a job...After 90days, the following notice is to be disseminated: Put down that soup spoon, poor person,
the Clinton administration and the Republican-led Congress are clearing the table."
-- New York Times columnist (and former NBC reporter) Bob Herbert, February 21. [99 points]
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Runners-up:
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"Governor Shaheen, you've said that you want kindergarten available for every child in
your state. And you're proposing to finance it with higher cigarette taxes and more gambling in
the state. I guess you have to do that because you've locked yourself away from calling for any
sales tax or income tax in New Hampshire. Are the kids not worth having a sales tax or an
income tax?"
-- Washington Post reporter David Broder to New Hampshire Democratic
Governor Jeanne Shaheen, February 2 Meet the Press. [76] |
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"Republicans got their tax cuts for families and investors and some savings in
domestic programs. But they dropped the plans they had in 1995 and 1996 for crippling Medicare
and Medicaid, abolishing government departments and agencies, expanding the military, and
relaxing environmental protections."
-- New York Times reporter David E. Rosenbaum, May 3 "newsanalysis" on the budget deal. [68]
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