Monday, July 12, 2010
Joe Birch Was Also Nixed by Herenton as a Debate Participant
Posted by Jackson Baker on Mon, Jul 12, 2010 at 11:30 AM
- WMC-TV's Joe Birch
Joe Birch, the veteran anchor for WMC-TV, Action News 5, was, at former mayor Herenton’s request, also to be excluded from participation in the event of a Channel 5 debate between Democratic primary contender Herenton and incumbent congressman Steve Cohen. The agreement called for Birch's co-anchor, Ursula Madden, to moderate such a debate.
The fact of Birch’s exclusion was first revealed by Cohen in a press conference at WREG Sunday night, scheduled during the hour that the July 11th televised encounter, previously agreed to by both candidates, was to have aired. Herenton bowed out of the arrangement months ago, citing what he said was “bias” on the part of Brewer and Sanford.
Subsequent to his pullout from the Channel 3 affair, Herenton had negotiated signed agreements for possible debates with several other TV stations and organizations.
Although Herenton himself would not comment on the matter Monday, calling the whole debate situation “history,” his aide Michael Gray forwarded to the Flyer copies of the proposed debate contract with WMC-TV. A key provision of that agreement, insisted on by Herenton and to be signed by both himself and Cohen, reads as follows:
“I, _________________________, agree to debate on WMC TV on July 11th, 2010. Representatives of WMC TV have agreed to Dr. Herenton’s requests to hold the debate on July 11th, to make the debate 60 minutes, and not to use Joe Birch, Otis Sanford or Norm Brewer as questioners for this debate. I understand the debate potentially will not occur. I further understand the debate details will not be finalized until WMC TV management is able to negotiate an agreement with Congressman Cohen. “
The proposed agreement allowed for a limited form of participation by Birch. As part of the proposed format, it stipulates, “Action News 5 Anchors Joe Birch and Ursula Madden welcome our viewers and set up the debate. Ursula Madden would moderate the debate. “
Birch, who had conducted a widely noted live interview with Herenton in 2009 probing into the then mayor’s on again/off again attitude toward resigning his office, confirmed that his mandatory exclusion from questioning was apparently a condition of Herenton’s participation in a Channel 5 debate. Birch said he was willing to step aside if necessary to facilitate a televised discussion between the two candidates.
Tammy Phillips, assistant news director for WMC-TV, also confirmed that the exclusion of Birch had been insisted on by Herenton. She further revealed that the station had conducted interviews with both candidates last Friday for use in a forthcoming TV special and, in the course of doing so, had once again attempted, without success, to get mutual agreement on a TV debate.
One detail that Herenton apparently insisted on, in addition to the exclusion of Birch, was that both candidates be required to stand during the debate.
At his Sunday night press conference, Cohen took Herenton to task for “quitting” on the Channel 3 debate, as he had quit, the congressman said, on the mayoralty. Quoting Herenton as having said on his withdrawal from the Channel 3 arrangement that Brewer and Sanford should not have “the privilege” of asking him questions, Cohen said it was not a privilege but a duty for a congressman or a congressional aspirant “to answer questions of every citizen and every constituent.”
The congressman, who had declined to consider other debate formats so long as Herenton refused to honor the original Channel 3 debate agreement, was asked if he would have considered other televised debates if Herenton had relented and appeared with him on WREG.
“We’re never going to find that out because the condition precedent didn’t occur,” was the congressman’s lawyerly response.
Comments (13)
Showing 1-13 of 13
Joe did a yeoman's job of standing up to Herenton's arrogance and condescension during that interview, so he's obviously biased. http://www.wmctv.com/global/story.asp?s=10…
I'm just wondering what media toady Herenton thinks is qualified to question him during a debate. Cohen's right in refusing to allow Herenton to dictate the participants.
like
dislike
I vote for Mike Mathews and you JB! That should make for an interesting evening for sure.
Jeez, Herenton is such a wussy. Way to get punked out again by reporters that do their jobs.
Why doesn't Herenton just have Sidney Chism interview him and post it on youtube.
merc: sorry, neither of them would pass Herenton's muster, as far as I know. Remember, Herenton skewered JaB as a "hater" for, among other things, covering Amp Elmore's endorsement of Cohen, and has thrown some other unflattering words in his direction at recent events.
Same for Les Smith, Kontji Anthony, Alex Coleman, etc., all of whom have asked Herenton "tough" questions, which, of course, disqualifies them. I'm sure Mathews did something to PO Herenton, though I can't remember exactly what that was, at the moment.
I'm guessing that leaves only Thad Matthews. Maybe Herenton's forgiven him by now for spearheading a recall. I see where Herenton is supposed to appear on Matthews' Matthews' radio show this afternoon. http://thethaddeusmatthewsshow.blogspot.co…
What a joke "Dr" Slick Willie - IDIOT - CROOKED - UNETHICAL - AMORAL - HIPOCRIT
RACIST - PUNK -
Go away Willie - the people know wht you really are and they are sick of it
It's entirely plausible that WW never really wanted a televised debate at all and that this is all gamesmanship, don't you think? Besides, a debate is a total lose/lose for Cohen at this point. He gave Willie a shot and he backed out. If Cohen backs down and agrees to a debate now, he looks weak for acceding to WW's demands and, if the polls are correct, he can only lose votes by giving Willie free airtime to appear as his equal. What's in it for him? Nada.
If WW really wanted a debate (which I'm beginning to doubt), he made a huge blunder in not recognizing that he's the challenger and a huge underdog this time around and therefore doesn't get to set the terms for anything. Standing on corners and waving signs and saying "I'm Willie, vote for me" is about as good as it's going to get for him, I suspect.
Bruce, you win the thread. Several of us have thought that he is trying to control media coverage like the old days when he held office (as well as get free media, since he can't afford to buy any media) and finds that Cohen won't play that game.
His legacy unravels more each day, and it's really sad.
Sad indeed, LeftWingCracker.
As a former staunch Herenton supporter, it's beyond sad to see him go out like this. But he brought it on himself. In retrospect, Herenton proved to be a deeply flawed man whose reign in the political arena was hugely disappointing, all in all.
Don't count WW out, yet, SS. Remember, he's got the car horn vote locked up.:) Besides, these horses are still in the paddock. Wait at least until they're at the post before you bemoan (or celebrate) anything.
I feel it would be a true tragedy if and when WW Herenton would become the congressman for the 9th District.
The one line that he used over and over again comes to mind. "I ain't got time for this"
Too bad Herenton is finding time to waste running for Congressman, press and television at this point.
Did we not learn enough about Herentons antics and poor mayoral skills, now he has a chance to be my congressman?
If anyone should know who the true hater is, it is WW Herenton.
Why is the press wasting time covering anything he says or does? Is the press in Memphis owed by the African American's or are they just THAT hard up for media "garbage"
All I can say is, if Herenton does get elected, which I feel he has a very good chance because he is getting all of this coverage for free and he is getting EXACTLY what he wants out of it, I can no longer live in this county. Maybe that is the underlying ulterior motive. To make all of the European American relocate. As if forcing them to move from the city, now the county.
WW Herenton is a sick, sick individual. I fell empathy for anyone that would feel that voting for him would be a good choice. He has not once mentioned what he stands for or what he would do when elected. I guess a larger portion of the citizens of Shelby County don't feel that is an issue.
Criminals also get free press every day, Marie. That doesn't make them smarter than everyone else. Herenton's definitely a clever dude, but it would have been much smarter for him to raise money, run a normal campaign, and make some effort to pretend like he cares what people think. Instead, he's showing everyone what a half-assed congressman he would be with the half-assed campaign he's running.
Top Commenters
THIS WEEK'S ISSUE
SPECIAL ISSUES
