MSNBC to GOP Congressman: "Do you have a degree in Economics?" - Polidicks

Turns out that yes, yes he does. [quote]MSNBC's Contessa Brewer, you may remember just yesterday said the attack on Rupert Murdoch at a hearing [URL="http://realclearpolitics.com/video/2011/07/19/msnbc_host_attack_on_murdoch_encapsulates_what_the_british_people_are_feeling.html"]encapsulated what the British were feeling[/URL]. Today, Contessa "educated" a conservative Representative that without the bailout, the country would be in "a depression." Rep. Mo Brooks (R-AL) said he disagreed which prompted the MSNBC host to ask him if he had a degree in economics. "Yes ma'am, I do. Highest honors," Rep. Brooks responded. [URL="http://brooks.house.gov/about-me/full-biography"]According to his Congressional page[/URL]: "Mo graduated from Duke University in three years with a double major in political science and economics, with highest honors in economics. In 1978, he graduated from the University of Alabama Law School."[/quote] [URL=http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2011/07/20/msnbc_to_gop_congressman_do_you_have_a_degree_in_economics.html]Source[/url]

How is it news that a man answered a question?

I could have a degree in English and still not talk with correct grammar. [editline]20th July 2011[/editline] [QUOTE=Zeke129;31237260]How is it news that a man answered a question?[/QUOTE] Because we finally found an educated Republican?

He answered an irrelevant question. Good for him?

[QUOTE=ThatHippyMan;31237364]Because we finally found an educated Republican?[/QUOTE] Most Republicans politicians are well educated. Generally, most people in politics are well educated in that they graduated from high school and college. George W. Bush for example graduated from Yale with a degree in history. Do politicians that have degrees have more credibility? Only if they are talking about an area they have a degree in such as history. It certainly doesn't mean that they are right just because they have a degree in that field, but it certainly lends a lot more credibility. There was a study done that showed that Democrats were more educated than Republicans, but the study wasn't about politicians.

I actually got a degree in economics to. :dance:

[QUOTE=Pepin;31237769]George W. Bush for example graduated from Yale with a degree in [b]art[/b] and history.[/QUOTE] lol

[QUOTE=Pepin;31237769]Most Republicans politicians are well educated. Generally, most people in politics are well educated in that they graduated from high school and college. [/QUOTE] But, just because they're well educated and carry fancy degrees doesn't mean they can't also be buttfuck crazy as well.

[QUOTE=Pepin;31237769]George W. Bush for example graduated from Yale with a degree in art and history.[/QUOTE] lol no he graduated with a B.A. (Bachelor of Arts) in history

Hahaha

[QUOTE=Marcolade;31240530]But, just because they're well educated and carry fancy degrees doesn't mean they can't also be buttfuck crazy as well.[/QUOTE] My point is that you can't particularly call them well uneducated and even if you could, it wouldn't be a good argument because it focuses on the person rather than what they are saying. I can't really agree with qualification arguments when it comes to politics because politicians are generally not at all qualified to make the decisions they make. This is why they usually bring in experts to discuss and explain issues that they likely don't understand. You can see this stuff on C-SPAN a good bit. [QUOTE=thisispain;31240616]lol no he graduated with a B.A. (Bachelor of Arts) in history[/QUOTE] Ah you're right, totally misread wiki. A common issue with skim reading. I did think that history and art has an odd degree combination, but I've seen weirder.

It's news because she said that if Obama hadn't executed the stimulus when he became President, then we would have fallen into a depression. He disagreed, and she asked him if he had a degree in economics trying to make him look stupid.

[QUOTE=TheChantzGuy;31241040]It's news because she said that if Obama hadn't executed the stimulus when he became President, then we would have fallen into a depression. He disagreed, and she asked him if he had a degree in economics trying to make him look stupid.[/QUOTE] asking someone if they have a degree in economics when they make statements about the economy is perfectly legitimate

This isn't news. The anchor made a stupid comment and made himself look like an idiot. Still not news though.

[QUOTE=Lazor;31241572]asking someone if they have a degree in economics when they make statements about the economy is perfectly legitimate[/QUOTE] Less so in politics though because most of the arguments politicians make are in fields they are not experts in. If we were to discredit politicians from stating positions based on their area of expertise, they would have little to say. Most politicians base their evidence on the research of experts. This of course fuels a confirmation bias to a good extent, but if you watch C-SPAN, both sides usually back up their sides with data. It's good to note that politicians don't have to be an expert in all fields because their job is to represent their district.

[QUOTE=Zeke129;31237260]How is it news that a man answered a question?[/QUOTE] Because the question was said in a way to be insulting. She was implying that he didn't and was the insult as a point in her argument. You did graduate Grade School, right?

[QUOTE=Dolton;31241728]Because the question was said in a way to be insulting. She was implying that he didn't and was the insult as a point in her argument. You did graduate Grade School, right?[/QUOTE] It's still not news that someone was wrong. I mean, your posting about this here, and we're not making a thread for you, are we?

[QUOTE=Dolton;31241728]Because the question was said in a way to be insulting. She was implying that he didn't and was the insult as a point in her argument. You did graduate Grade School, right?[/QUOTE] Oh wow, two members of political parties of opposite ideologies in a national phase of intense partisanship are taking stabs at each other during a debate about an issue that is hardly relevant in the current news climate and had occurred years ago. Sounds like news to me.

I don't believe this is news, but it does make the anchor look pretty dumb. [QUOTE=Dolton;31241728]Because the question was said in a way to be insulting. She was implying that he didn't and was the insult as a point in her argument.[/QUOTE] It's not particularly an insult, but an appeal to authority that is used incorrectly because neither did all of the majority of economists agree on the fact that there would have been a depression. I don't know what percent of economist were for/against it and I don't know if such statistic exists, but I do know there was a petition with 400 well respected names that were against the bailouts and who made the argument that there would be no depression but only a rescission. The purpose of the anchor's argument was to disqualify any argument the politician made about the economy by saying to make a statement about the economy, you must be an economists are be quoting an economist. It was really an insult, rather just a bad argument.

[QUOTE=Dolton;31241728] You did graduate Grade School, right?[/QUOTE] No, never mastered those god damn fractions

[QUOTE=Zeke129;31237260]How is it news that a man answered a question?[/QUOTE] Because he showed the liberal media, that's what. Damn it, how I miss the 911 emoticon.

[QUOTE=MercZ;31242120]Damn it, how I miss the 911 emoticon.[/QUOTE] Never forget! [img]http://sae.tweek.us/static/images/emoticons/emot-911.gif[/img]

If this had been a Fox News commentator and a Democrat Congressman this thread would be 10 times as popular.

[QUOTE=DainBramageStudios;31246661]If this had been a Fox News commentator and a Democrat Congressman this thread would be 10 times as popular.[/QUOTE] Except they would edit it so the person pauses and has a weird look on their face.

[QUOTE=Lazor;31241572]asking someone if they have a degree in economics when they make statements about the economy is perfectly legitimate[/QUOTE] It was to discredit him, she was trying to make him look like a dumbass, and failed.

[QUOTE=Nikota;31247164]Except they would edit it so the person pauses and has a weird look on their face.[/QUOTE] During live TV that would be entirely possible.

[QUOTE=NotoriousSpy;31248746]During live TV that would be entirely possible.[/QUOTE] Fox news does live tv debates? Why do you think they edit the video whenever John Stewart goes on the program and slams O Riley?

[QUOTE=Nikota;31248786]Fox news does live tv debates? Why do you think they edit the video whenever John Stewart goes on the program and slams O Riley?[/QUOTE] Because that show is taped. You also just said he slams O'reilly, which would make it seem like they don't edit it in their favor.

They post the unedited version on their website.

[QUOTE=DainBramageStudios;31246661]If this had been a Fox News commentator and a Democrat Congressman this thread would be 10 times as popular.[/QUOTE] I doubt it, seeing as only conservative twats would see this as news-worthy. Besides, if the liberals of this forum were to create a thread every time a Fox news anchor/commentator "fucks up", the news section would be absolutely flooded with shitty threads like this.