Hugh Downs leaves journalism behind, endorses Obama
September 16th, 2008, 11:05 am · 18 Comments · posted by Le Templar
Hugh Downs, an East Valley resident and former host of ABC’s 20/20, broke his final tie to journalistic independence and has decided to support Democrat Barack Obama for president. The Obama campaign has scheduled a 3 p.m. news conference today at the Tempe campus of Arizona State University, where the school of communication is named after the TV legend. The campaign already has released a comment from him:
“I am proud to announce my support for Senator Barack Obama for
President. At a time when our economy is faltering and our health care
system remains in crisis, we cannot afford four more years of the same
failed economic policies,” said Downs, 87. “Senator Obama has solid,
realistic plans to strengthen our economy, provide health care to every
American and create jobs across this great nation. Arizonans, like all
Americans, need the change that Barack Obama will bring to Washington.”
When Downs retired in 1999, he held a world record for the longest continuous appearence on network television. He started out in entertainment but transitioned into television news and came to reflect journalistic credibility similar to that of Walter Cronkite and other anchors of the main nightly news shows.
Downs had fallen somewhat from that perch with his slate of late-night informercials. But I have heard Downs speak a couple of times, including an appearence before the Arizona Senate a few years back, and I was impressed by his continued eloquence and insight driven by his perspective as an independent observer of events.
Endorsing Obama casts a partisan shadow over Downs’ stellar career, one that’s sure to inspire those who claim all journalists are liberal and subtly support Democrats in our work, whether or not we admit to it.
September 18th, 2008 at 11:21 am
We have always known he was very liberal. I don’t understand how the other reporters and journalist could have missed that fact. If Putin ran for president he would have indorsed him! So what is the big news or the importance of his views now?
September 18th, 2008 at 10:35 pm
Imagine that. Some of the most informed people in our country (journalists) are liberal. Could that be because they are more aware of how the actions of Republican politicians do not match up with what they proclaim to stand for? Mr. Downs’ views are just as important as any other voters. He made the news because he is a public figure….
September 21st, 2008 at 10:23 am
High Downs: just another left-wing media creep. And senile too.
September 28th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
Just what you would expect. Most people know that the liberal media has been so unfair on reporting about McCain. They want Obama to win and think we listen to them and respect them. I am so sorry to say though that I believe most Americans are smart enough to see through this and will research on their own about Obama and McCain like I did. I found more negative about Obama and how he has changed his very liberal views just to win; and I am sure he will go back to those views once he gets in.
September 28th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
To: Chris Jackkson
Hugh Downs does still have a good head on his shoulders because he is endorsing Obama.
Maybe he isn’t as swift as you are, but you are probably a lot younger than he is. What is your age?
Annice
September 29th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
I am with you, Annice. I feel that Obama is the man of the hour that we need.
October 2nd, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Annice and Joyce. Have you actually looked at his political record? I doubt it. He speaks well, except for the long pauses after every third or so word. But his experience is actually almost nill. The man may eventually may make a good candidate for President, but as for now he is just now ready.
October 2nd, 2008 at 6:02 pm
Ya! Obama is the man!!! He;s going to fix our country by raising corporate income taxes, thus forcing more, and more American over seas. Oh wait! thats bad. Well, he pro-choice, even supporting after birth abortation. Wait, thats bad too. Well at least the church he goes to preaches love. Oops, scratch the last statement.
Tell you guys what, let me get back to you on why Obama is so great. I can’t think of anything right now. this is going to be tough.
October 5th, 2008 at 10:46 pm
Dear Jeff,
With all due respect, you misspelled ‘abortion’;and ‘overseas’ is one word not two.Your overall statement is as sloppy as your logic.I am sure that you intended to discredit Obama.You simply lack the communicative skills to do so.
October 15th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
I cannot belive so many people willing support a man for president who supports Ayers and his cronies that now think they have a country that will look other way if they start bombing in usa to get their messages across .
October 17th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
Dear Jay and all other Obama supporters,
How did this man of such little accomplishment make it this far in a the presidential race? He owns the thinnest resume’ I have ever seen of a person, to run for the most powerfull position in the world! With all he has in his past, he wouldn’t be considered for a high clearance job. Yet this nation is about to vote him in for pres. I guess that’s the difference between being HIRED and ELECTED. I know, as a nation, we’re desperate for answers but Obama, Pelosi and Reid are not the people with any of those answers. Scared to think of this nation with Obama as president. The checks and balances of our goverment will be non-existant. All far left, libral thoughts will be encouraged and expanded on!! That’s not the way this country came to be.
There are so many questions Obama has yet to answer or refuses to! Could this be why he doesn’t have a commanding lead and people are still undecided? Or is it because he keeps changing his positions or out right reverses his thoughts on, yes, the economy! Remember what he told “Joe the plumber” about spreading the wealth with Joe’s taxes if he made over 250k, and what his senior female consultant said just a day later.
October 22nd, 2008 at 8:09 am
Hey, Jay - - - I’m not lacking in communication skills nor in my ability to spell
correctly, but I fully agree with Jeff in the thoughts he expressed. Don’t be
so narrow minded that the only way you can disagree with someone is to
pick at their formal level of education.
At the very least, his head and therefore, his mind is on the proper end of his anatomy, unlike yours which is apparently deep inside the lower and rear end
of your anatomy. Obama has never accomplished or completed anything he
started except to run for public office on other people’s money, and by the way, he failed in his bid for a seat in the U. S. House of Representatives on his only try there. Obviously those nearer to him, who should have known him best, chose not to have him represent them in the Congress.
October 30th, 2008 at 10:30 pm
Well, I don’t see the problem with Mr. Downs endorsing anyone.
He’s been retired for a long time (from broadcast journalism).
He still does work as a pitchman… so why would it be a problem for him to have an opinion?
November 1st, 2008 at 3:10 pm
Why would we think that Joe the Plummer can govern (no experience, no education, no license…) and “a graduate of Columbia University and Harvard Law School, where he served as president of the Harvard Law Review, later worked as a community organizer and practiced as a civil rights attorney before serving three terms in the Illinois Senate from 1997 to 2004″‘(Wikipedia) cannot? It boggles my mind…
If you still do not have enough information about Obama and his abilities, go read Wikipedia. We do need fresh blood and good education to untangle a mess we are in.
November 13th, 2008 at 9:23 am
OBAMA THE MAN OF THE HOUR!!!! IF YOU DON’T LIKE IT SHIP YOUR SELF OUT OF THIS COUNTRY.
November 13th, 2008 at 9:24 am
OBAMA THE MAN OF THE HOUR!!!!!IF YOU DON’T LIKE IT SHIP OUT OF THIS COUNTRY.
December 10th, 2008 at 7:19 am
I thank God that Obama won. Now maybe the country can start to rebuild. We need to track down all the tax cheats overseas and put them in jail. We also need to go after all the crooked banks in Switzerland and the Bahams. We need to double the size of the IRS, FBI, and work together with Interpol to round up the criminals and pot them in jail. ( And recover billions in stolen taxpayer’s dollars). This way we can balance the budget and save social security and medicare.
December 19th, 2008 at 5:05 pm
Considering Obama is already a major letdown to many, I can’t wait to see what comes in the next two years. I’m not generally someone that wants to watch people get their hearts broken, but I have a feeling that this time it will be deliciously ironic. Oh, the delightfully ignorant people in our country these days… Luckily several are on exhibit here in this thread!
As for Mr. Downs: Maybe he can continue endorsing that colon cleansing agent or whatever it is he does on overnight television these days. Hopefully it pays well. He’ll need it.