I never thought I’d say this: Sarah Palin is right. “What would you do, if elected president, about Aleppo,” can only be described as Gotcha Journalism.
The question is particularly egregious in a conversation like the one between Gary Johnson and Mike Barnicle on MSNBC. The two were talking about domestic politics, the role of a third party in U.S. presidential elections, the “Ralph Nader effect”, and specific Democratic and Republican platform ideas when Barnicle pivoted without transition: “What would you do, if elected president, about Aleppo?”
A real journalist, not some hack seeking a sound-bite to sink the chances of an underdog candidate, would have handled it differently.
“Thank you. Moving to international matters, let’s turn to Syria.”
Even simply, “Let’s take a look at the crisis in Syria, and the refugee situation in the city of Aleppo” would do the trick.
Instead Barnicle introduces a conflict known more broadly as “The conflict in Syria” as a non-sequitur, using the name of a city that might easily pass for another bad government acronym related to a domestic program. What would you do about Aleppo?
“What would you do about Aleppo?” isn’t even a real question, just like Mike Barnicle, apparently, isn’t a real journalist.
Ben East Books 
I agree with you. I think Johnson’s politics suck, but it’s evident he just had a brainfart when confronted by an out-of-context question. The whole matter has been blown up out of all proportion.
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he’s a lousy politician. the obvious answer to Barnicle was: Would you please repeat your question in the context of our conversation? But he’s inexperienced and unfit. if a journalist can trip you up so badly, what will Mr. Putin do?
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True dat.
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Journalism? It doesn’t exist any longer in this country. We have gone back to the days of unapologetic “yellow journalism ” where each outlet was news bought and paid for by one party or another.
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