http://columbiaspectator.com/2012/02/29/stephanopoulos-talks-republican-primaries-circa-event

Stephanopoulos talks Republican primaries at CIRCA event

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  Henry Willson / Senior Staff Photographer
  QUESTION, ANSWER | Journalist and former Clinton adviser George Stephanopoulos answers students’ questions on Tuesday.

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Columbia Daily Spectator

February 29, 2012, 5:02am

“Good Morning America” anchor George Stephanopoulos, CC ’82, touched on issues ranging from the Republican presidential primaries to the media’s role in politics at a question-and-answer session hosted by the Columbia International Relations Council and Association on Tuesday afternoon.

Stephanopoulos, speaking with approximately 40 students over lunch, said he believes that the race for the Republican nomination will be decided both by the economy and by how much the candidates attack each other over the next few months.

President Barack Obama, CC ’83, is currently on the threshold of winning or losing the election, Stephanopoulos said.

He called Obama a “slight favorite,” but added that “to win, it takes an awful lot of luck.” He said that a winning candidate has to “match temperament and policy to the moment.”

Stephanopoulos also addressed the way the Internet has shaped journalism, arguing that while it serves as a “tremendous tool for political and civic engagement and action,” it also has its downsides.

“The most pernicious thing is that it does encourage cocooning—basically seeking out people who only agree with what you already believe in and reinforcing those beliefs,” Stephanopoulos said.

Students asked Stephanopoulos about his work as a political journalist. Some asked about the Jan. 7 Republican presidential primary debate in New Hampshire, during which Stephanopoulos asked former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney about his views on contraception.

William Prasifka, CC ’12, said that Stephanopoulos posed the contraception question either because he knew that “the Obama administration would propose the controversial new rule on contraception,” or because the White House had asked him to pose the question. Stephanopoulos responded that this theory was “crazy.”

Stephanie Bradford, CC ’12, said she wished she could have heard more about Stephanopoulos’ story. He was an adviser to President Bill Clinton before becoming a prominent political journalist.

“While I wish he could have given more of his own personal opinion with his history, as a political adviser ... I thought he was very diplomatic and bipartisan,” Bradford said.

Charles Stam, CC ’12, said he appreciated Stephanopoulos’ candor.

“It was good to hear someone you see on TV speak directly to individual concerns, and I thought he answered very honestly,” Stam said. “He spoke his mind.”

Grace Rosen, CC ’14, echoed this sentiment, comparing Stephanopoulos to “West Wing” character Sam Seaborn—who was modeled after Stephanopoulos.

“He walked the line between being political and talking about politics, which is an interesting impression because we wanted him to be all Sam Seaborn about it,” Rosen said. “He’s a good speaker.”

Stephanopoulos said his interest in politics was sparked by his encounters with political science professors at Columbia. He said that his time at Columbia was “one of the highlights in my life,” and that it felt good to “be back home” on Tuesday.