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Obama Attended VP Debate Moderator’s Wedding in 1991

Oct. 10, 2012 11:11am Madeleine Morgenstern

Obama Attended VP Debate Moderator Martha Raddatzs Wedding in 1991

Image source: ABC News

President Barack Obama attended the wedding of vice presidential debate moderator Martha Raddatz in 1991, the Daily Caller reported.

ABC News confirmed that Obama — then a law school classmate of groom Julius Genachowski and a colleague of his at the Harvard Law Review — was a guest, but called any implication of a conflict of interest for Raddatz in Thursday’s debate “absurd.” Raddatz is ABC’s senior foreign affairs correspondent.

“[Obama] attended their wedding over two decades ago along with nearly the entire Law Review, many of whom went on to successful careers including some in the Bush administration,” ABC News spokesman David Ford said in a statement.

Raddatz and Genachowski divorced in 1997 and are each remarried. Obama nominated Genachowski to be chairman of the Federal Communications Commission in 2009.

ABC began pushing back against the Daily Caller on Tuesday, before the site’s story was even published early Wednesday. Politico, the Daily Beast and the Huffington Post all published items about the Caller’s planned story. Daily Beast columnist Andrew Sullivan said the site was “hard at work trying to smear ABC News’ moderator Martha Raddatz because her second husband – are you sitting down? – once worked with Barack Obama on the Harvard Law Review. I know: deeply shocking. … They’re now trying to find out if Obama attended his Law Review friend’s wedding.”

ABC’s full statement:

“Martha Raddatz is known for her tough, fair reporting, which is why it was no surprise to her colleagues inside and outside ABC News that she was chosen by the Commission on Presidential Debates for this assignment. Barack Obama was a law school classmate of Raddatz’s ex-husband Julius Genachowski at Harvard. At the time Barack Obama was a student and president of the Law Review. He attended their wedding over two decades ago along with nearly the entire Law Review, many of whom went on to successful careers including some in the Bush administration. Raddatz and Mr. Genachowski divorced in 1997 and both are now remarried.”

In August, the Daily Caller highlighted Raddatz’s tie to the White House over Genachowski and Obama’s work together on the Harvard Law Review and Genachowski’s appointment to the FCC.

Thursday’s debate is the one and only time Vice President Joe Biden and Republican vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan will face off against one another.

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Comments (82)

cessna152
Posted on October 10, 2012 at 12:01pm
If the questions are : How to make a “Long Island iced Tea and Whiskey sour”, then there is nothing to worry about. Bumbling Joe can’t answer anything correctly unless it has to do with Booze or paid sex.

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- encinom
  Posted on October 10, 2012 at 12:10pm
  Lyin’ Ryan, just can’t answer questions. He is asked about his budget and he looks dumbfounded, either he walks out or with Fox News deflects the issue saying the math is too hard to understand.
- yougottabekidding
  Posted on October 10, 2012 at 12:30pm
  The idiots are back and do not like the truth to come out again!
  The mear appearance of inpropriety is damning!
  
  Report this comment
- cessna152
  Posted on October 10, 2012 at 12:32pm
  Okay encidope,
  
  Care to post the lies of Ryan? Please do so in his words….
  
  Report this comment
- AvengerK
  Posted on October 10, 2012 at 12:36pm
  LOL….you’re hitting comedy gold again today ENCINOM/MONICNE/SLEAZY HIPPO/insert phony identity here.
  
  Tell me when Obama said he would halve the deficit by the end of his first term but ended up adding nearly $6trillion to the debt instead…was he “lying Ryan” also? Clownshoes.
  
  Report this comment
- RedManBlueState
  Posted on October 10, 2012 at 1:09pm
  @cessna152
  
  He could tell you a thing or two about **** plugs.
  
  Report this comment
- fastfacts
  Posted on October 10, 2012 at 1:13pm
  Doesn’t matter, I have full confidence in Paul Ryan, look at his calm and cool collective strength given off while he interviews. He doesn’t let tough or strange questions get him flustered. Look at this Bloomberg interview, this is a group that knows the economy about as well as Ryan and much more than Biden: http://www.thedailycandidate.com/video/2012/oct/ryan_bloomberg_news.html
  
  Report this comment
- OutOfTheAether
  Posted on October 10, 2012 at 2:16pm
  ENCINOM
  When you being paid as a Troll, you need to at least make a REASONABLE ATTEMPT to sound intelligent. sheesh
  
  Report this comment
- Secret Squirrel
  Posted on October 10, 2012 at 2:30pm
  .
  Biased Moderator?
  Somebody’s got to make sure the planted questions get asked.
  “Vice President Biden, who picks out your ties?”
  “Mr. Ryan, how did you get to a position of power
  when it’s clear you’re such a loser?”
  
  Report this comment
- The Giver
  Posted on October 10, 2012 at 3:11pm
  It’s disgusting. Why are only Obama supporters picked for the moderator spots? Obama hired the wife of Univision’s president before he had to go and speak at Univision. They are all PAID hacks.
  Keep praying because only God can heal our land.
  
  Report this comment
- desertspeaks
  Posted on October 10, 2012 at 3:16pm
  ENCINOM oddly enough the demoncraps used the same excuse when it came to taxes/budget/obamacare
  
  Report this comment
- sillyfreshness
  Posted on October 10, 2012 at 9:46pm
  Hey imagine that….Julius Genachowski-just another “chosen person” running our government.
  
  Man check out this list of all the leftist, progressive, Marxist “chosen people” running our government
  http://incogman.net/11/2009/jew-traitors-master-list-part-ii/
  
  Report this comment
- sillyfreshness
  Posted on October 10, 2012 at 9:56pm
  Hey imagine that….Julius Genachowski-just another “chosen person” running our government.
  
  Report this comment
Tri-ox
Posted on October 10, 2012 at 11:58am
On top of this revelation, it is well known that Raddatz is a VERY FAR LEFT LIBERAL obama supporter – her bias runs deep. This debate will be two against one – Raddatz and Crazy Uncle Joe against Paul Ryan – BUT, Ryan is totally up to the job – no matter how obama and his state-run ABC stack the deck against Ryan, he will still come out ahead, because he has the truth on his side!

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- encinom
  Posted on October 10, 2012 at 12:11pm
  Is Lyin’ Ryan going to storm off the stage is asked about his budget or just say the math is too hard to explain?
  
  Report this comment
- redbourn
  Posted on October 10, 2012 at 12:12pm
  Joe Biden wil know the numbers but Paul Ryan understands the numbers.
  
  Report this comment
- AvengerK
  Posted on October 10, 2012 at 12:48pm
  REDBOURN…Biden will recite memorized numbers, Ryan will illustrate an understanding of the numbers and their consequences.
  
  Biden will do two things tomorrow…he will attack Ryan and try to pin his budget on Romney..he has no choice, he must attempt to stem the bleeding Obama’s caused since the debate.
  
  Biden will also behave himself as he did against Palin..no “rhetorical flourishes”..he will recite numbers and sound bytes he’s being taught right now. It’s been reported that Biden is watching footage of Ryan in preparation for the debate.
  
  This plays right into Ryan’s hands because Biden will clearly be rigidly reciting numbers and quotes while Ryan will be explaing them and the consequences of inaction thus illustrating an understanding and confidence that the American people need to see to reassure them that Obama needs to go and allow the country into competent stewardship.
  
  The timing of this debate couldn’t be worse for Obama..it will be a one-two punch where Ryan will convince “undecideds” the same way Romney has done and will give some “red meat” to the base also. Biden doesn’t stand a chance. He can’t pull the “rich guy/Gordon Gecko” stuff with Ryan. He can’t pull the “he doesn’t understand the middle class” game either. Ryan is the perfect foil against Biden’s clownish persona. You know the Obama campaign is worried right now knowing that their fate may rest with plugs.
  
  Report this comment
- 2MINUTESTOMIDNIGHT
  Posted on October 10, 2012 at 1:08pm
  AVENGERK: In order for Biden to “recite memorized numbers” his first step will be to pull his head out of his ass. The likelihood of that happening is at best questionable.
  
  Report this comment
- suzyqtw
  Posted on October 10, 2012 at 1:56pm
  Liberals who have received their talking points (& can’t intelligently say anything else):
  Encinomom – check!
  
  Report this comment
Small World
Posted on October 10, 2012 at 11:58am
Dumb ?but how and who picks the moderator?

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dublinthewagons
Posted on October 10, 2012 at 11:56am
Two against one. Ryan can handle that okay. He will make big bird fools out of both.
It would be near impossible to find anybody in the lib. Medial that is imparcial.

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jskline
Posted on October 10, 2012 at 11:55am
Personally; I do not see any importance to this. We all know the liberal media all socialize together. That’s fine. What ever. I guess I question the news worthiness of this issue. It’s a simple skeleton in a closet but we already saw that when the lions were thrown into the pit, the gate was still a gate. Just my thoughts anyway.

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Totally Domestic
Posted on October 10, 2012 at 11:48am
I cry foul!!!!!!! Demand new moderator for VP debate.

Even though Ryan can beat Dumber with 3/4 of his brain tied behind his back

And……that is why this Obama insider was chosen in the 1st place!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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AJAYW
Posted on October 10, 2012 at 11:36am
This by itself ” Raddatz is ABC’s senior foreign affairs correspondent ” should give cause why this liberal should kick her off as moderator. Known Lair!

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loveliberty83
Posted on October 10, 2012 at 11:30am
I believe he has given some of these people jobs so they do not talk about Harvard & I bet she knows a lot from her ex

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- 13Lena
  Posted on October 10, 2012 at 11:33am
  She should excuse herself, there is clearly bias going on here.
  
  Report this comment
- SocialistSlayer
  Posted on October 10, 2012 at 11:40am
  Unfortunately they are all biased!
  
  Report this comment
- AvengerK
  Posted on October 10, 2012 at 12:00pm
  The thing is LENA…can you find anyone in the mainstream media that’s not actively rooting for Obama to moderate the debate?
  
  Report this comment
- 2MINUTESTOMIDNIGHT
  Posted on October 10, 2012 at 12:25pm
  I would happily nominate either PROGRESSIVESLAYER or GONZO to act at the mediator.
  
  Report this comment
- Wango
  Posted on October 10, 2012 at 1:51pm
  AVENGECAKE . . . Mainstreamers not rooting for Obama? Sure . . . Sean Hannity, Mark Levin, Rush Limbaugh, Laura Ingraham, Michelle Malkin, Tucker Carlson, Bill O’Reilly, Fox & Friends, Bil hemmer, Martha McCallum, Meghyn Kelly, Brit Hume . . . need more?
  
  Report this comment
- dugbru
  Posted on October 10, 2012 at 8:20pm
  @ Wango… why don’t you push to get Hannity as moderator???
  
  Report this comment
focusonquality
Posted on October 10, 2012 at 11:30am
Even this cannot help Biden. He is going to get beat bad. Also being in Cali not nearly as many Obama 2012 stickers as last time. things that make you go Hmm.

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- ruffnex
  Posted on October 10, 2012 at 11:38am
  I keep praying that California turns RED……LET’S DO IT!!!!! Vote Romney/ Ryan!!!!!!
  
  Report this comment
- UNALIEN
  Posted on October 10, 2012 at 12:54pm
  David AxelRED could be the moderator and it won’t help Biden…
  
  Report this comment
UNALIEN
Posted on October 10, 2012 at 11:29am
Demokratchik (Statist: demokра́тчик, plural demokratchiki) is a colloquial term for a full-time, professional functionary of the Progressive Leftist Socialist Communist Party or government; i.e., an agent of the governmental or party “demokrat” (Statist) that held any position of bureaucratic or political responsibility.
Members of the “demokrat” were frequently transferred between different areas of responsibility, usually with little or no actual training for their new areas of responsibility. Thus, the term demokratchik, or “agent of the statist” was usually the best possible description of the person’s profession and occupation. The sole function is to subvert any opposition to the party and promote, facilitate and expand that party power and influence. These”democratchiks” were promoted and embedded into high levels based on their ideology and not competence, education or skills.
Not all demokratchiks held lifelong positions. Many only entered such positions in middle age.
Historically, this term was derived from the Soviet “apparatchick” meaning from “Communist agent or spy”. In modern terms, Communist refers to “Statist” and a “demokratchik” is an agent whose sole purpose is to expand the State and its promote its underlying ideology.

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- starman70
  Posted on October 10, 2012 at 11:49am
  A perfect description of all the legion on Obama appointees and the minion of bycicle seat sniffing “Reporters” who trail Obama and repeat everything he says like a bunch of parrots.
  
  Report this comment
- Wool-Free Vision
  Posted on October 10, 2012 at 12:16pm
  Applause for UNALIEN! That was an excellent post.
  
  Report this comment
MCON29
Posted on October 10, 2012 at 11:27am
Anytime Biden gets in trouble with an answer she will turn to Ryan and try to deflect it by asking him something ridiculous, turn the heat on him so to speak. They probably already have a list of gotcha questions to use for each subject if this happens.

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HKS
Posted on October 10, 2012 at 11:27am
OK, the secret is totally out now, Democrats have less than nothing in their corner. Total looser’s.

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term limits for congress
Posted on October 10, 2012 at 11:25am
This is like the “Kevin Bacon” game. Why is everything about this corrupt administration only two steps away from Harvard??? I think it is time to Occupy Harvard.

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- starman70
  Posted on October 10, 2012 at 11:39am
  GREAT IDEA!!!
  rqd. lc
  
  Report this comment
Oneirishman
Posted on October 10, 2012 at 11:25am
So she knew he attended but didn’t divulge it? Kick her off as moderator.

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huey6367
Posted on October 10, 2012 at 11:25am
Ryanb will still humiliate Bite Me.

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RodT82721
Posted on October 10, 2012 at 11:24am
While Newt set the standard for handling leftist moderators, that are in the tank for their opponent. I hope the lessons was learned. Mitt did a marvelous job in his 1st debate.
Mr. Lerher, from the Big Bird network, was neutered and for the most part speechless. That’s the way it should be. A time keeper, not a contestant’s tutor / helper.

I think Paul Ryan will handle the obvious leftist in his debate with the gaff master, but one does have to wonder why ONLY leftist get to be moderators?
What Romney official agreed to such a biased situation?

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- OutOfTheAether
  Posted on October 10, 2012 at 2:24pm
  Because if a Conservative moderator had been doing the First debate, the Left would have all been whining that was the reason for Obama’s performance. They even tried to use Denver’s altitude for pete’s sake.
  
  Report this comment
COFemale
Posted on October 10, 2012 at 11:23am
Plant for Obama’s Team. When has ABC, CBS, NBC been unbiased. They all have sold their souls to Obama, so why would they be tough on Biden? We already know they are trying to stack the deck with their own minions. Thank God it won’t work.

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dshamis20
Posted on October 10, 2012 at 11:20am
Why am I not surprised

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RANGER1965
Posted on October 10, 2012 at 11:20am
Obama’s only chance is for the moderator to help him.

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- 13th Imam
  Posted on October 10, 2012 at 12:06pm
  O’s mentally unstable older cousin Bite Me , will be attempting to deflect the truth about how they fundamentally changed America.
  
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freenj
Posted on October 10, 2012 at 11:20am
A fair and balanced debate, yea sure. If ABC employee handling the moderator slot, I certainly doubt it. But Paul Ryan can handle dumb Joe bite me Biden in spite of who’s moderating.

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ChangeAll
Posted on October 10, 2012 at 11:19am
Are we surprised????

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UNALIEN
Posted on October 10, 2012 at 11:19am
not even an Obama aparatchik can save Biden… from the truth

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BornGreen
Posted on October 10, 2012 at 11:15am
how convenient

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- HKS
  Posted on October 10, 2012 at 11:20am
  wink, wink.
  
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- starman70
  Posted on October 10, 2012 at 11:42am
  What’s the old saying, “Birds of a feather flock together”. Sore fith here.
  
  Report this comment
floridareader
Posted on October 10, 2012 at 11:15am
Are Democrats hoping that this time the moderator comes to the rescue?

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AvengerK
Posted on October 10, 2012 at 11:13am
Raddatz will be totally unbiased..cough..cough.

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- betsyyoung
  Posted on October 10, 2012 at 12:31pm
  Amazing though not surprising!! Just another “ugly” progressive female kissing up to the misfit and his cretins!! Astonishes me still that these women(?) are so extremely ugggly! Is it a prerequisite???
  
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