http://twitter.com/#!/CNNValencia/status/270589259772203010

Remember when the members of the press held the State Department’s feet to the fire and angrily demanded answers about American deaths overseas in Libya? No? The press outrage over the Fast and Furious deaths in Mexico? We don’t either. Apparently it takes the deaths of Palestinians for the Associated Press to take off the gloves and punch until it gets the answers it wants.

In this corner, Matthew Lee of the Associated Press. Defending her title stonewalling for the State Department, spokesperson Victoria Nuland. On the table: Turkey’s Prime Minister today accusing Israel of being a “terrorist state,” and what exactly the United States intends to do about that.

Where is the president to defend a woman under attack and challenge the press to come after him instead, as he did for Amb. Susan Rice during his annual press conference? Oh yeah, Burma.

@cnnvalencia WHAT ARE THEY FIGHTING ABOUT AT THE STATE DEPT.?

— NICK@CNNCNY(@CNNCNY) November 19, 2012

@cnncny state dept is saying they’ve been far from quiet on #Gaza

— Nick Valencia (@CNNValencia) November 19, 2012

@cnnvalencia Define “testy”? Is this must see TV?

— Jennifer Harris (@jwharris) November 19, 2012

@jwharris heated exchange and a flustered spokeswoman. It was interesting to watch

— Nick Valencia (@CNNValencia) November 19, 2012

It’s a “heated exchange,” according to the CNN reporter. In its description of the YouTube video, the AP called it “a spirited exchange.” Viewers on Twitter called it a pummeling, a liquidation and an evisceration. And most of them liked what they saw.

I wanna marry Matthew Lee. fb.me/1a1HuoEJJ

— Dimi Reider (@dimireider) November 19, 2012

This is how to do journalism – AP Reporter Matthew Lee does not relent in his questioning of State Department… fb.me/zVNVUm1g

— Victoria Taft(@VictoriaTaft) November 19, 2012

Another moment from the Best of Matthew Lee Pummels State Dept’s Victoria Nuland – Unesco youtube.com/watch?v=wU7osI…

— Jim Early (@mkearley2008) November 19, 2012

AP’s Lee Eviscerates State Department: Associated Press reporter Matthew Lee had a spirited argu… bit.ly/1010rtT #politics #news

— Pooja (@pm_girl) November 19, 2012

palestine – UNESCO : Matthew Lee destroying State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland youtube.com/watch?v=wU7osI… via @youtube

— Bradley Martin (@Yeldarb_) November 19, 2012

fb.me/zVNVUm1g This is a reporter! Way to go Matthew Lee!

— ICHTHUS (@Ichthus71) November 19, 2012

RT @rushetteny: WOW! WOW! VIDEO: AP REPORTER LIQUIDATES OBAMA OFFICIAL – Israel – Fox Nation nation.foxnews.com/israel/2012/11… God Bless MATTHEW LEE

— Joseph (Joe) M Ryan (@JosephMRyan1) November 19, 2012

Excellent journalism from AP’s Matthew Lee at State Dept’s (Victoria Nuland) press briefing re: Gaza soundcloud.com/producermatthe…

— Jared Neilsen (@JaredNeilsen) November 19, 2012

FIREWORKS! [VIDEO] Spirited Exchange between AP reporter & State Dept’s Nuland in Briefing on Israel shar.es/G9IxV via @sahagunfelipe

— Tunku Varadarajan (@tunkuv) November 19, 2012

“@marklevinshow: AP Reporter, Matthew Lee, Liquidates Obama Official… fb.me/1Pi7a5T2O“WOW! THIS IS AN AP WRITER? A GLIMMER OF HOPE

— Susan(@nygrlahart) November 20, 2012

Are you paying attention, reporters? People love it when you ask tough questions of the administration. Imagine the accolades if you’d do this more often — although we wonder if Lee would be as tough with the president in the room.

#Levin Put Matthew Leefrom AP in the next WH presser.

— Dos Mas Cervezas (@DosMasCervezas) November 19, 2012

Can you just hear him asking, “Hope and change … how’s that working out for you?”

Update:

We’ve found at least one viewer who is not amused by Lee’s performance: Media Matters’ Eric Boehlert.

aka AP abandons journalism; MT @ap AP’s Matt Lee engages State Dept.’s Victoria Nuland in a spirited exchange on Israel apne.ws/UbbJJO

— Eric Boehlert (@EricBoehlert) November 20, 2012

so @pdcolford_ap, re: Matt Lee’s little performance today at State Dept. briefing, AP reporters now lecture and harangue gov’t officials?

— Eric Boehlert (@EricBoehlert) November 20, 2012

Look out, AP. Lee’s “little performance” has landed you on Media Matters’ naughty list of purveyors of “right-wing lies and conservative misinformation.” So, congratulations.

@ericboehlert @pdcolford_ap Matt Lee is the conscience of a terrified and intimidated media. Bravo.

— Michael J Rosenberg (@MJayRosenberg) November 20, 2012

@ericboehlert Serious ? — OK if reporter had used that tone on Bush admin and “people dying” in Iraq? — because I always wished they’d had

— Will Bunch (@Will_Bunch) November 20, 2012

Read more: http://twitchy.com/2012/11/19/video-ap-reporter-liquidates-eviscerates-state-departments-victoria-nuland-over-gaza-deaths/