Houston interview: Mehlman's talking points vs Dean's blunt talk.

Mehlman says the same talking points over and over. Dean just gives straight answers.

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/rssstory.mpl/metropolitan/3288766

MEHLMAN
Q: Do you think Karl Rove — say, a year from now — will be working as deputy chief of staff at the White House?

A: Absolutely. What's remarkable that we're seeing — I can't recall having seen it before — is that you have somebody who is cooperating fully with an investigation. The evidence that has come out is vindicating and exonerating, not implicating. (He said those words several times on MTP, and he almost got tongue-tied.)

DEAN
Q: Ken Mehlman says the Democrats have no agenda. How do you respond?

A: I'd say it's clear: We want honesty in government, we want to balance the budget and we want the government out of our personal lives. (Well-said, Governor.)

Q: How many times have you appeared with Ken Mehlman? Is that rare?

A: I actually don't appear with Ken Mehlman.

Q: At the same event?

A: Well, that's not unusual. That's sort of part of the deal.

(In other words I appear at the same events as Mehlman because it is part of my job, but otherwise....)

"Q: Do you see Texas Democrats having better opportunities in the future, and why?

A: We're not giving up on Texas. We just have to fight. Half the problem with the Democratic Party is people thinking you can win by being a Republican. You can't. You've got to stand up for the core principles of the Democratic Party. That's including everybody, giving everybody an opportunity and fiscal discipline."

If I wanted to be a republican I would joining the stupid republican party.

He gives a different reason for their stupidity, and he really goes after the interviewer. They really were stupid questions that had nothing to do with anything.

http://www.bloghouston.net/item/1612/catid/3

"He didn't ask, "boxers or briefs?"
We've long been pushing for streamed audio/video of Chronicle interviews with newsmakers.

"Reading excerpts of Matt Stiles interviewing Republican National Committee head Ken Mehlman and Democratic National Committee head Howard Dean is almost enough to make us rethink that idea.

Indeed, one senses Dean couldn't believe some of the questions he got:

Q: How many times have you appeared with Ken Mehlman? Is that rare?

A: I actually don't appear with Ken Mehlman.

Q: At the same event?

A: Well, that's not unusual. That's sort of part of the deal.

That's an embarrassing exchange.

Why in the world didn't the Chronicle find someone who could conduct an intelligent interview of two senior, important national political operatives?"

But when you think of it, Dean is so used to that kind of question anyway.