Clinton Campaign Gets Caught Planting Questions

November 9th, 2007 — 6:25 pm
Clinton Campaign Gets Caught Planting Questions
http://cmondisplay.com/2007/11/09/clinton-campaign-gets-caught-planting-questions/

We all know it happens, but we don’t always have reasons to believe that the candidate is aware that it is happening. Sen. Hillary Clinton, though, apparently knew whom to call on at a campaign stop in Newton, and she pretended like it wasn’t planned.

My friend Pat Caldwell, writing for the Grinnell College newspaper, got the scoop:

On Tuesday Nov. 6, the Clinton campaign stopped at a biodiesel plant in Newton as part of a weeklong series of events to introduce her new energy plan. The event was clearly intended to be as much about the press as the Iowa voters in attendance, as a large press core helped fill the small venue. Reporters from many major national news outlets came to the small Iowa town, from such media giants as The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, the Associated Press, and CNN.

After her speech, Clinton accepted questions. But according to Grinnell College student Muriel Gallo-Chasanoff ’10, some of the questions from the audience were planned in advance. “They were canned,” she said. Before the event began, a Clinton staff member approached Gallo-Chasanoff to ask a specific question after Clinton’s speech. “One of the senior staffers told me what ,” she said.

Clinton called on Gallo-Chasanoff after her speech to ask a question: what Clinton would do to stop the effects of global warming. Clinton began her response by noting that young people often pose this question to her before delving into the benefits of her plan.

But the source of the question was no coincidence—at this event “they wanted a question from a college student,” Gallo-Chasanoff said. She also noted that staffers prompted Clinton to call on her and another who had been approached before the event, although Clinton used her discretion to select questions and called on people who had not been prepped before hand. Some of the questions asked were confusing and clearly off-message.

I tried to reach Gallo-Chasanoff and Caldwell to get more information, but neither was immediately available. Still, I don’t have any doubt that the story was reported accurately because I know some of the people involved.

It appears Clinton knew whom to call on, yet she pretended like Gallo-Chasanoff was asking the question because she was a young person — not because a staffer had told her to. When I said that she needed to start taking questions more often to preserve her status in Iowa, I didn’t mean it like this.

But I guess there can never be enough!

Is it protocol to delete this one?

Not.

More fakery. Perhaps Mrs. Clinton should head up FEMA.

Because we've sat through six years of Chimpy and his minions doing it every chance they get, even going so far as to hire a male prostitute to pose friendly questions during White House pressers. I certainly don't endorse it for Clinton, but great googly moogly, if the media are going to get all bent out shape about this, why hasn't it been an issue for the actual president?

...After all, * has used them for years! sarc

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I've got tough skin and I'm just posting the facts, ma'am.

O8) :hi: back atcha hon...

And I have no problem with an honest criticism, but slander and lies? Oh, I have a big problem with that.

There's no proof so I won't take this as gospel, but if a candidate were to employ such questionable tactics, it would seem to me that their major impetus was to 'win the contest', rather than a burning desire to help our people and our country. I would have to question that person's integrity.

:headbang:

In regard to so many who purport to support HRC here at DU,
I think that one is worth a thousand words.

Glad you "get it"!

theres a reason not to vote for hillary. as she has none. her answers a rhetoric till she checks the latest poll.

All the media was around and it looked like a real candidate visit to a dinner to talk with the folks.
turns out it was all staged. All the dinners were from the campaign. funny

:shrug:

heyyy Swampy!! How are you??

:hi: fly

:hug: Gotta sign off now. I have an early Saturday class. :hi:

No Diff!

"I tried to reach Gallo-Chasanoff and Caldwell to get more information, but neither was immediately available. Still, I don’t have any doubt that the story was reported accurately because I know some of the people involved."

Even the suggestion is laughable....

:P

conspirator and former arch enemy Mellon-Scaife.

Just one great big party -

As far as I'm concerned she's no longer a viable democratic candidate, not because of planting questions but because of the right wing republicans he and she are hanging out with.

and it was cordial? This makes the Chris Wallace thing look more staged than ever.