They Just Don’t Get It…
Friday, November 2nd, 2007
The Hillary Clinton campaign is in a fury over the latest presidential debate—or rather—the way that NBC’s Tim Russet asked questions of her…
Clinton’s senior strategist Mark Penn and Campaign Finance director Jonathan Mantz believe Hillary was unfairly targeted by Russert because he asked tough questions..
This link here details a conference call between Penn, Mantz and other staffers where they let their anger bubble over. And at one point, a Hillary supporter on the conference call says “Russert should be shot.”
Back in 1988 then-presidential candidate Mike Dukakis was trailing badly in the polls when he accepted a one-on-one live interview with Ted Koppell on “Nightline“..
When Koppel asked about his flagging campaign, Dukakis went on and on about how wonderful everything was. At that point Koppel interrupted and said, “with all due respect Governor, I still don’t think you get it.”
And now we see the same thing with Hillary and her people. They don’t get it.
These days candidates are tightly programed and highly scripted. They have a “message” and won’t deviate from it.
Hillary’s people apparently don’t realize the public doesn’t want a stump speech during a debate. They want answers.
The story suggests that Hillary’s people wanted softball questions from Russert. They don’t want anything hard—anything they can’t control.
Well, folks, journalists are paid to ask tough, probing questions. And the problem is—not enough of us do it anymore.
If Hillary can’t deal with Tim Russert—how is she going to deal with Russia’s Vladmir Putin—or North Korea’s Kim Jong-Il?
Oh, I know. Maybe her supporters could have them shot too.
—Steve
