Was Hillary's Iowa event staged?

[B2G]

Yeah, it's the Daily Mail, but they have the guy on the record. THIS is the type of thing that drives me nuts about her.

************************************************************************

EXCLUSIVE: Campaign staff recruited and DROVE 'everyday' Iowans to Hillary's first campaign stop – including health care 'lobbyist in training' who was an Obama campaign intern and Biden chauffeur

By David Martosko, Us Politics Editor For Dailymail.com In Des Moines, Iowa

Published: 14:40 EST, 15 April 2015 | Updated: 14:46 EST, 15 April 2015

Hillary Clinton's astroturf candidacy is in full swing in Iowa.

Her Tuesday morning visit to a coffee shop in LeClaire, Iowa was staged from beginning to end, according to Austin Bird, one of the men pictured sitting at the table with Mrs. Clinton.

Bird told Daily Mail Online that campaign staffer Troy Price called and asked him and two other young people to meet him Tuesday morning at a restaurant in Davenport, a nearby city.

Price then drove them to the coffee house to meet Clinton after vetting them for about a half-hour.

The three got the lion's share of Mrs. Clinton's time and participated in what breathless news reports described as a 'roundtable'– the first of many in her brief Iowa campaign swing.

Bird himself is a frequent participant in Iowa Democratic Party events. He interned with President Obama's 2012 presidential re-election campaign, and was tapped to chauffeur Vice President Joe Biden in October 2014 when he visited Davenport.

'What happened is, we were just asked to be there by Troy,' Bird said Wednesday in a phone interview.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3040482/Campaign-staff-DROVE-ordinary-Iowans-Hillary-s-campaign-stop-including-health-care-lobbyist-training-Obama-campaign-intern-Biden-chauffeur.html

[VanillaRhapsody]

1. More baloney from rightwing rag the Dailymail?

[B2G]

3. Well considering they INTERVIEWED the guy

I'd say it's a bit more that rightwing baloney.

[VanillaRhapsody]

4. I don't ....I have seen their baloney before....repeatedly

why does she need "astroturf" when she has 75% of the Democratic vote already?

[morningfog]

14. She shouldn't have to. If this is true, it is more unforecd error that

hurts our chances.

[VanillaRhapsody]

18. Oh yes....a staged event...that would sooooo hurt our chances...as Big Joe says....Malarkey

just more feigned outrage over nothing...

[morningfog]

21. So you called the story baloney, but now admit the story is true?

[VanillaRhapsody]

22. I was being facetious and accepting IF the premise were true...BIG Hairy Deal!

What next...Outrage on DU because Hillary uses a teleprompter???

[morningfog]

26. So you support "astroturfing" as you called it?

But rolled on the floor at the need for astroturfing just a few posts back?

Which is it?

It is laughable that Hillary needed to "astroturf" (your words) or is it just a big hairy deal?

[VanillaRhapsody]

31. No the article called it astroturfing....perhaps you read it? Or maybe not!

[morningfog]

32. And you scoffed at the idea, but now support it?

[cheapdate]

53. Completely with VanillaRhapsody.

I will not spend 2 seconds of my attention fretting over this nonsense. A member of Clinton's staff called someone and asked them to come to a restaurant in Davenport to meet Hillary Clinton. Wow.

[VanillaRhapsody]

93. No I don't I just explained that to you....

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

77. You aint seen NUTHIN yet...

Every single thing will be attacked and torn apart.

Sometimes she will be guilty of doing what ALL politicians do, like occasionally stage something, but she will be held to a standard similar to Obama in that while others can do X, Y and Z, she will be called names if she does it.

[Politicalboi]

47. She does?????

I suppose she uses planes and cars too.

[yeoman6987]

84. Her carbon footprint for driving that vehicle is next

Watch! Lol. She doesn't get a break ever.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

73. Having to fake bein able to chill with common folk is to be expected with Hillary. Is anyone surprised by this?

[VanillaRhapsody]

94. having to chill with common folk is what Democrats have done since...

forever...

[Oilwellian]

37. Why did she need it in 2008?

[leftofcool]

10. No, just right wing horseshit!

[Marrah_G]

2. Everything in every presidential campaign is staged

Pretty sure the only time we see anything not stages is when someone makes a mistake.

[HereSince1628]

80. At least anytime media cameras and mics are present, I think that's true.

Which doesn't mean unscripted 'things' don't happen,
"AAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!"

[Skinner]

5. Duh. Of course it's staged.

She's running for president.

[Agschmid]

6. Yup.

[leftofcool]

7. So, Hillary invites a few Democrats to a meeting to get their views and all becomes "phony"

Got it! Daily Mail RW rag horseshit!

[DURHAM D]

8. Great reporting.

That should tank her.

[chillfactor]

9. and we should care because?

politics is all a stage

[B2G]

16. Because to many, she has an image problem

Particularly in the 'genuine' and 'approachable' categories. Not here at DU... she already has that demographic on lockdown.

This was supposedly billed as a talk with everyday Iowans.

But whatever helps you sleep at night.

[VanillaRhapsody]

20. Not to many at all...just to the Rightwing and a few "supposed" Democrats on DU...

[B2G]

33. Your dismissal of Independents is duly noted. nt

[trumad]

28. "to many"

To many D-Word haters she has an image problem.

Just right wing noise stinking up the room.

[okaawhatever]

39. It was a talk with everyday Iowans. It was just a talk with everyday Iowans who supported Democrats.

They didn't say "random" Iowans. If they only vetted him for half an hour, they didn't do much coaching. Also, "staged" implies "scripted" which it clearly wasn't.

If someone reported on these incidents for all candidates you'd see this is common. Most of the time it's to weed out weirdos like an Orly Taitz.

[JaneyVee]

11. For security reasons most likely.

If you're this easily duped by RW BS I don't know what to tell you.

[justiceischeap]

12. Are some people really this naive about how politics happens?

There are campaign advisors, PR firms, marketing firms... everything is scripted when you get to this level of politics. Nothing is done by chance. If, when Obama was campaigning, and you saw him with his tie and jacket off, that was scripted. Rolled up sleeves? Scripted. The shoes he wore that were holey? Scripted. There isn't a moment in a Presidential (or Senatorial) campaign that isn't scripted. Debates are even scripted.

Politics are about as real as reality TV.

[B2G]

23. Then you'll understand when I laugh at all of the fawning

over her 'spontaneous' road trip, stop at the gas station, purchase of a chicken bowl, and on and on for the next 18 months.

It's pure theater.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

27. I am in great awe of the stagecraft.../NT

[arcane1]

56. Exactly. They can't have it both ways if it's all an act.

I'm not at all surprised by the amount of staging and scripting that goes on in presidential races, but I'm not naive enough to turn around and claim I'm seeing something "genuine".

[nadinbrzezinski]

63. You know what is scary

we are seeing this crap in city hall races

[arcane1]

66. That's pretty damn scary n/t

[nadinbrzezinski]

67. We are also seeing more money than God

All is relative, also come to these races. My county board is trying to curb it. The city tried. We will pretty much need the gutting of citizens united

People ask me why we do not do day to day horse race. I cannot compete with that money tsunami. So we try to educate people on that aspect.

I think I will have to do a jobs program for add agencies. The POTUS alone is expected to run 5Billion. I think it will be more actually. That is about the size of the budget for the County of San Diego for one year. There is no way this does not affect the economy.

Cell😡

[arcane1]

68. Are we approaching the day when obscene campaign donations become an economic necessity?

Similar to military spending?

I'm already sorry I asked.

[nadinbrzezinski]

69. Hope not

[VanillaRhapsody]

25. Not naive....they just hate Hillary Clinton and will jump at any straw!

[leftofcool]

34. Yep!

[NYC_SKP]

13. More than ever. Even the chipotle thing was staged.

Most of these things are.

And especially for a Clinton, they're masters of political marketing, they practically invented it, good for them.

Add to that the Secret Service protection, you bet your ass that nothing is normal or candid.

This year more than any, staging and truthiness.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

19. What are you going to do when she's the nominee?

You are so emotionally invested in her demise that being the empathetic person I am I am genuinely concerned.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

15. This is really picayune

Clinton's campaign has already taken heat for depicting at least three people in her campaign launch video as 'everyday' Americans who were actually partisans with political connections.

[justiceischeap]

17. Which immediately makes them not everyday Americans?

If I have an in with the local democratic party, does that make me less an "everyday" American?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

24. Maybe The Daily Mail believes only Tories and Republicans can be "everyday" Brits and Americans./NT

[immoderate]

59. There are NO 'everyday' Americans. WE are 'exceptional.'

And you would have thought that Hil could have admitted at least one right wingnut fundy teabagger to 'advise' her.

--imm

[misterhighwasted]

29. Stop It!! You're killin me...

[LanternWaste]

30. Which political events are not staged?

Which political events are not staged?

[seveneyes]

35. Outside the gilded cage

All the world's indeed a stage ...

[Rex]

36. They are ALL staged! Filtered, vetted, etc..

This is a big SHOW! The 'road to the presidency' is the biggest show, next to the Super Bowl!

[fredamae]

42. Exactlty!

And why I don't waste my time watching/following Any of it. It's not real anymore. They say what they think the base/rest of us want to hear...carefully scripted, choreographed with pre-selected, screened "community actors" aka: "The Public".
Their promises of change? Well most of the stuff they All promise requires a functioning congress to pass...........and then they don't ....

The Great Illusion of Political Choice...circa 2015/2016

[nadinbrzezinski]

38. Damn I could have written that piece

all events are staged, carefully vetted, et al, at that level. Hell, larger city races are staged too. I know, shocking...

Some are so exclusive that only credentialed press is allowed in as well. I know, I know... shocking. Developing at 11:00

I think you could still find non staged events at smaller cities, fire boards that are elected. Large Boards of Education are also starting to get highly scripted with the glory of citizens united.

[davidn3600]

40. The whole dang thing is a puppet show for us normal folk

The super rich are the ones that pull the strings. They pick the candidates.

Hard to lose a race when you own every horse on the track.

[trumad]

45. Whaaa.

[pinto]

41. LOL. The Daily Mail...

[cyberswede]

43. Hillary once sent a scout crew to my small town to check out the rest room at a diner

She was on a long bus tour through Iowa, and planned to stop at a small diner in my small town to meet & greet people (and use the rest room).

Once the scout team saw the condition of the rest room, she went to a different restaurant.

I don't blame her - it was a pretty creepy rest room.

Oh...and as for having engaged, active Democrats invited to campaign events, why not? I'm sure she doesn't want to create the next Joe the Plumber.

The point is, all campaign stops are vetted; this shouldn't be a surprise.

[leftofcool]

48. Most women I know vet restrooms.

It's a girl thing!

[Oilwellian]

44. B2G...when you have a Wall Street candidate...

who needs your vote, they have to create an alternate reality and hope you buy into their bullshit. If we had a candidate like Warren or Sanders, there would be no need to create this facade.

[B2G]

46. At least a few here see that...

[mylye2222]

52. Exact.

I cannot imagine Bernie Sanders or Liz Warren do the same. They struck me as people who enjoys meet average ones.

If this is true, that is another recealling point. It can mean that after all HRC have less support than media make us believe of.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

58. I thought you were taking a sabbatical or retirement from this board:

I am taking a break from DU


http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026507442

Welcome back or re-bonjour!

[zappaman]

64. The nerve!

And after a bid him a fond farewell too!




http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026507442#post2

[DemocratSinceBirth]

65. "With charity towards all and malice towards none."

Are you going to welcome back our friend or not?

Re bonjour, mon ami.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

76. H-> is just ill at ease with ordinary folks, which explains the fakery. Would neva happen with Elizabeth or Bernie.

[treestar]

91. they have to be vetted at least some

they could be nutcases or armed or crazed freepers with whom a conversation not including lunacy could not be had.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

95. Absolutely, but it shouldnt be too hard to find a safe and friendly group of ordinary folks who support Hillary...

Why give the other side such easy ammunition to expose obvious political staging? I understand all politicians do this; but they dont all so easily GET CAUGHT!!!

These sort of missteps shouldn't happen when you've hired hundreds of consultants.

[DesMoinesDem]

49. Responses like most in this thread are why it is impossible to take partisans seriously.

When Republicans stage events they get all excited and scream about astroturf. When Democrats stage events its just politics, everyone does it. When you ooze hypocrisy you have no credibility.

[LanternWaste]

50. We laugh when a GOP candidate pretends to fill an NFL stadium with 450 people..

We laugh when a GOP candidate pretends to fill an NFL stadium with 450 people...

You will of course, provide link to DU criticism of a GOP politician staging an event, yes? (so as to better determine who's a partisan and who's not, who's credible and who's not, etc)

[B2G]

51. Well at least they've confirmed that it's safe to check out until 11/16

and not give one single shit about what she says or does.

Because it's all theater. Calculated, vetted, scrubbed pablum.

Saves me a lot of time, actually.

[Marr]

72. That's exactly what I was going to say.

You can't take them seriously when they wail about anything, but you know they aren't operating from any actual conviction. It's just whatever looks best for the team at any given moment. And their support on any given issue means next to nothing, because you know they'll drop it or spin around 180 degrees on the topic the very instant that doing so is good for their leader.

[Throd]

75. DU as I say, not as I do.

[davidn3600]

54. What if Rubio did this?

It'd be a big deal.

But Hillary does it and everyone is like, "eh, who cares, they all do it."

Gonna be a fun election.

[LanternWaste]

55. I like to pretend I know what other would do in any given situation too.

I like to pretend I know what other would do in any given situation too. The bonus is our speculation needs no sourcing or evidence-- we simply get to pretend it's a fact.

What if FDR did this? Dear God.... the horror. The horror.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

61. FDR hid the fact he was in a wheelchair much of the time from the American people...

It doesn't detract one iota from his greatness...


JFK exuded youthful virility when in fact he was a very sick man who had to wear a back harness much of the time because of his PT109 injuries. Much of how sick he was hidden from the public...Bobby said if a mosquito bit him the mosquito would die. It didn't detract from his greatness either...

Abe Lincoln was not the country bumpkin he held himself out to be...



This is silly stuff...Politics is full of artifice. It doesn't mean there wasn't a decent core in those instances.

[nadinbrzezinski]

57. Covering this shit for real

this is truly a non news item. Rubio doing this? Does the sun rise in the East?

All of them do it, all the way down to City Hall, some larger boards of education. The amount of money that flows is insane... and this is not about any one particular candidate. It is about a very broken electoral system where your vote and your five bucks really don't matter that much. Now your vote and a 5 followed by 6 zeroes, let's talk.

There is a reason why we really do not concern ourselves with the horse race, now citizens united, sure. But the horse race... I really don't really care anymore who is running, on any party. Oligarchies are what they are.

[treestar]

90. I doubt I'd care about that per se

I'd be laughing at now bad Rubio was at carrying it out.

[NET]

60. Trivial stuff really

Even if it's true it doesn't change who she is.

She is a genuine person who cares about where this country would head if a republican
gets into office.


She has my vote

[Politicalboi]

62. Was this crack pot staged?

I don't think so. Some of us will just have to hold our nose if Hillary is our ONLY choice. I still remember "sniper fire" and cringe.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

74. You suggestin that incident was staged? Say it ain't so!

[GeorgeGist]

70. Vetted participants.

Gosh how evil.

[quadrature]

71. will staged events, become the norm?

staged events --> avoid gaffs
.
some people cannot handle
being on live TV.

it only gets worse with age

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

79. The staged events are to be expected; the trick is not getting caught and looking fake.

[quadrature]

89. the audio is fake, from her 'annoncement video'...(or is it?)`

these days, I mostly assume everything is fake.

example, the audio from HRC's annoncement video.

voice tracking...
her voice is
filtered.
speedup/down.
breathes removed.
word-timing is micro-time-adjusted, to achieve
perfect cadence.

perhaps someone else knows for sure.

[Lil Missy]

78. Probably. *yawn*

[spanone]

81. everything in politics is staged.

[951-Riverside]

82. *gasp* You mean Hillary Clinton didnt show up to a random shop with a bunch of media...

pushed her way inside and started asking random customers questions?

WHAAAAAAAAAAAT?

I am shocked and utterly hurt by this revelation!

[fadedrose]

83. Whoa

What happened to grass-roots campaigns - Is nothing sacred? Is nothing in this campaign real?


"Hillary Clinton's astroturf candidacy is in full swing in Iowa."

[amandabeech]

86. Why?

To my knowledge, she has never opposed a trade agreement, and each and every one of them has resulted in a loss of US jobs, many of them in my home state of Michigan.

She hasn't been any better in that area than the Republicans. And she voted for that Iraq War Resolution that had holes large enough for mining trucks to move through.

I'll vote for her because her picks to SCOTUS would be better than any of the pukes', but don't tell me that she has my back.

[amandabeech]

88. Adios. nt

[workinclasszero]

92. OMG a ...GASP...staged political event!!!1!!1!!1

This has NEVER happened in the whole HISTORY of EVER!!1!!!!


I mean really purists, is this all you got???