The politics of Hillary's Planting Questions:

[EV_Ares]

The reports of a planting pattern come at a tough time for Clinton, who was widely criticized for being evasive during the last presidential debate. Faking questions is a particularly serious charge in Iowa, where caucus-goers are notoriously proud of their unique democratic process. (Howard Dean lost support when his earlier complaints about the caucus emerged late last cycle.)

And some Democratic activists say faking interactions with the public is reminiscent of the Bush administration's manipulative tactics. Liberal bloggers have already begun comparing Clinton's town halls to the recent fake "news conference" staged by FEMA.

The flap moved John Edwards to weigh in on Saturday after his speech to the Farmers' Union. "That's what George does: George Bush goes to events that are staged where people are screened," The Politico's Ben Smith reported. "That's not the way democracy works in Iowa," Edwards added.

On Fox News, pundit Alan Colmes tried to defend Clinton's practices by drawing a parallel to the current President. "This is much ado about nothing," he said during his Friday broadcast. "George W. Bush ran carefully controlled town hall meetings during both of his candidacies." For many Democratic voters, that is part of the problem.

From The Nation: http://www.thenation.com/doc/20071126/melber

[Rabo Karabekian]

1. Scared Hillary

Hillary fears one tough question sinking her in the polls, but what about the other candidates? They seem to be fielding whatever comes their way.

[Ian_rd]

2. Sacred Hillary

Thou shalt not question Her integrity. How long before her campaign slogan is, "Well, at least I'm better than Bush," which is pretty much what Colmes said.

[MethuenProgressive]

9. virtually every professional presidential campaign plants questions

and plant supporters, and point out people to call on, and place people in the camera shots, and on and on. It is how it's done.

[bvar22]

3. Magicians use "planted assistants" to sell illusions.

So does Hillary.


The Democratic Party is a BIG TENT, but there is NO ROOM for those
who advance the agenda of THE RICH (Corporate Owners) at the EXPENSE of LABOR and the POOR.

[guruoo]

4. When you can't win on the issues....

'If the law is on your side, pound on the law.
If the facts are on your side, pound on the facts.
If neither is on your side, pound on the table.'

[Yuugal]

5. And if you are Hillary.....

You can pound sand because you aren't getting my vote!

[Broke Dad]

6. Re: Hillary hasn't been taking questions up until now

Iowans like to ask tough questions. Hillary didn't want to take our questions. So she met us halfway, she answered her own questions.

The next phase will be for Hillary to agree to answer a question from a real Iowan and then stomp out of the room when she doesn't like the question.

There is a famous joke in Iowa about a kindergartner asking W why we went to war with Iraq when there was not any credible evidence that they had weapons of mass destruction. Just then the recess bell rings unexpectedly and when the kids return the little girl who asked the question is missing from class. W asks if there are any more questions, and a little boy speaks up and asks the exact same question and adds "Why did you make the recess bell ring early and what have you done with our classmate?"

Sound familiar?

Message to Hillary: If you are afraid to honestly answer our tough questions, we are honestly afraid to let you make the tough choices. Iowa, and I'm guessing a lot of America is about consensus building and community supported solutions, not top down directives. Top down may work in Arkansas. It may even work in New York. Not here.

[guruoo]

7. Look at the bright side....

Think of all the gas and time you'll save by not campaigning for her if she does win!
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Perry Logan]

8. Guys--let it go. All candidates plant questions.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=3711835&mesg_id=3711835