Clinton Aide complains to WaPo's Tom Shales

[americanstranger]

So much for 'not whining.'

"I read your piece with great curiosity this morning especially because I didn’t recall you ever having the same negative reaction to any of the multiple debates where the moderators were extremely tough on senator Clinton (much much tougher than either Stephanopoulos or Gibson were on either candidate last night). I did a lexis search to make sure I hadn’t missed you crying foul about any of these debates and my memory proved me correct. Msnbc was so tough on senator Clinton (including devoting over well over the first hour of two debates to tough questions to senator Clinton) that they were mocked and criticized by many for the imbalance of their coverage, though notably not you. In fact, you found their most recent debate to be “too tame and tepid.”"

More at http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0408/Clinton_spokesman_takes_aim_at_Shales.html

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- as

[babylonsister]

1. The criticism wasn't about Clinton vs. Obama, it was the content of the

'debate' that bugged people. But keep crying foul. :eyes: (not you, as:hi:)

[americanstranger]

3. That's a distinction that they seem incapable of making.

I guess in Hillaryland, stupid irrelevant questions = tough questions.

- as

[Warren DeMontague]

7. That cuts to the core of how much they don't "get it". Asking about the IWR vote is less legitimate

than asking why Obama won't wear a flag pin.

[splat]

17. Russert and Williams asked Hillary 'gotcha' questions, too; nobody here minded then

That's the point of the Politico article -- that the press is cheerleading, abandoning the tenet "without favor/"

[babylonsister]

18. Do you honestly think 55 minutes of a 2 hour debate composed of

'gotcha' questions is equivalent to what Clinton went through? I don't.
And again, what about issues? That's what people wanted to hear about. That's why we were so disappointed.

[americanstranger]

21. thanks, BSis.

I was going to say the same thing, but it's late here and I don't have the energy at this point. :)

I gotta get me some sleep...

- as

[splat]

27. Questions on the issues result in rehearsed talking points; "afflicting the comfortable" is

the press's job.

[SeattleGirl]

23. Actually, I didn't much care for that shit in that debate either.

But I have to say, Charlie and the Snuffalupagous outdid Russert and Williams this week.

[CoffeeCat]

2. The Clintons are such bullies...

Politicians like the Clintons no longer have any respect for the media, I guess.

Politicians like the Clintons, get snippy when the media doesn't act as their PR agency, so they
write letters and demand more favorable coverage.

Politicians like the Clintons like to bully reporters and writers into saying positive things
about them, and when they don't say positive things about them--they insult them and try
to intimidate.

This relationship that politicians like the Clintons, have with the press, is perverse.

It's revolting.

How in the world can America have a free and objective press with politicians like the Clintons
trying to exert such influence over their coverage?

It's an injustice and a thorn in the side of our democracy.

[ruggerson]

9. now THAT'S funny

[CoffeeCat]

12. I'm not laughing...

...and you are?

[BeyondGeography]

4. It's all about Her Majesty

Shales can't unload on the worst moderating performance of all time because that detracts from a "win" for Hillary.

Yet another reason to root for closure on Tuesday.

[babylonsister]

5. Actually, Shales DID unload! Here's his post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/17/AR2008041700013_pf.html

[Cha]

10. Yeah, that was an awesome unload

on abc and it's moderators..and I don't think Mr Shales will be cowering under the hilary aides.

[BeyondGeography]

11. I know...it was a thing of beauty and he had it ready to go as soon as that debacle ended

What I meant to say was, if the Clintons had their way, Shales would never have written the defining piece of criticism of this "debate.".

[babylonsister]

14. And Shales 'unleashed the hounds'!

It was a thing of beauty! :toast:

[MagickMuffin]

6. Jay, CRY ME A RIVER.... Because you obviously MISSED the point of Tom's critique

The irony is beyond them.

:cry:

Now you say you're lonely
You cry the whole night through
Well, you can cry me a river, cry me a river
I cried a river over you

Now you say you're sorry
For bein' so untrue
Well, you can cry me a river, cry me a river
I cried a river over you

You drove me, nearly drove me out of my head
While you never shed a tear
Remember, I remember all that you said
Told me love was too plebeian
Told me you were through with me and
Now you say you love me
Well, just to prove you do
Come on and cry me a river, cry me a river
I cried a river over you

I cried a river over you
I cried a river over you
I cried a river over you

[babylonsister]

13. Leon Russell? Joe Cocker??

:D

[MagickMuffin]

26. Julie London lyrics....V for Vendetta

The first few google searches were Justin Timberlake. So, I took the next one and it just so happened to be Julie London's from V for Vandetta:rofl:

Although I used to love Leon Russell.

[Cha]

8. Quit Whin-ing, hilary... it's getting real OLD.

[SeattleGirl]

15. I don't think the moderaters were being tough on Obama.

I thought they were just flat out stupid jerks.

And that's a comment on THEM, not on Obama or Clinton.

That thing was a fucking farce.

[babylonsister]

19. Amen. The moderators set a lousy tone, so their intent is suspect now.

Can they be that stupid? I don't think so. They had a motive, and that's what is the most troublesome.

[SeattleGirl]

22. Well, given what I've found out about George Snuffalupagous and

Nash McCabe, I agree.

But overall, I do think they acted like a couple of jerks overall.

[babylonsister]

24. Perchance, might you mean this?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=108x129417

[SeattleGirl]

25. Why, indeed I do!

Plus I read the post earlier today about Snuffalupagous asking Obama if his "smoothness" was related to his race. What the HELL???

[DesEtoiles]

16. I'm sick of this deliberate false bullshit from the Clinton campaign.

[Shakespeare]

20. Having read Shales for over 15 years now, I'm pretty sure he'll tell them to get bent.

LOVE Shales. :rofl:

[blogslut]

28. Let's back up here for a minute

1. Clinton spokesman, Jay Carson, sends an email to Washington Post writer Tom Shales

2. Carson gives the text of that email to Politico writer, John Harris, along with permission for the letter to be printed online.

3. Carson gives the email text to Politico writer, Ben Smith.

4. Smith posts the email on his blog.

Does anyone else find that odd?