NYT: Gillespie, McAuliffe mock Joe Lockhart post debate

[Lucille]

Maybe this was just light-hearted banter,and Joe Lockhart seems not to mind, but I was offended. On the other hand, maybe that's because I think McAuliffe is both ineffectual and creepy, and that he should think about the reason the Kerry campaign had to hire Lockhart to plead the Dems case.

This nugget is buried at the end of James Bennet's
"THE SCENE: Rivals Dig In, Draw Blood, Cede Nothing"

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Despite the harsh words, such gatherings of political professionals and political journalists can feature moments of genuine bipartisan bonhomie, at least away from the cameras. In a room outside the debate hall where reporters and politicians bellied up to a spread of turkey, cabbage and cannolis laid out by Anheuser-Busch, the top partisans - Ed Gillespie, chairman of the Republican National Committee, and Terry McAuliffe, chairman of the Democratic National Committee - shared a snack and a roar of laughter before the candidates squared off.

Fresh from a snappish joint encounter on cable television, Mr. Gillespie told Mr. McAuliffe that he would see him again at 7 o'clock, when the two were due for yet another face-off in cableland.

Mr. McAuliffe said he was not sure he would appear, because, he said, Joe Lockhart, Mr. Kerry's spokesman, was hogging all the airtime. Mr. Gillespie replied that Mr. Lockhart had been doing the same thing with the Anheuser-Busch cookies.

Both men laughed and later asked a reporter not to report the exchange because, they said, it was mean.

Informed of the incident, Mr. Lockhart said, "I refuse to go negative."

He noted that he gave Mr. Gillespie a can of beer after the presidential debate on Thursday in Florida.

[Ruffhowse]

1. I think Lockhart is very articulate and extremely likeable. They should

have him in front of the press more than McAuliffe.

[Bandit]

2. "Hogging all the airtime"

In other words doing his job(and doing it very well) and being out there getting our message out.

[ProfessorGAC]

3. I'm Sure Lockhart Took It As A Joke

They were kidding. We might have different POV's, but these guys are human beings. I loathe Gillespie, but i'm sure he was just kidding around. Terry Mac was kidding too. Mac and Lockhart probably have been friendly acquaintances for years. Just bustin' chops, i think.

Probably a guy thing.
The Professor

[KoKo]

4. Imus was dissing Lochart blaming him for being associated with "Blue Dress

& Clinton. Whenever Imus starts to go at someone I figure he got the news from the top....Someone wan't Lockhart gone.. I assume MSNBC management and we know where they get their orders from.

Lockhart is the best guy we've got.

[Sputnik]

5. I don't like McAuliffe, never have

If Democratic Party was smarter, McAuliffe would cede ALL of his airtime to Lockhart, McCurry, Dean, Clark, Jamie Rubin....hell, just about anyone.

McAuliffe stepping down in 2005 is long overdue, in my opinion. We need someone who doesn't have to borrow a spine to lead the DNC. Dean? Oh yeah, I'd like that.