LA Times: Virtually every professional presidential campaign plants questions.

[Karmadillo]

NOOOOOOOOOO! LIES!!!!!! I'M POSTING LIES!!!!!!! STOP ME!!!!!!!!! PLEASE!!!!!!! IT'S ONLY HILLARY'S CAMPAIGN THAT'S DONE THIS!!!!! CHRIS MATTHEWS SAID SO!!!!!!!!!

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/politics/la-na-ticket11nov11,1,724688.story?track=crosspromo&coll=la-news-politics-national&ctrack=1&cset=true

<edit>

Although other campaigns are righteously denying it, virtually every professional presidential campaign plants questions. It's a routine part of preparation for the advance people staging every event.

Not every question is planted, as you can tell from the weird ones that sometimes pop up. Most are arranged with more sophistication than grabbing a passing college student. They're done in advance with known local supporters who can be trusted and, frankly, are flattered by their moment in the limelight addressing the possible next president in front of friends. They want the world to think it's their own question.

A twist on this strategy is for a candidate's team to smuggle one of its supporters into an opponent's event to ask an embarrassing question while the cameras roll. Remember the confrontation a few weeks ago when Clinton accused one persistent questioner of being an opposition plant? And then she apologized later.

<edit>

[rinsd]

1. .....

:evilgrin:

[JohnnyLib2]

2. Whodathunkit?

:shrug:

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

3. This is bullshit! It does not not confirm my emotional prejudices on the topic

[sandnsea]

4. Yes they do

but they usually introduce the plant in such a way that you know the plant is a supporter. OTOH, I've seen a candidate or two take ALL questions, and stay until the last question was asked.

[DeepModem Mom]

5. Not partisan, didn't want to say until something posted from the press -- but, of course, they do!

I've worked on campaigns, and...well, what is that saying about not wanting to know about how sausage is made, or something?

Pat Buchanan (one of my daughters said once that when Pat Buchanan is a voice of reason, you know you're in trouble) was saying on MSNBC tonight that the press had great fear that Clinton was running away with the Dem race, and they had to make a contest of it. He said she wasn't even so bad in the debate, and that this "plant" was nothing.

As said, I'm an Obama supporter, but not highly partisan, and like all the candidates. And (while thrilled with Obama's resurgence, and the attention his speech in Iowa has brought), I think Clinton is being unfairly pounded with this stuff. I agree with Buchanan -- the press needs a horse race, and they're trying to slow Hillary down.

[rufus dog]

6. So Bush Sucks, Hillary Sucks, They all Suck!

Welcome to the America of tomorrow.

[dsc]

7. Not only that but it isn't even new

There is a story in The Making of the President, which covers the 1960 race, about a radio call in show in West Virginia that Humphrey had. He had run out of money so he actually had no call screener and thus got far out questions addressed to him.

[hedgehog]

11. Having a screener on a radio call-in is not the same as planting questions. nt

[Seabiscuit]

8. If a candidate ever asked me to ask a planted question, I imagine I'd

act flattered and eager to do so, just for the opportunity to get called on and ask instead an embarassing question. Then I'd go to the press with the story about that candidate's attempt to get use me in that way.

[Cleita]

9. Perhaps, these are signs for the new millennia that

business as usual is no longer acceptable, no matter whose camp it comes from. It seems like this type of corrupt politicking is what got our BushCo into power to the ruination of our country. Maybe it's time for our side to stop this.

[hedgehog]

10. But, but , but , Senator Clinton didn't know that!

Mrs. Clinton, speaking to reporters in Iowa, said she was unaware that her aides had ever planted questions.

“It was news to me,” said Mrs. Clinton, of New York, “and neither I nor my campaign approve of that, and it will certainly not be tolerated.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/12/us/politics/12clinton.html?_r=2&ref=politics&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

Does that mean she's not running a professional campaign, or just not running her campaign?

[zulchzulu]

21. Bingo

The issue is not whether campaigns use planted questions, but rather when a candidate LIES about knowing that such tactics exist.

News to her, my ass...

[calteacherguy]

12. Prove it. nt

[Basileus Basileon]

13. This is obviously true. So why did she act like she was shocked and disappointed?

The answer is obvious as well, and that's the disappointing part in this.

[calteacherguy]

14. It's not obviously true that every campaign does it, as they imply. nt

[Basileus Basileon]

15. Tell me which campaign you think doesn't,

and I'll tell you where you buy your grape Flavor-Aid.

[CyberPieHole]

16. And politicians are egomaniacs...

it's par for the course.

[Phunktified]

17. silly season

funny, the two issues everyone is beating Hillary up about are these "planted" questions and the records and both are complete BS!!!

I mean, I could understand going after her over Kyle-Lieberman or IWR or w/e, but this stuff the press/JRE/Obama campaigns have come up with would probably be laughed off the table if it weren't for the media so desperately wanting a primary fight.

[Basileus Basileon]

18. Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[Phunktified]

19. thanks!

[Perry Logan]

20. Snicker, chortle, guffaw.

[LWolf]

22. The only thing missing is the evidence.

It's always good to provide evidence for broad assertions like this one.

[MNDemNY]

23. We did such things as far back as 1968, from my

Own personal experience. It is a good strategy to get your supporters (your questions) in front of a candidate.

[johnlal]

24. The difference is that we KNOW when they do it.

We always knew that politicians will do anything to make themselves look good. But when they get caught doing it, it is an embarrassing moment, and rightfully so. With the digital age, politicians are going to have a harder time doing these things.