I think the whole damn "Hillary planted a question for a college student" is fishy...

[Blue_Roses]

That girl winked at whoever was close to her and I honestly don't think Hillary had anything to do with this. New ways to smear ...hmmm...yep...

[ecstatic]

1. I think it was a set up as well

I could see being outraged if the entire audience was planted, but why one person with a question that will obviously be addressed at some point?

[woodsprite]

2. Her name isn't 'Monica', is it?

That was the first thing that I thought, and I'm not even that keen on Hil as a candidate. I thought "damn, the repubs did it again."

[ccpup]

3. every campaign does it

and every campaign knows they do it. To have "plants" in an audience to lob a question at the candidate in an area he or she is focusing on that week or has some strength with or has polled very well with recently is a tactic that's been around forever.

Hillary's getting slammed with it because 1) she's still the front runner in most national polls and 2) the story of her inevitability had run it's course with the DC bobbleheads and now they've decided that the story will be how she's losing ground and is now weak. Of course, after she does well in the Primaries, this will be followed by how she makes a "stunning comeback from behind" or some such obviously crafted nonsense.

Anything to sell newspapers or get ratings, I guess. And if stories about her cackle and cleavage didn't work, they gotta try something else! :eyes:

[RichGirl]

4. Exactly....

If Edwards wasn't doing it too he would be all over it. As would Obama and others.

During the Webb campaign when all the stuff about Allen using the "N" word came out, Webb was asked about it. His response was that there aren't too many people who have lived in Virginia for 20 years who haven't used the "N" word.

That's the kind of honesty that wins elections. It would be in the opposition's favor to say...hey, we all do it. I hope they ask the question at the next debate.

[ClarkUSA]

28. Both Edwards and Obama have said their campaigns do not plant questions.

Obama has issued a statement about it that is the subject of a thread here so I won't bother to reprint it.
Until there is proof otherwise, I'm inclined to believe them over unsubstantiated assertions.

[Renew Deal]

6. The standard Hillary answer for all the bad shit she does.

Everybody does it. Actually, everybody doesn't do it unless she's talking about Bush and herself. Yes, they both do it.

[Auntie Bush]

7. Take your blinders and horns off and

you'll be able to see and hear better and learn the truth. Better do it soon because you've got a lot to learn.

[Renew Deal]

8. So we agree?

Thanks!

[Alexander]

18. Yes, anyone who doesn't approve of Bush-Hillary tactics has "blinders and horns".

You need to step back from the altar of St. Hillary and calm down.

[RichGirl]

11. Yes...

Both Bush and Hillary show their cleavage!

[ccpup]

14. thank you

outing ourself as a verifiable idiot and possible political neophyte must have taken great courage and I salute you. And, no, it's a true salute and not one of those single finger ones.

[Renew Deal]

19. huh

Has everyone gone completely insane? What are you talking about? This is the third or fourth hysterical comment that's unrelated to the subject that I've seen today.

[dionysus]

23. dude, they're becoming unhinged....

perhaps thorazine is warranted...

[Tejanocrat]

10. What bullshit! How can you say that without any proof. I have been to a couple Kucinich events where

I personally knew everyone who asked a questions and can vouch that none were "planted."

I've been to an Obama event and an Edwards event, and none of the questions seemed "planted."

I don't doubt that others besides Hillary have "planted" softball questioners in the audience (Bush did it, I hear Giuliani does it), but where do you get off saying "every campaign does it"? If you'd ever been to a Kucinich event, you'd know that the questions are far too random and free-spirited to have been "planted" by any campaign.

Just because Hillary cannot field a honest question, don't smear every candidate with an unfounded assertion that they'd stoop to planting softballs.

[ccpup]

16. "seemed" planted?

okay :eyes: And neither Obama or Edwards would ever lie to you, would they.

And using an argument that you can vouch for those asking Kucinich questions says more about the inability of his campaign to find National traction than it does about what happens in those campaigns being taken more seriously by the majority of Americans. Nothing about his message or the validity of it, mind you, but more about how different the other campaigns dealing with more attention and national pressure are run as compared to his.

It may be difficult to understand or believe -- and I know this doesn't square with the current "I Hate Hillary" campaign you seem presently committed to -- but the campaigns with National traction, doing well in the National Polls and dealing with audiences in the hundreds or thousands and not dozens DO have "plants" to bring the conversation onto topics they're either focusing on, have a commercial running about, will have a commercial running about or that they've polled well on in the past. It's all about trying to stay on-message as much as possible. It's the truth and, as it's done mostly under the radar -- as most things in political campaigns are done --, those not yet wise in the ways of politics (like refreshingly innocent high school girls) can then profess to be shocked and disappointed on CNN -- perhaps with tears? who knows --, thus furthering their "Hillary is doing poorly" story line.

In any event, believe what you like. I'm sharing with you my experience having been surrounded by politics since I can remember: the top tier of candidates of both parties do this.

[ClarkUSA]

27. I've heard this meme again and again. However, there is no proof of it.

So the assertion seems specious at this point.

[hijinx87]

5. this is distracting our attention from MUCH more serious issues

that we have to worry about regarding hillary.

like tipgate, for example. :eyes:

these microscandals have serious problems, and problems with
seriousness.

[Skip Intro]

9. It feels like a setup. The young woman used "senior Clinton staffer" to refer to

the person who asked her to ask a particluar question.

A "senior" staffer? How could she know that?


I said yesterday that something seemed fishy about this whole thing. Glad to see others are suspicious too.

[Vickers]

12. Was this "college student" wearing a blue dress?

:shrug:

[zulchzulu]

13. Two things to reflect on. The Clinton campaign admitted it and Hillary Clinton lied about it

When asked about the planted question, a Clinton spokesman said the following, essentially admitting to using plants in rallies:

Clinton campaign spokesman Mo Elleithee said, "This is not acceptable campaign process moving forward. We've taken steps to ensure that it never happens again.
"
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/11/13/clinton.planted/index.html

Furthermore, Hillary Clinton either has no idea what her own campaign is doing (which is highly unlikely) or she lied about the practice of using plants at rallies:

“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=1&ref=politics&oref=slogin

The only thing you should find fishy (if you're honest) is the Clinton campaign acting like it never happened. They admitted it and she denied they do it. Go figure...

[Bread and Circus]

15. Yes, I agree with Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt that you are trying to raise here...

mmmm....fear, uncertainty, doubt....delicious.

And it smells good...

[Forkboy]

17. The campaign ADMITTED it. Jesus Jumping Christ on a pogo stick.

You Hillary defenders are in a world of your own, and not in a good way.

[mtnsnake]

20. Of course they amitted it...because it is no big deal. They ALL do it.

Even Kerry got "busted" for the same thing in Philadelphia during his campaign and it is no biggy. It's only a biggy when someone like Bush NEVER allows a disagreeable thought to enter into his bubblefied sterile domain. Anyone who thinks there is a campaign out there who isn't getting a few planted questions mixed in is just plain naive (I'm not talking about you, Forky).

[Forkboy]

21. "Thay all do it" is the weakest defense.

Even if every single one did it it still isn't right.It's ALWAYS a biggie, because it undermines what our democracy is supposed to be about.The attitude that it's no big deal is part of the problem this country faces.If we don't hold ourselves to higher standard who will? :shrug:

If anyone wants to point out other Dem candidates doing it I'll jump on their ass for it too.It's NOT what our country is about, and brushing it off is a tacit approval that these tactics are acceptable.They aren't to me, and shouldn't be to anyone who cares about open and honest government.

[mtnsnake]

25. ya know

you're right, that was pretty weak but it's all I got :shrug:

[Forkboy]

26. LOL...that's why I like you.

:D

[DangerDave921]

22. No biggy?

It was kind of big when FEMA did it, wasn't it? I sure as hell didn't like that one bit. And I don't like it when a dem does it. Even one audience plant is too much.

[dionysus]

24. Waitin' for the train that goes home, sweet mtnsnake

Hoping that the train is on time...
Sittin' downtown at the DLC station, one toke over the line....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xewL59PQ-_8

[Blue_Roses]

29. first of all, I'm not a "Hillary defender" and second

of all who the hell do you think you are calling me that? You don't know me, nor my politics. FWIW, I don't have a candidate yet. You "Hillary bashers" need to back off. I'm so sick of this shit. You can't even make an honest observation without being labeled on this forum. Whether it was a "set-up" or not, the wink is what raised my suspisions. I will defend any of our candidates that I think are being "set-up" but good grief, it's such a hodge-podge of "swift-boating" from all parties, that it's hard to know exactly WHO is behind all of it:crazy:

Geeze...:eyes:

[Forkboy]

30. The fact is, you're trying to tell us it's fishy when the campaign admitted it.

I don't know what proof you would require past that.The charge of smearing that you present is wrong, unless they are smearing themselves.The did it, they admitted it. :shrug:

My apologies for the Hillary defender comment.