Campaign Workers, Planted Questions...

[Memekiller]

There seems to be some debate about how often this tactic of planted questions is used. There is no question about the lengths the Bush team has gone to keep events scripted, and there's no question I dislike the practice, and this whole thing puts me in an awkward position. On the one hand, I want to denounce offenders, even if they're on my side. On the other hand, I don't want this to be a political weapon used selectively, the way it usually is with the Clintons. It seems the unseemly side of politics is only worth reporting when a Clinton plays by their rules -- thus making the Clintons seem calculating for doing what politicians do. A bit like a group of married men gawking at the low cut blouse, and picking one to call out on it to make them look sleazy.

A CBS story just said this practice is widespread. I'm sure a lot of people here have worked on campaigns and in townhall meetings. How often did you see this sort of thing? I don't need to know names, just whether or not it was not a Clinton.

This story seems to hinge on that question. Does the media have a double-standard, or do we?

[MNDemNY]

1. Been involved ,personally with this sort of stuff for over 40 years

State, local, and national campaigns. SOP. All Democrats. One should use solid supporters for such deeds. HRC's people were careless.(not to imply that only Dems do it.)

[DURHAM D]

3. Same here.

The general goal for the staff is to make sure questions are actually asked. Nothing worse than a candidate asking for questions from the crowd and no one raises their hand - really awful.

[MNDemNY]

7. Yes, in a "town hall" of course you want "your" people in the crowd.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

2. They will change the narrative after tomorrow's debate, but for now

it's Hillary is the devil, 24/7

The next chapter will probably be, "Hillary, the come-back kid."

It more pulp-literature than journalism

[wyldwolf]

4. Lots of talking heads have said as much

.

[Captain Hilts]

5. It's a technique as old as dirt. Reps and Dems have used it. nt

[Adelante]

6. Routine

Very much routine. I will say, though, it can be something the organizers do to make sure things get started and not necessarily something the candidate is directing be done.

[sallyseven]

8. I have observed it also.

It can be very innocent just getting out what you want to get asked and can also be a way to slime the candidate. Pretend you were asked when you went in just to get asked. Then tell.

[Forkboy]

9. No double standard from me. I hate anyone doing it.

However, your point about Hillary being singled out is a valid one.I just don't like the "everyone else does it" defense, which I'm seeing WAY too much from her supporters.Just once I'd like them to denounce something that's clearly wrong instead of defending it only because it's their choice that's been caught doing it (that goes for all of us and the people we support).If I find out DK is doing it I'll be equally pissed at him (and far more disappointed).We as Dems should be against this stuff, not defending it.The double standard is from those who complain about Bush doing this crap but forgiving it when it comes from our side.It's wrong, and counterproductive to the health of our democracy (or what's left of it).

[Memekiller]

13. I agree...

You can't complain about Bush, and overlook it in HC. Which is why I asked... is it a media doublestandard, or ours? It's probably both.

[merwin]

16. Bush planted the people and the questions. Very different.

Asking someone who is already there if they will ask a question on a particular topic doesn't seem dishonest to me at all.

Planting Jeff Gannon in the audience to throw a softball, however, does.

[ClarkUSA]

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

There's no proof that they do, either, so the "everyone does it" meme does seem to be a bit apocryphal
to me.

[Texas_Kat]

11. What in the world makes you think the 'candidate' would know?

They have enough trouble remembering what city they're in....

[ClarkUSA]

15. Planting questions is not the kind of thing a candidate would be unaware of, imo.

It's not uncommon for a candidate to occasionally forget which city he/she is in during the heat of a busy campaign schedule,
though. And Hillary did accuse that Iowa man of being a "plant", remember. It seemed an odd choice of words at the time -
a bit paranoid, even - but now I understand why she said it (he was not a "plant" as it turned out but merely a typical
up-on-the-issues undecided Iowan who was making the townhall rounds asking questions at all the candidate forums
he'd been attending).

[Texas_Kat]

19. That they know it's a common practice? Yeah

Any 'politician' that doesn't admit that it happens is being disingenuous. Did THIS politician "know" that THIS particular question was 'planted'. I doubt it. If it had really been 'planted' they'd have gotten a 'very committed' Volunteer to ask it -- not some generic audience member

From Salon: "On the fake campaign trail"

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2007/11/14/town_hall/

What she didn't say is that every candidate and every reporter expects a regular share of the questions asked in these events to come from people planted in the audience -- puppets, stooges or well-meaning volunteers, some who act overtly and some who sneak through covertly. This ever-growing practice has come squarely into focus because of Clinton's blunder in Newton, adding to her campaign's reputation for producing the most meticulously staged events in the field. But her misstep points to a larger issue: the widespread manipulation of the classic "town hall."...

[guruoo]

12. I have a problem with how the term "planted" is being used

in all this. To me for a candidate to have a "planted" question, they must have a "planted" questioner.

And as far as I know, no one has so far accused either Edwards, Hillary, or Obama of planting
questioners in the audience.

In other words, IMHO, Campaign workers suggesting questions
to members of the audience does not count the same as "planting" questions.

Flame away....

[merwin]

17. That's exactly what I think.

There's a huge difference between Bush's plants and what Clinton did, namely the lack of a gay hooker in the audience posing as a reporter :)

[CK_John]

14. It's either that or questions about boxers or briefs. n/t.

[HuffleClaw]

18. when has this tactic NOT been used ?

pretty silly that suddenly its noteworthy.

[DeepModem Mom]

20. K&R for a question asked -- and answered. nt