By Doing All Of These Nationally Televised Interviews, Is Obama Hitting Clinton On Transparency?

[malik flavors]

All three nightly news broadcasts last night
the view today
CNBC yesterday
Larry King last week
He's doing Hardball for the hour on Wednesday

Meanwhile Sen. Clinton is sort of M.I.A. Is the fact that he's comfortable answering any and all questions in nationally televised interviews his way of showing how open and transparent he is, while Hillary seems to shy away from these situations?

It also seems that people like him the more they get to know him, but I think this is a way of reinforcing their claim that she's a very "secret" politician. He puts himself out there and talks openly about anything, and by contrast it makes her look hesitant to answer tough questions that might be asked.

Any thoughts on this as a tactic from the Obama camp?

Do you think it's working? Has anyone else noticed that he seems to be all over t.v. lately and Hillary seems to be a little more closed off?

[anonymous171]

1. He trying to up his familiarity with voters in places like PA.

Clinton wins more uneducated and rural voters because many won't vote for a candidate they haven't seen or heard from before.

[malik flavors]

5. Yea, but along with that isn't he showing his openess and Clinton's closedness by contrast?

It's a way of showing that he's more of an open book. More transparent, and willing to answer whatever questions anyone might have. Nothing to hide.

[ampad]

2. Oh she is giving interviews

To right wing rags and Fox News.

[City Lights]

11. Great point! eom

[bigtree]

19. Obama has given interviews on FOX news

[DerekJ]

23. That was called damage control. Hers is called pandering to the "RW" media

There is a difference between confronting the swiftboaters head on, and going to those sleaze bags voluntarily.

There is a difference when you show up on all news networks to defend yourself, and showing on RW media to attack your democratic opponent, while other networks like MSNBC and CNN is still waiting for her to accept their offer to show up on their programs.

Stop the B.S

[Cha]

21. Ones wonders what's up with that strategy?

Like to be a spidey on the wall when hilary and bil are making their "deals" with scaife, fauxnooze, and the limpbaughs of the world. That's what broke the straw on Joe Conason's back.

With paul krugman it seems to be greenspan. Which reminds.. does anyone think hilary was buttering up greenspan so andrea mitchell would find some more Wright stuff?

[ColbertWatcher]

3. I don't think so...

...he's on TV because he's got better PR than she does.

And apparently Hillary Clinton doesn't know yet how to respond to her low numbers.

[Mags]

14. he's on tv to try to dry up the Revs. message, He just can't do it.

the Rev is his running mate, to the very end.

[anonymous171]

16. Who are you talking about?

You know, pastorbating is good, but please do it in private. It's not something I enjoy watching people do.

[Mags]

18. hey, he is trying to do it in ;public, grovel, grovel , grovel.

how demeaning of the Man

[ColbertWatcher]

17. Don't agree with that, though...

...candidates cannot be held accountable for all their supporters every opinion.

Otherwise, McCain would have to explain all those KKK members voting for him.

[sandnsea]

4. He's claiming his rightful place as the nominee

And it's time his supporters do the same.

[tishaLA]

6. The View booking was smart because

he needs to shore up his support among women--and especially among femmes des certains ages--and that appearance helped begin that process. It also helped to humanize him in ways his other appearances, like those on the news and cable news channels, won't and can't. To m mind, it is part of the GE strategy and working to get support among Hillary's core constituencies.

[malik flavors]

7. Hmm, so nobody else sees this as a tactic to hit her on transparency?

[anonymous171]

8. If he wants to hit her on transparency, he's going to have to do it directly.

[anigbrowl]

12. Not really...I think he's re-introducing himself to people after the Wright thing, and...

also taking advantage of the publicity to pitch himself as the likely nominee. Every time he appears people are reminded that he has it almost wrapped up. At the same time, he wants to bill himself as accessible rather than get too remote so that people only know him via speeches.

[musiclawyer]

13. It might have been discussed in strategic meetings

but any benefit is ancillary and indirect. The main point is to get face time. Good tactic however you look at it.

[loyalsister]

9. He's just using one of his strengths

He's extremely personable. If he could get to every town and have more than one event so that he could interact up close with all of the voters, he would be absolutely unbeatable. But, that is not possible. He's choosing the venue that takes him into living rooms of people who may want to attend events.

[FrenchieCat]

10. He's looking mighty good,

to where I forget about Hillary. I get hopeful and enthusiastic, and then she shows up on my TeeVee like a Debbie Downer, and it brings me down.

[Cali_Democrat]

15. Yep

[Cha]

20. Most people would lay low after getting busted

for dissing our Troops by lying about "being under fire while sending our troops into real peril"!

[Willo]

22. I don't think it's about Clinton and transparency.

I also agree its about him using his strengths and reaching into more homes.

Especially if the popular vote is given weight of its down the stretch, then expanding that lead is good strategy.

That Clinton has to stay away from media questions is just a plus in timing for Obama.