Blue Crab Boulevard

Clinton Campaign Makes HUGE Mistake

I noted yesterday that there are signs that the Clinton campaign is overreacting and fumbling over issues in a very clumsy, almost frantic way. Today comes a revelation that indicates there may be real trouble ahead for the campaign. The campaign planted at least one question at a townhall meeting in Iowa. They swear it was just one question and they promise it won't happen again. Yeah, right.

"After her speech, Clinton accepted questions. But according to Grinnell College student Muriel Gallo-Chasanoff ’10, some of the questions from the audience were planned in advance. 'They were canned,' she said. Before the event began, a Clinton staff member approached Gallo-Chasanoff to ask a specific question after Clinton’s speech. 'One of the senior staffers told me what [to ask],' she said.

"Clinton called on Gallo-Chasanoff after her speech to ask a question: what Clinton would do to stop the effects of global warming. Clinton began her response by noting that young people often pose this question to her before delving into the benefits of her plan.

"But the source of the question was no coincidence — at this event 'they wanted a question from a college student,' Gallo-Chasanoff said."

The tape of the event shows that the question and answer went as follows:

Question: "As a young person, I'm worried about the long-term effects of global warming How does your plan combat climate change?

Clinton: "Well, you should be worried. You know, I find as I travel around Iowa that it's usually young people that ask me about global warming."

The campaign's admission that it planted the question may be another blow to the New York senator's image as a trustworthy politician.

Gee, ya think? Who has Clinton got as campaign consultants, FEMA? Let's improve the candidate's answer, shall we: "I find as I travel around Iowa that it's usually young people who are coached by my staff who ask me canned questions about global warming so I can pontificate, safe in the knowledge that I will never be asked an unscripted question."

This will not go over well with primary voters. Not at all. This is not a "stumble" for the campaign. It is a pratfall.

UPDATE: A picture is worth 1,000 words……

Politics | Gaius Saturday, 10 November , 2007

By feeblemind, Saturday, 10 November , 2007 @ 8:04 am

One more straw on the proverbial camel’s back?
By Bleepless, Saturday, 10 November , 2007 @ 9:47 am

I am reminded of a country-Western song from my youth:

I didn’t knoooow the gun was loaded
And I’m soooo sorry, my friend.
I didn’t knoooow the gun was loaded
And I’ll never, ever do it again.
By Uncle Fester, Saturday, 10 November , 2007 @ 12:34 pm

Are these people idiots? Haven’t they heard of the Internet? Distributed information feeds? Blogs?

Stupid should hurt.
By FedUp, Saturday, 10 November , 2007 @ 2:28 pm

Broom Hilda isn’t too worried… she’s got the money… and we, in the ether world don’t count. We are just ill-informed fanatics… doncha know.. all part of a conspiracy to make her look bad (It’s working… )
By Maggie, Saturday, 10 November , 2007 @ 3:19 pm

“Stupid should hurt.”

Uncle Fester -

That’s one of the best lines I’ve heard in a spell.

I’m stealing it!
By mockinbird, Saturday, 10 November , 2007 @ 5:21 pm

Hillary Clinton’s whole life is “canned”.