Saturday, November 10, 2007

Clinton Campaign Confirms Planting Town Hall Question, Says It Won't Happen Again

Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton’s campaign admitted Friday that it planted a global warming question in Newton, Iowa, Tuesday during a town hall meeting to discuss clean energy.

Clinton campaign spokesman Mo Elliethee admitted that the campaign had planted the question and said it would not happen again.

"On this occasion a member of our staff did discuss a possible question about Senator Clinton's energy plan at a forum,” Elliethee said.

“However, Senator Clinton did not know which questioners she was calling on during the event. This is not standard policy and will not be repeated again.”

In a state where the caucus is held sacred and the impromptu and candid style of the town hall meeting is held dear, Clinton’s planted question may come as a great offense to Iowans.

According to a report on the Grinnell University Web site, the Clinton campaign arranged for some of the questions for the candidate to be asked by college students:

"On Tuesday Nov. 6, the Clinton campaign stopped at a biodiesel plant in Newton as part of a weeklong series of events to introduce her new energy plan. The event was clearly intended to be as much about the press as the Iowa voters in attendance, as a large press core helped fill the small venue....

"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.

Clinton's critics have accused her of being a double-talker who refuses to answer tough questions specifically. Now her campaign has acknowledged planting at least one question..."

So let us put this into perspective. Tired of getting nasty old questions she's unprepared for, Hillary's handlers...and if ever calling someone that was apropos...are now planting safe little softballs so that the Junior Senator from NY can swing away with impunity.

No fuss, no muss. Back to being the see-all, know-all, boy have I got a plan for you, politician fairly overbrimming with sagacity. We'll show that wiseass Johnny and his co-conspirator Oback how to debate.

And yes, Mrs. Bill, young people DO seem to be asking this question of you as of late.

Because your handlers have been telling them to.

What an awful woman.

Going to begin referring to her twists and turns gaffs and flipflops under the headline of the Hillary Hole. In honor of the ugly safety that Smith & Wesson foisted upon the public after making deals with the other Clinton

I was so happy to be finally rid of that impeached felon and now this. Another one slithering out to haunt us.

A Clinton, not an impeached felon.

Beg pardon? Same thing?

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