Not exactly a plant, but…

Posted: Sunday, November 25, 2007 2:01 PM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: 2008, 2008 Giuliani

From NBC/NJ’s Matthew Berger
WEEKEND GIULIANI CAMPAIGN NOTEBOOK
WINDHAM, N.H.-- It is not exactly a plant, but Giuliani seems to have at least an overzealous campaigner who asked pretty easy questions at campaign stops both yesterday and today.

Richard Florino, a 52-year-old attorney who identified himself as the co-chair of Giuliani’s campaign in Windham, asked Giuliani Saturday at a Nashua town hall why liberal Democrats were not strong on defense.

“What makes the liberal Democrats so wrong about the threats this country faces?” he asked.

Then at a Sunday house party, clad in a New England Patriots sweatshirt, Florino was the first person called on again. He asked Giuliani this time about eliminating the alternative minimum tax and about Romney’s lack of support for Ronald Reagan’s economic principles.

Surrounded by reporters after the event, Florino said he was a longtime political supporter, but said he had no interaction with Giuliani or campaign before asking his questions.

“I raised my hand,” he said. “If I’m there, I get called on.”

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Comments

So instead of Hillary's secrecy about plants, Guiliani can boast that his plants are proud and up front.

What an awful choice we would have if these two ended up the nominees.

Shadow, Hamden, CT (Sent Sunday, November 25, 2007 2:39 PM)

I guess it offsets the Roger Latulippe's of the world who ask REAL questions and actually expect answers. They sure make it hard for a Candidate of either party to sell an image and the fantasy of inevitability.
You Candidates need to take a page out of Fearless Leaders play book. Screen your audience totally. No need to let dissenting opinions to spoil the message.

Gary Schear, Bozeman Montana (Sent Sunday, November 25, 2007 2:48 PM)

He should have asked Giuliani Like Bernard Kerick, has he ever spent the night in the apartment meant for the 9/11 rescue workers. And was he aware that Kerick was using it.

Ed (Sent Sunday, November 25, 2007 3:33 PM)

Like I said when you bashed Hillary: Everyone does it! There is not a single campaign that doesn't have favorable people asking "questions". George Bush never attended a rally or town hall or campaign event where the audience wasn't vetted first to make sure only his supporters were in the audience, thereby assuring favorable questions. How many of you reporters would dare ask tough questions of the president, given the opportunity to interview him? What is the difference between Hillary planting a question about global warming (ooohhh, a real conspiracy there!) and all you reporters following around your favorite candidate and asking him/her softball questions or a question that allows them to respond with their prefabricated speeches? You people are such hypocrites that it amazes me how you are able to keep your job! I like to refer to you all from MSNBC as "FoxNews-Lite". You have an agenda just like them, but at least they are honest enough to admit that they have an agenda.

steve daytona beach, fl (Sent Sunday, November 25, 2007 3:40 PM)

How cheesy - it's not that this guy is in the audience that is a problem... it's that Giuliani CALLS ON HIM REPEATEDLY AS IF HE WERE JUST "JOE CITIZEN" THAT'S THE PROBLEM!!!

JIMBO, Union, NJ (Sent Sunday, November 25, 2007 3:52 PM)

Oh yeah, you moronic shill, the Republicans are SO much more reliable when it comes to national defense. I mean, under who's watch did 9/11, the largest most devastating "attack" in our history, occur? Oh wait...that's right...those patriotic, ever-vigilant pseudo Republican neo-cons were in charge of our defense then...whoops! The shill/plant deserves a solid punch in the face in hopes of jump-starting his brain and that traitorous fascist prick Giuliani should be given a good ol' fashioned tar-and-feathering.

Johnny Gotham, New Orleans, Louisiana (Sent Sunday, November 25, 2007 9:27 PM)

Guiliani is a moron, and it's not a shock that the more... should we call them sophisticated voters on this board? Anyhow, it's no shock that the people who don't use fact check, spell check, or complete sentences are the ones supporting this person. Is it 08 yet?

Travis, Louisville, Ky (Sent Monday, November 26, 2007 7:33 AM)

A plant is always just a plant, no brains, all juice and little fiber. Here is a better question to ask 'How come the dems don't just become repubs and give us one party rule again'? Because we had it for four years and found it wanting!!

John Alexander, Edinboro, PA (Sent Monday, November 26, 2007 8:44 AM)

I was at this event and hoping to ask Mayor Giuliani about his plan to combat global warming. Since he didn't mention energy once in his speech, I was even more disappointed that Giuliani chose to take questions from the supporters sitting behind him before taking two more from the rest of the crowd. Three questions and one from an obvious supporter? I think NH voters expect more than that from their next president.

Emily, Londonderry NH (Sent Monday, November 26, 2007 2:33 PM)

I was at the second event, where he spent about 20% of his time talking about energy, and outlined a mobilization plan similar to President Kennedy's space race of the 1960s.

For those of you who don't seem to know anything about the way our Defense Department works: There is no way an administration in office less than a year could possibly have an effect on the readiness of our military (i.e. 9/11 readiness). It is also convenient that you choose to ignore the fact that President Clinton was offered Bin Laden's head on a platter and declined this AT THE SAME TIME HE WAS CUTTING BACK OUR DEFENSES BY 60%! If you are going to sling mud and name-call, at least take the time to do a little homework first.

Adam, Windham, NH (Sent Tuesday, November 27, 2007 1:45 AM)

Clinton didn't cut defense spending by 60%. It was more like 10%. He was also the only president in recent memory to balance the budget.

Your absurd claim makes me doubt everything else you say. You really weren't at Giuliani's rally, were you?

Glenn Friedman; New Orleans, LA (Sent Saturday, December 01, 2007 10:27 PM)

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