Oh-eight (D): Is Hillary too scripted?

Vallab — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 14:29:58 GMT

Hillary is toast!

Oh-eight (D): Is Hillary too scripted?

jerry/corpus christi texas — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 14:35:22 GMT

But they also view Mrs. Clinton as the best prepared and most electable Democrat in the field, the polls found."

Of course Hillary is best prepared....
When you have people planted in the audience asking the right question, how can you go wrong.
Because she did not have planted questions in Philadelphia, that's why she was unable to answer even the most basic questions....

“In the past week, the Democratic nomination fight has become more of a referendum on the Clinton years and whether Bill Clinton brought the good life to middle-class Americans or squandered eight years in compromise and scandal.”

What good life to the middle class??????
Bill I am still waiting for that middle class tax cut you promised and later lied through your teeth about!

On the heels of a poll showing Spitzer’s approval rating plummeting and a lack of public support for his driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants plan, the New York governor is now scrapping the plan.

Guess the light bulb finally turned on in Spitzers brain.

“Obama is disclosing more information than chief rival Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) is willing to reveal about the amounts her top players are raising. Clinton's campaign puts out a list of her "Hillraisers," bundlers who are responsible for generating at least $100,000.”

Not to be concerned.....
I'm sure it will all come out during the federal investigation once Norman Hsu gets his immunity deal.

Oh-eight (D): Is Hillary too scripted?

Shadow, Hamden, CT — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 14:44:10 GMT

"...the Democratic nomination fight has become more of a referendum on the Clinton years and whether Bill Clinton brought the good life to middle-class Americans or squandered eight years in compromise and scandal.” - The Boston Globe

But the fact is that both are true. What people have to decide now, looking forwards, is whether we believe we are capable of having the former without the latter.

As to Strickland not offering Hillary Clinton much of a VP boost, this should be no surprise no matter who the Presidential candidate in question, and it goes to the fact that a VP choice does not bring their own draw as much as how they complement the appeal of the top of the ticket; Edwards couldn't give Kerry any votes in the South in 2004 when those people didn't want to vote for John Kerry, after all. In the case of Al Gore, he reinforced the young change vibe of the '92 Bill Clinton campaign, whereas Cheney was a more senior choice because that was needed at the time to counterbalance George W. Bush in the eyes of many conservatives. 2008 will likely be another change election where reinforcing the appeal of a younger President makes a lot of sense, which suggests the strongest general election ticket possible would be Obama/Edwards or Edwards/Obama. I used to be doubtful that such a combination would be ideal, moreso preferring a Clark or Webb VP nomination, but Webb's cave in to FISA and Clark's cave into Kyl-Lieberman to protect Hillary Clinton made me realize that a double shot of youth is probably the best ticket anyone could offer.

Oh-eight (D): Is Hillary too scripted?

Sierra, SF — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 14:51:33 GMT

'"Democratic voters in Iowa and New Hampshire — the states that begin the presidential nominating battle — say Senator Barack Obama and John Edwards are more likely than Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton to say what they believe, rather than what they think voters want to hear...'

I guess the voters are catching on.
This is why National polls MEAN NOTHING !!
People aren't paying attention, nationally.

Iowa and NH voters are paying attention.
Iowa and NH are like the canaries in the coal mine
Hopefully, the tide is turning
I'm waiting for this weeks debate !!
It will be critical !!

Bye, bye Hillary !!

Hillary Clinton, cold, calculating, dishonest, unethical

Oh-eight (D): Is Hillary too scripted?

Sam, St Louis, MO — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 14:52:54 GMT

Hillary Clinton is too scripted (so the news media says today)...probably too uncripted tomorrow...her laugh, her clapping, her cleavage. Then we heard coverage of Ms. Obama's comment about how Barak snores andd farts in his sleep (too stinky for his daughter to go to HIS bed). Oh, please. You sound like little gossipy Chrissie Matthews. Aren't there any REAl quality journalist out there who will write stories about how the candidates stand on the issues that will touch our lives during the next four years.

Oh-eight (D): Is Hillary too scripted?

Amos Ajo — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 14:55:06 GMT

This is perhaps the best so far that I have heard from a presidential candidate: Obama said, "As President, I’ll change that. I’ll put government data online in universally accessible formats. I’ll let citizens track federal grants, contracts, earmarks, and lobbyist contacts. I’ll let you participate in government forums, ask questions in real time, offer suggestions that will be reviewed before decisions are made, and let you comment on legislation before it is signed. And to ensure that every government agency is meeting 21st century standards, I’ll appoint the nation’s first Chief Technology Officer.”

Where are all these contracts money going? It will of great interest to have open access ..........

Oh-eight (D): Is Hillary too scripted?

Justin, Gainesville, FL — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 14:56:48 GMT

Bush cleaved to his message tightly as well--at Rove's behest--for both of his campaigns. He took every opportunity to turn every question or comment to which he responded into a way to regurgitate his on-message talking points.

So let's recap all the ways in which Hillary's campaign and rhetoric resembles Bush's Rove-driven campaigns and rhetoric:

* Scripted answers--check
* Planted questions--check
* Always-on-message--check
* Accusing opponents of doing what one's own campaign is doing (planted questions)--check
* "Tough", Bush-Cheney "diplomacy"--check

Face it: anybody who supports Hillary supports four more years of the same thing we've had for the last 7.

It's time to move on. It's time to support candidates who will bring genuine change from a genuinely held set of principles. It's time to move on beyond the establishment, conservative DLC Democratic strategy of being Republican-lite that only serves to undercut truly left-of-center Democrats' agendas and empower the agenda of the far-right.

Oh-eight (D): Is Hillary too scripted?

diane — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 15:04:19 GMT

The referendum on Bill is a legitimate question for other campaigns.
While Bill did okay as a president, he was not a good or great one. He frequently threw the party under the bus to appease the republicans. The saying goes: Clinton was the best president the republicans ever had. His policies turned out to be a disaster for the middle class, once the cover of the internet boom settled down.
what put Bill into this myth catagory is the fact that silicon valley provided the economic boom during his years in office, along with him being the only democrat to be in office for the past 30 years. Bill also had the fortune to be followed by the worst president in history.
what is not told is the reason Bill was the only democrat in office is that the party veered away from their usual pattern in choosing a nominee over the past 30 years. Usually they picked the head over heart candidate that did not excite the party to come out and vote or spur any crossover. Bill was the one case of heart over head. And that is why he won.
heart always wins over mind but, the democrats cannot seem to figure that one out.

Oh-eight (D): Is Hillary too scripted?

David, TX — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 15:07:20 GMT

All,

Being/not being scripted is NOT the issue!!!

Whether she is lying by denying IS the issue.

Oh-eight (D): Is Hillary too scripted?

Class Warior, D.C. — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 15:15:20 GMT

Using plants is a Bush tactic! It looks like Hillary "Republican Lite" is becoming Republican Dark! DEMS, DON'T NOMINATE THIS ALMOST-REPUBLICAN, NOMINATE A TRUE DEMOCRAT WITH TRUE DEMOCRATIC IDEALS!!

Oh-eight (D): Is Hillary too scripted?

AP from IL — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 15:40:54 GMT

The argument that Obama is not "experienced" or "not ready" to be president is becoming tiresome. His ideas are amazing and the extent to which he is willing to reject special interests and be open with the public is unheard of in current politics. Can you imagine Bush and Cheney posting data from their infamous energy meetings on the web? The Clintons wouldn't do it either.

I see Hillary as completely status quo. Certainly not doing as much damage as a Republican but not making any real progress either. For one thing she would be constantly distracted by personal attacks from the right. Do we really want to go through all that again? And as far as even getting elected, just tool around on a site like Redstate.com. From the comments you can tell they are concerned about the polls beginning to shift. They would much rather run against Hillary than Obama.

There is such a thing as the right person for the right moment. Obama might not be the same man in eight years. He might be exactly who we need right now.

Oh-eight (D): Is Hillary too scripted?

Michael, Sioux City, IA — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 15:47:43 GMT

GO OBAMA!!

Let's get Hillary out of there!!
How she has more than 1% in any poll is beyond me. I dont get how the rest of America cant see how bad she would be for the country!

GO OBAMA!!

"I don't want to pit red American against blue America. I want to be President of the United States of America." - Barack Obama

Oh-eight (D): Is Hillary too scripted?

Luz Gallagher, ABQ, NM — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 15:56:05 GMT

Hillary could answere any question one asked her without hesitation. She doesn't have to be scripted as some of you wish. Hillary has a brain and has used it intelligently all of her life. What'swrong with "standing by her husband" when he was being trashed by the right wingers? What has Obama given back to his country? All the pundits, an especially, Chris Mathews, are piling on in regards to Hillary. Every other breath he takes is "Hillary is slipping". Now, we find out that Edwards cheated in the last election by getting votes. Is that what might happen with Obama and Edwards...they may have promised each other a VP ticket if the other cooperates in the trenches. Now, Chis, is tearing down Hillary clapping - before it was her laugh. A blog in Washinton Post had her "boots" showing too much. Give us a break and report real news for a change.

Oh-eight (D): Is Hillary too scripted?

mike oh — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 15:58:25 GMT

Class Warrior, David TX, all the John Edwards supporters, all the 'Hillary Haters' that post here. Are you implying that the hundreds of thousands of Hillary supporter, myself included, are all republicans??? That we're 'not real' dems even though we voted for this party all our lives? If we're all stupid enough to be fooled by a corrupt lying republican do you even want us in your party anymore? The rhetoric is getting way out of hand in these primaries, getting personal is not going to get anyone in the whitehouse except the GOP. Everyone is talking about 'Rovian' tactics being used by Clinton, but the one I see the most is the one they used against McCain in 2000 and Kerry in 2004, hit someone's character hard enough, say it loud enough and repeat it over and over and people will believe it. And it's being used against Clinton, not by her, she's been very positive towards the other candidates so far even with them calling her every name in the book. I respect that.

Oh-eight (D): Is Hillary too scripted?

Fired up and going for Edwards in Iowa — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 16:04:37 GMT

The nation, the world, and the Democratic contenders are not the same as they were in 2004, and it does not concern me in the least that Edwards is illuminating critical points of difference between himself and Mrs. Clinton, even though he was perceived by the press as being "nice" in 2004. Edwards has learned some lessons that Obama has not yet had an opportunity to learn. If Obama had more experience, he would not be so wishy-washy.

Oh-eight (D): Is Hillary too scripted?

Lyn, MD — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 16:04:37 GMT

More on the plant...seems maybe Hillary knew more about what was going on than she led on

Gallo-Chasanoff said the staffer signaled Clinton to call on her and another man in the crowd, among others.
Sure enough, when Gallo-Chasanoff raised her hand, the candidate called on her and she asked the question exactly as printed. See the video here, including Clinton's perfectly formatted response, noting how it's always young people who ask that question. What an amazing coincidence, eh?
According to the new CNN interview, the staffer approached Gallo-Chasanoff and asked if she'd like to ask Hillary Clinton a question. The student pondered it a moment and said, yes, she'd like to ask how Clinton's energy plan differed from other candidates. "I don't think that's a good idea," the staffer replied, "because I don't know how familiar she is with their plans."
He then flipped open a binder to a page with about eight questions on it, Gallo-Chasanoff says. At the top was one marked: (College Student). He ripped that one off and gave it to her: "As a young person, I'm worried about the long-term effects of global warming. How does your plan combat climate change?"
Gallo-Chasanoff said the staffer signaled Clinton to call on her and another man in the crowd, among others.
Sure enough, when Gallo-Chasanoff raised her hand, the candidate called on her and she asked the question exactly as printed. See the video here, including Clinton's perfectly formatted response, noting how it's always young people who ask that question. What an amazing coincidence, eh?

http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/

Oh-eight (D): Is Hillary too scripted?

MK,MO — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 16:05:09 GMT

'Is Hillary too scripted?'

that's a joke right?

let me ask this, has hillary ever made a statement that wasn't taken directly from her script?

Oh-eight (D): Is Hillary too scripted?

Yours Truly, Missouri — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 16:13:10 GMT

AP from Ill
So if we just listen to Obams's "amazing" pie in the sky rhetoric, meet with our enemies, tell them we want them to change, hold hands and sing songs, the world will change and the Republicans will be so impressed they will NOT attack Obama if he is the Dem. candidate? I'll bet you are looking for the tooth fairy to visit you tonught, too.

Oh-eight (D): Is Hillary too scripted?

David, TX — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 16:17:45 GMT

Mike OH:

Calm down and examine the evidence rationally. Regardless her stance on issues, if her denial of knowlege as to "plants" proves to be a lie; Hillary should be exposed as such by MSNBC. Disagree?

Oh-eight (D): Is Hillary too scripted?

SD, MO — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 16:24:20 GMT

Mk, MO
You think tht Hillary has never made a statement that is not scripted? I've heard her speak many, many times "unscripted" as you say and no one could be more intelligent, warm, with the leadership and experience we need. What about Professor "now look" Obama. Can anyone be more boring, dull, HOLIER THAN THOU when he speaks for himself like on Meet the Press or in debates when he is not reciting his campaign prepared script?

Oh-eight (D): Is Hillary too scripted?

Brooks — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 16:25:01 GMT

Hillary is handling all of these negative attacks exactly as she will represent our country, with intelligence, optimism, and grace. Don't let these few loud voices get you down! Hillary '08

Oh-eight (D): Is Hillary too scripted?

Fired up and going for Edwards in Iowa. — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 16:29:32 GMT

To mike oh: I am an Edwards supporter, not a Hillary hater. I do not hate Hillary Clinton, but I do not respect her, and I can not in good conscience support her. And I am not suggesting that the Democrats that support her are Republicans, merely that you need to wake up and pay attention to her liabilities.

Oh-eight (D): Is Hillary too scripted?

mike oh — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 16:53:29 GMT

David TX - I would bet my next paycheck that all the candidates use 'plants' occasionally. It's one way to get your message out if you don't feel enough people are asking questions about a new policy or problem you want to talk about. Plus, it was a question about global warming, who cares if it was planted? It's a good thing to talk about, now if someone was planted to ask why Obama hates America or something mean like that, then I'd be pissed too and she would no longer be my candidate. As far as denying goes? Yeah, I'd want an explanation if she lied about that. But keep in mind, telling a candidate to call on someone at these things doesn't always mean it's a plant, all the campaigns work the room before the candidate speaks and will point out this person or that person who showed up on their own with a good question.

Fired up - Where to begin ... You're not a 'Hillary hater" but in 'good conscience' you can't support her ... 'good conscience?' She's not satan man, she's just a candidate running for prez. Did she run over your dog or something? What policies of hers don't you agree with? You support Edwards, cool, go work your a** off for him, but if she gets the nod, will you support her? Or in 'good conscience' will you stay home and pout and let the GOP continue to run this place into the ground. Edwards has been by far the nastiest to my candidate, but if he gets the nomination I'll be out there carrying signs and trying like hell to get him elected. Will you?

Oh-eight (D): Is Hillary too scripted?

MK,MO — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 16:59:50 GMT

SD, MO/ 'Mk, MO
You think tht Hillary has never made a statement that is not scripted? I've heard her speak many, many times "unscripted" as you say and no one could be more intelligent, warm, with the leadership and experience we need. What about Professor "now look" Obama. Can anyone be more boring, dull, HOLIER THAN THOU when he speaks for himself like on Meet the Press or in debates when he is not reciting his campaign prepared script?'

hillary 'intelligent, warm', calculating and plastic would be a more accurate description, and we already enjoy the type of leadership she offers, dictated straight from the corrupt lobbyists mouths that she sold out to, bush-lite 08, no thanks

Oh-eight (D): Is Hillary too scripted?

Jen in Iowa — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 17:01:39 GMT

Hillary = Bush/Cheney lite, that's why I could never in good conscience support her. Not to mention, all this experience she claims to have is *invented* experience! First Lady of Arkansas, First Lady at the W.H. -- any experience she gained here was given to her by hubby!

Hillary's calculated move to NY (a state to which she had no previous ties) to run for senate just seals the deal for me. Her campaign theme should be: Hillary, A Scripted Life

Oh-eight (D): Is Hillary too scripted?

Peter, Des Moines Iowa — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 17:01:55 GMT

I live in Iowa, and caucused for John Edwards in 2004. This year I won't. He is WAY TOO NEGATIVE! I'm choosing between Hillary who can win the general, or Obama, who is somewhat inspiring even though I don't think he can win the general.

Oh-eight (D): Is Hillary too scripted?

Amy B Portland, ME — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 17:13:17 GMT

All of the candidates are scripted, except McCain, and look where he is. The candidates have to keep to the script becuase they really get nailed for any ambiguous statements they make. I am supporting Edwards because you can tell he's sharp as a tack underneath the rehearsed patter. With politicians, you have to read between the lines.

Oh-eight (D): Is Hillary too scripted?

jerry/corpus christi texas — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 17:13:22 GMT

Question for tomorrow night:

Senator Clinton, what is your position on Global Warming? The young lady in Iowa that was handed a question by your senior staff so you would look good did not work. Seriously, what is your position on Global warming?

I'd probably end up with a target on my back like Tim Russert has on his.

Oh-eight (D): Is Hillary too scripted?

Fran Wheeler, Birmingham AL — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 17:13:24 GMT

mike oh - "'good conscience?' She's not satan man,"

Then how do you explain her tail?

Oh-eight (D): Is Hillary too scripted?

mike oh — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 17:20:30 GMT

Fran,

That's not a tail, that's what left of Ken Starr's carreer.

Oh-eight (D): Is Hillary too scripted?

Ana — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 17:28:42 GMT

I’m now totally convinced Hillary will win the nomination. Even in her toughest time and Obama and Edwards’ best time she still holds 2% lead in Iowa and bounced back to 15% in NH. Technically she is tied with Obama and Edwards in Iowa, however when you look at the data, 47% Iowans believe she can win presidency compare to Obama’s 17% and Ewards’ 20%. And 80% believe she is qualified to be president, compare to Obama 42% and Edwards 68%. Who in his right mind will elect a loser?

Oh-eight (D): Is Hillary too scripted?

Amy B Portland, ME — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 17:54:25 GMT

Seems to me the fact Edwards is at 23% and Obama 22%, means 45% of the Democrats in Iowa are against Hillary. Only 25% really support her.

I think if either Obama or Edwards dropped out, their supporters would go to the other, not to Hillary. It is apparent to me that the un-Hillary movement is very strong.

Oh-eight (D): Is Hillary too scripted?

karlos — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 17:55:46 GMT

do i believe hill is scripted and planted, hell yes. do i think the top 3 are scripted, again hell yes. hill & obama loaded the jj dinner with supporters repotedly 7000 of 9000 attending to control the response. so their scripted,planted,and cushioned for response. my choice, joe biden, hardly is any of those. he's straight,improvisational, and the demo answer to mccain's straight talk of his 2000 campaign. i liked mccain then and i like biden now. biden will also gather a hugh support from independents that hill won't and is the heavyweight in the campaign on iraq,iran afgan. and pakistan.

Oh-eight (D): Is Hillary too scripted?

karlos — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 17:55:47 GMT

Oh-eight (D): Is Hillary too scripted?

Jane Urbandale IA — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 18:17:57 GMT

"Hillary could answere any question one asked her without hesitation. She doesn't have to be scripted as some of you wish. * * * All the pundits, an especially, Chris Mathews, are piling on in regards to Hillary. * * *

Luz Gallagher, ABQ, NM "

Luz, Hillary could answer questions without a script, and she doesn't need plants, however, she and her campaign are afraid she'll say the wrong thing, the wrong thing not being the correct answer, but an answer that doesn't poll well, or that opens her up to criticism. That's the problem with Hillary, not that she can't answer without a script, or needs plants, but that she either lacks confidence in her opinions, or she actually lacks cares so little about most issues that she has no firm convictions. That is not leadership!

Take a look at what John Dickerson Posted Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2007, on Slate.

"I was at the biodiesel plant in Newton, Iowa, when Hillary Clinton was asked the now-famous question that had been set up by her staff. We had just finished a tour of the facility where Clinton nodded, as all candidates do, while officials spoke so that the cameramen wearing hard hats could film her standing among tubes and vats. (This is for B-roll that makes the candidate look engaged in local issues while the television announcer talks about her trip.) Then Clinton gave a nearly hour-long policy speech before taking questions from the audience. Nineteen-year-old Muriel Gallo-Chasanoff asked: "As a young person, I'm worried about the long-term effects of global warming. How does your plan combat climate change?"
Now we know, though, that it was Clinton's staff that gave Gallo-Chasanoff that question to ask. Which makes the senator's answer amusing. "It's usually young people who ask me about global warming," she said. Perhaps it's usually young people because in the binder where a staffer showed Gallo-Chasanoff the question for her to ask, it was under the category marked "college student."
What are we to make of the flap over the planted question? It is tempting to recline into the posture that this is a phony media-generated noncontroversy, like the questions about whether Clinton did or didn't tip an Iowa waitress (a story we must denounce as frivolous but keep milking anyway). Except that exchanges between voters and candidates are supposed to be the antidote to the failings of the mainstream media—free of all of the gimmickry and game-playing. Q-and-As by nature aren't as phony as the candidate plant tour or the planned stop at a roadside diner. They're as close as we get to an honest exchange. So, politicians should pay a price when they try to game them.
George Bush debased the town-hall format with many stage-managed charades, and it's politically dangerous for a Democratic candidate to get tagged with imitating him. Clinton has answered hundreds of town-hall questions with no hint of this, and so her offense falls well short of Bush's repeated infractions. (The audience members didn't have little windup keys in their backs.) But the timing couldn't be worse for her. The last week or so, the Iowa campaign has seen a new phase, in which Obama and Edwards, her neck-and-neck rivals, have questioned Clinton's honesty in almost every news cycle, a job that used to be handed off to staffers. In his well-received speech Saturday to Iowa Democrats, Barack Obama talked about the poll-driven politics and triangulation that are code words for the worst noncorporal sins of the Clinton years in Democratic circles. Clinton already fueled this with her switchback answer about driver's licenses for illegal immigrants in the last debate. Now, she has produced an easy-to-tell anecdote that makes her look highly calculating.
And it's an anecdote that involves a real, live Iowa voter. A lot of media firestorms take place in Washington green rooms and cable chat shows, but this event took place in their state and to one of their own. When politicians pander to them, the whole idea of the sage Iowa voter gets so tedious, I want to flee to the border. But then you talk to Iowa voters and are reminded that they are thoroughly normal and do take the process seriously. You can make fun of them, but I'm not going to. After one of Barack Obama's speeches last week, Pam Schroder of Bettendorf told me that while she was leaning toward Obama, she wanted to see Clinton speak in person to give her a fair shot to make her case. Voters who take the process that seriously can't like being played with planted questions.
Did Clinton know what her staff was doing? She says she didn't. Can that be so? She answered only a handful of questions at the event, and she somehow found her way to the person in the crowd who'd been put up to the task. Either her luck is smashing, or she's fibbing. Any staffer who prints up audience questions and carries them in a neat little binder doesn't then leave it to chance whether the candidate finds the one plant in a room of 300. Campaign aides insist that this moment was an act of pure happenstance. That still means that staffers feel it's OK to freelance at confecting artifice. Shouldn't someone have hesitated and thought, yikes, this is the kind of campaign where if I get caught doing this, I'm going to get fired? Even if it never winds up on the Jumbo-Tron in Times Square?
On the other hand, more politically devious questions could have been planted. The question Gallo-Chasanoff was actually planning to ask on her own is one of them. How is your plan different than your opponents' plans? This would have allowed Clinton to then ding her rivals while looking like she was just answering a question. (Romney may have employed this very technique.)
I didn't think the question was a plant at the time. It sounded a little general and prerehearsed, but a lot of town-hall questions sound that way. Days before the controversy broke, Bhagyashree Garekar, a correspondent for Singapore's Straits Times, asked me if I thought the questions had been planted at Clinton events we had both attended. I said I didn't think so. No candidate would be so stupid. When news broke that at least one had been, I called Garekar to ask what had tipped her off, since she hadn't made it to the Newton event. "This is common practice in many foreign countries, particularly India," she said. What was supposed to be a free-flowing exchange sounded rehearsed to someone with firsthand knowledge of the practice.
I thought a question from a waitress last week in the town of Oelwein, about increasing the minimum wage, seemed far more likely plant material, because the woman was from a crucial voting bloc, and Clinton answered her so well and retold of the exchange throughout her visit. A campaign aide assures me the exchange was genuine. They should put that answer on tape: They'll be asked that question a lot from now on.
John Dickerson is Slate's chief political correspondent

Oh-eight (D): Is Hillary too scripted?

Dot, Illinois — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 18:25:14 GMT

"Even in her toughest time and Obama and Edwards’ best time she still holds 2% lead in Iowa and bounced back to 15% in NH."

Ana I have a feeling that Senator Clinton has not yet faced her toughest time. As decision time draws nearer, things tend to get even "tougher."

Oh-eight (D): Is Hillary too scripted?

stacy West Des Moines — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 18:26:40 GMT

"Seems to me the fact Edwards is at 23% and Obama 22%, means 45% of the Democrats in Iowa are against Hillary. Only 25% really support her.

I think if either Obama or Edwards dropped out, their supporters would go to the other, not to Hillary. It is apparent to me that the un-Hillary movement is very strong.

Amy B Portland, ME"

First Amy the polls in Iowa are meaningless because the publicly released polls don't poll actual caucus goers, but registered voters 80% of which have never attended a caucus. It is unlikely that 25% of people who will attend the 1/3/08 caucus are actually Hillary supporters at this time.

If Obama or Edward dropped out before the caucus, which will not happen, many of their supporters would go to Clinton, and many would go to other candidates, the belief that all of Edwards (or even a large percent) would go to Obama, if Edwards dropped out, and vice a versa, is just wrong. Many Edwards supporters have Clinton as their second choice, although more have Biden as their second, and few have Obama.

Oh-eight (D): Is Hillary too scripted?

David, TX — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 18:29:10 GMT

Hillary denied she knew anything about a plant! Sound familiar? "Deny, deny, deny." The evidence seems to suggest otherwise. Read Muriel's interview!! Is that the kind of character you want from your President?

Oh-eight (D): Is Hillary too scripted?

Scott, PA — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 18:50:50 GMT

Peter,
Those are all false choices being offered. There are real choices out there. Don't go with the 'most likely to win' choice. Go with the 'most likely to lead' choice. That has to go out to everyone in here.

Oh-eight (D): Is Hillary too scripted?

David, TX — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 19:29:34 GMT

For those of you who believe Mrs. Clinton voted for the war in Iraq only because she was lied to by Bush, read the following quote:

"There is a very easy way to prevent anyone from being put into harm’s way, that is for Saddam Hussein to disarm. And I have absolutely no belief that he will. I have to say that this is something I’ve followed for more than a decade. If he were serious about disarming, he would have been much more forthcoming. . . . I ended up voting for the resolution after carefully reviewing the information, intelligence that I had available, talking with people whose opinions I trusted, trying to discount the political or other factors that I didn’t believe should be in any way part of this decision."

Hillary addresses Code Pink, March 7, 2003.

Apparently, she performed her own investigation. Is she a liar? You decide.

Oh-eight (D): Is Hillary too scripted?

Mike K, Denver — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 20:04:30 GMT

<<First Amy the polls in Iowa are meaningless because the publicly released polls don't poll actual caucus goers, but registered voters 80% of which have never attended a caucus. It is unlikely that 25% of people who will attend the 1/3/08 caucus are actually Hillary supporters at this time.

If Obama or Edward dropped out before the caucus, which will not happen, many of their supporters would go to Clinton, and many would go to other candidates, the belief that all of Edwards (or even a large percent) would go to Obama, if Edwards dropped out, and vice a versa, is just wrong. Many Edwards supporters have Clinton as their second choice, although more have Biden as their second, and few have Obama. >>

Source, por favor?

Oh-eight (D): Is Hillary too scripted?

Mike K, Denver — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 20:15:53 GMT

<<Hillary Clinton is too scripted (so the news media says today)...probably too uncripted tomorrow...her laugh, her clapping, her cleavage. Then we heard coverage of Ms. Obama's comment about how Barak snores andd farts in his sleep (too stinky for his daughter to go to HIS bed). Oh, please. You sound like little gossipy Chrissie Matthews. Aren't there any REAl quality journalist out there who will write stories about how the candidates stand on the issues that will touch our lives during the next four years. >>

The MSM would do that, but then Hillary would have a less than zero chance of winning so much as an election for dog catcher much less President. Gossip sells news and it is so far selling Americans on Hillary. Too bad that people are beginning to come around to actually wanting to hear about issues and the like--things Hillary has really no clue about if you've watched any of the debates. She just plagarizes Obama's camp of their material and sticks her name on it. Lukcily people are catching on to that as well.

Oh-eight (D): Is Hillary too scripted?

HILLARY 08 — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 20:26:31 GMT

Oh-eight (D): Is Hillary too scripted?

Lee Holmes — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 20:31:37 GMT

Yes. Next question.

Oh-eight (D): Is Hillary too scripted?

ruth baker — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 21:09:28 GMT

Lee, you should be a candidate. Your answer was concise, complete and correct.

Oh-eight (D): Is Hillary too scripted?

Mike K, Denver — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 21:29:14 GMT

<<Hillary could answere any question one asked her without hesitation. She doesn't have to be scripted as some of you wish. Hillary has a brain and has used it intelligently all of her life. What'swrong with "standing by her husband" when he was being trashed by the right wingers? What has Obama given back to his country? All the pundits, an especially, Chris Mathews, are piling on in regards to Hillary. Every other breath he takes is "Hillary is slipping". Now, we find out that Edwards cheated in the last election by getting votes. Is that what might happen with Obama and Edwards...they may have promised each other a VP ticket if the other cooperates in the trenches. Now, Chis, is tearing down Hillary clapping - before it was her laugh. A blog in Washinton Post had her "boots" showing too much. Give us a break and report real news for a change. >>

*cleans iced tea off monitor for the 2nd time today*

Give me a break. She's more scripted than an episode of The West Wing. What do you call having people in the crowd with pre-written questions that she likely has pre-written or memorized answers to? Why won't she answer tough questions at the debates and only use them as a chance to attack the current administration? She's scripted down to what she wears everyday. If that's how she is now, can you just imagine the kind of administration she'd run?

Oh-eight (D): Is Hillary too scripted?

Mike K, Denver — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 21:31:15 GMT

Oh-eight (D): Is Hillary too scripted?

Mike K, Denver — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 21:33:51 GMT

<<Hillary is handling all of these negative attacks exactly as she will represent our country, with intelligence, optimism, and grace. Don't let these few loud voices get you down! Hillary '08 >>

Bill?

Oh-eight (D): Is Hillary too scripted?

Mike K, Denver — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 21:37:19 GMT

<<Question for tomorrow night:

Senator Clinton, what is your position on Global Warming? The young lady in Iowa that was handed a question by your senior staff so you would look good did not work. Seriously, what is your position on Global warming?

I'd probably end up with a target on my back like Tim Russert has on his. >>

It's just too bad that we're getting a Clinton a-- kisser as moderator tomorrow night. If it were Russert or anyone from say NPR or PBS, that question would have a chance of getting asked.

Oh-eight (D): Is Hillary too scripted?

HILLARY 08 — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 23:10:00 GMT

And if you believe she's not scripted, consider this:

Her environmental plan, her healthcare plan, her plan for Iraq and Iran, including actual diplomatic efforts, were all written and proposed by: Barack Obama. If I didn't know better, I'd think he was her campaign manager given all the things he's written that she's conveniently stolen.
Mike K, Denver (Sent Wednesday, November 14, 2007 4:31
------------------------------------------------------
You need to supply some proof with all the lies you just posted. I can prove it is he who steals her plans. He has smoked you people with I HOPE you don't catch me stealing from HILLARY!

Oh-eight (D): Is Hillary too scripted?

James Woodson — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 03:54:06 GMT

Too scripted? No. Too stupid? Yes!

Oh-eight (D): Is Hillary too scripted?

Stacy West Des Moines — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 14:12:21 GMT

Mike K, Denver

Which source, about Iowa polling? The polls (except the Hawkeye poll released in late Oct, which didn't even sample registered voters, it called residential households!) don't obtain their sample from the caucus lists, these lists are property of the political parties (call the Iowa Democratic or GOP party- I don't have a written source- but it's a fact)

The parties charge an enormous fee for the lists, all credible candidates purchase the lists, and the candidates internal polling comes from random samples of prior caucus goers. No public poll has ever used random samples of previous caucus goers. Source: Look at the polling data it will tell you where they obtained their sample. They will usually state their sample was obtained from a random sample of registered voters (except the Hawkeye poll which indicated it came from residential households). The polling data usually has information on their methodology.

Source of 80% of registered Democrats don't attend caucuses. You can get the information from many sources, I've seen sources that indicate 6% ( or maybe it was 3% I think 3)of eligible caucus goers attend the caucus. To obtain this figure they (It was in a Des Moines Register story) use the number of Iowans 18 or older by the general election, compared to the small number who attended the last caucus. This number will be so low because it included independents, and GOP when there really wasn't a reason to go in 04, and people who have never registered to vote.

The 20% figure can be obtained by looking at the number of registered democrats in Iowa in January of 04 (you can get this from the Iowa Secretary of state website)and compare it with the 04 Democratic caucus turn out of 124,000. You will get 20% (not exactly but under 21%-close to 20% than 21%). 1988 and 2004 had the highest Democratic turn out. The state historical museum in Des Moines also has a lot of this information in their caucus exhibit, they might also have a website, I've never checked.

To arrive at "likely caucus goers" the polls ask the people on the phone whether they plan on attending the caucus. Relying on respondents saying they'll attend, as opposed to paying for the actual 04 list, results in far more people saying they'll attend than ever have attended. George Gallup discovered in the 50's that a large percent of people polled will say they are going to vote, but when they checked those who said they were voting against those that actually did close to 20% of the people who said they were going to vote in the Presidential election did not vote.

Social scientist have known for a long time that people will say what makes them appear civic minded in polls. It is why they look at whether the people surveyed think the country or their neighbor would vote for a Hispanic, and not what they say they'll do. All the caucus polls show more people claiming they'll caucus than ever do. Given caucus attendance has never exceeded 20% in Iowa it is reasonable to expect that only 20% of random registered voters will attend their caucus.

This is the reason that caucus polling in 03 and 04 was way off. It was because the sample reflected name ID and public perception, not actual likely caucus goers.

If you want to know the source of Biden being the second choice of many 04 caucus goers, that is coming from sources within many campaigns. I think the Register may have also reported this but I'm not 100% sure on that.

Oh-eight (D): Is Hillary too scripted?

stacy West Des Moines — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 14:33:12 GMT