Clinton's Planted Question...In 1999

Three days after Hillary Clinton's campaign was forced to admit it had planted a question at an Iowa campaign event, an eagle-eyed tipster noted that this wasn't the first time the former First Lady's camp arranged for a friendly voice to lob a softball question.

In announcing her Senate run in 1999, MSNBC reported that "responding to a planted question at a Teachers Union event [Clinton] made it clear she is in the race for the US Senate."

Clinton's aides reacted to the news of the most recent rigged question by saying "this is not standard policy and will not be repeated again."

Below is the transcript from the 1999 broadcast:

ANNOUNCER: From NBC News, this is THE NEWS WITH BRIAN WILLIAMS.

WILLIAMS: Good evening.

We have a lot to tell you about tonight, beginning with what had become a whisper campaign of late, and it went like this: After what turned into a somewhat disastrous trip to the Middle East and with polls showing she should not run, Hillary Rodham Clinton just might pull out of the race for Senate from New York. Well, today, the first lady, responding to a planted question at a Teachers Union event made it clear she is in the race for the US Senate.

The aggressive Yale-educated lawyer is most certainly in for the fight of her life. But today was about looking ahead to all that she says she plans to do for New York and its residents. Part of today's announcement, however, was somewhat overlooked and that is, the first lady will soon begin living apart from the president. The White House will be without a first lady, while the president's wife moves to New York and runs for office. She does so without the blessing of some New York Democrats. We'll hear from one in just a moment.

First here tonight, NBC News correspondent Andrea Mitchell on the woman who says she's in it to win it.

Story continues below

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(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANDREA MITCHELL, NBC CORRESPONDENT (on-camera): Brian, today's events were as carefully choreographed as the New York City Ballet.

(voice-over): Under pressure to either get in or get out, Hillary Clinton finally makes it official by answering a prearranged question from a friendly union leader.

QUESTION: So, is it yes, or is it no?

HILLARY CLINTON, FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES: I believe that if we work together, we really can make a difference for the children and families of New York. So the answer is yes, I intend to run.

-MSNBC, November 23, 1999, THE NEWS WITH BRIAN WILLIAMS

Comments

[Centauri]

Is there any substance to this story. She has every right to choreograph her announcement any which way she wants. This proves beyond any doubt that Huff post is run by a bunch of morons.

[cwilsondrum]

was her planted question about her cleavage,or what kind of animal she would like to be, or if she sort of had to think she had it coming (like valerie plame had to endure from that fucking mess katie can'twrite(couric) news . get real, 7 years of lying fucking criminals, and chickenshit hawks like bush and cheney, and this is what you want to focus on. your quickly becoming history. try to fucking focus

[RusStyles]

Funny, all you whiners about HRC being callled out (and rightfully so) were mysteriously mum when the HuffPost was running cheap shot articles at Obama. i.e., landing at the wrong airport and bunch of other trivial stories. This story is profoundly reflective of the very point Hillary detractors have been making. She's a Janus-faced, manipulating, carpetbagging shill for the oligarch.

[kittycago]

all campaigns do this the only difference is not all are caught.

[Swift2]

Every single candidate plants questions in the audience. They're at least there if nobody asks anything, which is embarrassing, or if nobody has asked something you want to answer. When did this become some kind of ethical deal? Don't be completely ridiculous. Jeff Gannon in the White House? Questionable. A voter who's put up to ask a good question? Why the hell not?

By the way, Hillary's environmental policy came out the day before this. Anybody notice that? You Hufftards are making me sick. You and Karl Rove are the same thing.

[yukoner1]

Huffpost is getting as bad as Tweety Bird pounding this non-issue to death.

[kellygrrrl]

Who Cares??????

What candidate does not Plan and Present their "announcement" to run -- it is always a highly choreographed event.

[transendentilist]

Really Max, give it a friggin rest already. Karl....is that you?

[bowiegeek]

whatever

[catuskoti]

It's about her honesty, stupid.

[breathestolive]

Are you seriously cutting posts that stick up for Clinton? How annoying, if you are. This has been my favorite go-to site for political stuff, but that will surely end if you are editing comments.

[breathestolive]

I'm beginning to think that this site only exists to discredit Mrs. Clinton.

[bluesky49876]

Seems like harmless to me....but it seems that HuffPost is spending sleepless hours trying to drudge up anything, however remotely silly, to continue its anti-Hillary crusade. May be Ariana herself should run for the office.

[Unhinged]

WTF??!! I cannot believe this...why don't we talk about the fact that *EVERY* question that has been posed to Bush in the last 7-9 years being planted for the Bush at "town hall meetings" or any public appearance PLUS EVERY PERSON in all the meetings are "planted" and a Loyal Bushie!! They have to prove they are a loyal Bushie or they cannot get in to a "public" meeting!! It's bullshit!!

[Bulbul]

And so ? This is end of 2007, lot has happened since then. Has it not ?
How is this important !