Diamonds And Pearls Are A Girl's Best Friend (But Maybe Not Her Question Of Choice)

Everyone is pretty much in agreement that last night's "Diamonds or Pearls?" query to Hillary Clinton at the CNN Democratic Debate in Las Vegas was a total clunker. Now from The Atlantic's Marc Ambinder comes word that the UNLV student who asked the question, Maria Luisa, had not, in fact, expected to ask that question, but had rather prepared a question about the proposed Yucca Mountain site for nuclear waste. Ambinder tracked the story to Luisa's MySpace page, which he excerpted as follows:

"Every single question asked during the debate by the audience had to be approved by CNN...I was asked to submit questions including "lighthearted/fun" questions. I submitted more than five questions on issues important to me. I did a policy memo on Yucca Mountain a year ago and was the finalist for the Truman Scholarship. For sure, I thought I would get to ask the Yucca question that was APPROVED by CNN days in advance. CNN ran out of time and used me to "close" the debate with the pearls/diamonds question."

Oh, ouch — it's almost worse knowing that someone actually gave the thumbs-up to "diamonds or pearls?" in advance. Here's the CNN response (also pillaged from Ambinder):

Sam Feist, the executive producer of the debate, said that the student was asked to choose another question because the candidates had already spent about ten minutes discussing Yucca Mountain.

"When her Yucca mountain question was asked, she was given the opportunity to ask another question, and my understand is that the [diamond v. pearls] questions was her other question," Feist said. "She probably was disappointed, but we spent a lot of time with a bunch of different candidates on Yucca Mountain, and we were at the end of the debate."

Our take: Luisa doesn't deny submitting the "diamonds or pearls" question, and could have refused in horror...though that's a pretty high standard for a kid to meet in the heat of the moment with a mike in your face and the chance to address the presidential candidates on national TV. It sucks that Luisa is taking heat right now (it's an obit-leader) but it sucks more that anyone at CNN actually THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE A GOOD QUESTION TO ASK, EVER. Sheesh.

Meanwhile, Ambinder also notes that there are rumblings that the debate audience had a "pro-Clinton tilt"; as we (and others) have noted, CNN's postgame panel featured both James Carville (former Bill Clinton advisor and current Hillary Clinton supporter) and David Gergen, also a Clinton White House advisor (but, to be fair, also for Nixon, Ford, Reagan and Bush I. Even so, as a counselor to Clinton, it ought to have been noted — particularly when paired with the no-ifs-ands-or-buts-about-it Clintonite Carville). Our take: Did anyone see that postgame wrap-up? Urk. If comments like, "Hillary Clinton was rested and ready" were supposed to help his candidate, then Gergen's not all that much help. The other campaigns ought to be glad they weren't part of it.

"Diamond v. Pearl" Student Blasts CNN [The Atlantic]

Related:
Diamonds & Pearls [Prince]

Comments

[NewMexicoFan]

People are dying in Iraq, and the Diamonds and Pearls question has 4 pages worth of comments. Now do we know what is wrong with the county?

And by the way, I did not see a gun to that young ladies head. She appeared to ask that question of her own free will. But then maybe that is how this country is raising children, not to accept responsibility for their actions.

Why should she complain. With this much attention she will be remembered for this question. If she had asked her other question, she would not have.

Anna Nicole, Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie, and Britney Spears are proud of you. Oh, and of course, Thanks Huffington Press for giving a platform for this. I guess you all kept your jobs. The noble thing would have been to cut this link and not give it the light of day.

[loki]

Its not like when Bush does a town hall meeting or a FEMA or Hillary does a press conference where the people are planted and the questions pre-written by someone on their staff. This was not a plant one of the questions she actually wrote on her own, just not the one she had hoped to get to ask.

[rwe]

After The CNN journalistic spectacular no one can ever lambaste FOX again....K­ind of like comparing any president , even Bush to the worst ever, Carter

[loki]

So she technically wasnt given the question to ask, it was one of hers on a list, that CNN picked from. I can understand having unscreened questions as you dont want some idiot neo con tossing out bogus radical Ann Coulter like questions. I noticed her My Space Page is not for public viewing because she is 15. I wonder how HufPo got what they call her quotes form her myspace? I guess they ask, but with nothing to back them up but their word?? I think we all know about taking anyone in the press at their word. But Id trust Hufpo over Foxpho or the White House.

[luckyoldson]

The article plainly points out that there wasn't enough time for her Yucca questions and that they used another of her choosing.

What is the point of the blaring HEADLINE??

[Superfelo]

It is true that 911 took a veil off; but it was the veil of the ability to lie with a straight face. And that moderator so biased and with his stupid questions of "worst case scenarios and what ifs"; and "yes" and "no" answers to complex questions. Who hires these people? Bernard Shaw seemed like a genius, until he asked his stupid career ending question of Dukakis,"What if your wife was raped". They go for effect not substance.

Mr. Moderator, CNN, you cannot get away with the stupid shenanigans of the sixties...­the sleeping giant has awakened.

You saw Hillary coming in being so friendly, and asking everybody how they were. It reminded me of debate candidate George Bush, saying hello, and at one point winking at no one in particular, with a simpering smile, just to show that he was in

control. And then a pro-Clinton hand-picked audience..­....like the Republicrats do. Why she thinks she is already the president?

No wonder they call her "Bush-lite".

But you know she is "Bush-heavy". Plants questions; handpicks audiences, says hello

trying to show how nice she is; and that you could have a beer with her; and that she is so adept in the kitchen that she will bake you cookies; but she is no "Tammy Winnette",

of "Stand by your man'. She also has her own version of Karl Rove...The public relation man

to the pick of the litter of all heinous organizations: "Blackwater".

Hillary the more I know you the less I like you.

Barack is the man. Barack is real.

Barack Obama for President. Now.

[OhPlease2007]

BREAKING: CNN Admits: Audience Boos Were Not For Edwards -&- Hillary Had More Supporters In Audience!

Today, Nov 16, 2007, live, on CNN's Situation room with Wolf Blitzer, Blitzer made the admission that he did not believe that the 'audience boos' were directed necessarily to Edwards or Obama. Likewise, Candy Crowley made the admission that she "DID get the sense that there were MORE Clinton supporters there" at last nights debate.

- CNN, Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer, Nov 19, 2007

Will somebody please tell the audience members just to shut-up at debate time. NOBODY cares what they have to say in their 'zoo-like responses' during the debate; Chimpanzees have better manners in public.

[dryfactoidobotanoid]

"Diamonds or Pearls?"

better question:

"Is it true that you want to be the girl with the most cake?"

[WilliamWallace]

I was going to say that now this election is officially horse shit, like the current administration, but that would be an insult to beloved horses.

[in4success]

'Meanwhile, Ambinder also notes that there are rumblings that the debate audience had a "pro-Clinton tilt"; as we (and others) have noted, CNN's postgame panel featured both James Carville (former Bill Clinton advisor and current Hillary Clinton supporter) and David Gergen, also a Clinton White House advisor"

CNN also had JC WATTS -- the right is doing the same thing with hillary they did with kerry -- put her over becasue: 1. they think they can beat her (or) 2. the corporate masters have her on the end of their string and she's gonna deliver for them in two ways: 1. everything and anything they want (and) 2. totally bury the democrats by 2016m if not far sooner.

she's a snake in wolve's clothing cross-dressing as a sheep.

beware.

[snruB]

LOL!

Just reading these comments on a LIBERAL leaning blog like HuffPost answers that "Is Hillary Too Polarizing" question from the debate far more accurately than she did

[Ginzaman]

These are all perfect examples of how it's only about money and power. No news, debate, commentary or point to it at all. Just how much can I make off this?

[truthyguy]

Hillary Hillary Hillery
Shoot me (and everyone else) a fuckin' break already.
Fuck Hillary. Why doesn't the media give the public information on the other candidates besides their chosen Hil - Bar - Ed???

P.S. To all posters - it is better to vent on the posting after your end of the day 2 martinis. It gives you clarity (you know, like a dubbie in the 60s did)

[Giordano Bruno]

CNN has cleared a bar which has been set much too low. Where oh where is Howard K Smith, or Frank Renyolds or even Brian Williams. This was pathetic. Why didn't they ask whether the candidates liked Latte's or Cappucinos better? Or perhaps what their favorite color was. I found it mildly annoying when they asked who was their favorite baseball team, and I am a baseball fan. Just plain pathetic. And accordingly people don't really have a good idea where the candidates stand, and some of them seem to like that, in so far as you don't alienate anyone if your stands are ambiguous.
I plan to watch CNN only when Anderson Cooper is on from now on. At least he is hot. Giordy

[DanOregon]

I didn't appreciate all the bells and whistles CNN added to the debate (introducing the candidates ala a boxing match) - all it lacked was a roulette wheel to figure who would get to answer the questions.
What I'd really like to see is some Dems and Repubs get together before the primaries are settled.