David Gregory Does Battle With Talking-Point Dispensing Robot

Earlier this morning, the Hillary Clinton campaign decided that they'd save a little money and use today's morning news shows to mount a lengthy campaign commercial, chock-a-block with all the new focus-tested sentences that have been the centerpiece of her campaign ever since its "Well, Okay, Then, We're About 'Change' Now, Too" Reboot. It was a perfect plan.
Unfortunately, this required her to confront the Today Show's David Gregory, who inconveniently decided to start "asking questions", and "holding" her campaign "accountable" to statements they had made.

GREGORY: So, Senator, if people look at the last six weeks and they might question how Hillary Clinton responds to a crisis or how she handles pressure and they might point to the fact that you complained about the all boys network of presidential politics in the wake of the Philadelphia debate, they would see your husband complaining about media coverage of you, they'd see your campaign raise the past drug issue and use by Barack Obama or questioned him for his ambition, and they might say, well, this is really what we don't like about politics. Is that fair?
CLINTON: Well, i don't think that's at all an accurate representation of my campaign. You know, campaigns are like life. You know, some days are perfect. Some days aren't. But what really matters is where you're headed, what you do when you suffer some kind of, you know, problem, how you put yourself back on track and, you know, I've been doing this a long time.
GREGORY: I'm sorry. You said that was unfair. You dispute those were how you handled things in the wake of hitting that rough patch?
CLINTON: I'm going to let voters decide that, not the press. I'm going to let voters make up their minds. what I see happening here and across the country is voters are responding very positively to my campaign. I'm a proven leader. That's what The Des Moines Register said, what a lot of my supporters say.

Right! Silly David Gregory! As they say: Post Des Moines Register, ergo propter Des Moines Register! Still, Gregory pressed on something one of Clinton's "supporters" has said.

GREGORY: Let's talk about a key issue you raise on the campaign trail, that's your experience. It was your husband, the former president, that said Barack Obama as president would be "rolling the dice" with america's future. Assuming you agree with that, let's be clear. an Obama presidency is a risk to what? America's national security, America's economic health? What precisely?
CLINTON: Well, i would ask people to read the Des Moines Register editorial. Basically what they said is we need a proven leader. We have tough times.
GREGORY: What does it mean? We know what The Register said.
CLINTON: I think that's one of the principal cases for my candidacy. If you want to know what changes I'll make, look at the changes I've already made. Everybody talks about change. Everybody talks about change in this campaign. Some people think you get change by demanding it. Some think you get it by hoping for it. I think you get it by doing really hard work. That's what I've done.
GREGORY: Senator Clinton, you're not answering the question. Your husband said it would be "rolling the dice" for America's future if he were elected. What's the risk to America if Barack Obama is the president?
CLINTON: [Pause] You know, he not only said that, but the Des Moines Register editorial implied that.

Wow! It's a good thing the Des Moines Register didn't come out in favor of Clinton jumping into the Dale Maffit Reservoir!
Anyway, Gregory, growing tired of this battle of wits, attempted to shift the discussion. But Hillary hadn't yet finished dispensing platitudes.

GREGORY: So you're choosing not to answer that question. let me ask you another issue --
CLINTON: No, I'm -- no, wait a minute. I'm making the case for my candidacy. I'm very happy that I have -- I have strong supporters and I have editorial support. Well, you know, I think that voters will have to judge us, and that's what I welcome. I invite people to do that.

Right. Scrutiny is welcome, so long as it leads to an endorsement. Otherwise: DOES NOT COMPUTE!
(Watch the video.)

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1344596469 http://www.brightcove.com/channel.jsp?channel=1178199204

Comments

[swkidder]

Whatever made us even consider running this woman as the Democratic candidate for President? Please, let's put this one to bed in Iowa and move on to select someone who can lead a fundmental change in the way this country governs itself and deals with the rest of the world.

[PhantomAviator]

Ummm...HOW do you know what the Maffit Lake is? I guess you been to West Des Moines ONCE, huh?

Nice reference.

[argentino]

"Let me say this about that - Next question".­..LOL

[Alvin4NY]

As far as The Today Show itself goes, no one should take it seriously as a "news" show. The producers and NBC have gone the way of The Oprah Winfrey Show, and now it's becoming a four hour long info-mercial with mass consumer trends and ideas at the forefront, followed by celebrity stories, and non-stories like the Drew Peterson case. Last on their list of priorities is ANY story having to do with Iraq, Bush, or a serious discussion on the political nominees. Poor Matt Lauer, he doesn't even try to pretend he enjoys his job anymore. The man looks truly miserable trying to do the intros for the non-stories.

[Zemog]

So you have a confrontational host looking for a sensational story, so what? What pertinent question related to the country affairs did he ask? Only morons will make something out of this. Of course, Clinton, or any other politician, will evade this type of question because there are not perfect answers. God help us, we already have a moron in the White House, lets hope they don't win again.

[Jjc2006]

I can't believe anyone, voters or reporters, can spend so much time on getting hysterical on the expression a "roll of the dice." Obama supporters, prone to histrionics as they are, are screaming and yelling again (it's pretty much become the norm for them...hav­ing a temper tantrum over anything they perceive as not showing the proper messianic worship of their man) about how "mean" the Clintons are. Boo hoo. Bill thinks Obama is an "unknown" quantity and therefore a riskier choice, while he thinks his wife is the best choice. How dare him, that old meany.

It is pathetic that people interpret "roll of the dice" as a threat to national security.
Honestly the victim mentality of anyone who think anything said by the evil, satanic Clintons is quite astounding. I knew the right would pull this kind of crap using visceral hatred and vitriolic nastiness but when it comes from the left....sa­d, really really sad.

[SamThornton]

In re David Gregory: I notice he's an idiot when I disagree with him and a fount of wisdom when he agrees with me.

[woundedduck]

Anyone who thinks Gregory is pro-anyone or is a GOPer must have been asleep for the last six years. He's been on Bush's press sec like stink on shit. He's one of the few White House press people who makes pols defend their statements. Bill makes a veiled threat--"roll the dice"?--and Hil can't even say what it means. If you want 4 more years of a do-nothing presidency (just like Bill Clintons wasted terms) vote for Hillary. If you actually want something done about the egregious class warfare that BuschCo has codified into law over the last 6 years, vote for Edwards.

[Mr.Fitz]

A friend of mine regurgitated the filth that is spewing out of your TVs: Hillary is the best candidate because she is experienced. Here is a quick rundown of the facts:

Candidates, in order of job experience:

Biden: senator 1973-present (24yrs)
Kucinich: City Council 1970-75, 83-85, Clerk of courts 75-77, Mayor 77-79, Senator 95-97, Congressman 97-present. (23yrs)
Richardson: Congressman 83-97, Ambassador 97-98, Energy Sec. 98-01, Governor 03-present. (23yrs)
Dodd: Congressman 1975-81, Senator 1981-present (22yrs)
Gravel: Senator 1969-81 (12yrs)
Obama: Senator 97-05 (state), 05-present (federal). (10yrs)
Clinton: senator 2001-present (6yrs)
Edwards: Senator 1999-2005 (6yrs)

[live by the golden rule]

I saw this interview and, even though I am not a fan of Sen. Clinton's, I was angered that all the robopress can ask about is gossip [he said this, so what do you say?answer I say!!!!], not actual issues. Gregory was doing an impersonation of a reporter holding someone's feet to the fire, but the press corps long ago abdicated thoughtful analysis of positions. The entire interview was taken up with his fantasy of pinning down someone on an important issue. If Clinton is to fault, it is for trying to answer Gregory's questions instead of saying, look, the American people are interested in a discussion of what I would do on the following subjects: [long list]. Here's what I would do. For example, here's what I did as a child advocate, in the Senate, etc. etc. Ask me about this. And please ask the other candidates about these issues and their records too.

[malrubius]

Hellary is an corporate-­controlled­, ambitious political manipulator, and even worse, she is the one Dumbocrat that can lose this election.

[shimanskyr]

Bill Clinton is right that voting for Obama is like rolling the dice. Obama is an unknown and people who vote for him did not know very much about him. After all how man people know that Obama belongs to a militant black Afro centric church whose leader Jeremiah Wright is anti-Israel and is friendly with Louis Farrakhan. Obama had to dsinvite him to his presidential announcement because he is so controversial. However Obama admires him and the title of his book "Audacity of of Hope" is a phrase used by Wright.If Democrats are are brainwashed and nominate this guy, the GOP will certainly use his church membership against him. Is this the kind of change voters really want.

[Truth789]

Hillary was great on this! She knew he was trying to pigeon hole her and she didn't play into it. Good for her!

[Counterglow]

I've never been able to figure out how David Gregory has kept his job. As far as I can tell, the only things he's really good at are backing down when the subject of an interview gets confrontational and drinking the administration Kool-Aid during the run-up to Iraq. And having a huge ego...can'­t forget that.

[DMcD]

Gregory lost any cred he might have had when he started dirty-dancing with Rove at the reporters ball. He's just another slimeball enabler disguised as a journalist -- nothing more.