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

[MRb1000]

HE SHOULD OF JUST CUT THE CHASE AND ASKED HER IS SHE A BIGOT. WHY IS SHE USING BIGOTRY IN HER CAMPAIGN

[mcnairbo]

I'M GONNA LOVE IT WHEN SHE'S THE PARTYS' NOMINEE AND YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO CHOKE ON IT! GUESS YOU'LL THROW YOUR VOTE AWAY AGAIN BY VOTING FOR RON PAUL INSTEAD OF RALPH NADER THIS TIME AND GIVE US ANOTHER 8 YEARS OF REPUBLICAN RULE.

[nycwahoodem]

wow, go figure, HuffPo makes a funny about Hillary. Just put an Obama masthead on the top of the page. You are all embarrassments to the field of journalism in any sense.

[itsnotmyfault]

In May 2007 the illustrious and always insightful Chief White House correspondent for NBC, David Gregory made some extraordinary assertions about the “big bad threat of Islamic fundamentalism” and that “George W. Bush did not get that part of it wrong, that the [Middle East] needed to be transformed after 9/11.” He is a d*i*c*k.

So, as if he were playing a veeeerrrry clever game, he forcefully demands that Hillary respond for what her husband said and with intelligence she declined to speak for Bill.

What could that say about her. Nothing. No one expected Obama to explain Michelle's idiotic race based plea for black people to come to their senses and support her husband because he is black. Maybe that's what Bill was referring to with the roll the dice comment? Ms. Obama.

[YA]

Hillary is a proven leader? Since when does organizing Easter Egg hunts on the White House lawn make you a proven leader? When did she lead? Her healthcare reform went nowhere. Then she decided that following the "New York money" was a sign of leadership and she voted with Bush on all important issues.

Sorry, that dog won't hunt.

[ScorchedEarth]

David Gregory is a knob. He gets off on being petulant. His petulance in increased by a magnitude of force when he's got a republican on the other end. Regardless, he's unimpressive.

[realityrules]

Jason Linkins. Isn't he the guy who was just all over Lawrence O'Donnell's case for being, let's say, very clear with his comments, pretty much the opposite of "talking-point dispensing robot". I wont say the word "hypocrisy" just yet, but it does look like there is just no pleasing some people.

[johnnycanuck]

Howdy Dewdy meets the She-bot. This is even better than Alian meets Predetor R.

[KTKATI]

We deserve Clinton if she is elected.Sh­e is an accomplished hack and scorch and burn is her answer to anyone stepping on her "entitlement coronation" just as her husband falls even lower in my estimation of him. As a progressive and a Dem I am confonded by the support that people have for this woman.What judgemnet has she shown to be of benefit to others? What about her stand on media consolidation ,her stand on being a war hawk,her stand with Lieberliar on a recent vote? What kind of person is she really other than wanting power for power's sake--I now beleive they are both liars and manipulators of the first order and refuse believe that the electorate are stupid enough not to see thru this kabuki dance.We are in serious trouble and it will not go away with her,not to mention the down ticket races are really going to suffer.

[RetMarineview]

I found the interviewer was unimpressive. Susprised that he did ask questions about her position on health care. Seems like they all want to ask questions that were ask a month ago. Why not ask about the price of food as increased by 5% over the last 3 years or that Gas has increased by 33% under Bush. I would think that most peole would want to hear her response on these questions. Maybe do you think the country is hearded for a recession?

I have seen him the press room like a lap dog and Bush never gives him a honest answer. He never said to Bush well I guess you are not going to answer that question. Then he tried to put words into her mouth. She replied to his question saying it was "inaccurat­e." He counters saying she said he was "unfair." Who's being unfair there? And what do we gain from this kind of crap?

If trying to bait candidate is what passes as journalism these days (and alas it is), then we continue to be in trouble.

Hillary isn't my favorite, but what a of everybody's time.

[rh654]

Hillary is change?

She refuses to answer questions just like George Bush and everyone from his Administration.

NOT another 8 years of a President who refuses to answer even the most simple questions!

[apcalc]

Gregory asked a question that no responsible candidate should answer.

Hillary reasponded that she was speaking for and promoting herself as a candidate - the perfect answer.

You Huff-Po Hillary haters are pathetic. You are probably the numb nuts who voted for Nader.

We all need to vote for whoever the Democrats nominate. Period.

[Ravenlea]

I found the interviewer unimpressive. Why not ask questions about the content of her campaign instead of whether somebody said something months ago about a "boys club." Plus his interview was clearly biased and trying to make her look bad - and he put words into her mouth. She replied to his question saying it was "inaccurat­e." He counters saying she said he was "unfair." Who's being unfair there? And what do we gain from this kind of crap?

If candidate baiting is what passes as courageous journalism these days (and alas it is), then we continue to be in trouble. Wouldn't it be great if somebody asked questions about meaningful things and then gave the candidates an opportunity to answer in something more than a sound bite.

Lord, help us. Hillary isn't my favorite, but this interview was a waste of everybody's time on both sides.

[liberalnfree]

David Gregory just follows the same old Washington insider reporter script, a la Big Tim's son Tim Russet, of trying to trip up and embarrass candidates with the things they or their supporters might have said, without paying any attention to policy questions. It's all supposed to reveal their "character" and "personality" because the media regards politicians as actors in some soap opera. The likes of Gregory don't even devote 1/10 of their time to questions of policy, it's always process and horse race garbage. And this column salutes him for it!

[Jrtrollspaceman]

the phoney candidate