Questions planted by Clinton campaign
Sen. Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign admitted late Friday that a staffer spoke to potential questioners at a recent event, but denied that the New York Democrat had any knowledge about what she would be asked by the audience.
The latest version of "Don't ask, don't tell" I guess. Now remind me, who started this policy?
Grinnell Colleges Scarlet and Black newspaper reported a students account of being pulled aside before a campaign stop in Newton, Iowa and asked to pose a specific question. They were canned, Muriel Gallo-Chasanoff claimed in an interview with the newspaper. One of the senior staffers told me what [to ask].
Maybe, maybe not.
Gallo-Chasanoff said she was told that the campaign wanted the question, about what Clinton would do for the environment, to be asked by a college student. She said Clinton was prompted to call on her as well as another student seen in conversation with staffers prior to the event.
So far so good, everything is deniable.
The Clinton campaign did not dispute talking to the student, but dismissed suggestions the senator was following a script that would ensure she only received friendly questions.
Key word here: Only.
On this occasion a member of our staff did discuss a possible question about Senator Clinton's energy plan at a forum, campaign spokesman Mo Elleithee said in a statement. However, Senator Clinton did not know which questioners she was calling on during the event. This is not standard policy and will not be repeated again.
We didn't do it and it will never happen again.
Several of Clinton's rivals for the Democratic presidential nomination contacted news organizations, including CNN, to bring attention to the college newspaper's story.
No need to call in Rove yet, they are eating their own just fine without any outside assistance.
Posted by: gorb 2007-11-10 |