Two stories behind the alleged Clinton debate success

LA Times ^ | Nov. 17, 2007 | Andrew Malcolm

[FocusNexus]

A couple of intriguing--maybe even disturbing--postscripts to last night's Democratic debate. It wasn't so much a debate as a chaotic uncoordinated interview of a gang of candidates in front of a Las Vegas crowd accustomed to prize fights and cheering for their favorite (Hillary Clinton) and booing the bad guy (John Edwards, when he criticized their favorite).

---snip---

Now, Luisa has been subjected to criticism from friends and strangers about asking a dumb question. On her MySpace, she wrote: "Every question from the audience was pre-planned and censored. That's... what the media does. See, the media chose what they wanted, not what the people or audience really wanted. That's politics; that's reality...If you want me to explain to you how the media works, I am more than happy to do so. But do not judge me or my integrity based on that question."

[Cacique]

"Every question from the audience was pre-planned and censored. That's... what the media does. See, the media chose what they wanted, not what the people or audience really wanted. That's politics; that's reality...If you want me to explain to you how the media works, I am more than happy to do so. But do not judge me or my integrity based on that question."

Say it isn't so !

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[Clioman]

Luisa had her shot, and she missed it. She COULD have said, “CNN told me what to ask you, but I’m a free citizen, not a media shill. So instead, do you favor or oppose Gay Marriage? Please answer in one word.”

[Steely Tom]

A couple of intriguing--maybe even disturbing--postscripts to last night's Democratic debate.

Well, they'd certainly be disturbing if a Republican debate on, say, Fox News, was conducted with an audience full of members of the Young America's Foundation, interns for Tom Tancredo, and Fred Thompson campaign staffers.

[Syncro]

What more can we expect from a 15 yr old my space kid?

Was the whole audience too young to even vote?

[johnny7]

I read this blog earlier today... this blurb caught my eye:

And the truth came out today when CNN, which is widely believed among Clinton opponents and others to favor the New York senator's candidacy, admitted that a producer allegedly seeking to end the "debate" on a light note gave the question to the student.

[skinkinthegrass]

thanks, for the posts.

[Liz]

Body language says it all. Obabma's supporters should consider he run as a third party.

[peeps36]

What else should we expect from a bunch of corrupt morons who can’t even act like presidential candidates? Politics really does attract the lowest of the lowlifes.

[FocusNexus]

"As an embarrassed Luisa explained on her MySpace today, everybody was told to submit days ago a list of questions, including light-hearted ones, for approval by CNN. Because of her interest and previous research into Nevada's Yucca Mountain as a potential repository for nuclear waste, she wanted to ask Clinton about that. (Marc Ambinder provides the actual question Luisa wanted to ask here.)

But at the last second a producer told Luisa that Yucca had already been discussed and instructed her to ask her pearls-diamonds question."

Here is the excerpt from the Marc Ambinder article:

"Every single question asked during the debate by the audience had to be approved by CNN," Luisa writes. "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."

In a separate post, Luisa provides the question she wanted to ask:

"Yucca Mountain, NV is the proposed site for the country's nuclear waste repository. Despite scientific evidence that it is a vulnerable site, the federal government continues to push for the plan to move forward. The evidence relied on is unsound and the risks involved in transporting high-level radioactive waste across the country are high. What will you [Sen. Clinton] do to ensure that the best site/s is/are chosen for the storage of spent nuclear reactor fuel?"

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.

And another link from the LAT article to this:

CNN Spokesman Confirms Network Chose "Diamonds And PearlsQuestion"

[skinkinthegrass]

“CNN told me what to ask you, but I’m a free citizen, not a media shill. So instead, do you favor or oppose Gay Marriage? Please answer in one word.”

...LOL!....THAT!, Would've been a show-stopper.....the 'Toons, et al, would've have gone berserk.
...of course, next time, there'll be a time-delay loop (15 sec. long.) just in case.

[nyyankeefan]

the piaps and the pearls and diamonds question....

more of pearls before swine???

[Schnucki]

Some poor girl is going to have her pet cat come up missing and her car tires slashed. :(

[boop]

"Well, they'd certainly be disturbing if a Republican debate on, say, Fox News, was conducted with an audience full of members of the Young America's Foundation, interns for Tom Tancredo, and Fred Thompson campaign staffers."

Can you imagine the screaming of the MSM if something like this happened? But it's A-OK for the democrats to do this, with the MSM HELPING them.

[iopscusa]

Well, well Luisa, born in Mexico....the HRC deportation papers are on the way, my little Latina!

[Atchafalaya]

That would guarantee his demise.

[Eroteme]

Luisa had her shot, and she missed it. She COULD have said, “CNN told me what to ask you, but I’m a free citizen, not a media shill.

Yeah, she could have said that, but, it wouldn't have been true...at least not according to her bio on the unlv web site here... http://caeo.unlv.edu/General_info/TrioDay/TrioDay2006/honorees/MariaParraSandoval.html
...where it says, She is an immigrant on a quest to become a United States citizen and this will soon become a reality.

So, not only is she a shill, she's not even eligible to vote. I guess that's why she's undecided?

[Always Right]

So, not only is she a shill, she's not even eligible to vote.

And why do you assume a silly thing like eligibility will stop any of them from voting.

[Clioman]

Ah, so that explains her....cooperativeness. Good catch.

[randita]

Interesting allegation that Nevada Democrat Party (pro-Clinton) stacked audience. Hope this is investigated:

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/elicorp/CxRb