Christine O’Donnell Defends Piers Morgan Walk-Out: ‘Borderline Sexual Harassment’

MEDIAITE ^ | 08/19/2011 | Colby Hall

[SeekAndFind]

Judge solely by the amount of attention she has received this week, it’s fair to say that Tea Party darling and aspiring media figure Christine O’Donnell has been successful at promoting her new book Troublemaker. But if you draw a distinction between the quantity and quality of media attention, well then perhaps its a different story all together. This morning O’Donnell showed up on NBC’s TODAY and was fairly interrogated by Savannah Guthrie who questioned O’Donnell’s previous explanations for why exactly she walked off of the set of Piers Morgan Tonight earlier in the week.

For the uninitiated, Morgan pressed O’Donnell on her position on gay marriage, a fair question seeing that it is a topic she includes in her book and is a controversial issue in the upcoming election season. Guthrie did not let the former Tea Party favorite off the hook, essentially asking her “what were you thinking in walking off the set mid-interview?”

Guthrie then challenged an assertion made by O’Donnell in a previous interview that Morgan was being somewhat sexist in his line of questioning, which led to the following exchange (rough transcript provided by TVEyes):

Guthrie: Let’s talk about that because you said flat out you think this line of questioning was sexist. but how do you get to that? The fact of the matter is you have had — you’ve made these comments about masturbation in your past, in the ’90s, and then you write about this in the book you are currently promoting. How is that not fair game? It is common practice to ask any politician, male or female, about their views.

O’Donnell: Right. I addressed — okay. I addressed the questions and I put it in context that, no, Ii would not do that interview again. I explained why I did the MTV interview in the ’90s, but then it goes into a personal nature and starts prying. Imagine if Bill Clinton were there. Would he ask him, do you still hang out with Monica Lewinsky? Come on, we talked about it in the ’90s? Do you still have that fascination with cigars, Bill? Come on, what’s wrong with this? No. If he did ask a male former candidate about that the outcry would be that it belonged on pay-per-view and not a reputable network like CNN. It was an inappropriate line of questioning. I addressed it the way I do in my book. What’s the same about this, Savannah, is the reviews that I’ve gotten, the people who have read the book, even if they disagree with me politically they tell me they finding it surprising and motivational story, that they really are enjoying the book. And all of this, you know, just like what happened in the campaign, the real message is being overshadowed. . that’s a shame because he’s doing it for ratings.

Guthrie: You say they are doing it for ratings. Let’s be honest, you’re wanting to sell books. Some people say it’s a publicity stunt on your part.

O’Donnell: Please. I didn’t want to do Piers Morgan, Honestly because I knew he resorted to these dirty tricks. no, it was certainly not a publicity stunt.

So not only does O’Donnell aggrandize herself by saying that she didn’t want to “do Piers Morgan” (implying that she was somehow a “get” or that she was doing CNN a favor by appearing on the show), but she also likens the line of questioning — and her political stature perhaps — to that of former president Bill Clinton. Huh?

The bottom line is this: whatever O’Donnell is doing to get attention is working. Whether its the sort of attention that will reclaim any sort of reputable image, sell books or just reinforce what many in the public already think of her remains to be seen.

Watch the clip below, courtesy of NBC:

CLICK ABOVE LINK FOR THE VIDEO

[ken21]

it’s interesting how the liberal-progressives and the rino-progressives do not like christine.

hopefully, they will receive the same treatment in their lives.

[Retired Greyhound]

I watched the interview. I think she’s trippin.

Piers Morgan is a tool, but his questions about gay marriage were reasonable. I just wonder why she wouldn’t answer.

[brownsfan]

The interview with Morgan didn’t seem that rough. It looks to me like the victim card was played.

[barstoolblues]

I like Christine O’Donnel. And I don’t like Morgan. One little bit. But she showed that she’s not ready. If you can’t handle Morgy, then you’re not ready. Take a little bit longer of a break Christine. Come back when you’re not so gun shy.

[ngat]

No matter what MEDIATE’S Colby Hall’s take on it is, if you read the transcript of the interview she did with a hostile Savannah Guthrie, O’Donnell aquitted herself quite well.

I enjoy watching the dinosaur media get their nose out of joint when somebody disses them and their antics.

[sauropod]

That was a pretty snotty article by Colby Hall.

I have taken note.

[pgyanke]

Saw the video online... it was a publicity stunt on her part.

[Hildy]

She’s ridiculous. She’s always been ridiculous and we have to stop supporting people WHO CANNOT WIN. Walking out of an interview because you don’t like the question? Really?

[MarkLevinFan]

I am reading the book, now. About a 3rd of the way through. I can think of many other things I’d like to ask her than what these media goons are asking. I think her walking out on the interview and the continued attacks on her will create a backlash against the media, not against her. This is helping her, not hurting.

[ngat]

I don’t think walking out on the British snob was being gunshy at all. It said I don’t give a rat’s a** about you and CNN.

[Opinionated Blowhard]

I don't like Morgan or O'Donnell. I always thought she was a publicity-seeker and this behaviour fits in with that impression. Just more “look at me” and trying to keep the cameras on her for a few minutes longer. Morgan is desperately trying to be another David Frost. It ain't happening. He needs to go back to being nasty to amateur dancers and singers. That's more his speed.

[TribalPrincess2U]

Agreed! She’s not strong.

[ngat]

Hey, Karl... is that you?

[BenKenobi]

Just think, had the republicans actually supported her Obamacare would never have passed.

But no!

[Siena Dreaming]

I never liked O'Donnell much.

Her significance was that she had a slim chance of taking a seat in DE. I backed her on that; she would have been far better than the other guy.

However, she is not of the calibre for a national figure.

[ngat]

So, sitting there while some smarmy lib tries to get you to talk about masturbation on CNN is your definition od strong?

[Doctor 2Brains]

Bingo. He’s filth, and she’s conservative (and yummy to boot!) but what an absolute embarassment she was on that night. What is it about Piers? He also got the best of Ann Coulter a few weeks ago. He said REALLY STUPID CRAP that could have been swatted out of the park, but Ann was flat-footed at best.

[BenKenobi]

This was a hit job. What, am I on DU or FR? It’s hard to tell sometimes.

[netmilsmom]

>>Just think, had the republicans actually supported her Obamacare would never have passed.

But no!<<

Spot on.
Truth hurts, doesn’t it?