Posted on 11/01/2010 2:52:07 PM PDT by Qbert
In a rather disjointed and impromptu call, Sen. Michael Bennet finally joined the Peter Boyles program on the local morning talk radio circuit, asking to remind voters how important the election was and to get out and vote, while the host (Boyles) repeatedly asked him why he had not been available to talk on the program since his appointment to the U.S. Senate in January 2009.
Via CompleteColorado.com, who grabbed the audio soundbite, the entire segment lasts less than three minutes. Boyle’s presses Bennet on his failure to appear on the show:
“I actually didn’t know that ‘why now,’ just to urge everybody to go to the polls and vote, it’s a really important election [...] I apologize I haven’t been on, I’ve traveled this state, 30,000 miles [...]
Boyles cuts Bennet off, reiterating the repeated attempts made by his show and its producers to get a hold of Bennet over the past 22 months, to no avail. Bennet apologizes, claiming not to know that requests were made.
The exchange devolves from there, as Bennet grasps for answers to questions about the appointment of Stephanie Villafuerte for Colorado U.S. Attorney and the reasons why Gov. Bill Ritter chose to step down instead of running for reelection. Bennet quickly cut the call short.
Last week, Bennet’s campaign stirred up controversy when a staffer sent a list of pre-approved questions to the other main Denver weekday morning show after a similar hesitancy to appear. The hosts posted the questions on their Facebook page–“Folks: This is Hilarious.”
Michelle Malkin has more on the “cut-and-run” segment, including a longer transcript.
Bennet showed his ineptness in the phone call. His speech sounded like a deer in a headlight. Peter Boyles is relentless. He takes no prisoners so Bennet was way over his head. I wonder if Bennet’s handlers recommended his phone call.
Peter Boyles: All right, it's twenty-eight after the hour, we're going to cut the break short, this is Senator Michael Bennett, good morning sir.
Sen. Michael Bennet: Good Morning. How are you doing?
Peter Boyles: I gotta ask you man, we have been trying to get you on this radio show since you took office. Why now?
Sen. Michael Bennet: Uhh...Ahh... I actually didn't know that... that why now... just to... urge everybody to go to the polls and vote this is a really important election.
Peter Boyles: I mean, what's in it for you to come on this show. You would not come on this show, we've tried you so many times, to come on this radio show, and this morning, they day before, you come on this radio show. I don't get it.
Sen. Michael Bennet: Well, I just thought it was important to say to your listeners that it was critical to get out and vote, and, ah, I apologize I haven't been on, I've traveled this state, I've gone more than 30,000 miles and...
Peter Boyles: no, no, no, we have tried you, we tried you in DC, we've tried you in Denver, we put phone calls in to you, and your people ignore us, the haven't even called us back, and suddenly you want to talk this morning?
Sen. Michael Bennet: Well, I'm sorry that...
Peter Boyles: don't be sorry, I mean, but why, why would you not come on the show?
Sen. Michael Bennet: I really don't know, I'll have to talk to them, I didn't realize you'd made requests.
Peter Boyles: Hundreds of them. We quit doing it.
Sen. Michael Bennet: OK, well. We'll do it another time. OK?
Peter Boyles: ... pause ... yeah. So this is it? That's it?
Sen. Michael Bennet: Well, I don't... I... I don't have another answer for ya... on that.
Peter Boyles: What do you think happened... why did you vote for Stephanie Villafuerte for... for the job of US Attorney? Why'd you do that?
Sen. Michael Bennet: Ah... I didn't vote for her. She didn't come up for a vote.
Peter Boyles: No, why did you give the blue card? Why did you and Udall give the blue card for her?
Sen. Michael Bennet: Ah, I don't think that I gave her...
Peter Boyles: No...
Sen. Michael Bennet: I did. I did.
Peter Boyles: Why did Bill River quit?
Sen. Michael Bennet: Because he was making a decision that was in the interest of his family.
Peter Boyles: And, do you think that it had anything to do with... any other issues surrounding him?
Sen. Michael Bennet: No. Nope.
Peter Boyles: So, just on his own, one day, he decided to quit.
Sen. Michael Bennet: (pause) Yes.
Peter Boyles: And you dont think that any of those issues around... his... getting the job though those issues around... agricultural trespass... they didn't play out around his quitting... why he quit.
Sen. Michael Bennet: No, I think he quit because he believed his family wanted him to stop being governor, and I think that was an honorable decision to make. Not enough people are as... as mature as that.
Peter Boyles: Why don't I believe that? Is there any reason why I should believe that?
Sen. Michael Bennet: I don't know why you don't believe that.
Peter Boyles: Well, I think Stephanie Villafuerte, I think what they did with Mitch Morrissey and Chuck Lefley and all the issues surrounding Cory Voorhees... you know the Voorhees story, don't you?
Sen. Michael Bennet: I appreciate your taking my call, I need to go work and try to
Peter Boyles: That's OK, I'm going to hang up on you.
ROFL! To put it diplomatically, I have a feeling this phone call will be very UNhelpful in Mr. Bennett’s quest to retain his Senate seat. :-)
Bennet sounds like he just woke up with a hangover.
Oh wait, he was practicing for Wednesday morning.
Thank you for posting the transcript :)
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