Major Garrett At Fox News:
IOUX CITY, Iowa —Fox- [1] Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton’s campaign admitted Friday that it planted a global warming question in Newton, Iowa, Tuesday during a town hall meeting to discuss clean energy.
Clinton campaign spokesman Mo Elliethee admitted that the campaign had planted the question and said it would not happen again.
“On this occasion a member of our staff did discuss a possible question about Senator Clinton’s energy plan at a forum,” Elliethee said.
“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.”
In a state where the caucus is held sacred and the impromptu and candid style of the town hall meeting is held dear, Clinton’s planted question may come as a great offense to Iowans.
Fellow Swamp Stomper Blue Crab Boulevard [2] calls this kind of activity a huge mistake:
I noted yesterday that there are signs that the Clinton campaign is overreacting and fumbling over issues in a very clumsy, almost frantic way. Today comes a revelation that indicates there may be real trouble ahead for the campaign. The campaign planted at least one question at a townhall meeting in Iowa [1]. They swear it was just one question and they promise it won’t happen again. Yeah, right.
“After her speech, Clinton accepted questions. But according to Grinnell College student Muriel Gallo-Chasanoff ’10, some of the questions from the audience were planned in advance. ‘They were canned,’ she said. Before the event began, a Clinton staff member approached Gallo-Chasanoff to ask a specific question after Clinton’s speech. ‘One of the senior staffers told me what [to ask],’ she said.
“Clinton called on Gallo-Chasanoff after her speech to ask a question: what Clinton would do to stop the effects of global warming. Clinton began her response by noting that young people often pose this question to her before delving into the benefits of her plan.
“But the source of the question was no coincidence — at this event ‘they wanted a question from a college student,’ Gallo-Chasanoff said.”
The tape of the event shows that the question and answer went as follows:
Question: “As a young person, I’m worried about the long-term effects of global warming How does your plan combat climate change?
Clinton: “Well, you should be worried. You know, I find as I travel around Iowa that it’s usually young people that ask me about global warming.”
The comments at Blue Crab are priceless, go and read.
There are several questions that arise from this;
- Is this yet more proof that these “concerns” over “Global Warming” are a manufactured crisis for the purpose of gaining the Democrat party, power? I would certainly take it as a sign of that, yes.
- Is this a sign that Hillary Clinton is starting to feel a whole slew away from her? Certainly, The Crab seems to think so. I tend to agree.
- Is this going to affect the number of people voting in the primary for Hillary Clinton? I tend to think not. As I stated the other day, the woman could come out of a veterinary hospital, a bloody attacks over her shoulder, covered in blood, holding the severed heads of a puppy and a kitten, and take no political harm from it, amongst her rapidly dedicated supporters. Her dedicated supporters do not base their support on fact, but fantasy. Thereby, mere fact is not going to sway them away from her. I think more correctly the question is ;
- Will this damage Hillary Clinton’s chance of winning the presidency in the general election? I think undoubtedly the answer is yes.
More, Memeorandum
Addendum: Billy Beck [3] points out that Hillary Clinton has a history of charging others of engaging this kind of thing. The word “projection” comes to mind.
Understanding her ideology, the only thing left here is to marvel at her brazen audacity. And that should be a very serious point to ponder.
Indeed so.
UPDATE (Coffee260 in comments): Fox News is now reporting on another Q & A planting incident by the Clinton campaign. Below’s an excerpt and here’s the link:
“SIOUX CITY, Iowa — For the second time in as many days, Hillary Clinton [4]‘s presidential campaign has had to deal with accusations of planting questions during public appearances.”
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,310417,00.html [5]
Yeah, well, let’s not consider this a trend, huh?
(Yeah, right)