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“I’m not even mildly surprised. This wasn’t a debate. It was a showcase for Hillary. Can’t have anyone messing up her little show, can they? If they script the questions, they remove all danger of that.”

I hate to tell you but all events for candidates are scripted somewhat. They choose who gets to enter meet and greets, who gets tickets to events, speeches and debates. UNVL and the DNC distributed those tickets. No republican was going to get in. They gave the opportunity to ask questions to people they knew were not going to make waves. Nevada is overwhelming for Hillary (on the dem side) so that is the kind of audience you get.

Republicans do this too. I have worked on 5 national campaigns now, many more local and state ones. Just like lawyers, politicians never ask someone for a question that they don’t already know how to answer. Everyone tries to speak to a friendly audience. Questions are often vetted in advance. Things are scripted, because when they aren’t that’s when candidates get into trouble. Disillusioned? Sure. But that’s how this works. There is big money being spent on these campaigns and now one is putting any of that at risk over a rogue question.

No not everyone does this. Do you have proof that people have asked planted questions.

I asked President Bush a question when he was down 15 pts last election. It was his first Q&A before the real season began and nobody approached me or noticed anyone else being approached by the campaign. I was doing phonecalls at the time so I would be a great plant.

I seriously doubt it happens on other campaigns. If you have absolute proof fine, lets hear it.

Pray for W and Our Victorious Troops

So, You are saying they all do it. I can understand screening people who get in to a debate by each party, and perhaps even asking for questions to be submitted and then questions are chosen. But planted questions by CNN for the Republican candidates?? If CNN has control of the questions asked at the upcoming debate in St. Pete, FL on Novermber 28th, just what kind of questions do you think will be planted for Republican candidates? Nice cutesy questions like Hillary got???

See my Post #140. The ‘both parties do it’ thinking is just how the DemonRATs spin out of their dirty tricks tactics. It puts the Republican Party in the position of trying to prove a negative. Of course, this is also what Stalin had in mind when he said: “Accuse others of what you do.” The tactic works.

I would have expected both parties to at least manage the guest list so that there would be no Code Pink or PETA outbursts on national TV, or some shrieking Hillary-hater that might bring up unpleasant memories of Whitewater and Ft Marcy Park. But I really didn’t think the questions were all scripted and pre-answered.