Talk About Spin (AP says Hillary's handling of hostage situation made her look Presidential)

Captain's Quarters ^ | Dec. 01, 2007 | Ed Morrissey

[jdm]

Everyone expressed gratitude and relief at the end of the hostage crisis yesterday in Rochester, New Hampshire, when police arrested the disturbed man who created it. No one got hurt and a sick man will get the care he needs, and the community will receive protection from him as well. It demonstrated the competence and patience of the Rochester police department in resolving a standoff that only gained national attention because it took place in the campaign headquarters of Hillary Clinton.

Somehow, later that evening, the Clinton campaign decided this makes Hillary look presidential, at least to Larry Sabato and the AP:

And as soon as it ended, Clinton took full advantage of the opportunity she had unexpectedly been handed.

In her New Hampshire press conference, she stood before a column of police in green and tan uniforms. She talked of meeting with hostages. She mentioned that she spoke to the state’s governor about eight minutes after the incident began.

The scene was one of a woman in charge.

“It looked and sounded presidential,” said Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics. “This was an instance of the White House experience of this campaign. They knew how to handle this.”

That the crisis was outside Clinton's control gave it a rare quality in this era of hyper-controlled politicking, Sabato added.

“What’s most important about it is that it’s not contrived. It’s a real event and that distinguishes it from 99 percent of what happens in the campaign season.”

Er, what? Sabato, who usually gives intelligent political analysis, must have inhaled a little deeply. Clinton was nowhere near New Hampshire during the entirety of the crisis. What was presidential about having the Rochester PD talk a hostage-taker out of a building? What "leadership" did Hillary show in Virginia during this crisis? She canceled a speech!

The AP's Glen Johnson is even worse. He breathlessly describes Hillary's efforts as "continu[ing] to call up and down the law enforcement food chain, from local to county to state to federal officials." The hostages were released within a couple of hours, and presumably their families had closer contacts with the PD, as they live closer to the offices than Virginia. "I knew I was bugging these people," Clinton told the AP, but she wanted to know minute-by-minute what was happening, so she could tell her staff and be prepared for whatever assistance she could lend. Which would be exactly .... what? If the PD wanted to have her call the ersatz bomber, they would know where to find her.

Hillary certainly didn't do anything wrong, but she didn't "take charge" as the AP implies, or look presidential, as Sabato declares. She certainly looks considerably less presidential today in trying to take credit for the professional work done by the Rochester PD yesterday. That looks a lot more like a politician than a President, and we already know her credentials for the former. This incident doesn't provide Hillary any credentials for the latter.

Jim Lynch has more thoughts, and wonders whether the FEC should consider the AP report an in-kind contribution.

[tear gas]

I hate to think of what other tricks these people have up their sleeves.

We ain't seen nothing yet!

[EQAndyBuzz]

“What “leadership” did Hillary show in Virginia during this crisis? She canceled a speech!”

How long did Hillary wait before she cancelled the speech? Americans want to know.

[PoParma]

We need to examine, what made this hostage-taker so upset? What were his grievances?
Why does the hostage taker hate his/her campaign tactics or policies, and planted “republican” dirty tricks so much?
What changes in his/her campaign tactics Mrs. Slick Willie need to make to avoid such reactions in the future?
What were the demands of the hostage taker? – were these demands Just and Fair? – and were they met in a timely fashion?
How did Mrs. Clinton and his/her campaign-team contribute to the creation of this sad hostage-taking situation?

Just a few questions that should be addressed to elevate Mrs. Clinton’s campaign operation to a higher, safer, more acceptable and more successful level.

[EQAndyBuzz]

What will happen is this fraud will be exposed as being a member of the Clinton campaign and Hillary will deny knowing the person.

And the MSM will spike the story as usual.

[EQAndyBuzz]

“Question: In the sure-to-come Redford/Close/Penn/Cruise/Baldwin movie about Hillary’s Wonder Woman rescue, who will get to play Hillary?”

Geena Davis.

[bray]

Starting to look like this was Planted in NH of all places.

Pray for W and Our Victorious Troops

[tear gas]

What will happen is this fraud will be exposed as being a member of the Clinton campaign and Hillary will deny knowing the person.

And the MSM will spike the story as usual.

LMAO! Yes, you got it.

[alicewonders]

I was thinking Meryl Streep.

[chimera]

I knew it, too. As soon as this story broke, you can bet the editors all across the mainstream press were gearing up their pre-packaged “Hillary As Heroine” storylines. Mark my words, whatever happens from here until Election Day will be spun as a “Hillary Saves The World” headline. These a-holes have their noses so far up Hillary’s butt it’s pathetic. Just look how Blitzer took his marching orders from Hillary once she laid down the law.

[oldbill]

“Question: In the sure-to-come Redford/Close/Penn/Cruise/Baldwin movie about Hillary’s Wonder Woman rescue, who will get to play Hillary?”

Geena Davis.
**********************

I was thinking Sean Penn.

[deport]

(AP says Hillary’s handling of hostage situation made her look Presidential)

---

Looks can be deceiving in many ways........ 32 days..... let the elimination process begin

[EyeGuy]

“I was thinking Sean Penn.”

I’ve got Mr. Sarandon:

Tim “I’m a tough guy” Robbins

[jdm]

'Class dismissed:' AP article cheers Clinton candidacy, calls Clinton 'regal' in face of crisis

[Lakeshark]

The rights to the story are now being sold to Hollywood, and the part of Hillary is being shopped around amongst the so called starlets as we speak......

My gosh, this stuff as some kind of news story showing her leadership is so tawdry and sick.

[hummingbird]

These people are utterly pathetic. Did they listen to a WORD she said? Her whole speech was about how she listen to them. They are the professionals, she followed their lead.

Why does Gov. Kathleen Blanco during hurricanes Katrina and Rita come to mind?

I have an opinion of this whole episode that is so "E-VILE" that I'm hoping someone else will say it first. Local talk radio (I think it was local) had a caller who said it and was kind of cut off. But, one wonders....

[Diogenesis]

"THIS was a job well done."

[Liberty Valance]

I'm ready for my close up Mr. DeMille ...



2 seconds after FoxNews and MSNBC had gone to a commercial, Hillary decended the stairs of her posh abode in Virginia to deliver her lines. CNN was of course rolling live for the event, the lighting was flawless and her hair was perfect. "We've been in constant contanct with all law enforcement and the families of the victims of this tragic event at my campaign headquarters in New Hampshire". Huma's words dripped off Hillary's lips like honey from the comb...and then it happened...it was hard to see at first but make no mistake...a halo appeared just above Hillary's perfectly coiffed hair.



And the multitudes wept and all was right with the world once again.

[weegee]

Well people have gone to prison before for the Clintons rather than tell the truth.

And how nice will she look when she gives him a presidential pardon?

[hummingbird]

I think the CWM (Clinton war machine) got a useful idiot and orchestrated this entire 'event'.

Okay, since someone has been brave enough to posit this, that is what I was thinking but was afraid to utter. Wouldn't it be positively "E-VILE?" But think Ickes, for one; think of the shadowy, shady characters doing their "E-VILE" sleuthings and threatenings of people that the Clintons find troublesome.

Think Kathleen Wiley's dead cats and reference to her children. Think of Juanite Brodderick's "THANKS" from Hillary for all Juanita had done to help the campaign. Think of Paula Jones' name being dragged through the mud: drag $100 through a trailer park, etc.

The Clinton War Machine is nothing for the Clinton Camp to be proud of...in fact, because of the CWM, I am suspicious of everything they say or touch.

Thank you, knarf, for your posting. I agree wid ya'.

[knarf]

Hmmm ... graduated from planted question(er)s, I suppose, then.