Posted on 03/06/2010 3:25:58 PM PST by CounterCounterCulture
Backstage at the Debate: Wilson v. Campbell Posted on March 6 2010 by Eric Hogue
The past week was a busy one; I like it this way.
I filled in for Dennis Prager’s national show on Thursday and Friday and then shuffled down the hallway to handle “The Capitol Hour” each day; with Friday’s noon hour becoming election central for the first California Republican U.S. Senate debate.
The week – and the past few hours – has produced a collection of thoughts that I haven’t had the time to share in a long form column here at HOGUE NEWS.
In place of lengthy and insightful column today I’d like to offer a few general thoughts, campaign observations and one ‘behind the scene’ incident from Friday.
We are preparing a full transcript of the Senatorial Debate. It will be posted as soon as hands can listen, type and record without error.
THE GREAT DEBATE’S ISRAEL THEME
Many listeners have asked, “Why so much attention placed upon Israel; we need to hear more about the things that impact our country?”
Allow me to be pointed; talking about Israel is talking about our future as Americans.
The debate was (agreed upon by all three campaigns) themed to be a discussion about national defense, terrorism and foreign affairs. There are reasons why the debate was so intensive on Israel, Iran and the Middle East issues.
Candidate and former GOP Representative Tom Campbell has been the target of numerous accusations surrounding his past votes in congress, his relationships with four (Sami Al-Arian, Muthanna Al-Hanooti, Abdurahman Alamoudi, Nihad Awad) known Islamic jihadists, and the fact that he wrote a letter to defend Sami Al-Arian – one of the convicted terrorists – upon the encouragement of an unnamed Georgetown professor.
This is also a race for the U.S. Senate, not governor – and not just the House of Representatives. The Senate holds matters of national defense, security and terrorism to heart.
And to add one more reason to the fray, for the first time since 1991, more than 6 in 10 Americans (some 63-percent) say their sympathies in the Middle East situation lie more with the Israelis than with the Palestinians. American citizens do realized that our national security is directly connected to the security of Israel – more than any other Western Civilization around the world.
A REVEALING CARLY FIORINA FIGHT
Many studio observers were surprised that Carly Fiornia performed as well as she did in the debate; her fight was even more revealing.
On two occasions Fiorina was taking heavy, direct attacks from Campbell (Internet taxes) and candidate Assemblyman Chuck DeVore. Content aside (a full transcript of the debate is coming to HOGUE NEWS), the surprise was her energy in the fight.
At one point DeVore was pressing Fiorina on her lack of attendance on the advisory board for the Department of Defense. DeVore kept referencing her minimally attending only three of seven meetings. Fiornia shot back, stating that her battle with cancer kept her away from travel and attending personally. And that she did attend private meetings during that time.
DeVore kept reciting the records, “Only three of seven meetings … I am going off of the records.”Fiorina shot back angrily over the phone, peaking the VU meters in the talk studio as she shouted back four times, “Did you hear what I just said?”
One of the key elements for the Republican Party is a candidate who can fight. We all know Chuck DeVore has the fight, and I have always been concerned of Tom Cambell’s ( a terrifically nice man and professional, intellectual gentleman) fight factor. In facing the incumbent Democrat, and “don’t call me mad’ am” drama queen Senator Barbara Boxer, the GOP needs a fighter.
Ms. Carly Fiorina raised more than a few eyebrows with her passion and fight on Friday.
MARTY WILSON VERSUS TOM CAMPBELL
In the battle of “he said, (s)he said … and no I did not say!”
As soon as the debate concluded Marty Wilson, Carly Fiorina’s campaign manager, was poised outside of the studio door and ready to pounce at the opportunity to come face-to-face with Tom Campbell.
The mics had been cleared, Tom Campbell and Chuck DeVore had just expressed their appreciation for the day’s events and turned to exit the now warm studio.
Fiorina’s campaign manager, Marty Wilson, was waiting just outside the door for Rep. Tom Campbell and engaged him as he was attempting to leave the talk studio.
Wilson and Campbell are locked in a personal ethics (slander) fight over who (Wilson, or former SOS Bruce McPherson) said that it was Marty Wilson who labeled Tom Campbell as an anti-Semite.
Wilson tracked Campbell as he was attempting to walk away shouting, “When are you going to release the letter Tom, when are you going to stop lying Tom and tell the truth?”
Wilson is referencing the Georgetown professor’s letter of recommendation for convicted jihadist Sami Al-Arian, a letter that prompted former congressman Tom Campbell to write one of his own on behalf of the former Islamic South Florida professor.
Marty Wilson was successful in stalling Campbell a few steps down the corridor.
Marty Wilson was loud (for the ears of the media) and hot, as he pointed his finger into Campbell’s chest saying, “You’re lying Tom, or Bruce is lying … I never said that … I never called you an anti-Semite and you know it … tell the truth Tom.”
At that point cameras were being rushed to the encounter and both Wilson and Campbell decided to end the engagement and go to their separate corners for media interviews, escaping what was obviously a made for media moment.
I briefly spoke with the charged Marty Wilson (who is taking this personally) after the emotions had drained. He offered that that Fiorina’s camp has a good idea as to who authored the letter from Georgetown University spurring Campbell into action on behalf of Sami Al-Arian.
The certainty in Wilson’s response makes me believe that there is a TV ad already in the works. This is an issue that will last as long as the primary itself.
Personally, maybe longer.
TOM CAMPBELL SHAKING WITH ANGER
Much was said of Rep. Tom Campbell’s shaking hands, and at times shaking voice. Many of the “observers” in the studio and hallway outside of the 1380 KTKZ talk booth glass made mention of his shaking papers.
For some it was an uncomfortable moment. They stated, “It was hard to watch a statesman shake as he prepared his opening comments and answered the charges.”
There is one thing we must all remember, these people are … well … people.
In Campbell’s case, to be called a terrorist sympathiser – which also carries the implied traitor and un-American ideology connotation – is a heavy matter. Say what you will about campaign tactics, a charge of being sympathetic toward anti-American, hate driven Islamic radicals is a serious charge that demands a serious retort.
True; Campbell’s shaking was hard to watch … but at the same time understandable. Nobody wants to be labeled an anti-Semite, or jihadist sympathiser after September 11, 2001.
If one can successfully label another a terrorist sympathiser, not only is a political career over, so cold be one’s marketplace future.
Reason enough to bring on a bad case of the shakes.
DEVORE WAS SICKLY CONFIDENT
Before the debate started I took a stroll to the Green Room.
There I welcomed both studio guests, Tom Campbell and Chuck DeVore. Campbell had set-up camp first in the KTKZ west conference room. As I arrived Assemblyman Chuck DeVore was arriving. As DeVore entered the room there was a handshake for me, but none for his debate opponent Tom Campbell.
Rep. Campbell, the consimate gentlemen was a bit caught off-guard by the brief snub.
I explained the debate rules and left the Green Room for preparations in the broadcast studio. I made my way past four cameramen and found my seat for the next 90-minutes. Following me into the studio was Chuck DeVore.
DeVore took some time in picking his seat and microphone; he chose the one furthest from the media and their cameras and closest to the windows. As he took his seat he confessed, “I hope my voice holds out. I am battling a terrible cold.” He referenced his numerous plane rides, passenger sneezing and the cross-contamination.
As DeVore took his seat as he spread out his notes and then asked me a simple question, “Eric, what are the format rules again?”
I explained the 2-1-1 format that we I created for the debate. Chuck questioned why the rebuttal only received 1-minute. I told him that I would make sure that each had their fair share of time in discussion and crosstalk.
DeVore oozed a aura of confidence. Although DeVore was under the weather, he was in position ahead of the others and willing to make his mark in the first senatorial debate. In the end, DeVore’s confidence and the fact that his poor health had him in a lower lower voice frame of mind that may have lead to his proclaimed success in the debate.
DeVore short, pointed and pithy retorts work to perfection. he stayed out of the rhetorical flare-ups enough to pop a few cough drops and interject his best line of the debate.
When Campbell and Fiorina were hashing out Internet taxes and who supported them, DeVore’s eyes light up like a Christmas morning as he adjusted the drop to the side of his mouth and spoke, “There are both right, and I never did.”
DeVore; sick and confident.
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