Christine O’Donnell Defends Piers Morgan Walk-Out: ‘Borderline Sexual Harassment’

MEDIAITE ^ | 08/19/2011 | Colby Hall

[SeekAndFind]

Judge solely by the amount of attention she has received this week, it’s fair to say that Tea Party darling and aspiring media figure Christine O’Donnell has been successful at promoting her new book Troublemaker. But if you draw a distinction between the quantity and quality of media attention, well then perhaps its a different story all together. This morning O’Donnell showed up on NBC’s TODAY and was fairly interrogated by Savannah Guthrie who questioned O’Donnell’s previous explanations for why exactly she walked off of the set of Piers Morgan Tonight earlier in the week.

For the uninitiated, Morgan pressed O’Donnell on her position on gay marriage, a fair question seeing that it is a topic she includes in her book and is a controversial issue in the upcoming election season. Guthrie did not let the former Tea Party favorite off the hook, essentially asking her “what were you thinking in walking off the set mid-interview?”

Guthrie then challenged an assertion made by O’Donnell in a previous interview that Morgan was being somewhat sexist in his line of questioning, which led to the following exchange (rough transcript provided by TVEyes):

Guthrie: Let’s talk about that because you said flat out you think this line of questioning was sexist. but how do you get to that? The fact of the matter is you have had — you’ve made these comments about masturbation in your past, in the ’90s, and then you write about this in the book you are currently promoting. How is that not fair game? It is common practice to ask any politician, male or female, about their views.

O’Donnell: Right. I addressed — okay. I addressed the questions and I put it in context that, no, Ii would not do that interview again. I explained why I did the MTV interview in the ’90s, but then it goes into a personal nature and starts prying. Imagine if Bill Clinton were there. Would he ask him, do you still hang out with Monica Lewinsky? Come on, we talked about it in the ’90s? Do you still have that fascination with cigars, Bill? Come on, what’s wrong with this? No. If he did ask a male former candidate about that the outcry would be that it belonged on pay-per-view and not a reputable network like CNN. It was an inappropriate line of questioning. I addressed it the way I do in my book. What’s the same about this, Savannah, is the reviews that I’ve gotten, the people who have read the book, even if they disagree with me politically they tell me they finding it surprising and motivational story, that they really are enjoying the book. And all of this, you know, just like what happened in the campaign, the real message is being overshadowed. . that’s a shame because he’s doing it for ratings.

Guthrie: You say they are doing it for ratings. Let’s be honest, you’re wanting to sell books. Some people say it’s a publicity stunt on your part.

O’Donnell: Please. I didn’t want to do Piers Morgan, Honestly because I knew he resorted to these dirty tricks. no, it was certainly not a publicity stunt.

So not only does O’Donnell aggrandize herself by saying that she didn’t want to “do Piers Morgan” (implying that she was somehow a “get” or that she was doing CNN a favor by appearing on the show), but she also likens the line of questioning — and her political stature perhaps — to that of former president Bill Clinton. Huh?

The bottom line is this: whatever O’Donnell is doing to get attention is working. Whether its the sort of attention that will reclaim any sort of reputable image, sell books or just reinforce what many in the public already think of her remains to be seen.

Watch the clip below, courtesy of NBC:

CLICK ABOVE LINK FOR THE VIDEO

[cornfedcowboy]

O’Donnell is not ready for prime time and probably never will be.

[fabian]

Yes, she handled it in an emotional way. She also was cowardly...she would have dismissed his questioning fairly quickly by simply being very honest about homosexuality. instead, she blamed the interviewer.

[Siena Dreaming]

Yes, I think I made that clear.

I don't need to see her face because I don't think she has the character to be a national leader.

[ngat]

“I don’t need to see her face because I don’t think she has the character to be a national leader.”

You have presented no evidence for that assertion, any more that I have presented evidence for the assertion that I think you are jealous of Christine O’Donnell.

[deport]

Christine O’Donnell

Prime time ready..... not. But then she’s selling a book so money becomes a goal and thus any venue is usable.

[ngat]

“O’Donnell is not ready for prime time and probably never will be.”

She’s the best Delaware has to offer!

[presently no screen name]

we have to stop supporting people WHO CANNOT WIN.

Christine O’Donnell isn't running for anything. I'd say someone is living in your head 24/7.

[TribalPrincess2U]

Yes, when you put it that way. I suppose it was but I’m saying now that she should have embarrassed the Ahole first. >)

[presently no screen name]

It was Morgan asking the question repeatedly which was the last straw, not the question itself.

I read that yesterday.

[presently no screen name]

Something is a little “off” with her.

Finish it, and there is nothing wrong w/CNN.

[ngat]

“Otherwise, in the court of Public opinion, walking off causes us to lose not GAIN points.”

I’m not sure that is always true. I’ll just agree to disagree with you on this. You make a good case. I just think this country has moved past the point of civil discussion with between left and right, and the MSM barely makes a pretense of objectivity anymore. You cannot win by engaging the MSM with civil discourse because they won’t allow it. I just think in some cases, we have more to gain by walking out, although there are other ways of handling a cad when he insists on asking questions having to do with sex, or violating the agreed-to-in-advance ground rules (they will pull that, too). Like, walking over and punching them in the face. But, that may be a little too much thinking outside the box for a conservative.

[ngat]

LOL. I wish she had too.

[BenKenobi]

She was running for the seat that would have been seated immediately. Prior to the Obamacare vote Christmas of 2010.

[BenKenobi]

There are worse people...

[presently no screen name]

Worse people than who? Not following your post.

[Retired Greyhound]

My recollection is that she ran in 2008 and was defeated by Biden, Jr.

The Obamacare vote was in December 2009. The primary against Mike Castle was in 2010.

I don’t remember a Delaware election before then, but it could just be my memory.

[tarotsailor]

I like her. I don’t think she can handle the burden of leadership in crisis. But I like her. There is something off about her, but it just makes me want to give her a hug...NOT my vote. Glad she’s on our side, she’s a soldier and she took a swing at the ball. Love and blessings on her, never be too busy to listen to what she has to say.

[Mister Da]

“O’Donnell: Please. I didn’t want to do Piers Morgan, Honestly because I knew he resorted to these dirty tricks. no, it was certainly not a publicity stunt.”

There is something wrong with this woman.

You cannot expect to write about homosexuality & masturbation in your book, yet not have to defend your comments in a Liberal interview you attend to promote your book. Then to deny doing Piers Morgan's show to promote the book is a pathetic lie.

Nobody forced her to do the interview. Obviously, she did it to promote the book & fatten her bank account. Walking out on the interview suggests she can't take the heat of open debate.

Her political positions may be great, but she is a flake.

[BenKenobi]

You said that O’Donnell’s living rent free in his head.

I commented that there are worse people to have living there...

[presently no screen name]

I was inferring Sarah to the comment....have to stop supporting people WHO CANNOT WIN since we all know Christine is not running for anything. I have no problem with Christine and she was there and we weren’t - all we have is how CNN ‘claims’ it went down. I don’t believe them for one minute.