Posted on 12/11/2014 7:59:20 AM PST by SeekAndFind
I’m sure we’re all relieved to know that after the many media debacles in the last few election cycles, the cable news denizens have learned their lesson. This time around things are going to be different. Candidates will be treated fairly, with an opportunity to make their case before the American people while being subjected to rigorous examination of their actual record and their stated positions on the issues.
Naw, I’m just kidding. Nothing has actually changed at all. And to lead off the two year parade of embarrassing media moments, MSNBC featured an interview with Texas Governor Rick Perry conducted by Kasie Hunt. Rather than asking about the Governor’s record on job creation, business growth, or even critical questions regarding education or wages, Ms. Hunt drilled right down to the important things that voters need to know. (Emphasis added.)
Overhanging all of the optimistic preparations: the potential for one big mistake. Privately, his advisers acknowledge that Perry is walking around with what amounts to a personal detonator.
“I think everybody has some margin for error,” Perry said in the interview. “I’ve probably got less than other folks. But that’s okay.”
If he runs again, he’ll have to answer the question that was left lingering in the wake of his 2012 campaign: Is Perry smart enough to be president?
To his credit, Perry did what’s expected of any potential presidential candidate. He smiled and treated the question as if it actually merited an answer.
“Running for the presidency’s not an IQ test,” he said. “It is a test of an individual’s resolve. It’s a test of an individual’s philosophy. It’s a test of an individual’s life experiences. And I think Americans are really ready for a leader that will give them a great hope about the future.”
Perry insisted that he’s already well down the road to convincing supporters that he’s changed.
“When you look at the people that are pouring in here to down with us, the policy individuals that have aid, ‘listen, we want to come help you become even better prepared as see go forward,’ is already the answer to that,” he said.
If all you had available was the text version of this interview you might be led to believe that Hunt was speaking extemporaneously when pondering Perry’s intelligence, or that he had just fired off those comments about an IQ test out of the blue. But when you watch the video of the interview, the truth is revealed. She just fired the question at him point blank. Are you smart enough to be President?
I had just come in from shoveling snow when this was airing, (thanks, Mother Nature!) and was so taken aback that I had to wait for the clip to air again to be sure what it was that I’d just heard. A “reporter” sat in front of the longest serving governor in the history of Texas – a person who has overseen an era of massive job growth and prosperity – not to mention a prospective presidential candidate, and basically asked him if he was stupid. I find myself sitting here and asking the inevitable question: can you even imagine if a reporter had said that to Hillary Clinton? (Not that it would ever happen on any network capable of fielding a news program.) The screams of outrage and declarations of the War on Women would bring the news cycle to a grinding halt even if there were seven new cases of Ebola reported in DC on the same day.
So this is what we have to look forward to over the next 23 months. Republicans should be particularly wary if any of the qualified women among their ranks, such as Nikki Haley, Susana Martinez or Jan Brewer, decided to run. Kasie Hunt will probably set up an interview and the first question out of her mouth will be about whether or not they have reached menopause, just so we can be sure they won’t “go crazy” with the nuclear football when that time of the month rolls around.
Has anyone at NBC News ever sat down to ask Kasie Hunt if she’s really smart enough to cover a presidential campaign?
Just in case you think this is too much to believe, here’s the video.
You've nailed it! And where are all the photos of the young genius in cap and gown on graduation day receiving his diplomas from all these prestigious universities he supposedly graced with his scholarly presence? Don't families cherish such wonderful moments in pictures forever?
Perhaps Hillary is more to your liking.
There is a big difference between smarts, information and the ability to think quickly on one’s feet.
Politicians are usually so glib and rehearsed that people think they are a lot smarter than they are. Most of them are just high level used car salesmen. No insult to salesmen intended.
Obama’s a perfect example of that - when he’s on prompter, he does sound intelligent (unless you actually examine the substance of what he says).
Off prompter? A bumbling fool.
“Somebody please tell me why aspiring Republican candidates go on MSNBC or CNN and submit themselves to their stupid reporters and their stupid questions.”
I do not know if it holds true in politics but in Hollyweird the thought is that there is no such thing as ‘bad’ publicity. ;-)
An irrelevant question from an obscure cable channel.
The voters have set the standard for presidential qualification.
If you’re alive, you’re qualified.
Rick Perry is over qualified. He’s alive and kicking!
Right.
Or, even better, 'Kassie, are you dumb enough to be a reporter? Let me see your press pass.'
Newbie, I suggest you are a troll who will castigate every Republican candidate as your collective posts on FR since you joined are suspect.
“His response should have been:
‘Compare my college transcripts to Obama’s and ask me again.’”
BRILLIANT!!
Quit crying just because I dared to say meanie words about your preferred RINO.
You are barking up the wrong tree with Marcella. She's been here long enough to have a reputation, and she ain't a supporter of Rick.
You, on the other hand, are a newb with a posting history.
/johnny
Doesn’t your IQ have to be above the top 5% of the population to qualify for Harvard?...Maybe, if you are white or Asian and don’t get your slot bought by Saudi Arabia.
Liberals ALWAYS demonize conservative leaders as either evil or stupid. Yet it is painfully clear that the pointy-headed elites are those who suffer the greatest dearth of common sense and leadership. Give me a leader who understands his/her limitations and surrounds himself/herself with experts on single subjects.
Obama’s IQ and shoe size are the same.
Marcella, we must strive to understand the newbie because Bettyprob is a special kind of stupid, and she looks down at Rick Perry since to her he's merely just plain stupid.
I think that his response was perfect.
I think that he looks great!
*********************
That's purely defensive. He has few enough brain cells as it is.
Not if your sur-name is Gore or Kennedy or you're sponsor is a billionaire Saudi Arabian Sheik.
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