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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsChuck Todd blames Alison Lundergan Grimes for his journalistic screw up
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/10/15/1336682/-Chuck-Todd-blame-Alison-Lundergan-Grimes-for-his-journalistic-screw-up?detail=facebook#Chuck Todd does not get it. Once he becomes the news in this manner he has failed as a journalist. A few days ago Alison Lundergan Grimes was interviewed by the Louisville Courier-Journal editorial board. They asked her whether she voted for President Obama in 2008 and 2012. She justifiably refused to answer.
The talking heads and pundits claimed she was not prepared for the question. The lack of sophistication of the traditional media is astounding. It was evident that she was prepared for the question and she intended not to answer it. It was evident that her team likely thought the downside was worse if she answered.
Chuck Todd in another case of irrational verbal diarrhea said that her answer "borders on disqualification." One wonders how not answering an inconsequential and silly question borders on disqualification yet he never said such on the various substantive lies and misstatements by Mitch McConnell (e.g, implying that Kynect is not Obamacare, etc.).
For anyone who had any doubts, in a subsequent debate, Alison Lundergan Grimes again refused to bite. She said she had a right to the privacy of the ballot box. Those talking heads and pundits who in unison thought she was unprepared realized it was a strategy, a strategy most thinking political observers saw right away.
More at link.
Stellar
(5,644 posts)Logical
(22,457 posts)upaloopa
(11,417 posts)from Ohio just a few miles from Kentucky. My dad was born there. If she said she voted for Obama that would have lost her more votes than not answering does. You have to be there I think.
Logical
(22,457 posts)But this has been news for too long.
arthritisR_US
(7,288 posts)upaloopa
(11,417 posts)I think the media are against her.
Logical
(22,457 posts)Skittles
(153,169 posts)perhaps she didn't and was reluctant to be questioned about THAT
upaloopa
(11,417 posts)even a blue dog Dem voting for someone so right wing as Romney. Why would she even consider running in 2014 if she wanted Romney for President?
Jackpine Radical
(45,274 posts)His goal was to twist whatever Grimes said into material that could be used against her, and he succeeded. Had she acknowledged voting for Obama, that would have been featured in every Turtle ad between now & the election. And it's pretty unlikely that she would have voted for rMoney, but even if she said she head, then there would be a flurry of negative ads about that.
I really wish people would quit mistaking malice for incompetence.
Logical
(22,457 posts)Everyone knows she voted for Obama, she made a non-story a story.
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)Secrecy of the vote is a pathetic argument when you are running to be a professional vote caster.
DefenseLawyer
(11,101 posts)That fact is, because of the spin machine covering the campaign it was never going to be a "non-story". Had she answered yes the press would be talking about her "Michael Dukakis moment" when she told the truth and went down in flames; tied herself to the unpopular President, blah blah blah blah. As long as the media was willing to play along with Mitch McTurtle's ploy (and of course they were) there was no way to answer and defuse the story.
muriel_volestrangler
(101,322 posts)http://www.politico.com/story/2014/01/alison-lundergan-grimes-kentucky-senate-on-the-ground-102544_Page2.html
If she didn't vote for Obama in the general election in 2008, she wasn't supporting her party.
DefenseLawyer
(11,101 posts)There is no way to answer the question, give the politics of Kentucky, that doesn't ding her with somebody. McConnell's whole campaign has been "Grimes = Obama". Her campaign knew that talking about voting for the President would be played on an endless loop until election day and chose not to bite. That may have hurt her with you, but it was a calculated risk. Personally, if "not supporting her party" helps her get elected in Kentucky, so be it.
muriel_volestrangler
(101,322 posts)I suspect not. Do they like people who pretend to be a Democrat, but aren't really? Enough to not vote for the Republican anyway?
DefenseLawyer
(11,101 posts)"Average Joe" in Kentucky HATES the President. Hates. Not just rabid republicans either, but average low information voters. They may not know much about any of the issues, but they know that they hate the President. She's obviously not going to gain any voters by not answering. That's not the calculation. Low information voters probably aren't paying attention to the "controversy" one way or the other, but they will watch a commercial of Grimes saying "Of course I voted for Obama" and that may be the difference. As I said, as long has the press plays along, it's a no win situation for her on that question.
jen63
(813 posts)end of Ohio. It's the very same mindset.
Rex
(65,616 posts)Fuck that hack, he is an embarrassment to all the actual investigative journalist out there that BUST THEIR ASS to get a real story because they fucking care!
Chuck Toad doesn't care, he has said it before and doesn't really care if anyone even remembers. He sure as hell can't even pay simple attention to the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES during an interview.
Think about how sad that is. And now he is a 'made man' on NBC!
NBC, their reputation can be seen floating around the urinal cake.
madokie
(51,076 posts)He might get on at faux noise but I wouldn't bet on that.
Smarmy bastard is all I know for sure
My apologies for using the b word but nothing else fits in this case. Sorry
nykym
(3,063 posts)Why do we cast our votes either behind a curtain (mechanical voting booths or in the privacy of a small voting kiosk (electronic voting)? What does it really matter except to create a non story out of a silly question.
Who you or anyone votes for is their own business. If you want to share it then fine, if not respect their wishes and move on.
oldandhappy
(6,719 posts)Todd is hopeless -- he has sold out
NBC and MSNBC see to be trying to rehabilitate him -- he has been on a lot of shows. I hit mute each time.
BuelahWitch
(9,083 posts)I suppose part of it is working for NBC, the other comes from his background as a blogger. Right now he's treading water because he knows he's just a place holder until the PTB get Baby Spud Russert up to speed.
Ykcutnek
(1,305 posts)The Republican way.
geardaddy
(24,931 posts)and welcome to DU!
C_U_L8R
(45,003 posts)That's really the issue. Especially when Todd is so seemingly in the bag for the republicans.
geardaddy
(24,931 posts)Paladin
(28,265 posts)He should never, ever be given the opportunity to forget it---not now, not a year from now, not 20 years from now.