Open Mic Catches Press Coordinating Questions For Romney On Egypt, Libya

[cynatnite]

An open mic caught reporters coordinating what questions they plan to ask Governor Romney, specifically if he regretted his comment about yesterday's protests in Egypt, while they waited for Mitt Romney to appear at a press conference this morning. (h/t The Right Scoop) Transcript below:

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: …pointing out that the Republicans are… *unintelligible* …Obama…

CBS REPORTER: That’s the question.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: *unintelligible*

CBS REPORTER: Yeah that’s the question. I would just say do you regret your question.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Your question? Your statement?

CBS REPORTER: I mean your statement. Not even the tone, because then he can go off on…

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: And then if he does, we can just follow up and say, "but this morning your answer is continuing to sound…" – *becomes unintelligible*

CBS REPORTER: You can’t say that.

**Later**

CBS REPORTER: I’m just trying to make sure that we’re just talking about, no matter who he calls on we’re covered on the one question.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Do you stand by your statement or regret your statement?

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2012/09/12/open_mic_catches_press_coordinating_questions_for_romney_on_egypt_libya.html

What do you think?

[immoderate]

1. *unintelligible*

--imm

[sharp_stick]

2. They always do this

if there's a big question to be answered. Politicians know who they want to get to ask questions and the only way sometimes a tough question can be asked is if they get together and go over the wording in a way to get the person to answer it instead of weaseling out.

[cynatnite]

6. That does make sense. I just wasn't sure what to make of it. Thanks. n/t

[sufrommich]

3. What? That seems to be a conversation between 2 reporters,

what am I missing? There were way more than 2 reporters there.

[BumRushDaShow]

4. Hmmm.

[Schema Thing]

5. No biggie imo. At the core, they all have the exact same job to do...

...but they only get one or two questions each.



I had the dubious honor of having to photograph the Texas GOP convention this year; the press photographers were generous in coordinating with me and giving me a heads up, ie: "hey, we're going to stand up and shoot when Ron Paul comes out....", that sort of thing, and even sharing their light readings etc.

[cthulu2016]

7. I think this is fine

At a press conference somebody is going to ask "the" question. If the first questioner doesn't phrase it well then the next questioner would have to ask the same question, with a slight change.

I have no problem with reporters talking to each other to try to make sure that whoever gets called on asks the key question in the right way.

[smorkingapple]

8. The right is acting like this is a conspiracy

when this is routinely done by WH press corps to make sure the most important question they all want an answer to actually gets asked before they stop taking questions. This happens to everyone at the Presidential level.

[Denzil_DC]

9. Wait till they find out about press pools.

Their heads will explode.