February 26, 2004
UNGOTCHA:
Two Different Democrats, Same Advisers and Ideas (ADAM NAGOURNEY, 2/26/04, NY Times)
[M]ore than once, Mr. Kerry's answers would wander down the tracks, thick with the Washingtonese that he had moments earlier said had been purged from his speech, as his listeners sunk deeper into their seats. An aide seated near him did not try to hide a yawn or two.Not surprisingly for two men running for president, each evaded problematic questions, though in different ways: When asked if he would as president take the politically risky step of eliminating protections for the American sugar and cotton industries, Mr. Edwards smiled broadly and told the paper's editorial board, "Don't I wish I could give you what you want."
"I'm not for eliminating subsidies for family farmers," he said. "I am for eliminating subsidies for corporate farming operations, people who make over a million dollars a year in net profits."
When a questioner noted that the Louisiana primary is two weeks away, Mr. Edwards responded: "Yeah, you think I don't know that? Yeah, I think I'll stick where I am on that."
Mr. Kerry was similarly nonresponsive: "That is one of those issues that will be under review" in the first 120 days of his presidency, he said.
Mr. Kerry answered most questions, at least eventually, and often after an adventurous digression (a request to name his domestic policy advisers produced a five-minute discussion of his health care plan).
But even at this late date in the primary campaign, there were times Mr. Edwards seemed caught off guard by fairly standard questions. When he was asked to name his domestic advisers, Mr. Edwards pursed his lips and wrinkled his brow. "Let me think," he said. "You're testing me. Who have I been talking to about economic policy? It's been so long since I talked to anybody other than myself about economic policy."
When Mr. Bush was stumped by a question about the leaders of Inner and Outer Micronesia last campaign he was portrayed as an idiot for weeks. These clowns can't answer questions about their own policies or who their cabinet members might be and the media gives them a pass? Posted by Orrin Judd at February 26, 2004 4:08 PM
oj, don't you understand that Kerry's failing to give a straight answer only reinforces his image as a "smart Senator" who appreciates that "life is not simple"; Edwards, that he is a tort lawyer.
Posted by: MG at February 26, 2004 4:16 PMMG has it mostly right. When stupid or evasive answers reinforce the agreed-upon image, they're reported widely. The "story" of 2000 was Bush the Idiot vs. Gore the Liar. Neither image was accurate. Bush may be willfully ignorant of a lot of things, but he's whip-smart when he wants to be. Gore is guilty of the two worst sins a politician can commit--he appears stiff on TV, and he is despised by the Washington press corps. So when Bush stumbles on a simple geography question, it's news, as it is when the RNC spreads the lie that Gore claimed to have invented the internet.
Edwards is the ultra-smart, verbally eloquent former trial lawyer, or so the conventional wisdom would have it. When he slips up on a simple question like this, it's too far against the grain to headline.
It is worth noting, however, that the unflattering portrait of Kerry and Edwards that OJ has quoted is from an article in today's New York Times. This somehow qualifies as "a pass?"
Posted by: M. Bulger at February 26, 2004 4:44 PMBuried in an analysis piece in one paper on the day they endorsed both of them.
Posted by: oj at February 26, 2004 5:09 PMGore is guilty of the two worst sins a politician can commit--he appears stiff on TV, and he is despised by the Washington press corps.
Good thing they won't make that mistake again.
Posted by: David Cohen at February 26, 2004 6:31 PMI have the strange feeling that Chris Matthews might actually give Kerry the same sort of interview he pounced on Ralph Nader earlier this week (should Kerry dare to appear). Edwards is a different kettle of fish, and would probably try to breeze his way through. But he has never faced a hostile press corps in his life (until now - he angered up pretty quick in CA yesterday when asked repeatedly about gay marriage).
Posted by: jim hamlen at February 26, 2004 6:38 PM"... RNC spreads the lie that Gore claimed to have invented the internet."
Wow. Jay Leno and David Letterman were members of the RNC? How'd they keep that quiet?
Algore wasn't seen as a liar. He was seen as someone who exaggerates his accomplishments, or attempts to take sole credit when a large group of people can claim equal credit.
Inner and Outer Micronesia?
Is that a joke, or am I being too literal-minded?
Posted by: Harry Eagar at February 26, 2004 9:22 PMMaybe Edwards doesn't have any domestic advisors.
Harry:
I took it as a joke.
IIRC, he was asked, ironically, who the leader of Pakistan was.