The former first lady embraced the crowds - literally. During her March 10 visit to Scranton, Clinton shook hands with supporters at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport before a stop at an Old Forge pizzeria on her way to a campaign rally at the Scranton High School. Clinton granted one-on-one interviews to the local press and walked the distance in Saturday’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade, stopping for photographs, handshakes and hugs along the way. Obama, on the other hand, declined interviews with the local media and would not disclose details of his trip. His time of arrival was estimated and an appearance at Whistles Pub & Eatery in Scranton was restricted to pool media.
So Obama declined to spend any time answering questions from a small-town Pennsylvania newspaper. Big (&^%$#@ deal, right? Except that now that newspaper has decided that Hillary is their new BFF, ‘cuz Obama was mean to them and hurt their feelings. Uh…what?? Give me a break, willya? A political candidate does not owe an interview to any media outlet…why do you think Obama rarely appears on Fox News Channel? A candidate is free to choose whom he or she talks to…or not. Certainly, it’s to a candidate’s advantage to talk to as many media outlets as possible, but there’s only so much of a person to go around. At some point, a candidate should have the right to say no without the East Bumf—k Tattler taking offense and whining to it’s minimal readership about how the mean, nasty, evil candidate snubbed there just and righteous request for an interview.
What’s beginning to bother me so much about the Democratic primary season is that because it’s so close, everyone and his brother is looking for something- anything- that will stick. The best way to do that, of course, is to nibble around the edges. Talk about a candidate’s attitude, personality, acquaintances, fourth-grade girlfriends…anything that might somehow call his or her judgement, background, beliefs, or all of the above into question.
That this has NOTHING to do with a candidate’s (in this case, Barack Obama’s) qualifications to be President is seemingly beside the point. If you can prove that Obama punched Susie McGillicuddy in the shoulder in third grade, you can make the case that he’s a gruel, heartless SOB who harbors a subliminal hatred for women. That’s how silly this whole thing has become. What Rev. Jeremiah Wright has or hasn’t said has NOTHING to do with what Obama may or may not believe. Once Obama deplored Wright’s statements, that should have been the end of the story. Unfortunately, since the Clinton campaign and their supporters recognize that their candidate isn’t going to get over the top on her own, they’re more than happy to work whatever angles and opportunities might present themselves.
Who CARES that Obama didn’t talk to a small-town Pennsylvania newspaper. If these so-called “journalists” can’t handle the sting of rejection, perhaps they ought to look at another career. Insinuating that they were somehow “snubbed” and playing up Clinton’s alleged humanity and sunny disposition is both immature and silly in the extreme.
Get over yourselves, already…and call me when you have something resembling newsworthy to report, ‘kay?? Buh-bye….
