AP blows the whistle on Edwards event

[Cocoa]

Here's the shocker: it's staged!


http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-front-...

DURHAM, N.C. -- The front porch conjures up images of rocking chairs, lazy summer afternoons and icy drinks. But not in election-year politics as Democrats John Kerry and John Edwards use the setting to reach out to voters in choreographed events with miked candidates and hand-picked audiences.

"The most important thing you can do as a political leader is not to talk, but to listen," Edwards said Monday from the front porch of the split-level home of Durham's Democratic mayor, Bill Bell.

It might have looked as though Sen. Edwards just stopped by for a folksy chat in this leafy, upper middle-class neighborhood in his home state.

But the neighbors and friends were hand picked. A large camera stand stood on the lawn. Satellite trucks lined the street. Electrical cables snaked everywhere. Dozens of reporters and photographers were present. A man pushing a lawnmower was stopped by police from getting any closer.

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[Catfight]

Oh please, this is ridiculous, we already KNOW Bush has that market

cornered. We don't use Republician tactics, we actually have people who WANT to attend our meetings!

[Beetwasher]

1. So I Suppose They Will Expose All Of The Chimp's Handpicked

audiences at his appearances?

[Bluzmann57]

2. The point is?

I mean ALL of bush's crap is staged, and frankly, most political situations like the one you described are staged. No story here.

[leyton]

3. This just in: Kerry's speeches not improvised but written ahead of time!

Bush, who botches the English language without needing preparation, politely blasted the liberal treehugger from Taxachusetts for being such a pansy.

[rfranklin]

4. Gee, and all of Bush's appearance are natural phenomena....

They're Goring are candidates again.

[jdsmith]

5. How many of you remember that hay bale in Crawford?

And those rustic farm buildings--gosh, I'll bet that America's jest-folks President milks his own personal cow in one of them.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

6. And your point is....??

[markus]

7. Anybody here the former advance man's bit on NPR this weekend?

I wonder if somebody heard it and used it for a story idea.

Of course, what is the *point* of giving the Bushistas a free platform to say "fouth most liberal", etc.? I mean, if that's there response to a question on the staging, why bother to print it?

[Nite Owl]

8. Oh pleeeze

they don't really think Edwards would appear on someones doorstep with some guy holding a little camcorder. Where's all the stories about the Bushies* being shipped in and shaken down?

[spooky3]

9. How DARE he ask the permission of homeowners!

[Zorra]

10. Staged? Remember these?

[Cocoa]

12. that wasn't staged

Bush just happened to be flying by.

As for the banner, the sailors requested it. Here's a (satirical) first-hand account of how it all went down...

http://www.lasvegasmercury.com/2004/MERC-Jun-10-Thu-200...

Rear Admiral John Kelly is just the kind of leader you want at sea: strong but fair. I told him what me and the guys were cooking up and he listened patiently.

"I like your initiative, Seamen Whetsel," Kelly said. "I do. It shows spunk. But I can't allow it."

"Well, sir," I sputtered, "it's just that it'd mean so much to the fellas."

"Dammit, don't you think I know that?" Kelly said. "I'd do anything to make this crew happy. But it's a naked, partisan political ploy and I can't allow it on the taxpayers' dime."

[sandnsea]

11. At least they aren't actors

Good lord, what these whores choose to turn into an issue. And people around here don't even want to challenge Ah-nuld on girlie-men. Why we lose, reason #2,394