Sign this t.v. reporter up for CNN! He actually asks McCain some tough questions.
Apparently, McCain has been feeling under pressure for avoiding reporters the last few weeks, so he thought he could get some fluff, softball questions by appearing on an interview with a local Maine television news station. Was he wrong. I would hate to be the person who scheduled McCain for an interview on this show. I'm sure he's going to a get a good and up close view of McCain's infamous temper.
Local Maine t.v. reporter grills McCain on Palin
With his first question, the interviewer, Rob Caldwell (thanks to ablington for the name), goes right for the jugular - he asks, why won't Palin answer questions from reporters? McCain respond by saying that she'll be doing numerous "conversations" with reporters soon. Conversations? Over tea and crumpets? Sounds like Palin will be doing the Entertainment Tonight, Country Music Network, and Tonight Show circuit.
More below.
The interviewer then ups the ante with his second question - he actually brings up per diem gate and asks how the fact that she got reimbursed 312 times for travel expenses for meals eaten at home squares with her reformer image! McCain gives a really lame response, basically saying what she did was legal. Too bad Caldwell didn't follow up on it.
Then, a question on Palin's foreign policy experience. McCain squirms and squirms, denies that he said that infamous quote about the number one issue being the fight against Islamic extremism, and then ends up just gives a ridiculous answer.
Q: Let 's move on to what you say is the number one issue facing the United States in our time. And that is the challenge of addressing Islamist extremism. What credentials does Gov. Palin have -- in national security, diplomacy, foreign policy -- that qualify her to be your partner in that, on that issue: the fight against Islamic extremism?
McCain: Well, obviously the economy is also a major challenge facing America.
Q: No, I'm using your words, Senator McCain, you have said, this summer...
McCain: No, I said...
Q: That the number one challenge of our time is Islamic extremism...
McCain: No, I said the greatest challenge of our time is national security threats. I've also said that jobs and the economy are the number one issue facing America.
The interviewer pushes McCain on Palin's foreign policy experience, and asks McCain to name one example of it. McCain's response? ENERGY. Energy????
This guy asked more tough questions of McCain than David Gregory has ever done in his life.
3rd EDIT: tammany call's great idea - email Rob Caldwell and tell him what a great job he did. He put national MSM reporters to shame. Email Rob Caldwell
2nd EDIT: Important information from dditt. I'm quoting dditt's full comment.
Caldwell has been around for years, and the show he hosts, "207" (Maine's area code) is kind of a feel good magazine where they look at local events and arts. They take national stories and intersperse them with local stuff. Occasionally, they get something like this. Now this is important.
McCain chose this outlet for a couple of reasons. 1) he is beginning to take heat for not taking questions from reporters. 2) 207 goes out of Portland, and broadcasts to about half the population of New Hampshire.
The McCain camp probably thought they would get a roll over interview with some free press in NH. (He's all but dead in Maine.) Thanks for bringing this up. Watch for McCain to be even more gun shy after this little fiasco.
Hats off to Rob Caldwell. Rec it up. This is actually huge.
EDIT: I've included the reporter's name in the diary.