Was the Rock the Vote forum rigged?

[dsc]

I ask due to this item in my local big city paper.

http://www.cleveland.com/editorials/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/opinion/1068806171245050.xml

JEERS . . .

to the unnamed Cable News Network producer who thought it would be cute to plant a fluff question during last week's Boston stop on the endless Democratic presidential debate trail. The producer told one young questioner to ask them whether the candidates preferred Macs or PCs. The young woman asked. Then she blew the whistle on CNN, which now says it regrets the producer's action. It should.

end of quote

It seems that one of the questions, supposedly by an audience member, was planted by a CNN producer. That begs the question. Were there any other planted questions? It didn't take the second coming of Einstein to see that an early question about the Confederate flag, preferably from a black man, would lead to great TV. And lo and behold, the second question of the night was exactly that. How convenient? Maybe this is just one big coincidence that we have an admittedly planted question and a different question which just happened to be the story of the debate. Or maybe CNN planted two questions. We will never really know, will we?

I am loathe to entertain conspiracy theories as you well know. But this has an odor.

[ShimokitaJer]

1. Of course it was... but not against a particular party

It was rigged to reinforce the impression that America's youth are carefree and flippant, earnest in their desire to get involved but unaware of real issues and politics.

It was a middle-aged white male marketing agent's attempt to create the impression that politics could be "hip" based on the stereotype of youth by people who still use the word "hip." It was an attempt to make politicians explain why they neither needed nor should particularly pursue the youth vote. It was American Bandstand when the participants wanted Def Jam.

[returnable]

2. To be fair...

...the flag issue was the "hot topic" that week. I don't think they needed to plant that one.

I would've been more surprised if the question wasn't asked.

[dsc]

4. I am not saying the question was planted

but I am wondering about the questioner. He was, from a TV producer's perspective, about as good as it gets. Also, the wording was so good from a TV perspective. I wonder if that was fed or was the questioners actual words.

[JI7]

6. maybe, but

many times the people are well prepared for these events with their questions just in case they are lucky enough to be asked. but i do think it should be looked into.

[realFedUp]

8. I agree....

young black male asks the Confed flag question...come on.
Ask him if it was given to him.

The whole thing was staged.

[Terwilliger]

11. that's right...I mean, a black man being pissed that Dean would say that

what are the chances? :eyes:

[dsc]

14. Again I am not saying he wouldn't have asked at all

but was he the only person wanting to ask about the flag? Was the wording, which made for great TV his or the producers? Given CNN's conduct those are valid questions.

[Terwilliger]

3. I think it's just desperation

on the part of Dean supporters

Come on, dsc....Howard Dean put his foot in it and had to pay the price. Why is that so hard to accept?

[dsc]

5. he did

but this was so perfect for TV and we have one, undenialably planted question. It makes one wonder.

[Hep]

7. Yes, we're so desperate

Seeing that our guy is still the frontrunner. We're SO desperate!

[Terwilliger]

9. He still likes to put his foot in his mouth

and Republicans really like him for some reason.

[Hep]

12. He LIKES to?

Interesting. I would have said TENDS to.

Which republicans like him, other than the republicans for Dean, and why exactly?

[Cocoa]

10. everything cable news does is rigged

It's a matter of getting caught.

I bet there's a memo out there that proves they all know that no one cares about Laci Peterson, but they decide to go ahead and shove her down our throats anyway.

Why aren't they covering every twist and turn of the Janklow case? That's one I'd actually be interested in.

[dsc]

13. There aren't any

in all fairness. Janklow is out on bond awaiting trial. The date has been set. I think once the case is being heard then it will be covered.

[Norcom]

15. Not the only rigged question

The last question asked, the one about who would you like to party with was also a planted question.

I wonder what other questions were planted.