Having sat through the entirety of Meet The Press this morning, the sit down at the table attempt at gotcha from Tim Russert fell flat.  And Sen. Hillary Clinton turned those tables back at him over and over again in a pivot and attack performance that left Russert looking sullen and deflated.  This exchange is a stand-out example:

RUSSERT:  [Talking about polling numbers from an NBC News/WSJ poll.]  Why is there Independents and Republican resistance to you?  [sic]

CLINTON:  You know, Tim, one thing I think that everybody should have learned from New Hampshire is let’s not pay so much attention to polls.  We need to let voters actually make up their minds…

Whatever anyone may think of Sen. Clinton, she clearly prepared for this interview.  She had a command of facts and voting records, and managed to slip in a "you can’t just vote present" zinger at Sen. Obama with a smile on her face.  (And against which the Obama campaign is already striking back, btw.)  Her ability to turn Russert’s policy and political strategy questions right back at him made me laugh out loud more than once.  And his frustration at not making inroads with any of his carefully edited gotcha attempt clips was visible in the crestfallen and constipated look on his face throughout.

For every single Democrat who goes on the talking heads circuit:  take notes.  On how to take control of the conversation and steer it in the direction that it needs to go.  Clear, concise, on message, factual command…nice to see.  More of this please.  

Now, if I just agreed with all of her policy positions, I’d be happier.   Hugh pinpoints a particular point of contention among several from this morning, just as one example, where law and argument diverge for me.

But there are issues that she, Sen. Obama and Sen. Edwards have worked on that could use much more public discussion.  Sen. Clinton could start by talking more about her work on behalf of at risk children with the Children’s Defense Fund.  That is a conversation this nation desperately needs to have — and one that a lifetime of work with CDF has prepared Sen. Clinton to discuss in depth.  For that matter, Sen. Obama’s early work with a well-known civil rights firm in Chicago is ripe for a lengthy discussion, especially since we haven’t begun to scratch the surface of a desperately needed conversation on race and poverty, even in the devastating aftermath of Katrina.  And former Sen. John Edwards has done some incredible work on rural and at risk education and poverty issues for those who are trying to work their way out of despair toward a better future. 

The Democratic field has some real world, hands-on experience in trying to lift up the lives of Americans who most need a hand these days.  Let’s talk more about that, please, real world problems and solutions, and stop playing gotcha.  It sure would make a nice change, wouldn’t it? 

(Smashing Pumpkins, The Everlasting Gaze.)

(A note to Clinton staffers:  next time, check the lighting a little better on the interview set prior to beginning the interview.  It was too dim on her, much brighter on Russert, and that left her face shadowy by comparison – don’t let the networks get away with that without double-checking it.  That brown suit didn’t do her any favors under bad lighting.  It’s a nitpick, but one that a media savvy campaign should be aware of for future appearances. That goes for the other campaigns as well.)


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