Hillary Clinton's "don't ask" policy

As she races through Iowa in the days before next week's caucuses, Hillary Clinton is taking few chances. She tells crowds that it’s their turn to “pick a president,’’ but over the last two days she has not invited them to ask her any questions.

Before the brief Christmas break, the New York senator had been setting aside time after campaign speeches to hear from the audience. Now when she’s done speaking, her theme songs blare from loudspeakers, preventing any kind of public Q&A.

She was no more inviting when a television reporter approached her after a rally on Thursday and asked if she was “moved’’ by Benazir Bhutto’s assassination. Clinton turned away without answering.

Her daughter, Chelsea, had the same reaction when a reporter approached her with a question.

Hillary Clinton’s no-question policy didn’t sit well with some of the Iowans who came to see her speak.

“I was a little bit underwhelmed,’’ said Doug Rohde, 46, as he left a rally at a fire station in Denison. “The message was very generic -- and no questions.’’

Clinton campaign officials said that she may take questions in the coming days. But her focus is on seeing as many voters as possible before the caucuses next Thursday -- and spotlighting the messages she wants to deliver.

Spokespeople for her two main rivals in the Hawkeye State -– John Edwards and Barack Obama -– said the candidates would continue fielding questions as they troll for support.

(UPDATE: For an amusing update, click here.)

-- Peter Nicholas

Comments

[Andy Henderson]

Hillary Clinton is a great candidate. i think we should support her in all she does. We need to start by helping with her online popularity. Take a look at where she's at http://www.spartaninternet.com/2008

[Slick Willie]

Question: Who killed Vince Foster?

[Joe Ewing]

Hillary's biggest weakness appears to be her tendency to be a control-freak. She needs to relax and be human again, if that's possible.

[James]

Heaven forbid that she slip and answer a question truthfully. I agree that the members of the press are jackals and vultures wearing ties but she asked for the job...

[Wally]

Hillary is such a manipulator. She is trying to micro manage her appearances in a cold calculating way. She has no concern for the voters. It's all about her and Bill.

[IOUIUO]

What a pompous display of damage control and disregard for those who she wants something from ie "votes". If you cant engage your constituency than you should not run for president.

[Louis CK]

Hillary Clinton? More like Hillary no questions!

[chip o]

What a coward. When there is not anything good to say why say anything?

[Jeff]

What do you expect, she hasn't had time to plant the people to ask the questions in the first place!

[Rob]

It's our fault. We caught on to the planted question askers. Everything about Senator Clinton is choreographed for effect. There is no such thing as answering a question (really answering) and there never has been with her.

[David G.]

What should anyone expect from a lying, cheating, deceitful woman like HRC. She's not nearly as seasoned and experienced as she'd like you to believe... Marriage to Bill doesn't give her experience in anything but handling infidelity... She's got one term as a Senator... And nothing... and I mean nothing else. Wake up people. D.

[diega don]

This is news? This is the norm.

[Tom]

It doesn't matter if she takes questions or not. She is obviously the bestest qualified candidate ever to run and should be elected without any questions. When her two terms are over we should re-elect Bill for two more terms until Chelsea is ready for her first two terms. Better yet why don't we just crown her Queen of America and be done with all the lesser beings. Hail Hillary!

[Heilan Yvette Grimes]

I was at the Lebanon High School speech in Lebanon, NH, last week and she spent almost as long afterwards talking to people, answering questions, signing autographs, and posing for pictures, as the actually speech was, as did Chelsea. I've been putting up full video of her speeches at my youtube channel, youtube.com/yvettegr. The Lebanon one will go up as well as most of her other recent appearances in New Hampshire this weekend. She stays after EVERY speech and meets with people personally for 30-60 minutes. Most times longer than the speech itself. So, this story is demonstrable wrong and I've got the video to prove it. The news channels do to, since they video the after the speech meet and greet in its entirety. They just don't show it.

[JIm]

I guess it's getting to hard to keep straight all the sides on the issues she has taken over the last months and she doesn't want to get caught up in a Clintonisum this late in the game.

[Thom in MD]

How dare *she* run her campaign as *she* sees fit. Questioning our prospective leaders is a crucial element to the electoral process, but what can be asked that already hasn't. The female ex-PM of Pakistan is dead - would you expect someone, especially a candidate running for President of the United States, not to be moved by it. Give her a break and go dig up some real news. Blogging is so 2007 anyway!

[Leonard Mintz]

We need the next president to be honest, genuine, truthful, and posessed of a moral compass. Mrs. Clinton does not fit on any of these criteria. If she wins it will be a national tragedy.

[JIm]

I guess it's getting to hard to keep straight all the sides on the issues she has taken over the last months and she doesn't want to get caught up in a Clintonisum this late in the game.

[Carl Robb]

legal terms! sounds like a commie country to me.

Rob

[Solange Miller]

Hillary will sink America..

The demographic winter is coming to the US.

Aging workforce.
geocities(dot)com/demographic_crash

Good information on the subject.
Welcome for a visit.

[Brandon]

I understand how frustrating it can be. It's pretty hard to shout over the Darth Vader theme song.

[Dave Ward]

When she would not take questions i thought maybe she was running for queen of America.
I have lost my interest in her candidacy.

[Dave]

Just more proof she cares nothing about the people.

[Fred]

What does she show up and go, "I see you!" and then leave? It's ridiculous to think that she can act this way and get elected.

[tom]

Hillary has Not vowed to end the Iraq war and bring back our troops; only ONE candidate has done so: Ron Paul. Therefore, no matter how much she tries to soften her reptilian image, you just can't change a crocodile by dressing her in a tutu and ballet shoes. Ron Paul RULES!