Who is Alvin Greene? That's the question a lot of people are asking. After winning the S. Carolina Democratic primary and becoming the party's candidate for senator -- despite literally having no campaign whatsoever -- Greene has been accused of being a Republican plant. Of course, another explanation might be that the S. Carolina Democratic Party are a bunch of incompetents. In fact, the "Greene's a plant!" argument doesn't exactly rule out the "SC dems suck" argument. If anything, it reinforces it. Regardless of how it is Greene won and what may be revealed about that question, I don't think there's any question that the Democratic Party of S. Carolina is going to have to sit down and figure out how to get their shit together.
In any case, if you're wondering who Alvin Greene is, it's not because he's keeping to himself. He's been all over the place, demonstrating a marked lack of media skill and charisma, while giving interviews to pretty much anyone who wants to talk to him. He may be a cipher, but it's not because he's run away from the press.
In contrast to this are Republicans. After a disastrous post-primary rollout, Kentucky senatorial candidate Rand Paul has a very different strategy in dealing with the media -- don't deal with the media.
Apparently not. After all, he's only running for the United States Senate, it's not like he has any obligation to explain what he'd do once he got there.
And there's this, from the Washington Post:
If there were ever a candidate in the history of American politics who wasn't ready for prime time, it's Alvin Greene. Yet no one is having any problem getting him on camera to give his "three words at a time" interviews.
Angle and Paul, meanwhile, are holed up in media-free fortresses, unwilling -- and perhaps unable -- to explain their positions on the issues they're running to deal with. How ridiculous is it that these candidates seem to believe they have some right to secrecy in running for office?
But Alvin Greene also points out another problem; if these other candidates aren't willing to talk to the media now -- after it's become so clear that they're outside the mainstream -- where were the media during the primaries? Why is it now that it's too late that primary voters are finding out who their candidates really are? If Paul, Angle, and Greene really are nuts, how is it that they got this far without being weeded out?
Angle and Paul need to answer some questions here, but so do the media.
In any case, if you're wondering who Alvin Greene is, it's not because he's keeping to himself. He's been all over the place, demonstrating a marked lack of media skill and charisma, while giving interviews to pretty much anyone who wants to talk to him. He may be a cipher, but it's not because he's run away from the press.
In contrast to this are Republicans. After a disastrous post-primary rollout, Kentucky senatorial candidate Rand Paul has a very different strategy in dealing with the media -- don't deal with the media.
REPORTER: Would you vote for the extension of the Medicaid reimbursement increase that the governors, at least thirty governors want?
PAUL: Why don't you submit your questions to us and we'll look at them.
REPORTER: You're not going to answer any questions in person?
Apparently not. After all, he's only running for the United States Senate, it's not like he has any obligation to explain what he'd do once he got there.
And there's this, from the Washington Post:
The top Senate Republican campaign strategist promised Tuesday that reporters would have "complete access" to Sharron Angle, the GOP nominee in Nevada, "in a few weeks," but not now.
Sen. John Cornyn (R-Tex.), chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, explained Angle's silence since she won last week's primary in the Silver State by saying she needed to get "prepared" for her opponent in November, Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D).
Angle has granted interviews only to conservative media outlets, while the Reid campaign has tried to define her as an out-of-the-mainstream conservative who supports abolishing popular federal programs such as Social Security.
If there were ever a candidate in the history of American politics who wasn't ready for prime time, it's Alvin Greene. Yet no one is having any problem getting him on camera to give his "three words at a time" interviews.
Angle and Paul, meanwhile, are holed up in media-free fortresses, unwilling -- and perhaps unable -- to explain their positions on the issues they're running to deal with. How ridiculous is it that these candidates seem to believe they have some right to secrecy in running for office?
But Alvin Greene also points out another problem; if these other candidates aren't willing to talk to the media now -- after it's become so clear that they're outside the mainstream -- where were the media during the primaries? Why is it now that it's too late that primary voters are finding out who their candidates really are? If Paul, Angle, and Greene really are nuts, how is it that they got this far without being weeded out?
Angle and Paul need to answer some questions here, but so do the media.
