Blitzer calls Clinton a "flip-flopper" over coffee preferences
On the December 14 edition of CNN's The Situation Room, host Wolf Blitzer cited a December 12 Associated Press article, in which the presidential candidates answered questions about their coffee preferences, part of the AP's "series of questions about [the candidates'] personal side," and announced, "[L]ook at this -- Hillary Clinton is a flip-flopper. Sometimes she takes it black, sometimes with cream." Yet, Blitzer had offered no characterization of either Rudy Giuliani's or Sen. John McCain's (R-AZ) coffee preferences, noting only "Giuliani prefers low-cal sweetener, any brand will do" and "McCain is fond of cappuccino, or coffee with cream and sugar."
The December 12 AP article, in its entirety:
Hold the sugar.
Presidential candidates who drink coffee prefer artificial sweetener or no sweetener, for the most part.
AP asked candidates a series of questions about their personal side. Today's question is about what they take in their coffee. The answers:
DEMOCRATS:
New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton: Sometimes black, sometimes with cream
Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards: Doesn't drink it
Illinois Sen. Barack Obama: Black, but rarely drinks it
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson: Cream
REPUBLICANS:
Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani: Splenda, Sweet'n Low or Equal, whichever is available
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee: Splenda
Arizona Sen. John McCain: Cappuccino or coffee with cream and sugar
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney: Doesn't drink it, has been known to have hot chocolate
Former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson: Cream
From the December 14 edition of CNN's The Situation Room:
BLITZER: Let's take a campaign coffee break right now. The Associated Press asked the presidential candidates how they like their coffee. Take a look at this:
Rudy Giuliani prefers low-cal sweetener, any brand will do. Mike Huckabee is more specific; he likes Splenda. John McCain is fond of cappuccino, or coffee with cream and sugar. Fred Thompson says "cream, please." Bill Richardson: also a cream kind of guy.
Barack Obama takes it black, but says he rarely drinks coffee. John Edwards says "no thanks," he doesn't drink the stuff. And on this issue -- look at this -- Hillary Clinton is a flip-flopper: Sometimes she takes it black, sometimes with cream.
Next headline on CNN, "Hillary Rodham Clinton swings both ways".
Or, "HRC - once she went black, she can never go back".
Sheesh.
"But when she tried white, Oh what a delight".
" Hillary Clinton is a flip-flopper: Sometimes she takes it black, sometimes with cream."
Hillary waffles on coffee preparedness! Critics say she is unfit to prepare breakfast!
I looked at the TV screen at the YMCA and saw a clip of Al Gore speaking, with the banner "Gore Disses the US." Oh, its turned to Fox, I thought.
Nope, CNN.
Seconds later, CNN brought on one of it's most respected, prominent hosts to discuss Gore's speech. Which one? Glenn Beck, of course.
Liberal Media. Clinton News Network. Riiiiggght....
Meanwhile, what does Blitzed say about the King of flip-flops, Romney?
(Crickets chirping)
I think he said he doesn't drink coffee, but has been known to have a hot chocolate.
;-)
With that said JETER.....
What say you if Romney is video taped drinking..... gasp..... coffee?
As opposed to say..... Obama seen drinking coffee? Since he seems to not drink it either.
Who do think the so-called 'liberal' media will make a stink about, Romney or Obama?
As for me personally..... I drink about 3-4 cups per day.... good stuff that Gevalia!
Romney's not supposed to drink coffee. So as long as he sticks by that, he can't possibly change his mind on this incredibly important campaign issue.
Of course, if he does get spotted drinking coffee, it will be a huge scandal!
I just signed up here on the site and I thought I was pretty liberal. woah!
OMG, it was a lame joke ffs...
Get a sense of humor...it's suppose to be a play on the flip-flopping term.
Granted, it was not funny but damn.
*rolls eyes*
"I just signed up here on the site and I thought I was pretty liberal. woah!...Get a sense of humor...it's suppose to be a play on the flip-flopping term...Granted, it was not funny but damn...*rolls eyes*"
Yeah, we know it's a flip-flop ref. We just think it's a cheap shot by Blitzer. Nice job being "pretty liberal."
"I just signed up here on the site and I thought I was pretty liberal. woah!
OMG, it was a lame joke ffs...
Get a sense of humor...it's suppose to be a play on the flip-flopping term.
Granted, it was not funny but damn.
*rolls eyes*"
The point is that the "liberal media" has fallen in with the right wing in calling liberals (and ONLY liberals) flip-floppers. The reason this "joke" has any legs at all is because it's a liberal being called a flip-flopper again. It wouldn't be quite so funny if McCain were called a flip-flopper for his cappucino versus coffee with cream and sugar indecisiveness -- even though he has done some serious flip-flopping recently. That's because the right wing has managed to make the flip-flopping smear stick to liberals only. AND, this latest "joke" only serves to again give legs to the stereoptye.
I'm a tea-drinker, but I have a number of friends who taste their coffee before deciding whether to put cream in.
And on this issue -- look at this -- Hillary Clinton is a flip-flopper: Sometimes she takes it black, sometimes with cream.Well I think it should be obvious that Wolfie is trying to make a haha funny joke here. Of course I expect many will miss the humor and assume this is just another nefarious Conservative plot to sneak Hillary Is A Flip-Flopper into the subconscious minds of his viewers. BTW I take my coffee with one Splenda and half & half.Wonder what that means????
I think it means you're a flop...
In NZ we call them 'jandals' (flip flops). Doesnt have quite the same ring i guess....
Are you sure I'm not a flip?
;-)
Notice how all these innocent little jokes that don't mean anything are ALWAYS directed at Democrats? Maybe if CNN, etc. tossed a little "lighthearted" snark at a Republican every once in a while, Liberals won't have to sound like Conspiracy Theorists all the time.
I'm not going to hold my breath, though. We aren't about to hear any fun, silly, harmless digs at Romney's perfect hair or Giuliani's warm, sincere laughter or McCain's solid, principled stance on the issues. Instead, we'll just be told constantly to Lighten Up and Get a Sense of Humor as the "Journalists" on CNN, etc. take "fun" jabs at the candidates of ONE political party, but never the other.
Death by a thousand cuts.
Well Jeter, I’ll tell you – I just don’t like the wignuts’ sense of humor. I thought the Republicans were the refined bureaucratic types – yet their “humor” seems juvenile, crude, and downright mean. All I’ve been reading in here the past week or so (with the Savage stories, etc) is that I “just don’t get” conservative humor. Well, I “get it” alright, and it’s not something you would think they have anything to be proud of. Call me a mambly pambly crybaby liberal – but at least I’m civilized. The most ironic thing to me is that Republicans are the party of the “Christian right” yet there is little I see from them that is remotely Christlike.
I have a feeling this is going to be the ugliest election ever. If the kind of crap that has been thrown the past few weeks is any indication of things to come – and the election is still a year away - the Swift Boat ads are going to seem like child’s play. I’d hate to see my party stoop to the same level, but I have a strong feeling it is inevitable for the gloves to come off long before the final round. But Republican’s better be careful, because when it comes to dirt, their presidential candidate pool could fill a landfill.
P.J.,
By "wingnut" humor I'm gonna guess you are talking primarily Limbaugh & Coulter? Perhaps you have others in mind? Well anyway, just by referring to it as "wingnut" rather than Conservative, you kind of expose your prejudice/bias right off the bat. But no biggie.
To be honest both Rush & Ann occasionally make me laugh, or at least chuckle. Some of their remarks/words hit the mark, & are simply funny. However the bulk of their material can be obnoxious, degrading & disgusting...making even a Rep/Con as myself recoil. Of course I'm not a hardline far right kind of Conservative. In *real life* aka away from this forum, I've never been accused of being a wingnut, neocon, or far-right anything.
I've no clue what Wolf Blitzer's's ideology is. I don't watch CNN. If one only gets their info about Blitzer from this website, then I can understand why they categorize him as falling in with Conservatives.
Let's be real here, the term "flip-flopper" is thrown around these days by everyone, from both sides. Romney is constantly being labeled one. As is Hillary. In fact I'd wager a guess each of the major candidates from both sides have had that accusation thrown at them at least once since this campaign began.
Had Romney been the one to take his coffee two different ways, perhaps Wolfie would have said he was the flip-flopper.
Wolf's comment was meant to be funny. I don't know if Democrats are being paranoid, or ultra-sensitive about this.
I took it as a light hearted quip. Nothing nefarious.
I agree this campaign will likely be uglier than 2004. But please keep in mind the first mud being thrown has come from the Clinton camp on the Democratic side. Planting questions about Obama's drug use, including the suggestion that he could be asked if he sold the stuff, was all done by an important Hillary backer. They tried to be sly by claiming they were only thinking about what Republican might come up with. But let's be honest here, it was a Clinton dirty trick.
On the Republican side Huckabee has been the mudslinger. Pretending to ask innocent questions like, do Mormons believe Satan & Jesus were brothers, he tried to smear Romney's religion & scare the Religious right. A pure scumbag move.
It's a shame the campaigns will likely be more about digging up dirt, than discussing the issues.
Well I can’t deny my political prejudices. But is my occasional misuse of “wingnut” any different than Bill O’Reilly calling anything that isn’t conservative right “far-left”? I’ll try to be more discrete in the future.
The mudslinging you’re talking about, just INSIDE parties during the primaries, is exactly what made me comment on it. Can you imagine what it will be like when the 2 parties go at it?
Jeter, I think I final get this Conservative humor...Here goes, "Rudy Guiliani was sleeping with two women at the same time and one was not his wife." By jove I think I've got it.
Hope Wolf doesn't steal this joke and put it on the air.
Conservative humor is certainly one for the history books.......
Imus..... humor
Ann Coulter..... humor
FOX Noise....... humor
Glen Beck...... humor
Rush Limpy..... humor
Mike Savage....humor
All true but seriously dangerous, because most of those people that listen tend to take it as gospel!
Yep..... you conservative sure know how to make us liberals laugh.......
Hey, no fair. How's come they got all the great comedians (sic). ;-0)
And they are led by our President. His jokes are hilarious. Remember this one.. They got WMD's....always a winner with the Cons. And this one...Good job Brownie....and the Top Joke told by our President....."MISSION ACCOMPLISHED"....forever to be remembered as the biggest joke of this Century.
Julia,
It seems the Dems have no sense of humor.
:-)
By George, (s)he's got it! Now, once again where does it rain?
With Rudy, the likelihood is that the other woman wasn't his wife either ...
Jeter, I think I final get this Conservative humor...Here goes, "Rudy Guiliani was sleeping with two women at the same time and one was not his wife." By jove I think I've got it.
Nah Prince that's Liberal humor. But it's a rip off from this Conservative joke:
Bill Clinton a married man is getting a B.J. in the Oval Office from a female intern just a few years older than his daughter.
Now do ya get it?
;-)
I'm no defender of Blitzer's, but c'mon--obviously he had his tongue in cheek. Lighten up.
Seems Harmless: Is It?
Wolf Blitzer's comments is part of a greater effort to generate a negative association with Hillary Clinton's name. Maybe his thinking is every little bit helps. He and Chris Matthews' effort to bring Clinton down has become very obvious. It appears that even they are getting tired of the endless attacks they have launched against Clinton.
Every time they, Matthews and Blitzer, feel America may be tired of their endless attacks on Clinton, they switch to a third party perspective to say something like "is American too hard on Hillary Clinton?" Just when you think they may give her a break, they end the segment with yet another negative. I am really tired of it, and I am not a Clinton supporter.
I refuse to give in to the control over me they have on the masses. I see bias as it is, not has they frame it. I know many see the total dominant hold the conservatives have on television. That hold coupled with control over major print media gives them a power unequal in this country. I fear they can pick who they want for president, then generate the perception their candidate is winning, and then rig the election to make it all come true.
You can call my assessment a conspiracy theory if you like. I watched the 2000 election, and if I would of predicted it to result in the way it did. they would called that prediction a conspiracy.
My point is simple, the media has too much power, and they are using it. When you have a show like Hardball willing to use 90% of their show putting the Democratic front runner down, you can see the power imbalance is dangerous. I fear our media has been put in the position of picking who are next president will be. That is a unexpected and unintended possibility I am not willing to set by and just let happen without a fight.
Joseph
Read more >> Options >>Joseph,
I'm of the opinion that Hillary has created her own negative image. Did you see her on the Today Show this morning? Again she evaded direct questioning by David Gregory.
I'm no fan of Hillary, but I thought her obsfucation and preprogrammed responses were so obvious and incoherent that it was embarassing.
Having said that, at times I like my coffee black and other times a bit of cream and sugar. Why anyone would comment on this, (let alone ask the question,) is beyond me.
Ok, is this officially the bottom of the barrel? Could they possibly find a LESS relevant issue to talk about than how candidates take their coffee? I LOVE my coffee. I will drink it however it comes as long as it is good coffee. If I made a list of a thousand things I wanted to know about a candidate how they drink their coffee couldnt possibly make the list.