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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsBrilliant strategy by Harris re: press conferences.
She is introducing herself to America through rallies and of course the Convention, where many Americans will get their true impressions. After that she can do interviews. She controls how she is presented, not a cawing flock of reporters trying to pick at every answer.
It is a skilled campaign
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underpants
(196,502 posts)Here’s who I am
Here’s what I’ve done
Here’s what I will do for you
Okay, now, any questions?
"Fellow citizens, I presume you all know who I am. I am humble Abraham Lincoln. I have been solicited by many friends to become a candidate for the legislature. My policies are short and sweet, like the old woman's dance. I am in favor of a National Bank, I am in favor of the Internal improvement system, and a high protective tariff. These are my sentiments and political principles. If elected I shall be thankful; and if not, it will be all the same."
richdj25
(225 posts)I head a DJ, no less, state that VP Harris owes the press bupkus. The American people should always be first in line with the questions. The MSM acts like a privileged bunch, who believes they're owed something. The DJ went on to say he knows the office has something of an obligation to the media but shouldn't bend over backwards, let alone give them much of one's time if they're going to be disrespectful.
returnee
(926 posts)…until the media shows it can cover the issues fairly. And say so out loud-call them out!
InAbLuEsTaTe
(25,518 posts)
calguy
(6,154 posts)You really do not need to suck up to the press to give you much needed media exposure, as trump has had to do the past few weeks.
She controls the narrative, not trump or the press.
I'm reposting something of mine, not out of vanity, but out of relevance. 
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=19330882
Self Esteem
(2,248 posts)It's smart to stay ahead of it so that you're not in Trump's position of reacting to a change in momentum, especially when the election is super close anyway.
newdayneeded
(2,493 posts)momentum by making a mistake and start doing interviews. they won't greet Kamala with candy like they do trump.
The only ones asking for her to to interviews are trump and shady..........Fuck them!!
Self Esteem
(2,248 posts)Hopefully the DNC adds more to the momentum but I remember the summer of 2016 and how the media started to really hound Hillary about not doing press conferences. It got to the point that's all they talked about. You don't want to ignore this to that point or it will start to eat away at your gains, just as it did Hillary's.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/08/24/hillary-clinton-still-has-no-good-answer-on-why-she-hasnt-held-a-press-conference-in-263-days/
InAbLuEsTaTe
(25,518 posts)magicarpet
(18,515 posts)The press gets all excited and gives him their undivided attention (free air time) thinking this is something very important and will be of something of significance politically that the public should know.⁶
Then trDUMP shows up and babbles incoherently for 45 minutes just exactly like he does at his Nazi Rally hate fests.
trDUMP just hoodwinked them to give him free air time. Again it did not cost his campaign one nickle for 60 minutes of free national coast to coast air time.
The standard going rate for national prime time air time is $650,000 per minute. This Nazi asshole regularly gets over an hour of free television air time for his traveling road show Nazi Rallies, but not charged one fucking red cent.
Self Esteem
(2,248 posts)Get out there and take advantage of it.
newdeal2
(5,417 posts)She needs time to prepare her agenda, platform, etc. to be able to give an effective interview.
It’s also tricky because she is VP of the current admin so she has to be prepare her answers carefully so as to not contradict POTUS.
cilla4progress
(26,525 posts)every time I hear her speak!!
oasis
(53,695 posts)trusted when it comes to fairness.
SunSeeker
(58,283 posts)All the media seems to care about is "access," not getting any actual information to the voters.
https://deadline.com/2024/08/trump-press-conference-cnn-1236041710/
Self Esteem
(2,248 posts)It's disgusting but it's the way the game is played.
Both Biden and Hillary tried to play it on their grounds and well the media was decidedly anti-Biden, which likely had an impact on his reelection and why he isn't the nominee anymore. They were also very negative toward Hillary... and she lost.
I don't think Kamala will be exempt from this. And I hope her campaign doesn't think so either.
And yes, I get it's trash and unfair but that's how it is.
The media spent all of the summer of 2016 harping on Hillary not doing press conferences and I think it ate into her numbers.
The last thing Harris' campaign wants is to be spending every moment answering why they don't hold a press conference.
Jarqui
(10,909 posts)Trump's press conferences where he lies his head off ...
Or the racist meeting for 60 minutes with black journalists that predictably only lasts 34 mins - you knew that was not going to go well.
The right wing media is handwringing because they haven't been able to find much of substance to go after her with.
Trump gets nasty trying to provoke, looks bad doing it and the media doesn't have anything else to cover .. than all the stuff above and how Trump is sinking in the polls
Free advertising that makes Trump look bad and stupid
She's been at it over ~4 weeks and I can't think of a significant mistake.
Whatever they're doing here will be studied in schools.
DUgosh
(3,140 posts)She said something diplomatic like … of course we are - my team is diligently looking into it.
iluvtennis
(21,497 posts)
AllaN01Bear
(29,498 posts)dem4decades
(14,061 posts)Self Esteem
(2,248 posts)It's probably why he's not running right now because they were exceedingly hard on him. That very well could have been due to their frustrations with access.
Harris is having a honeymoon period and the media has treated her way better these last few weeks than they treated Biden. But that can change if she tells em to fuck off.
I know it's tempting and all but the election is a balancing act.
Hillary in 2016 pissed the media off too and they got her back for it.
That's one area I think Obama was effective. He didn't give in to the media but he gave enough that they didn't go fully against him, either, especially in 2008 and 2012.
Harris should hold a press conference. If she doesn't, the media will do to her what they did to Hillary.
dem4decades
(14,061 posts)She's playing it masterfully now, I'll defer to her and her teams judgement.
Zoomie1986
(1,213 posts)What passes for the media in the US is in reality paid propaganda to promote the interests of the wealthy class. Outside a few exceptions, they are all liars and frauds who give every indication that their orders are to tear her down by any means necessary.
She owes those traitors exactly zero.
Self Esteem
(2,248 posts)Because it's exactly what they did with Biden until he did - and it's exactly what they did with Hillary.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/08/24/hillary-clinton-still-has-no-good-answer-on-why-she-hasnt-held-a-press-conference-in-263-days/
I swear, some of you guys would rather cut off your nose to spite your face.
druidity33
(6,915 posts)it's called a manufactured storyline. They will keep repeating this narrative until she succumbs. The "interview" she sits for will no doubt be filled with leading questions and uncomfortable bias. You might want to check out TPMs reporting since Harris got the nom. Very smart political minds completely disagree with your assessment.
Self Esteem
(2,248 posts)It doesn't matter if it's manufactured or not - it happens. And it's lethal. Just ask Hillary, who was hounded and hounded and hounded in the summer of 2016 and her polling took a dip because of it. Biden also got the same treatment. The media pushed and pushed and when he shut them out, they started running stories about his cognitive capabilities and the overall lack of media accessibility (what we were they hiding?).
It doesn't matter if you feel it's not fair or shouldn't happen - it does happen. This is the game. You can try to fight it but you better know you're risking your entire candidacy on it because the media is not going to relent in asking. It will become the narrative. We know this because it did with Biden and it certainly did with Hillary.
The harsh reality is that the media still controls the narrative. That's been the case for years and years. Harris can't ignore it, even if it's manufactured. Doing so will mean it'll be the only story anyone is talking about and then her message gets lost to the noise.
Just like the summer of 2016.
druidity33
(6,915 posts)Hillary didn't lose because she didn't do interviews. I think this whole argument is complete bullshit. Again, read TPM. Mostly the media is scared of losing what little remains of its relevance. This is why they are doubling down on the "interview scandal." I know absolutely nobody who takes the mainstream media seriously. That includes some in the mainstream media. The world is changing. Things are not as they once were. We're all going to have to get used to it.
Also... you berating people on this forum for Kamala deciding not to do interviews is... weird. It's the campaigns choice, not mine, not yours.
Self Esteem
(2,248 posts)You're kinda just spinning in circles now.
1. I never claimed Hillary lost because she didn't do interviews. There were multiple reasons why she lost in 2016 but going nearly a year didn't help. The media, in the summer of 2016, became laser focused on her lack of press conferences and it was a needless story that could have been done away with rather easily if she, you know, did press conferences. Why make it more difficult on your campaign?
2. I don't care if you don't know anyone who takes the mainstream media seriously. You don't have to take the mainstream media seriously to get duped by their narrative. Why do you think Biden's age suddenly became an issue? Because that same mainstream media pushed it for months and months. Guess what? It didn't matter if no one took them seriously, it started impacting his polling and led to more questions about his viability as a candidate, which created doubt and, after the debate, fed this narrative loop that continued to persist until he dropped out. Again, it didn't matter if NOBODY YOU KNOW takes them seriously, the constant drum beats about his age clearly impacted his numbers as it became a gigantic issue not just among all voters but Democratic voters.
That narrative was born out of Biden's light interview/press conference schedules. It only fed into it because the media, feeling slighted they weren't getting the access they felt they deserved, continued to focus on it.
I say once more: why make it more difficult on your campaign?
Regardless: I see Kamala agrees with me and not with you because she did a quick press conference today. And I'm guessing they'll do more of those, especially official, formal ones, because their campaign is run by people who know what it takes to win and that the fastest way to slow the momentum they've built is to give the media something they can hound the campaign over relentlessly, which they will do.
druidity33
(6,915 posts)Self Esteem
(2,248 posts)onandup
(701 posts)other than attention loving Rump.
Are they really that common?
Self Esteem
(2,248 posts)The big criticism of Hillary was that she had gone nearly a year without having a press conference and it certainly was something the media didn't let go of, which possibly an impact on her numbers.
Obama did a few press conferences in 2008 (highlights not the whole thing):
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He also had some in 2012:.
?si=fNZzFcsfMpx_bHqT
I don't think she needs to have a ton of press conferences but one after the DNC would certainly be fine I think.
Baron2024
(1,492 posts)She is good at managing expectations and she is rolling out her campaign strategically and incrementally so that SHE is in control of the news cycle, not Trump or his Media Enablers. This shows how smart Kamala and her team are. This is how to run an effective campaign. It is also a good preview of how a Harris-Walz Administration will be in charge both in terms of policy, but also in media management. Kamala is very smart and in charge of the situation. She is highly competent, which is yet another reason why she would make a great President.
DinahMoeHum
(23,607 posts)Make the other person wait.
SunSeeker
(58,283 posts)She just got the nomination a few weeks ago. Let her establish herself first.
republianmushroom
(22,326 posts)The tail is not waggling the dog but the dog is in control of the tail. And it sure is bothering that tail.
LetMyPeopleVote
(179,870 posts)The press and TFG does not make the decision as to the timing of press conferences
InAbLuEsTaTe
(25,518 posts)
John1956PA
(4,965 posts)I remember those events. That charade is chronicled in Joe McGinness's book "The Selling of the President."
Nixon knew the risk of opening himself up to a free-for-all press conference.
AlexSFCA
(6,319 posts)misanthrope
(9,495 posts)Harris is assembling a national campaign on the fly. She needs to tell the press that once her campaign gets the convention and its follow-up organizing behind them, she can have press conferences. Harris can also stress that she wants to make sure she is answering press inquiries with factual, policy-driven answers and not just riff for 90 minutes airing obvious lies and grievances like her opponent.
Go to the 10:28 mark.
PennRalphie
(448 posts)She will give the details of these plans at the conventions. Housing is in such a boom here, that extra money for down payments will cause the boom to boom. Everyone will be able to buy a house. This is fantastic news for the younger people
agingdem
(8,851 posts)to whatever bullshit insult Trump leveled at her... she ain't playin'..
peggysue2
(12,533 posts)Vice President Harris saw what the press did to Joe Biden--the hounding, the less than truthful headlines, the arrogant attacks. Let the 'very important people' cool their heels while she shapes the narrative, continues to whip enthusiasm with the American public and speaks directly to the voters. Without the smarmy, snarky filters.
Very smart!
pat_k
(13,382 posts)Of course she has to take time to frame the challenges we face and define how she can effectively convey her priorities and proposals. To expect she would ready to thoughtfully answer detailed questions on what would undoubtedly cover a wide range of issues this early is complete idiocy.
If she did jump into an interview before being clear herself the media would rip her apart for being too vague.
Expecting her to have her priorities and platform nailed by the end of the month is pushing it.
Speaks2
(103 posts)I think
The VP should give lots of interviews, but only to small, local media in each town she visits. She should continue that strategy to a November win. Shut the big outlets out, completely.
That'll learn them!
Zoomie1986
(1,213 posts)Otherwise, this could be an interesting media strategy, because the chances of encountering real journalists with integrity is infinitely higher. Sure, they may be rough around the edges, but at least fewer of them are full on traitors, unlike most of the Beltway media.
Torchlight
(6,830 posts)I can see why her opponents want to spread doubt and uncertaininty into this tactic which has so far, given Mr. trump nothing but bad day after bad day.
geo1
(81 posts)Kamala Harris Greeting Reporters - this is how you do it
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100219327186
AlexSFCA
(6,319 posts)double standards in coverage, media controlled by stakeholders, etc. IMO, she does not need to do any interviews at all, do debates, press conferences, speeches, etc.
WarGamer
(18,613 posts)She needs to start doing them after the DNC and nomination.
DemonGoddess
(5,127 posts)I think she should interview with Lawrence O'Donnell. That would be awesome!
As to a presser, WHEN they start treating her like shit I'm sure she knows how to turn it around on them. All those shills for Shitler.
twodogsbarking
(18,785 posts)
Dem4life1970
(1,056 posts)... and as long as the MSM continues to give TFG normal treatment and not even fact check him to his lying face, she should be under no compulsion to sit for an interview.
Hamlette
(15,556 posts)I hope she reaches out to the many never Trumpers. Not necessarily for help but the Lincoln Project gave me hope during the Trump years. Let them know they have a place at the table too.