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Is it OK to plant questions at Political Events?

Is it OK to plant questions at political events?

  • Nobody would do such things

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    11
  • Poll closed .

SpectateSwamp

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I noticed it way back in 1993. People traveling with the candidate would ask the same question multiple of times. Excluding all but the "3 main candidates" from answering - there were 9 of us.

 
I noticed it way back in 1993. People traveling with the candidate would ask the same question multiple of times. Excluding all but the "3 main candidates" from answering - there were 9 of us.

Why not place questions? Not taking questions is more problematic.

But it is news and should be reported by the press.
 
Sorry, I am taking the day off so will not be able to answer any plant questions right now.
 
Planting questions is a crime

Why not place questions? Not taking questions is more problematic.

But it is news and should be reported by the press.

I should have included "placing questions" That can't be much different from planting questions I'd say.

Not taking questions if they are planted is ok. Those questions should be ignored. Every time.
 
Re: Planting questions is a crime

I ran for political office once and lost a whole area because of an "honest answer". Honestly is not what the people want to hear.
 
Don't quit running RocketMan I won't

I ran for political office once and lost a whole area because of an "honest answer". Honestly is not what the people want to hear.

Good going RocketMan.

I ran twice in the last year. Came in last both times. But I got to bring up important points and get video.
 
Re: Don't quit running RocketMan I won't

Good going RocketMan.

I ran twice in the last year. Came in last both times. But I got to bring up important points and get video.

I went to a publci debate and a lady in this area had been complaining to the county because a creek was flooding her house every time it rained in excess of two inches in a short period of time, what would I do to help her?

I asked her these questions:

Did you grow up in that area? she answered yes

Did that creek ever flood that area before her house was there? she said yes

I responded with " So you were warned multiple times growing up about that area and ignored those warnings when building your house there?

The crowd chuckled but I lost that whole section of the district losing by 65 votes.
 
You aren't a loser in my mind

Honesty is always the best answer rocketman...

In the one campaign a guy asked what we would do / suggest for orchardists and farmers.

The average age here is well over 60... GeezerVille.
I said with the demographics they should plant more soft fruits and prunes. The other candidates and crowd couldn't quit laughing.

 
Re: Don't quit running RocketMan I won't

I went to a publci debate and a lady in this area had been complaining to the county because a creek was flooding her house every time it rained in excess of two inches in a short period of time, what would I do to help her?

I asked her these questions:

Did you grow up in that area? she answered yes

Did that creek ever flood that area before her house was there? she said yes

I responded with " So you were warned multiple times growing up about that area and ignored those warnings when building your house there?

The crowd chuckled but I lost that whole section of the district losing by 65 votes.

It may have been the attitude....not the honesty
 
I noticed it way back in 1993. People traveling with the candidate would ask the same question multiple of times. Excluding all but the "3 main candidates" from answering - there were 9 of us.
]

Aren't events where questions from an audience of citizens suppose to serve, in part at least, as a representation of what people actually care about. If the questions aren't being asked maybe people don't care. Also, just asking a question (based on how you phrase it) can make a statement about a candidate can't it. Seems like allowing it is just another opportunity to manipulate the outcome.
 
I have mixed thoughts on this.

On the one hand I think these events should be authentic with actually questions being asked by voters.
On the other hand I don't think these events should be allowed to be turned into a mob riot by people who will not be satisfied with the answer no matter what it is.

I support hard questions but not heckling.
 
Re: Planting questions is a crime

I ran for political office once and lost a whole area because of an "honest answer". Honesty is not what the people want to hear.

Running for office is much more fun when you are not bound by the desire to win. I plan on running for office in 2016 on the platform of firing all county employees and re-hiring half of them at $15,080 per year.

My county has about 1,200 employees. The candidate receiving the highest number of votes in 2012 received 4,800 votes in the Republican Primary. Republicans always win the general election. It is bad strategy to throw away 1,200 votes from the get go. Those 1,200 people aren't just voters, they are very actively involved. But it would be ever so much fun to speak the truth.

Historically, our county robs the budget reserve over and over for 7 years and then raise taxes exactly every 8 years. We are scheduled to get a huge tax increase in 2017. It's going to be fun to bring that up too.

Running for office is hillarious.

vasuderatorrent
 
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I have to be honest. I am not familiar with the term, "planting questions". I don't know how to feel about it because I don't know what it is.

vasuderatorrent
 
I have to be honest. I am not familiar with the term, "planting questions". I don't know how to feel about it because I don't know what it is.

vasuderatorrent

Planting questions generally means that an intern/staffer/friend of the individual asks a "soft" question that's only there to make a candidate look good. It can also be a "hard" question with a pre-planned and rehearsed answer.

Generally people don't like the truth or complicated answers.
 
Planting questions generally means that an intern/staffer/friend of the individual asks a "soft" question that's only there to make a candidate look good. It can also be a "hard" question with a pre-planned and rehearsed answer.

Generally people don't like the truth or complicated answers.

I guess it would be ok if they did that. Politics fits under the same as love and war. All is fair in love and war. (and politics)

vasuderatorrent
 
Video will catch the plants

When you run. Take a camcorder; you can catch them fixing the forum questions.



At this one they ask people to put their questions on paper and then they would sort out the duplicates. In the above video they move one to the active pile with just a tap tap.

If they can control all the questions they do. Note video the people who hand in the questions...

One friend who ran. Said the other candidates had sheets with the answers to all the questions that came forward.
 
Re: Video will catch the plants

I'm not so sure a solution to this problem can be applied.

Campaigns are all unique. Individual rallies, debates, candidate forums, fundraisers, meet and greet or luncheon is different. The people who hold these events have the freedom to set forth any guidelines that they feel are necessary to meet their agenda, time restraints or to suit the taste of the particular audience in attendance.

I'm a little baffled that someone has the energy to stew over this issue. I don't see it as a problem. Even if it is a problem there is no blanket solution. I suppose you could hold your own candidate forum and make sure this type of thing doesn't happen.

My friend is currently running for City Council and he gave me a pre-scripted question to submit from the audience. I don't quite see what rules, regulations or mean comments could have prevented me from doing that.
 
Many Solutions

Actually there are a number of solutions:

They usually ask you to identify yourself at the start. Don't do that. Go right into questions and problems that need to be brought up. Not the pre-scribed questions that you would fake for your friend. They won't like it but I get on record and sometimes TV with the REAL questions.

If a know plant puts forward a question or a PAC. Identify that as a Lobby group question and refuse to answer on that grounds and go on about what every you want for your allotted time. Maybe even rag on the questioner for their complicit actions in stealing elections. Don't be asking your friend questions that he wants brought up. I'll out you with video and refuse on the grounds that you are a plant. There will be video and maybe TV. So watch it..
 
I noticed it way back in 1993. People traveling with the candidate would ask the same question multiple of times. Excluding all but the "3 main candidates" from answering - there were 9 of us.



Do you think professional hecklers are also being planted?
 
I don't think it is okay (nor do I like the planted hecklers or gotcha question artists either). If the politician with the podium wants to say something, or bring an issue to the forefront, well, they are already at the podium and have a mic handy - just say it without the false prompting. I mean that's what they're there for right? No need to play those games.
 
Do you think professional hecklers are also being planted?

You bet they are. If there is video they won't like it. It's not a problem to go after the heckler and call them out. On video of course. At a previous election a banker asked what we thought about banks having to pay an additional tax. In our area the largest cash crop for decades has been marijuana. I asked him if his bank had laundered some of it. He sat down and hid behind other members of the audience. You don't have to be nice to the audience if you don't want to or they don't deserve it.
 
You bet they are. If there is video they won't like it. It's not a problem to go after the heckler and call them out. On video of course. At a previous election a banker asked what we thought about banks having to pay an additional tax. In our area the largest cash crop for decades has been marijuana. I asked him if his bank had laundered some of it. He sat down and hid behind other members of the audience. You don't have to be nice to the audience if you don't want to or they don't deserve it.

I guess I don't really take issue with planted questions from candidate then. That's just leveling the playing field a bit. So long as regular people have the chance to ask some questions as well...that's just the classy thing to do.
 
I don't think it is okay (nor do I like the planted hecklers or gotcha question artists either). If the politician with the podium wants to say something, or bring an issue to the forefront, well, they are already at the podium and have a mic handy - just say it without the false prompting. I mean that's what they're there for right? No need to play those games.

Exactly how I feel.

At the last meet the candidates forum in our area at the federal level the citizens were not allowed to attend. Just local town council, chamber members and accredited media. I was not invited. I have never heard of a worse political forum.

OLIVER FEDERAL CANDIDATES FORUM TO BE CLOSED TO PUBLIC - Osoyoos Times
 
We could go into a complex argument about how to limit planted questions, and ensure a fair debate, etc.

But someone would find a way around it, and then they would have an advantage, until everyone started doing the same thing. Then more rules.

So perhaps just letting it be a mad free-for-all is better.
 
I don't think it is okay (nor do I like the planted hecklers or gotcha question artists either). If the politician with the podium wants to say something, or bring an issue to the forefront, well, they are already at the podium and have a mic handy - just say it without the false prompting. I mean that's what they're there for right? No need to play those games.

We could go into a complex argument about how to limit planted questions, and ensure a fair debate, etc.

But someone would find a way around it, and then they would have an advantage, until everyone started doing the same thing. Then more rules.

So perhaps just letting it be a mad free-for-all is better.

For sure a free-for-all would be better than some orchestrated dog and pony show.

It really pisses off people if you refuse to answer their question. I know..
 
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