SHARRON ANGLE SAID WHAT?…. Sharron Angle (R), the extremist Senate candidate in Nevada, has a habit of saying some pretty remarkable things, including vague advocacy of the violent overthrow of the United States government.
In recent weeks, under strict orders, Angle has tried to improve her public image and make fewer crazy remarks, in part by avoiding the media. Confronted by reporters anxious to press the Senate hopeful on her own comments, Angle has even taken to literally fleeing from journalists.
And yet, the year’s nuttiest statewide candidate continues to surprise. Over the weekend, Angle sat down with Fox News’ Carl Cameron, who noted her tendency to avoid reporters’ scrutiny. Angle replied, “We needed to have the press be our friend.”
When Cameron said that “sounds lame,” the right-wing candidate replied, “Well, no, no, we wanted [journalists] to ask the questions we want to answer so that they report the news the way we want it to be reported. And when I get on a show and I say send me money to SharronAngle.com, so that your listeners will know that if they want to support me they need to go to SharronAngle.com.”
Angle recently conceded she only wants to talk to media that will let her beg for cash on the air, and notice that Fox News didn’t edit out her shameless plug.
But that’s clearly not the interesting part here. Sharron Angle said, on the record and on camera, that her campaign’s media strategy is built around the notion of manipulating news organizations, getting the questions Angle wants, so she can give the answers she wants, so the public will hear the news the way Angle wants it to be heard.
I expect Angle to say insane things, but this is truly remarkable. I’m trying to imagine what the response on the right would be if President Obama said he needs independent news organizations to be his “friend,” which is why he demands that reporters ask the questions he wants to answer “so that they report the news the way we want it to be reported.”
Even Fox News noted that Angle was “too honest” with her remarks. National Review added, “Did She Just Say That Out Loud?”
I’ll look forward to conservatives’ defense of this. They’re a creative bunch, and I can hardly wait to see what they come up with.
