TV Networks Interrupt Clinton Speech For Obama

by ryan | February 19, 2008 at 08:06 pm

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Interpret this as you like. But let me make some suggestions: The media is out to get Clinton (or so the Clinton camp wants us to think). CNN chose to focus on the winner (which makes sense to me). Obama is a better speaker (duh!). Watch it and you be the judge. The fact the TV networks did this is no big deal. I think the more important point is that Obama chose to speak at the same time as Clinton. He wouldn't have dared to do that a month ago. Watch what CNN did here and what Fox did here.

Sen. Hillary Clinton began giving a speech on Tuesday night shortly after Wisconsin's results came in. But within minutes, Sen. Barack Obama appeared in Texas to give his victory speech, and the networks cut Clinton off. Ouch. Watch it:

Tim Russert theorizes about the behind the scenes decision which lead to Obama starting his specch before Clinton was finished.

Clinton's speech -- which included neither a concession nor a congratulations to Obama -- was cut off only minutes in as all the news networks switched to cover Obama's remarks.

Of the dueling speeches Tim Russert, on MSNBC, said:

"I thought tonight when Hillary Clinton started speaking the Obama people were stepping back saying alright you go first you are the loser. When they heard no concession or no graciousness quote on quote coming from Hillary Clinton they decided why allow her an opportunity to criticize us? We are going to go out there and proclaim victory."

But prior to losing the networks' attention, Clinton was able to fire off a few other salvos at her Democratic opponent.

"We can't just have speeches, we've got to have solutions," she declared, "and we need those solutions for America. We've got to get America back in the solutions business. Because while words matter, the best words in the world aren't enough unless you match them with action."