Homey Don't Play That Game

It's been amusing to watch reporters interview John Murtha over the last couple days. He completely emasculates them by taking their favorite technique off the table.

Yesterday in The Situation Room, Wolfie Blitzer would do the familiar "Here's what the Speaker of the House had to say about your statement," and Murtha would cut him off. "Wolf, Wolf, I don't care what people are saying about me. Here are the facts. We're the target. The Iraqis don't want us there. The mission is complete. Let's come home." Murtha did the same exact thing with Kelly O'Donnell on MSNBC today.

Reporters in this age literally don't know what to ask you if they can't contrast your statement with a competing quote. That would require them to come up with a question on their own. This is a tactic all Democrats should learn. There's no need to respond to a talking point, as it only serves to get the point out there and give it creedence.

The "Here's what X had to say, how do you respond" is the laziest excuse for journalism there is. Politicians should reject it. When they do, the public appreciates it. At least this member of the public does.