Why did 60 minutes choose Bob Dole to debate Bill Clinton on 60 Minutes?
Apparently, Clinton didn't give them much choice.
It's putting a heavyweight up against a lightweight, an unfair fight," says one entertainment division employee based in New York. "It was clear they wanted Clinton and, really, only Clinton. But they knew they couldn't get away with that, so they got Dole."According to another news source, names other than Dole were bandied about: former Rep. Newt Gingrich, outgoing Georgia Republican Party director Ralph Reed, William Bennett, even former presidential candidate Steve Forbes.
"But Clinton's people were adament about who they would let their boss appear with, and they were especially sensitive about not wanting anyone who was directly involved with the whole Monica Lewinsky/impeachment thing. That kind of emptied the swimming pool."
Gotta make Bill look good, you know. Can't take the chance that somebody might actually compete with him. Someody like Fred Thompson, for example.
Fred is intelligent, telegenic, and has a reputation for honesty and integrity. He'd slice and dice his way through Clinton's rhetoric. Instead, we'll listen to Bill huff and puff, and Dole grumble.
Then again, if they go on like last week, maybe we won't.
Posted by Rich at March 11, 2003 9:58 AM | TrackBack