Someone help me debunk this repug crap

[LostInAnomie]

I'm in a debate in another forum and in typical repiglican style the debate has turned to Clinton. I dont have time to do the research myself today so I could use some help. Here's the repug's post:

"The Clinton's never did, or rarely did a town hall meeting or press conference that didn't have a hand picked, friendly audience. Hillary never does one with out friendlies in the audience. The questions are handed out in advance and answers are rehearsed. This is widely known. An example of an unstaged, impromptu event was the one, and I forget exactly what it was for, but it was when the firefighters booed Hillary off stage in NY's Madison Square Garden. It may have been an MTV event or something honoring firefighters. I'm sorry I don't remember. As for Bill Clinton, and again some time has passed since it happened, a reporter questioned Bill Clinton about something at a party in the White house Rose Garden. Bill Clinton came unglued and almost punched the guy. The reporter was subsequently kicked off the White house press corp."

1. Could some one tell me how many press conferences Clinton did in comparison to Bush. (I think Bush has done 4, and I know Clinton did many more)

2. Examples of softball questions asked of Bush at press conferences. I think once he was asked how his faith had helped him, but Im not sure.

3. Examples of Bush censoring, blocking off, detaining, or hiding from the press protesters. I know that when he laid the wreath on MLK's memorial he had busses block his view of the protesters. Does anybody else have any good examples?

I could use any help I can get. I'd hate to have these repugs claim victory because I can't respond promptly.

[LostInAnomie]

1. By the way

If anyone wants to help me go on the offensive in a repug rich forum in a red swing state that could go blue feel free to join me at:
www.gibsoncountytalk.com it is dripping with repig slime. Help me turn Indiana blue.

[MadProphetMargin]

3. I'll be along presently.

Did you ask the person making the claim to PROVE their allegations? They made the assertion, the burden of proof is on them. Basically, they're asking you to prove a negative.

[JHB]

9. Yes, there are RECORDED accounts of * bussing in supporters...

...to provide the crowd for photo ops, as well as verifiable accounts of intimidation against protestors (the college that threatened to withold the diplomas of anyone who merely turned their back on Bush, not to mention the entire concept of "first amendmnet zones").

The idea that Clinton did likewise may be a comforting little "factoid" floating around conservative wingnut circles, but how many of those have turned out to be pure horseshit, eh?

It's up to him to provide proof. Otherwise it's just bile and elephant manure.

[SoundWave]

4. Protesters are arrested

Protesters are not allowed near Bush. If one manages to get pass the secret service, they are arrested. So much for free speech.
I think that's an example of hand picking people to show off support.

[tsakshaug]

6. just went in

Got a headache and left
Good luck

[tjwash]

2. Tell them to let go of Clinton's Penis...

...and quit using him to distract everyone from B*'s screwups. I can't get into any discussion with a conservative nowaday's that does not invoke the Clenis when you start kicking their keesters with every bush* flub. They are almost as bad as the fundies that retreat into the bible when you say something they do not want to hear.

[CityZen-X]

8. The Imaculate B.J.

One B.J. and Bubba is crucified for the sins of the neo-cons!

[BlueEyedSon]

5. 38 vs. 11 from Ken Auletta on Bill Moyers' Now TV program.....

MOYERS: Among the many interesting things you report in here is that this President, George W. Bush, has had far fewer press conferences than any President in modern history.

AULETTA: He's held 11 in three years. And you contrast that, say, with Eisenhower who had 74 in the same period of time. Or Kennedy who had 64 in the same period of time. His father in the same period of time had 71. And Bill Clinton had 38. Even Richard Nixon, by the way, who was equally hostile, if not more so to the press, had 23 in the same period of time.

MOYERS: And compare that to the Prime Minister of Britain standing there week in and week out taking fiery, hostile, antagonistic questions from the opposition in the House of Commons.

AULETTA: Well, and it's actually an extraordinary thing because the truth is we don't have, unlike the House of Commons, we don't have a parliamentary system. So the members of the Congress don't get to question the President. The equivalent of it in our democracy is supposed to be the press questioning the President. But if you don't allow that to happen and you don't allow the follow-up questions to happen you're losing something in that democracy. That essential check and balance function.

MOYERS: You called this White House "Fortress Bush." Why?

AULETTA: Well, because they don't return… In many cases, they don't return phone calls and they're proud not to. Because they don't hold the kind of press conferences. Because they keep us at bay.

They are not Nixonian in the sense that Nixon broke the laws and blatantly lied about Watergate. But as I point out in my piece the press has some answering to do in fairness for why we didn't do a more scrupulous job of pursuing weapons of mass destruction. And whether their claims were true or not.

http://www.pbs.org/now/transcript/transcript303_full.html

[lapislzi]

7. Why, oh why

Do we still have to defend Clinton? The man has been out of office for more than 3 years! He is not running for anything.

The Clinton attacks are simply a diversionary tactic that the right uses to deflect criticism of Bush & Co. And we fall into the trap every stinking time. I know; I've done it myself.

Repeat after me: "Clinton's policies are not on trial here. Clinton is not running for office. If Bush wishes to be elected this year, he must stand on his own record. Clinton has NOTHING to do with this debate."

Defense of Clinton does not amount to an attack of Bush, and they know it.