Video: The greatest political interview ever?
posted at 10:03 pm on July 5, 2011 by Allahpundit
A few days old but not to be missed. We’ve been building to this moment since the dawn of the media age, when the fine art of the talking point began to take shape as a risk strategy during recorded interviews. First radio, then the Kennedy/Nixon debates on TV, and onward to 24/7 cable news — it’s all a straight line of progress that ends with the clip you’re about to see. And the man on the other side of the mic seems to have known he was watching something historic as it was happening:
As it turned out, the first take was drowned out by a passing siren on the Embankment, but seemed like a thoughtful and precise position for a Labour leader to take. Clear in his condemnation, hopeful of a negotiated settlement. Not partisan, but engaged. Detached, but not aloof.
The second time it seemed like a less original statement. The strikes are wrong… the rhetoric has gone too far… parents across the country…But then, I’d heard it before and it was useful to have a clean version, unspoiled by a siren.
The third time… the third time I was struggling a little bit. I’d asked him how his opposition to the strikes fitted with his position as leader of the Labour movement. I thought it was quite a clever question. Silly me. The strikes were wrong at a time when negotiations were still underway. The government had acted recklessly. It was time for rhetoric to be set aside…
I’m not sure what I asked next. Frankly I was in danger of losing it. On my own, with the eyes of Ed Miliband and his three handlers boring into me but apparently oblivious of my presence, I was getting twinges of what I can only describe as existential doubt.
Only later did he realize the question he should have asked to end this Twilight Zone episode of an interview, but I won’t spoil the surprise. Watch the clip and then follow the link above to see. A fun fact about Ed Miliband to bear in mind as you watch: At just 41 years old, he’s already the leader of Britain’s Labour party, which means there’s an exceedingly good chance that he’ll be prime minister some day. What could go wrong?
Blowback
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Tool.
nickj116 on July 5, 2011 at 10:04 PM
Dame Thatcher’s comment of “Labor isn’t working” is still pertinent…
Khun Joe on July 5, 2011 at 10:06 PM
There are five things to be said about this interview:
–hahaha,
–hahaha,
–hahaha,
–hahaha, &
–hahaha!
itsnotaboutme on July 5, 2011 at 10:06 PM
Trainwreck!
He’d make a good Democrat.
mankai on July 5, 2011 at 10:10 PM
Actually under standard British practice if you bring your party to electoral defeat, you go out the door. Not many opposition leaders have survived after a defeat. Labour will be eager to toss him if he keeps this up.
amazingmets on July 5, 2011 at 10:11 PM
“Wreckless and Provoctive Manner”!
***********************************
And…you too,can speak,with Rhetric overload,
at the,
Hopey School of Change,and Higher Articulation
Orator Speechification!!
canopfor on July 5, 2011 at 10:12 PM
Isn’t this guy’s nickname Red Ed?
Johnny 100 Pesos on July 5, 2011 at 10:12 PM
TOTUS, King’s English version
faraway on July 5, 2011 at 10:16 PM
I have two laws for human life.
1. It will eventually imitate Star Trek in every particular.
2. It will eventually imitate Monty Python in every particular.
Vindication for Dyer’s Second Law.
J.E. Dyer on July 5, 2011 at 10:18 PM
YouTube comments are usually pretty stupid, but this one was awesome:
Hollowpoint on July 5, 2011 at 10:19 PM
Actually, Michelle Bachmann was running with “the people have voted to repeal nancy Pelosi” to half the questions she got after the November elections… and Sean Hannity ran with “I voted for the 88 billion before I voted against it” for about two years.
I hate that crap coming from either side.
mankai on July 5, 2011 at 10:20 PM
3 things I can say about this interview:
1) It was redundant.
2) It was redundant.
3) It was redundant.
Doughboy on July 5, 2011 at 10:20 PM
I can’t imagine any potential British Prime Minister behaving in such a reckless and provocative manner.
Emperor Norton on July 5, 2011 at 10:20 PM
Tenth
UncleZeb on July 5, 2011 at 10:20 PM
actually 14th
UncleZeb on July 5, 2011 at 10:21 PM
He’s no Ed Balls.
vinman on July 5, 2011 at 10:21 PM
..so you’re saying that the government have acted in a reckless and provocative manner, and it is wrong, and after today’s disruption, you urge both sides to get around the negotiating table and put aside the rhetoric.
Ummm, yes, well, thank you; just checking.
The War Planner on July 5, 2011 at 10:21 PM
When did he say that?
Doughboy on July 5, 2011 at 10:22 PM
..he also repeated himself over and over again.
The War Planner on July 5, 2011 at 10:22 PM
Look people, don’t question it. Government officials are smarter than us. Period. End of discussion. Let’s just move on. Remember, as David Brooks said, we are just idiots who “do not accept the legitimacy of scholars and intellectual authorities.” And this guy is definitely an intellectual authority.
JohnInCA on July 5, 2011 at 10:23 PM
..when he told the interviewer that the government have acted in a reckless and provocative manner, and it is wrong, and after today’s disruption, you urge both sides to get around the negotiating table and put aside the rhetoric.
The War Planner on July 5, 2011 at 10:23 PM
So what should they do? I’m thinking something like get around a negotiating table, put aside the rhetoric, and solve the problem now. The public and parents are being let down by both sides, and that the government has acted in both a reckless and provocative manner.
Anyone else get this feeling?
Rambotito on July 5, 2011 at 10:24 PM
The NeverEnding Talk’n Point Perception/Deception
Spinning Operation!!
canopfor on July 5, 2011 at 10:24 PM
Well at least he is not grabbing a sign and hitting the picket lines.
Maybe they need a stimulus aid package for the schools…
IlikedAUH2O on July 5, 2011 at 10:24 PM
I get the feeling that that is his story and he is sticking to it!
The War Planner on July 5, 2011 at 10:25 PM
drone attack?
itsacookbook on July 5, 2011 at 10:26 PM
Me thinks,
Bee Gees- Jive Talkin’
**********************
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVjITlgqlHo
canopfor on July 5, 2011 at 10:26 PM
This is like the British version of Hope and Change.
Rambotito on July 5, 2011 at 10:27 PM
Who are you! And what have you done with Nancy Pelosi!
Jaibones on July 5, 2011 at 10:27 PM
Jedi Mind(less)Tricks!!
canopfor on July 5, 2011 at 10:28 PM
I’m gobsmacked. ‘E’s a deft bloke, ‘e is.
steebo77 on July 5, 2011 at 10:28 PM
What happened to Nancy Pelosi that they got around a negotiating table, put aside the rhetoric, and solved the problem. The public and parents were being let down by both sides, and that the government had acted in both a reckless and provocative manner.
Rambotito on July 5, 2011 at 10:29 PM
Lovely.
PappyD61 on July 5, 2011 at 10:29 PM
Ah! The sons of Cain
True_King on July 5, 2011 at 10:30 PM
I didn’t see any one behind him but there has to be someone pulling a string on the back of his neck to make the recording play again. That is I didn’t see any one behind him but there has to be someone pulling a string on the back of his neck to make the recording play again. I’m sure that I didn’t see any one behind him but there has to be someone pulling a string on the back of his neck to make the recording play again.
stefano1 on July 5, 2011 at 10:34 PM
You might be thinking of that part of the interview just AFTER he said that the government have acted in a reckless and provocative manner, and it is wrong, and after today’s disruption, you urge both sides to get around the negotiating table and put aside the rhetoric, but just BEFORE he said that the government have acted in a reckless and provocative manner, and it is wrong, and after today’s disruption, you urge both sides to get around the negotiating table and put aside the rhetoric.
DrAllecon on July 5, 2011 at 10:34 PM
Is he related to Alvin Greene?
mizflame98 on July 5, 2011 at 10:35 PM
It’s not just politicians who are unaccountable. This is exactly what the media deserves. They play favourites and twist words (John Wayne…Gacy??) so why would it surprise anyone if every interview would be this “managed”.
JavelinaBomb on July 5, 2011 at 10:35 PM
He’s the leader of the Labour party at 40 because he’s been indoctrinated his whole life. It’s painfully obvious. He is as groomed and polished as Obama was during his rise in US politics. In 10 years, he’s going to be one of those politicians that people just laugh at.
frode on July 5, 2011 at 10:36 PM
“Good evening … tonight on “It’s the Mind” we examine the phenomenom of deja vu …”
PackerBronco on July 5, 2011 at 10:39 PM
Ah! The sons of Cain
True_King on July 5, 2011 at 10:30 PM
True_King:They will……Betray You!!
canopfor on July 5, 2011 at 10:43 PM
I think you guys are missing an important point. When an interview like this is done, they only ever quote the guy one time. What he was doing is making sure that whatever filmed quote that they used would contain the important parts of what he wanted to get across.
Have an interview with a reporter sometime and see which parts they pull out. You can be taken badly out of context.
sdsorrentino on July 5, 2011 at 10:43 PM
I get it so both sides are wrong and you’re the only adult in the room. Nice.
Mojave Mark on July 5, 2011 at 10:43 PM
Guy has his lines pat at least. No Biden gaffes from him.
Southernblogger on July 5, 2011 at 10:45 PM
Is he related to Alvin Greene?
mizflame98 on July 5, 2011 at 10:35 PM
mizflame98:Good point,haha,and heres another!:)
=================================================
3-25-2010_Hank_Johnson_Guam_Tip_Over.wmv
******************************************
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNZczIgVXjg
canopfor on July 5, 2011 at 10:46 PM
Thousands of years from now, on a distant rock in space, an unappreciated, underpaid public servant from another species will pick this up on his kind’s search for intelligent life in the universe…
… and he’ll change the channel.
darkpixel on July 5, 2011 at 10:47 PM
sdsorrentino on July 5, 2011 at 10:43 PM
Hmm. I think you are being extremely perspicacious.
–adjective
1.
having keen mental perception and understanding; discerning: to exhibit perspicacious judgment.
2.
Archaic . having keen vision.
theotherone on July 5, 2011 at 10:47 PM
I’ve never been more disappointed in the state of modern technology than I am right now.
When it only takes TWO questions to figure out you’re talking to a robot, we’re not anywhere near passing the Turing test.
logis on July 5, 2011 at 10:49 PM
what a waste of my time…
Darvin Dowdy on July 5, 2011 at 10:52 PM
Haha
tinkerthinker on July 5, 2011 at 10:53 PM
It must be time for the adults to step forward and make the hard choices…
disa on July 5, 2011 at 10:56 PM
Someone needs to lead.
disa on July 5, 2011 at 10:56 PM
British reporters are stupid.
The American press figured out a LONG time ago that this is the only way to deal with liberal politicians and still keep your job.
logis on July 5, 2011 at 10:56 PM
Is the former director of “The Department Of Redundancy Department?”
pappy on July 5, 2011 at 10:57 PM
I know – let’s send Obama over to fix it!
There must be a golf course close by.
disa on July 5, 2011 at 10:57 PM
..it’s kind of like a cracking good Monty Python skit, is it not?
The War Planner on July 5, 2011 at 10:58 PM
It’s David Plouffe’s slightly daft cousin Nigel. Our Davey would repeat President Obama’s Affordable Health Care Act saves 1 Trillion dollars over 10 years.
motionview on July 5, 2011 at 11:10 PM
First check in for British Soylent Green Life enhancement Center?
PappyD61 on July 5, 2011 at 11:22 PM
At a time when negotiations are still going on, these comments are wrong …
SagebrushPuppet on July 5, 2011 at 11:23 PM
I propose that, in honor of the above quoted fellow, we hereinafter refer to any mindless, disingenuous, and, especially, repetitious political talking point as an example of ‘Miliband’s Constant’ in action. Thus, ‘Miliband’s Constant’ would mean: the less you have to say, the more often you repeat it.
Knott Buyinit on July 5, 2011 at 11:32 PM
Beep Beep. Take me to your leader. Beep.
Hummer53 on July 5, 2011 at 11:36 PM
Who is this a-hole again? Sounds like Obama with a Brit accent.
He’s got nothing.
RedNewEnglander on July 5, 2011 at 11:37 PM
Seconded.
Obama’s most used Miliband Constant: “They drove the car in the ditch. Now they want the keys back” or some weak variation thereof.
RedNewEnglander on July 5, 2011 at 11:38 PM
I had to watch it a second time to get the jist of what he was saying, I think I got it now.
tommer74 on July 5, 2011 at 11:38 PM
Miliband was doing an old Bob & Ray routine.
hepcat on July 5, 2011 at 11:45 PM
I must be slow, but, um, does he think the strikes are wrong while negotiations are still going on? ///
Just for varieties’ sake, he should have mixed it up a bit and said “while negotiations are stil ongoing“, lol.
I lol’d at the interviewer’s article and agree with him that in a free society where our political leaders answer to us, it’s wrong for them to give unthoughtful interviews. Hope his district (or whatever it’s called in GBR) throws him out on his ear if he keeps this up.
-Aslan’s Girl
Aslans Girl on July 5, 2011 at 11:49 PM
“Who’s on first” might’ve been a fun follow-up question.
-Aslan’s Girl
Aslans Girl on July 5, 2011 at 11:50 PM
I was in London last September when Ed beat out his brother, David I think, for head of Labour… It was such a big deal that we heard about it in Paris and we heard about it in Rome… until we just never turnd on the tv news. Newspapwrs are still really big in Londfon though..Anyway Ed is kind of weird, doesn’t own the home he lives in with his not his wife and kids but it was in his family or something but that way I beleive he doesn’t pay taxes on it or something… I guess now the members who voted for him as leader regret it… His brother is much more polished…
CCRWM on July 5, 2011 at 11:54 PM
Oh and I guess the brits have their own mindless manchurian candidate in the offering for PM…
CCRWM on July 5, 2011 at 11:56 PM
There is a striking resemblance!
itsnotaboutme on July 6, 2011 at 12:00 AM
Umm, I’m torn between wondering wtf is wrong with this brain-dead parrot with a British accent, and suspecting that this kind of thing is actually routine – a politician with a rehearsed set of talking points sits across from a reporter who is going to throw a handful of questions at him that are really nothing more than a few different angles/softballs tossed up for the pol to take a whack at with a slightly different spin on the same regurgitated talking points. Then, back at the studio, the reporter and editors decide which angle they’re going to take on the story, cut that *one* answer out of the lot, and run with it. In the end, the viewer only ever sees the one answer.
Hrm. Maybe?
Midas on July 6, 2011 at 12:22 AM
I liked today’s “leave the political rhetoric at the door, and let’s start talking about how to tackle he spending in the tax code.”
*facepalm*
Midas on July 6, 2011 at 12:24 AM
rofl, nice one.
Midas on July 6, 2011 at 12:27 AM
Hey–at least he was clear.
TexasDan on July 6, 2011 at 12:32 AM
Yep. The “media” have created this monster by only ever using sound bites, and by editing comments to fit their own narrative.
If the politicians play the part of broken record, they’re at least assured of having some control of their sound-bite for the day.
TexasDan on July 6, 2011 at 12:36 AM
It’s Groundhog’s day in the UK!
markfm on July 6, 2011 at 12:45 AM
this is precisely what we get when the jackals in the media nitpick every word. the Romney business with the economy being “worse” is just like it. Soon he will look like a scripted fool like this guy and then the left will say he’s a robot
the jackals are a big problem
r keller on July 6, 2011 at 12:52 AM
psycho…to the 5th power
georgealbert on July 6, 2011 at 12:59 AM
Maybe I should go into politics. Just have to memorize a few lines and — boom — I have plenty of time to write books about the Failures of the Right.
Aronne on July 6, 2011 at 1:18 AM
No. No politician gives the exact same answer 5 times with slightly different inflections unless they’re filming a paid message. This had to have been a combination of fatigue and medicinal influences. Something was profoundly wrong, a minor stroke or worse. Were I the interviewer, I’d have stopped the interview and voiced my concerns.
theCork on July 6, 2011 at 1:21 AM
I can’t say why I feel this, but it just seems that if both sides would get around the negotiating table they could put a stop to this kind of thing happening.
My main question at this point is, what kind of thing is happening?
pedestrian on July 6, 2011 at 1:51 AM
The government have acted in a reckless and provocative manner, and it is wrong, and after today’s disruption, you urge both sides to get around the negotiating table and put aside the rhetoric.
The government have acted in a reckless and provocative manner, and it is wrong, and after today’s disruption, you urge both sides to get around the negotiating table and put aside the rhetoric.
The government have acted in a reckless and provocative manner, and it is wrong, and after today’s disruption, you urge both sides to get around the negotiating table and put aside the rhetoric.
The government have acted in a reckless and provocative manner, and it is wrong, and after today’s disruption, you urge both sides to get around the negotiating table and put aside the rhetoric.
esnap on July 6, 2011 at 2:31 AM
Well, if they wanted to extract a short soundbite out of that interview, it isn’t too hard to find.
crosspatch on July 6, 2011 at 3:02 AM
Sounds to me like he wants to take both sides at the same time. The strikes are wrong, the government is wrong. If you are a striker, you find solace in words that the government has acted in an irresponsible and provocative manner. If you are on the other side, you find hope in his words that the strikes are wrong. Everyone has something to love. It’s politically perfect.
crosspatch on July 6, 2011 at 3:06 AM
What the hell is that thing on top of his head?
Random Numbers (Brian Epps) on July 6, 2011 at 3:36 AM
I would condense this into:
(laughter)
:)
Shy Guy on July 6, 2011 at 4:00 AM
I
I
I
I
I
Shy Guy on July 6, 2011 at 4:02 AM
Okay, time to put the broken Ed Miliband robot away and have a real person conduct interviews from now on.
Jay Mac on July 6, 2011 at 5:04 AM
Have you noticed that these “Labour leaders” haven’t done much, well “Labour”?
Jes’ sayin’
E9RET on July 6, 2011 at 5:14 AM
HAHAHA.
Thread winner.
davisbr on July 6, 2011 at 5:49 AM
Just chalk it up to a very, very heavy burtation and move on.
SKYFOX on July 6, 2011 at 6:35 AM
SoundByte Brits approve of his message.
PappyD61 on July 6, 2011 at 7:01 AM
But what about corporate jets?
Mr. Bingley on July 6, 2011 at 7:10 AM
AP misssed a golden opportunity for HIS favorite phrase: “It’s come to this…”
GISAP on July 6, 2011 at 7:43 AM
BHO with an English accent… without his teleprompter
petefrt on July 6, 2011 at 7:46 AM
At least he didn’t blame the ATM machines for the problems.
albill on July 6, 2011 at 8:11 AM
the interview is a beauty, the essence of politics, thanks.
NORUK on July 6, 2011 at 8:12 AM
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