Seven answers on 7Q (also known as the FAQs of life.)				Interviewed by Tom Mangan Jamie Dupree, radio reporter on the campaign trail His Web site is here. New Hampshire campaign diary is here.		AUTHORS Michael Fuchs Elizabeth Hilts Paul Riddell Gary Rivlin Jim Motavalli Barbara Shafferman Jules Siegel Keith Snyder ARTISTS/POETS/ PHILOSOPHERS Jon C. Allen Will Baker Mike Leung Jon Sarkin COOL SITE KEEPERS Mike Cash Scott O'Neal Colf Godfrey Daniels Cliff Davis, DDS Tammy Hocking Wes Modes Frank Rogan DIARISTS Ralph Becker J. D. Bruns Linda DeVault Mike Reed Moira Richardson Jessamyn West FILMMAKERS Ben Kufrin Dean Mermell JOURNALISTS Bernie Mary Cooley-Jones Lindsay Crysler Jamie Dupree M.O.A.T.M.A.I. David Moll Robert Niles John Orr Steven Ovadia Pierce Presley Mack Reed Rip Rense Curtis Ross Neal Ross John Scalzi Catherine Seipp David Sheets Dwight Silverman Matt Welch MOVIE MAVENS MaryAnn Johanson Brian Koller HUMORISTS Debbie Farmer Mike Jasper Madeleine Begun Kane Patrick Keller Bob Sassone Valerie Sprague Ken Swarmer Ian Wolff SOLDIERS Maj. Jon Anderson, USAF TEACHERS John Warner TECHIES Chris Adamson Mike Gunderloy Michael Ivey Greg Knauss Floyd Maxwell Ellen McDonough Mike Pingleton Wayne Thume John Worth TEENS Gary Baum Marty Beckerman UNDECLARED Bev Gibbs Beth Reid WEBLOGGERS Jason Kottke Jish Mukerji
ONE				John McCain seems to have a way with reporters. Can you offer an example to refute or confirm that? I've covered McCain in Congress for the past dozen years. He is an engaging guy, and loves to shoot the bull with reporters, tell stories, etc. The reason he's gotten such good press is that he allows so much more access. On the campaign trail, he was always ready to answer questions, he always has a good sound bite and is always ready for the daily give and take with the pesky press. It got him into trouble over the abortion issue, but for the most part has provided more favorable coverage. But good press didn't make McCain a hit in New Hampshire. I've covered three primary campaigns in New Hampshire, and I've never seen such big crowds for a candidate. The voters simply liked his no-nonsense-straight-shooting-style -- and they turned out for him in droves at the polls. By comparison, George W. Bush's events were very staged and very bland. So I'd say McCain not only has a way with reporters, but with the voters as well.
TWO				Share a tale of campaign trail strangeness that might make a newcomer question the sanity of our electoral process. Wow. I have covered so many campaign events - I guess I would nominate one that got me into a movie called "Feed" (it was about the '92 campaign) involving Pat Buchanan. Buchanan was shaking hands at a diner in Concord, New Hampshire and waiting outside for him were a bunch of Jewish activists led by Rabbi Avi Weiss. They were there basically accusing Buchanan of being anti-Israel. Buchanan emerges from the diner with a bunch of TV crews in tow and the protesters begin yelling and screaming. Buchanan's henchmen begin moving them out -- we in the press get caught in the middle and get knocked into cars, etc. Then the reporters gather round Buchanan, who provides a classic sound bite. Q: Pat Buchanan, what about Israel? A: [Pause] My friends, this campaign is about the Yoo-Nited States of America! Buchanan's backers begin screaming at the top of their lungs and they run out to the campaign bus and drive away.
THREE				What seems to motivate those fringe presidential candidates who have no chance of getting elected? I guess it’s their personal drive and belief in how the system should be changed, or how their own political party needs to be jerked back to the left or right. Take Alan Keyes. What makes the guy keep running? He's not going to win; but you talk to the people who vote for him and they REALLY like him. Some wags derisively say he's out on the campaign trail only to bolster his speaking circuit work in future years -- but he has a message and a deep seeded belief about where the party should go. You could put Jerry Brown in that category from back in 1992. They can run very low-budget campaigns and still get their messages out. And in a sense, they probably consider it a victory when they can attract attention away from the major candidates.
FOUR				How has the process changed since the last primary campaign in 1996? The beauty is, there really isn't much change. The candidates do the same kind of campaigning -- the aides do the same kind of advance work -- and the reporters do their job as well. What's changed is the involvement of the Internet. John McCain has proven that by raising a lot of money over the net. The candidates also have made their Web sites into continuous ads which also have helped attract volunteers. The Web also provides much more background information about the campaign -- you can read newspaper articles from all across the country and access schedule information about some of the campaigns as well.
FIVE				What's the greatest source of cynicism for reporters trying to cover the Beltway Beat? I'll answer for myself. I've been covering Congress as a reporter since 1987, so I've seen both parties in control of Congress and the White House at different times. I've heard the same arguments over and over again. For me, the frustration is when things don't get done. I get the most satisfaction from my job when a piece of major legislation is finally pushed through to the president. I hate covering bills and debates that are totally politics and either won't get out of the Congress or will never be signed into law. That to me is a waste of time. I had hoped that when the Republicans took over in 1994 that they might get some things through the Congress. Instead they spent too much time talking about a revolution. If they had done small pieces of their agenda each year, they'd have a lot to show for it. As for the Democrats, they still haven't learned the lesson of why they lost power in the Congress to Newt Gingrich. The art of legislating is compromise. And both parties seem to have forgotten that in a crass search for voter appeal. I'm tired of that, whether it's from a back bench member of the House or Senate or from the President. I tune out just like the voters. Demonizing each other is not my answer for how to improve the nation's future.
SIX				Can you share a story of something that restored your hope that the system works? I'll give a campaign and a Congressional answer here. On the campaign trail, it's seeing all the volunteers working hard for their candidate. They are True Believers and it's very nice to see. While I've gotten more cynical over the years, you can't fault these people for seeing a cause and getting on board. I wish more people would give their time to a political cause or candidate. And that lets me plug New Hampshire. If any of you ever have the chance, go to New Hampshire and watch a few days of the primary campaign. These people take their job seriously and not only know the issues, but they actively seek out the candidates at a variety of forums to see what they have to say. It is rather amazing to say the least. You just don't see that type of attention anywhere else and it's very refreshing. The Founding Fathers would be impressed. In Congress, it came in a different form. After President Clinton's impeachment trial ended last February, Congress went back to work. Hearings continued. Issues were discussed and the nation continued on. The country was torn apart, but came back together after going thru a wrenching constitutional process. That to me showed that the system as developed in 1787 still works. I may be a cynical reporter, but I have a bit of idealism in me too. That's why I really like working in the Capitol every day.
SEVEN				What are some of the advantages of reporting news on the radio vs print, TV or the web. I've always loved radio news because you don't have much equipment and because it's just you on the story (no producers, editors, camera crews, etc.) The immediacy is what I like the most. On the road, all you need is a phone and you can be on the air. Also, radio provided me the opportunity to cover politics quickly out of college -- there's no way I could have done that in television. My stations (Cox Radio) have been very willing to let me cover political stories. Many news directors don't like the subject - especially in television - they think the viewer won't be that interested. I think most politicians underestimate the power of radio. There are millions of people listening every morning and evening in their cars to the news.
				THE BIG INDEX... Who they are, what they do, how they think. Go there now. A TO Z ARCHIVE... Everybody here, with quickie bios. Go there now. Return to the main Seven Questions page See the original Newsies 7Q project Contact info@sevenquestions.com Copyright 1999-2002, Thomas L. Mangan