Bush was in Albuquerque, New Mexico, last week for another campaign stop “town hall” meeting to discuss privatizing Social Security. As usual, tickets were distributed through a local Republican office. But in a move that may be less common, the GOP office quizzed would-be attendees before making the free tickets available. (via Froomkin)
A spokesperson for Republican Sen. Pete Domenici’s office, the office that distributed most of the tickets, told the Journal’s Michael Coleman that people requesting tickets were actually quizzed about their views of the president and his plans for Social Security. (emphasis added)
Welcome to the brave new world of over-the-top media manipulation. No critical questions, no spontaneity, nothing left to chance.
Public event, public official, matter of public importance. The mind reels.
And yes, Albuquerque is the same city at which residents were asked to sign a loyalty oath before getting tickets to see Dick Cheney less than a year ago.