On Fox News Sunday, Chris Wallace pressed Karen Finney, senior spokesperson for Hillary Clinton’s campaign, over her refusal to hold press events since she launched her candidacy two months ago.
Speaking to the failed MSNBC host, Wallace pointed out “since she announced two months ago, Hillary Clinton has not held a single news conference nor sat down for a single interview. Is that her idea of being transparent?”
After Finney spun that Clinton “has spent hours talking with voters on very sensitive issues. She has talked to members of the media” the Fox News host pushed back and pointed out that the Democrat hasn’t “given a single news conference or had a single sit-down interview. One, is that her idea of being transparent and two, when is she going to do either of those things?”
The former MSNBC host attempted to deflect Wallace’s question and claimed that Clinton has gone up to campaign rope lines and spoken to reporters but Wallace shot back and explained that those are “hand picked” and not true interviews:
But reporters can ask questions for millions of people as opposed to the four or five handpicked people sitting around the table who can only ask questions. I'm not saying she shouldn't talk to them but all of the other candidates have met with reporters and sat down for interviews and held news conferences. She's the only one who hasn't.
Once again, Finney dodged Wallace’s answer and instead peddled campaign talking points to close out the segment. The Fox News moderator then thanked his guest for “answering our questions. And we look forward to being able to ask Hillary Clinton some questions as well.”
See relevant transcript below.
Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace
June 14, 2015
CHRIS WALLACE: But when you talk about people wanting to know what she stands for, the fact is that since she announced two months ago, Hillary Clinton has not held a single news conference nor sat down for a single interview. Is that her idea of being transparent?
KAREN FINNEY: She has spent hours talking with voters on very sensitive issues. She has talked to members of the media.
WALLACE: Karen, that’s not the question I asked you.
FINNEY: Hold on Chris, she has talked to the press.
WALLACE: If I may, I don't want to talk over you but I asked a specific question. She's not given a single news conference or had a single sit-down interview. One, is that her idea of being transparent and two, when is she going to do either of those things?
FINNEY: Why don't I tell you this, Chris. I think you'll see her do that later today and you'll see that during this tour of the early states that she's going to be doing.
WALLACE: She’s going to sit down for a news conference?
FINNEY: She’ll sit down for interviews. When you say news conference, I mean she has gone over to reporters who are traveling and talked to them and answered their questions. And again, Chris, to this issue I also think it's important. I think that the questions that voters want to ask is equally as important. And I think it's important when you are running for president and we're focused on --
WALLACE: But reporters can ask questions for millions of people as opposed to the four or five handpicked people sitting around the table who can only ask questions. I'm not saying she shouldn't talk to them but all of the other candidates have met with reporters and sat down for interviews and held news conferences. She's the only one who hasn't.
FINNEY: Well, they’ve got to do their campaign the way they're going to do their campaign and we're going to do our campaign the way we believe we’ve go to to win this in these four early states to make sure that we're focused on organizing and telling Hillary's story and winning the four early states and then hopefully winning the primary and then winning the election.
WALLACE: Karen, thank you. Thanks for coming in today. Thanks for answering our questions. And we look forward to being able to ask Hillary Clinton some questions as well. We'll see you on the campaign trail.
FINNEY: Okay. Sounds good.
