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Conservative Activist Ambushes Al Franken; Comes Off As Loser – Update

video

by Tommy Christopher | 11:38 am, March 30th, 2010

» 14 comments

Conservative activist Jason Mattera, who created a stir at this year’s CPAC, has posted video of an ambush interview in which Senator Al Franken (D-MN) is driven to exclaim “You need to shut up right now!”

During the interview, Mattera constantly interrupts Franken, calls him “Senator Smalley,” and attacks provisions of health care reform that support funding for schools and breastfeeding. At least Mattera wasn’t wearing a costume. Check it out after the jump.

Here’s the exchange with Franken:

Now, I only use the term “ambush interview” because that’s what people call an unplanned, impromptu on-camera exchange. I have absolutely no problem with the so-called “ambush interview,” as I’ve said before. For a journalist with a smaller outlet, or no outlet, it can be the only way to get any interviews at all.

I also have no problem with interrupting a subject who is evading or deflecting my questions.

Mattera wastes a golden opportunity here, as Franken actually sticks around and tries to answer Mattera. The problem is that Mattera’s not at all interested in getting answers to his questions, because his questions are complete crap. He’s done this before. He will take a doltish misreading of some sliver of legislation, hassle some legislator on camera about it, then enjoy the high-fives and dull exclamations of “Heh-heh. You said Senator Smalley” from his toadies.

In this case, he’s talking about Section 4201 of the health care reform law, which provides funding for a host of worthy programs. Saying that this funding is for “jungle gyms” is like saying that, because there are Hershey bars in some military rations, a defense appropriations bill is to buy “candy bars.”

Unfortunately, the joke is probably on him. Aside from his ardent fans, I think most people will find his attack on funding for playgrounds pretty hollow, and his attack on breastfeeding just bizarre. If he’s lucky, maybe the New York Times will unfairly accuse him of race-baiting again, and distract from his hostility toward women and children.

This style of gonzo interviewing is doubtless entertaining for Mattera’s audience, but it offers little in the way of influencing anyone else. Consistently, Mattera’s interviews find him winning on class-clown charm, and being pummeled on the substance. When he lets Franken talk, Al exposes the problem with Mattera’s “reasoning” in 2 seconds.

In another recent clip, Mattera makes his frat brothers chuckle by asking Press Secretary Robert Gibbs if he ever “feels dirty” (no, Jason, that was Joe the Plumber), but Gibbs completely destroys him on the substance:

Mattera’s interview style is of a piece with fellow journalactivistist James O’Keefe. Like O’Keefe, Mattera uses deception, each time professing admiration for his subject. Rather than search for the truth, both Mattera and O’Keefe seek to create truth. As entertainment, their value is open for debate. As journalism? Not so much.

Update: Mattera responds with homophobic insults.

Update: Jason Mattera responded to this article by calling me a “girl scout.” The Girl Scouts of America is a fine organization that doesn’t discriminate against LGBT people and produces awesome cookies. While I’m not qualified for membership, as Andrew Breitbart notes, the comparison is flattering. Mattera’s other insults, though, are just homophobic and creepy.

Al Franken, Health Care Reform, James O'Keefe, Jason Mattera, Joe the Plumber, Robert Gibbs, Tommy Christopher

Caryson

I don’t get it?

When growing up, I always thought it was the DUTY of any journalist to ask hard hitting questions. What happened to the MSM?

I guess they finally grew up as well and became Obama Zombies. No wonder this president and his cabal only get soft balls.

Time for the MSM to grow a set of balls and ask questions.

Now that most members of the MSM are simply Obama scribes, the more we need people like Mattera and O’Keef to ask the real questions about what is going on.
Colby Hall

well caryson, asking tough questions is only as effective as letting the subject answer. watching the video, it was clear that al franken was treating Mattera with respect, and was trying to answer the questions. but Mattera wasn’t interested in the answer, he was more interested in scoring sophomoric points with his fanbase, which he did. but he came off as kind of a jerk in my opinion.
roxsteady

Both Franken and Gibbs bitch slap this little girl. If you want to trash the President that’s fine, but this article is about this punk ass, fake journalist. Try to get over the fact that Obama put a serious ass whooping on the GOP in 2008 and last week. Get used to that bitter taste of defeat. There’s more where that came from coming in November. Now there’s a story!
roxsteady

Oh, and when this little prick wins the Pulitzer, you be sure to get back to me!
http://www.sailrabbits.com Magister

I have to say that I’m only familiar with this dude through Tommy’s posts and he really does seem to have an aversion to letting people talk, but I guess that’s because his question is really the thing that he wants to say and it’s the vehicle through which he tries to communicate his ideas. If his targets were allowed to respond, it’d just undermine the whole premise and the questioner’s thoughts wouldn’t be the takeaway.

Otherwise, what’s up with his fixation on breastfeeding? I assume he has no kids and isn’t married, but as the spouse of someone who was called unsociable at a previous job because she’d lock her office door to pump, I certainly can appreciate the need for the legislation.

I’m sure someday this guy might get married and at that time, perhaps he’ll be mature enough to understand.
Colby Hall

Its sort of a shame because as Tommy points out, Jason Mattera should be lauded for some citizen journalism. But if he only engaged in an actual dialog, instead of looking to score cheap points, then he’d be taken more seriously, Instead, he comes of as kind of a joke. My opinion anyway.
Bias-Media

Tommy,

I agree with your assessment, but not with your analysis. Those sections you cited does seem to me to be very silly to be in a HEALTH bill.

But if Jason Mattera is really interested in the Senator / Press Sec’s take on these silly provisions in the Health Bill, he needs to let them answer.

I’m for Ambush Interviews as well, but if you’re going to ambush interview somebody, you really need to give them the opportunity to respond. Otherwise, it’s not really an ambush *interview*…it’s just an ambush…
Snipzor

Oh god, this guy is such a loser. Forget his political ideology for a minute, listen to the way he talks. What a douche.
m

>When growing up, I always thought it was the DUTY of any journalist to ask hard hitting questions. What happened to the MSM?

There’s a difference between private and public life though. Just because there always needs to be tough questions asked doesn’t mean that you should do it after work. Just because a person is a public figure doesn’t mean that they’re always required to be available for questions or to do their job.

This is why I don’t like ambush interviews, period.
Tommy Christopher

Bias-Media,

well, that’s a different conversation. Whether you support that provision or not, it is not what Mattera says it is. His deliberately false reading of it ends the discussion before it can begin.
Tommy Christopher

Bias-Media says:
March 30, 2010 at 1:00 pm
Tommy,

But if Jason Mattera is really interested in the Senator / Press Sec’s take on these silly provisions in the Health Bill, he needs to let them answer.

I’m for Ambush Interviews as well, but if you’re going to ambush interview somebody, you really need to give them the opportunity to respond. Otherwise, it’s not really an ambush *interview*…it’s just an ambush…
———
I agree 100% with that.
the visionary

well i normally dont agree with you, tommy. but i think you make a good point. some of the mattera videos have been good (like when he asks rangel about driving a tax-paid-for cadillac) but in this case he ruins it by the constant interruption, especially when franken wanted to respond…
Jelperman

This is the same Jason Mattera who, a few days before the 40th anniversary of the My Lai Massacre, stalked and heckled John Kerry and claimed it was “slanderous” to say that Americans committed atrocities in Vietnam:

Here’s the video.

There’s no difference between this little creep and holocaust deniers.
Jelperman

For more on the My Lai Massacre, which this little retard claims never happened:

LINK