NPR: Looking for a Fitting Place for a Romney Interview

Looking for a Fitting Place for a Romney Interview

Sometimes the best-laid plans of mice, men and NPR hosts go astray. Particularly when an ice storm hits. All Things Considered host Robert Siegel had planned to go to Iowa on Saturday to watch presidential candidate Mitt Romney give a speech and then interview him. But Siegel had to scramble when the weather grounded him, and his editor, Quinn O'Toole in Milwaukee and Romney canceled the speech. Senior editor Susan Feeney was already in Des Moines, juggling communications between Siegel, the NPR engineer and the Romney campaign. Here's Siegel with the rest of the story:

The new plan: Our engineer would go to Romney's hotel room and record the candidate. Quinn would record me at the airport. Romney and I would talk by cell phone, then NPR would mix the two recordings together. Patrick Murray, our engineer, was off buying a snow shovel at a Des Moines hardware store and made a beeline to Romney's hotel. Our window was now just a half an hour away, as Romney's staff had hopes of getting him out of Des Moines.

We needed a place that was reasonably quiet for me to do my end of the interview. Quinn and I started looking as I tried to formulate questions (which I had assumed I would do after watching him campaign in Iowa). The Milwaukee airport conference rooms were locked. We found an "executive work station." It had a noisy air duct overhead that would have made me sound like I was doing hurricane coverage on The Weather Channel.

Then we found a quiet, open, empty office and set up. It wasn't empty for long. Then the man whose office it was turned up. Many NPR reporters have experienced the moment when we have taken outrageous advantage of some situation, could easily have been booted out, but encountered a friendly listener who bent some rule to make a public radio show come together. On the other hand, many NPR reporters have also experienced what we experienced on Saturday. He booted us out of his office. No ifs, ands, buts or kind words for public radio.

As I moved us into the din of the executive work station, where all sorts of other travelers could enter, Quinn scouted again and hit pay dirt. The man at the desk in the airport PGA store told him the quietest, most private room was next door, at the airport Brooks Brothers. A kind lady named Marion permitted us use of that room. It was the fitting room. It was not entirely fitting for an interview (someone rang a Salvation Army bell outside) but, at least, no one interrupted us. So, we can say it was somewhat suitable, which I guess is what Brooks Brothers is all about.

- Robert Siegel

1:07 PM ET | 12- 3-2007 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

I heard that interview and was stunned that you did not mention Romney is a former Mormon bishop, nor even a Mormon at all. Not in all that time you were dancing around Romney's interpretation of the Bible. And yet the show intro noted that Huckabee is a Baptist preacher. Tell me: When did NPR turn so yellow?

Sent by Bounce | 8:55 PM ET | 12-03-2007

Hmmm. The interview I heard was definitely not "yellow". Not, at least, from the NPR side. Now, Romney, however, with his amateurish avoidance tactics -- that might be what I would call "yellow."

Sent by Kara Lewis | 9:40 PM ET | 12-03-2007

If this is about the interview between Mr. Siegel and Mitt Romney that I listened to on NPR yesterday evening after work (December 3, 5:10 p.m, Central Standard Time), then I have to say Mr. Siegel asked a pointed question and got a flustered answer form Mr. Romney.

Mr. Siegel asked Romney what was his take on the Book of Genesis in relation to the national debate about creationism and intelligent design. Romney did give a reasonable answer, which was drowned and neutralized by his own hurt ego (re Romney wondered he was surprised at NPR, which would try to qualify presidential candidates according to their personal biblical interpretations). What I heard was a case of reverse religious intolerance, rare but not uncommon among the LDS people I've met.

Sent by Mario Chavez | 7:53 AM ET | 12-04-2007

Robert Siegel's interview with Mitt Romney ended appropriately by asking Romney about his religious beliefs. Christian faith is clearly an important credential for presidential candidates in the view of a large section of the electorate. By refusing to answer Siegel's last question, Romney showed he didn't have the credential that this large part of the electorate requires. The question was apt, since it inquired about a credential that is central to the candidacy that Romney has tried to fashion. But since that credential was the issue, Siegel made a mistake in bringing up creationism. He should have simply made the point that Romney has been trying to establish his credentials with the Christian right. In any event, Romney couldn't answer Siegel's question, because if he answered it honestly, he'd never get anywhere with 'the base' (which he isn't and he won't).

Sent by AN | 1:07 PM ET | 12-04-2007

Romney's Bible answer was obviously evasive, but that's not the point. The question is, why didn't NPR say that Romney is a Mormon has been a Mormon Bishop?

Surely, if it was relevant to say that Huckabee is a Baptist minister, Romney should have been comparably described.

Sent by Bounce | 1:13 PM ET | 12-04-2007

Utah was the second state in the union to have a Jewish governor: Simon Bamberger. Idaho was the first state in the union to have a Jewish Governor: Moses Alexander. Idaho is very much Mormon, as are Nevada, Colorado and, well, the west.

All this talk about one set of religious conservatives having questions about another set of religious conservatives comes down to this final point: All religious conservatives, of all bents, will vote against the Secularists of the Democratic Party.

Another point about the Mormons is simply this: The Mormon Church is a lot more powerful than most realize.

Yes, I have sat through Evangelical sermons where the pastor denounced Mormonism. But, the truth still remains, the Mormons are the five hundred pound gorilla of conservative religion in America (and Latin America and other parts of the world).

The Mormons settled and financed Las Vegas. The Mormon Church has a three hundred thousand acre cattle ranch in Florida. The Mormon Church has extensive land holdings throughout Latin America.

Romney has nothing to worry about concerning Mormonism. Just like the Vatican was never threatened of being brought down by the Protestant Reformation, or the Evangelicals who've denounced the Pope in their sermons.

It all comes down to the religious conservatives will put aside their grievances to side against the secularists.

You can call the five hundred pound gorilla names, until the five hundred pound gorilla knocks on your church door.

fred call

Sent by fred call | 2:20 PM ET | 12-04-2007

The Mormon church's power is exactly why it's important to talk about Romney being a Mormon. Kennedy's Catholicism was a huge issue in the 1960 election-- and he was just a plain ole Catholic, not a bishop. Notably, we haven't had another Catholic president to date. Apparently, the American public does care which religious brand their presidents carry.

Even if you don't believe that Mormonism per se should be an issue, you have to admit that, if any candidate's religion is worth mentioning, all candidates' religions should be on the table. That's what fair information is all about.

Now, Kennedy won the 1960 election, but Mitt's no JFK, and the Mormon voter base is not the Catholic voter base. The Mormon factor must be openly discussed--because it matters, because it will influence votes.

Sent by Bounce | 2:01 AM ET | 12-05-2007

Sent by Bounce: the Mormon voter base is not the Catholic voter base.

Again, another vast underestimation of the power and base of the Mormon Church.

Democrats make the huge mistake of not knowing their opposition.

Then, again, secularists have no comparative strategic base. Which makes Mormons or any other conservative church that much more powerful.

Plus, the Romney name looms large in Detroit and Boston, in states usually reserved for the Democrats. The Romney name will most likely take those two states away from the Democrat electorate.

And Rudy will win New York over Hillary. And Arkansas, like the rest of the south, will continue to go Republican. As will Utah, Idaho, Kansas and the majority west of the Mississippi.

Democrats crow that they will take California. I'm ready to bet the Reagan Republicans of California, and Arnold, will give California to the GOP.

Know your enemy before you make assumptions.

fred call

Sent by fred call | 9:20 AM ET | 12-05-2007

I agree with Mr. Siegel that Gov. Romney's interpretation of the Bible is germane to being President. If one accepts the orthodox arch of creation -> Fall -> Salvation through Jesus' death and resurrection -> Jesus' return as laid out by La Haye then there are profound influences on policy. James Watt's ecoterrorism was based on dominion and eschatological theology. If war between the Arabs and Jews is the introduction to Jesus' return then there is no reason to work toward peace in the Middle East. If "My God" is bigger than "His God" then foreign policy is based on power and dominance not reconciliation.
Keep pressing this issue and ask Governor Huckabee about Tim La Haye sharing the stage with him.

Sent by Brian Ewert | 9:33 PM ET | 12-06-2007

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