the kicker

How Not to Start an Interview

Palin isn’t the only politician from the north side of the the 49th parallel having trouble in TV interviews. Here’s an awkward video of a CTV...
October 10, 2008

Palin isn’t the only politician from the north side of the the 49th parallel having trouble in TV interviews. Here’s an awkward video of a CTV interview with Stephane Dion, leader of the opposition Liberal Party, where he grows flustered and asks for several do-overs to what seems like a simple question on the economy.

It’s become quite the kerfuffle up north, with Dion and the Liberals upset that CTV decided to go ahead air the interview. It’s not clear to me whether CTV made any commitment not to air the early flubs, besides the tacit-at-most one they made by agreeing to restart the interview. But needless to say, this isn’t footage Dion, or any of his opponents, would want on air just four or five days before an election.

Clint Hendler is the managing editor of Mother Jones, and a former deputy editor of CJR.