This week lawmakers and the governor sat down for the annual Associated Press pre-session briefing. It was nice to get a fresh perspective on it — I had someone with me who had never attended one of these before. To those fresh eyes, a lot of things were surprising. First he didn't know how friendly legislative leaders can be towards each other. Most people just see them ripping each other in soudbites. But they laughed, shook hands, even hugged each other (Democrats and Republicans hugging, it's true!). He doesn't think that congeniality translates to the viewer very often.
Next, he thought the governor was really polished and knew how to craft his answers for the person or media outlet asking them. Like when a TV reporter asks a question, Pawlenty tends to give a flashier, more general, six-second soundbite. But when a newspaper reporter asks a question, he tends to give more background and detail. Although the difference between TV and print is quickly disappearing and we all work in a new multi-media world. The Forum Communications Capitol Bureau has added a TV camera this session and is posting audio on the web.
Finally, my fresh-faced observer thought there was a remarkable rhythm or pace between lawmakers and the press. He thought we'd be interrupting them, holding up our hands; instead he was impressed to see how reporters seem to know just when and how to jump in and ask the right question to smoothly move the event along. Maybe he's just kissing up to us since he — David Gillette — is joining the Almanac: At the Capitol cast in a new role. He'll be on nearly every week as our political cartoonist. I just love David's work. He was featured as the Yahoo Video of the Day earlier this year and we get such great feedback on his work. So expect to see one of his cartoons on the odd relationship between the press and lawmakers in an edition of Almanac: At the Capitol, which starts up again on Feb. 13.
