Price Talks Politics In Oskaloosa
WHO-TV Political Director Dave Price takes questions from audience members at William Penn University.
Oskaloosa, Iowa – Presidential politics in Iowa is a big thing. Few political reporters and insiders have the trust that WHO-TV 13 Political Director Dave Price has when it comes to presenting the latest news from the Iowa Caucuses.
Price is also the author of ‘Caucus Chaos’, which takes readers behind the scenes of the 2012 Iowa Caucus. His insight and experience will help readers feel as though they were there, microphone in hand, asking the candidates the questions that will ultimately impact the nation’s choice in presidential candidates.
William Penn University invited Price as its second guest in a lecture series called “Ideas and Inspiration in Iowa”.
Oskaloosa resident Bob Morris asked Price if there was a legitimate case to be made that Iowa shouldn’t be first in the nation in selecting presidential candidates.
“I think we’re always in danger of loosing it [first in nation status] because you’re always going to have forces that don’t like it,” said Price.
Price spoke about a set of State Department emails by Hilary Clinton that said, “If Mittens [Mitt Romney] can’t beat Grinch [Newt Gingrich] in Florida, there will be pressure on state Republican parties to reopen or liberalize ballot access, especially in the caucuses, which as we know are creatures of the parties’ extremes.”
What Clinton was referring to her email, to friend Sidney Blumenthal, was that the caucus system is filled with special interests by both parties, and the extreme views of those interests don’t represent the more centrist views of rank and file members of each party.
Clinton could have also been expressing her displeasure in Iowa, since she was defeated by Barack Obama in 2008.
“So she isn’t going to be the biggest supporter of a caucus system,” said Price.
Oskaloosa News asked Price about how the influx of non-traditional journalists has impacted traditional media outlets.
Price said that the more information available is “for the greater good” but it can, at times, “stink” because traditional outlets, like those he works for, like to vet the information they present before public consumption. This vetting process can slow down the release of the news, and may put traditional outlets in a position of disadvantage in a world that demands instant access to potential breaking news.
“I need to check it [news or source] out,” said Price.
Price used to have have his competition next to him at all times. His wife Emily, the former political director for KCCI was Dave’s primary competitor. Their relationship together, when it came to politics, was secretive.
Price talked about how he believed he had a one-on-one with Obama over his universal health care plan. “I had to wait outside this room and I knew he was doing an interview with somebody, and I open the door and there she [Emily] was. She had just finished her interview with him. I remember I was so ticked off, and he [Obama] made a joke about it.”
“I can share way more stuff with her now,” said Price. “It’s actually a lot better. Plus she’ll critique my stuff. Let me know where I screwed up.”
You can find out more about Price’s book HERE – http://www.caucuschaos.com/
