Crist's Aggravating Press Secretary

There's nothing like starting off your work day fighting with the governor's press secretary.

I called Gov Crist's office because I was seeing conflicting reports about whether the gov supported a second presidential preference primary in order to seat the delegates at the summer conventions.

I thought it was a simple question: "Erin, does your boss support holding a second primary?"
She initially was polite and told me the governor does not advocate another primary and thinks the people should be heard and the delegates seated.

Because she seemed to emphasize the word "primary" I then asked how he would feel about the parties holding caucuses instead. She said, the governor does not advocate another primary and thinks the people should be heard and the delegates seated.

I said, I know. I heard you the first time. But I'm asking how he would feel if the parties decided to hold caucuses instead.

She repeated word for word what she said.

I asked again. She repeated again, in a very snippy voice, the same line. And added, "I don't know how much clearer I can be!" She was being nasty by this time.

So now I'm irritated. I said, "I'll tell you exactly how you can be clearer. By answering my question about the caucuses and not about the primary. I know how he feels about the primary. You have told me several times. And you are talking to me like I'm an idiot. I don't care how he feels about it and I don't even know that I will report on it I just want to clarify some confusing reports out there."

Ladies and gentlemen she repeated the primary thing again. I said good bye and hung up.

Does it really have to be this hard?

If Crist doesn't want to talk about possible caucuses or he hasn't decided how he feels about them or favors them but doesn't want to say so, fine. There are ways to express such things without being combative and sarcastic. Especially when a reporter is trying to clarify for the voters of Florida an unclear and erroneously reported position by the governor.

The staff of the "People's Governor" needs work on "People Skills."