Home > Political Insider > Archives > 2008 > June > 06 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USIn the words of the great Jim Nabors, ‘Fool me once, shame on you….’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In Insider is a bit late on this, but Denis O’Hayer at WXIA (11 Alive) was the only reporter in town to openly vent about the “sandbagging” that he and his colleagues received this week at the Republican Governors Association.
The affair was mostly private, restricted to governors and donors, but journalists were allowed to listen in on a Wednesday luncheon speech by Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota, who’s often mentioned as a possible running mate for Republican presidential candidate John McCain.
O’Hayer explains in his blog what happened after Pawlenty finished his address:
When reporters started to move toward him, they were told if they would agree to wait in the back, the RGA press officers would bring him to them. Based on that, the reporters and photographers agreed not to approach Pawlenty during the handshaking.
A few minutes later, the media folk were told to move to an area just beyond the side doors of the ballroom, where Pawlenty would meet them.
But once the journalists were all gathered outside the doors on one side of the room, Pawlenty slipped out the doors on the other side, and disappeared. My photographer and I found him again at his car. He ignored us.
It was the kind of “gotcha” maneuver one doesn’t expect from an organization at this level of politics. “No interviews” is an honest answer that reporters are accustomed to hearing—even if they don’t like it. They live with it; because they know no one is obliged to talk to them.
That answer was never given here. In this case, the journalists had given their word as professionals, to refrain from approaching Pawlenty in the ballroom, even though he was within easy reach — only to be sandbagged by someone.
Faced with very angry media folk, RGA staffers swore they never intended this to happen. Their claims were met with open skepticism, to put it mildly. Personally, I’m willing to give the staffers the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps the media relations folks didn’t make that call. But someone in the RGA — anyone from Governor Pawlenty on down — did.
Believe it or not, most journalists hate to use the “cavalry charge” approach to a newsmaker as much as the public hates it when they see reporters do it. It’s rude, for starters. That’s why this group agreed to wait on Pawlenty. But I expect that won’t happen the next time the RGA is in town. It’s not revenge. It’s simply that journalists will likely feel they can’t afford to trust the RGA again.
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Comments
By RJ
June 6, 2008 1:44 PM | Link to this
Just another example of the contempt position the Press holds with the Republican Party, primarily because it has not been carrying Republican Party’s water this election cycle.
Why? Because the Press has been asking too many probing, accountability questions. Also, because the Press is a good deflection target.
Money simply will not buy the 2008 election and the Republicans know that. They are in shock over the electorate’s awakening and just trying hold what they can for another election.
By Chruchill
June 6, 2008 2:00 PM | Link to this
The press holds Republicans in contempt because most of the press is the house organ of the DNC. Most of the press votes democrat. Something like 87% of the media consider themselves to be liberal. There is nothing new under the sun. Nice try, RJ. Have you not been reading the NYslimes, Washington Compost, or the Urinal-Constipation for the last decades? Peace.
By Saxby campaign is stalking this blog
June 6, 2008 2:05 PM | Link to this
RJ are you on a Republican politicians payroll? If not I’m sorry, but Republican staffers have blogging on this page and soliciting others to do so. I’m a little skeptical of anything a conservative says on this blog today.
By SCUMBAG
June 6, 2008 3:26 PM | Link to this
Churchill,
It’s obvious you have no life. Go get bent loser. Ivy League my a*. News on the blog is you dropped out of Gwinnett Tech.
By Gary
June 6, 2008 3:51 PM | Link to this
Leave it to liberals like Scumbag to put down a person when they cannot intellectually get into a conversation.
Come to think of it, I bet Scumbag is also GodHatesTrash. Hmmm go figure. All liberals sound alike. Probably because they get their talking points from the DNC and then when they get countered by someone claiming to be conservative they go off the deep end.
By Churchill
June 6, 2008 4:14 PM | Link to this
I hit a nerve. I love it when libs go nuts and attack the messenger, not the message. If I get ‘em mad, I must be speaking truth to kooks.
I love how you derrided a local tech school, Scumbag. Most of the democrat voters you seek attended or would like to attend those very schools. Libs are predictable. Here’s the secret, I do it on purpose. The more the left is exposed, the better for my side. I enjoy throwing softballs out there for the tards are the left. They get so uppity and arrogant, they forget or can’t, debate the issue(s). Peace.
By DaninMacon
June 6, 2008 4:24 PM | Link to this
Church, you are assuming the voters they seek attened achool, at all.
By Republaterd
June 6, 2008 6:58 PM | Link to this
Danny-‘swill,
assuming has made an a* of dos of u’s
By Churchill
June 6, 2008 8:35 PM | Link to this
Fosheezy, Dan.
By Churchill
June 6, 2008 8:41 PM | Link to this
Thanks, Dan. Incoherent as the lib, Republater’s, comments may be. Peace.
By RJ
June 6, 2008 11:48 PM | Link to this
Facts are stubborn things, opinions come and go…mostly go.
A most unfortunate consequence of revolution is intended and unintended casualties of mind, spirit, and body. We are a strong nation and this day will pass too.
By citizenfortruth
June 9, 2008 12:41 AM | Link to this
Maybe 87% of the media can read and have actually paid attention to what has been happening in this country for the last 7 years. The “conservative” leadership in this country as expaned the role of the federal governemnt and increased the debt more than any administration in history — I thought those were the two hallmarks of “liberals”.