Muzzling going mainstream
I sure don’t have a problem with Don criticizing Rep. Michelle Bachmann for “muzzling” the media, but it should be noted that reporters were present at the event, they just weren’t allowed to record the event using cameras or tape recorders. Unless reporters have forgotten how to use pen and paper, they were more than welcome to report anything that was said.
But, as the Strib’s “The Big Question” blog noted, than there’s Al Franken:
One of the ways for the Franken campaign to do this, according to [Joshua] Green, is to limit face time for reporters with the candidate as much as possible, to avoid the chance that he will make an unguarded remark that will explode into the headlines the next day.
Green found this out when he wasn’t allowed to ride along with Franken and his staff on a campaign swing in February through St. Paul, the suburbs and Isanti County.
It’s hard to report on someone you can’t even get close to.
Franken also avoided questions at his announcement rally, where reporters were actually blocked from interviewing the candidate. The reason? Franken’s spokesperson didn’t want any filming of Q & A, an eerily familiar explanation. TPT’s Mary Lahammer recently contrasted the candidacy announcements of both Franken and Sen. Norm Coleman.
Bachmann has been criticized before for avoiding all media outlets not assumed to be “friendly,” most notably at the Sorosphere blog Minnesota Monitor. In response to the charge, Northern Alliance Radio Network co-host Mitch Berg sent sincere, honest invitations to numerous Democrats to appear on the conservative broadcast. The invitations were not exactly well-received:
- Senator Amy Klobuchar: Nothing.
- Senate Candidate Al Franken: Nothing.
- Rep. Keith Ellison: Nothing.
- Rep. Betty McCollum - my “representative”
As I posted to Berg’s blog, we have no record of an interview request from Northern Alliance Radio Network for Mayor R.T. Rybak nor does Mayor Rybak’s email have an auto reply. Anyone interested in an interview with Mayor Rybak can contact me directly at jeremy.hanson@ci.minneapolis.mn.us. Thanks.
Jeremy Hanson
Communications Director
Mayor R.T. Rybak
Thanks for the clarification Mr. Hanson. Looks like Mitch Berg isn’t credible. Who woulda thunk? If you’re keeping score at home, that’s Smear 1, Berg 0.
Mr. Hanson,
Thanks for visiting. I was unable to find your post at Berg’s blog. Could you point me in the right direction? I have also requested additional information from Berg and hopefully we can get this worked out.
Mr. Hanson,
I didn’t leave the request at the “office of the mayor” website. I left it at a general “contact the city” link, which was labelled “we’ll route your email to the right destination”. Apparently that is not the case. I can forward that auto-response to you offline if you really want to see it.
Thanks for the link and the email address. I’ll be in touch shortly; Ed and I will jump at the chance to interview the Mayor. Thanks!
Mr. Burke,
I’d respond - but your “scoring” would seem to say all I’d need to.
PT,
All commenters’ first comments are moderated on my blog. I didn’t get around to moderating comments ’til this morning.
And, for the record, except for Dane Smith, this is the *only* response I’ve gotten. (Toss in Dave Thune, too - he never responded to my request for an interview to elaborate on his “puking Republicans” smear.