Obama Team Ejects Blogger
20 June 2007 11:21 am by Taylor Marsh
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For the record, when I wanted to attend one of Obama’s stump speech events,
my contact in Obama’s campaign office was immediately responsive. Of course, I have a direct line to someone
very amenable for blogs to cover any Obama event. The same
cannot be said for Jerid.
Don’t
Tell Obama You Blog
Submitted by Jerid on Wed, 06/20/2007 – 12:32pm.At least that’s the message his New Hampshire campaign sent me last night.
I would’ve had a glowing post up today about all the neat approaches to faith
the campaign is taking,” or maybe how “the audience was really interested
in what the Obama campaign had to say,” or even maybe something I learned.Last night I headed out to Keene, NH to attend one of Obama’s “Faith,
Action, Change” forums at the small Keene State College student center.
Billed as an opportunity for Progressives to discuss their faith in terms
of social change, they’re free and open to the public. Registration is recommended,
but not required. I got to the event a little early and hung around the student
center, speaking with an intern, until the event started to begin.Walking into a small room, Nicole Derse from the political desk of the Obama
NH campaign was busy meeting folks. As she turned to me she started to say
hello, so I replied with a smile, “Hi, my names Jerid. I’m a blogger.”“Oooooooh, I’m sorry, but you’ll have to leave,” she shot back.
“These events are closed to the press.”I was dumbfounded. Searching for words I spurt out, “But I’m a blogger,”
as she started to usher me out of the room. … ..… And one last thing. The whole question of Obama taking issue with bloggers present at “closed press” events is funny when we remember back to the night Obama wrapped himself up in a big ‘ole spread of bloggers at the Ohio Democratic Party State Dinner in 2006. While ODP was still fidgeting with the learning curve of what to do with bloggers (having helped them take back Ohio in ‘06 they’ve since learned we’re friendly), they decided to exclude them from this particular dinner because it was closed to press. Here’s a shot of Obama sitting at the blogger table that he paid for, so bloggers could attend this “closed press” event. Hilarity. … ..
There is much debate about blogger credentials at media events. It’s something we’re all working to solve. But the fact is that contacting the campaign office is a start, because few like surprises. However, as the picture shows above, there were other blogger events that were supposedly “closed” to media, but some got to talk to Obama.
I’ll let you know what the Obama camp says about Jerid’s ejection when they respond.
