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ANOTHER DFL CONVENTION, ANOTHER REPUBLICAN STAFFER HARASSED
By Michael B. Brodkorb | May 3, 2008
According to sources, a Republican staffer was told to stop video tapping at 2nd CD DFL convention today. This is the second time that a Republican staffer has been prevented from video tapping at a DFL convention. Last week, a Republican staffer was kicked out of the 1st CD DFL Convention. If you’re keeping score at home, this is the second black eye for the Minnesota DFL.
Contrary to the statements made by a representatives of the Uptake who claimed this week that “[the] DFL makes it a policy to allow press, including videobloggers to attend all of its conventions and debates”, it’s clear there is no uniform policy for DFLers.
I should add that I haven’t had any trouble blogging from DFL conventions and both DFL staff and volunteers have treated me with respect.
But from the incidents described on both Republican and Democratic blogs, both political parties need to work on establishing policies and procedures for allowing visitors from the opposite political party to attend their conventions.
UPDATE: According to another source I spoke with this evening, a Republican tracker at the 8th CD DFL convention was verbally and physically harassed. The staffer was pushed, his camera was grabbed and disgusting comments were made to him about President Bush and Senator Coleman. Thankfully, most of the incidents were caught on film. If you’re keeping score at home, this is the third black eye for the Minnesota DFL.
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36 Responses to “ANOTHER DFL CONVENTION, ANOTHER REPUBLICAN STAFFER HARASSED”
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May 3rd, 2008 at 5:44 pm
I disagree with you on this Mike. Partisan bloggers do not come to “cover” an event; they come with the intent of sliming the participants, they’re not looking to learn about the issues; they’re looking for dirt.
That goes equally for Repub and Dem bloggers.
The clip from the “Uptake” is the perfect example. That goof was not reporting on the goings on, he was whining about his inability to speak with one of the candidates. Plus, he was belligerent when asked to leave…he’s lucky I wasn’t the one doing the asking
Bottom line is that party events are open to the public at the discretion of the party.
May 3rd, 2008 at 7:07 pm
Visitors, bloggers and trackers should be able to attend conventions in both parties – and there should be clear behavior expectations of them. That means staying away from the convention floor and in the visitor’s or media section, and being respectful of those attending the convention. If trackers are trying to agitate candidates to get photo moments, then they should be booted. If they are just videotaping the conventions – then they should be allowed to stay.
I think the way the 3rd District DFL handled this was a model. Also, I covered the SD 43 Republicans endorsement during the special in 2005 – and that was a model of a good convention – and they were very friendly to myself and 2 other observers.
Candidates are not “slimed”, when they are videotaped, and the full speech is put on youtube unedited as was done with Bachmann’s speech to the Blaine convention in 2006. They are slimed when extensive editing makes the person look much worse than they are.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fIP5TFzFek
Also, the Republican Party in the 6th isn’t just banning bloggers – they are banning all audio and video from the MSM – the St Cloud Times, MPR, and TW Budig from Forum Communications all reported on this. According to Larry Schumacher of the St Cloud Times, the same audio/video ban applied to the Big Lake convention today between Mark Olson and Mary Kiffmeyer.
May 3rd, 2008 at 7:32 pm
Eva, you are really a big fat idiot. Since the MSM you mentioned has shown they regulary slime the repubs, by your own logic, they should be banned from the Republican Party proceedings.
You are a typical anti-conservative, Christian-hater, who can take bigotry back to your hate Bachmann site.
God bless you Michele. Thanks for fighting the good fight!
May 3rd, 2008 at 8:01 pm
I would think that Michele doesn’t always like the corners that she has painted herself into.
I would think that in her quieter moments Michele looks back and wonders in what direction she is going.
I would think that God bless you Michele, might tend to ring hollow at times.
May 3rd, 2008 at 9:40 pm
Who the hell is Michele?
May 3rd, 2008 at 9:47 pm
Michael, I think it’s time to reveal your ’sources’ and your staffer because I don’t believe your report is true.
Or perhaps there was more than one DFL Convention in CD2 today. At the one I attended at Faribault High School, the conveners stood at the podium and welcomed the openness of the convention to media and bloggers without discrimination on the basis of their political persuasion. This comment was met with APPLAUSE by the delegates and visitors in attendance.
That’s my eyewitness report, and I’m sticking with it.
May 3rd, 2008 at 10:14 pm
I’m going to disagree, too, Michael. If the event is advertised as “open to the public” then the Party is stupid and deserves what it gets, disruption and slime-wise. To me it’s always an invitation-only affair, and even videotaping by the invited needs be regulated. How are these Republicans getting in in the first place?
May 3rd, 2008 at 11:38 pm
According to an uptake person on MN Campaign Report, the Republican Tracker (Tracking for Norm Coleman) was asked to sign in, in order to bring their camera in. That’s a reasonable request. I was asked to do this at the 6th District DFL convention.
” we have follow up coming soon (0.00 / 0)
looks like the person in question was offered the opportunity to sign in and film. the person refused to sign in, and thus was not permitted to film.
check The UpTake for and update soon”
May 4th, 2008 at 1:28 am
Good thing the GOP didn’t kick anyone out of their conventions. Hypocrisy is one of those habits that’s really hard to kick, eh Michael?
PS: Let’s see the video. Put up or shut up.
May 4th, 2008 at 7:27 am
http://theuptake.org/?p=632
DFL CD2 Secretary Jane Miles says the Republican tracker did not register at the sign in table (as is required of all people attending the convention). If he had registered, (in this case as media) he would have been allowed to video tape.
The Republican tracker has been following Al Franken and taping his appearances for some time. The Al Franken campaign knows the individual and actually had no problem with him taping.
The DFL’s Sergeant At Arms warned the Republican tracker the first time he pulled out a video camera and attempted to tape, and then asked him to leave when he started taping a second time. The Republican tracker was later allowed back into the convention and was told he could text message, blog, etc. but could not video tape. Miles said if the Republican tracker wanted to video tape he would need to sign in as press and go through the normal vetting process.
==
Looks like like classic, we don’t have to follow the rules GOPism.
I look forward to your update on this quick trigger post that is no where near accurate with regards to what actually happened.
You can see all comments on this post here:
May 4th, 2008 at 7:57 am
Pretty amazing that Eva “The Bachmann Stalker” talks about being respectful. The slime and hatred she and her fellow crazies spew on her blog is disgusting. And she wonders why none of them can get MB to respond.
If anyone portrayed gays with the same supposed “satire” she uses on Bachmann and christianity, she would be screaming bloody murder.
May 4th, 2008 at 8:25 am
As long as we are on the subject of nutjobs (Eva), I don’t believe that there has been a “Flounder” sighting here in the past couple of hours. Has anyone bothered to go out looking for Founder’s cardboard box underneath some bridge somewhere? I think he was very upset that there were other moonbats on Friday taking away the attention he so craves.
Flounder, if you’re out there, don’t worry. You are the champion of the irrelevant loonies who visit MDE. You are a champion, and nobody can ever take that away from you.
May 4th, 2008 at 9:30 am
Go with that Rash Disptick. It works, in your widestanced world.
May 4th, 2008 at 9:39 am
Getting back to the subject of the post (and off of attacking Eva) I have to agree with J.Ewing and with Swiftee. You were at the 2nd Republican Convention, Michael, where we debated whether we were going to allow ANYONE to video tape the convention or not. After a fairly lengthy debate, it was decided by the floor not to allow anyone to video tape the event with the exception of our candidates. So no convention delegate or guest was allowed to video tape the event. Because it was an “invitation only” event, that was perfectly acceptable. If the 2nd CD DFL rules said that all attendees and guests had to sign in and the Republican Party tracker refused to abide by the rules, then as an INVITATION ONLY affair, the 2nd CD DFL Convention was well within their rights to refuse to admit the tracker….
LL
May 4th, 2008 at 11:33 am
Too bad the liberal blogs don’t allow this type of discussion to take place. They couldn’t handle the feedback from their usual supporters. At least freedom of speech and in most cases a reasonable discussion of issues can still be found here at times.
May 4th, 2008 at 11:49 am
Cash and Carey says:
Eva, you are really a big fat idiot. Since the MSM you mentioned has shown they regulary slime the repubs, by your own logic, they should be banned from the Republican Party proceedings.
EY: Actually this whole “liberal media” canard is way overblown. Al Franken gets mostly bad press from the mainstream media. He only gets good press from liberal opinion media/blog like Minnesota Monitor.
Cash:
You are a typical anti-conservative, Christian-hater, who can take bigotry back to your hate Bachmann site.
EY: Disagreeing with Michele Bachmann does not translate into “Christian-hater”. I don’t like theocrats – of any variety – muslim theocrats, christian theocrats – any theocrats. From Michele Bachmann’s record and statements, I do consider her a theocrat. I happen to think Bachmann’s creationism pushing, anti-gay obsessed version of christianity isn’t mainstream. The Dump Bachmann blog has documented Michele Bachmann’s speeches, media appearances, and antics (such as when she laid a liplock on President Bush during the State of the Union – totally against protocol.)
I’m curious Cash – what you think of Mac Hammond’s “Prosperity Gospel” – how is any of that Christian? During holy week, we checked out the Living Word Christian Center site – any typical holy week activitities – Maundy Thursday for example – no, but Mac Hammond was giving a speech about increasing wealth. How is this spreading the gospel?
May 4th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
So now Eva disavows scabrous video-editing and context-mangling Photoshopping?
Ken “Avidor” Weiner will be so disappointed!
May 4th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
Mitch hits it out of the park.
Ken Weiner is the exact goof that came to my mind when this issue arose.
If you decide to have an open door policy, you’re going to have to admit burned out sewer dwellers like Weiner and obsessed stalkers like Eva and her DumpsterDivers.
If you decide to draw limits on just how low you’re willing to lower the bar, you’re going to be criticized any way you cut it.
Political party functions are private affairs that are open to the public, at the discretion of the party.
Considering the mentally deranged, often violent mob of losers and reprobates that populate the ranks of today’s left, using that discretion liberally doesn’t signal secrecy or deception, it signals good sense.
May 4th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
Sheeple;
I sure do enjoy showing MDE to independent/moderate/undecided voters, they get to read first hand how far right and full of hate the base of the MNGOP has become.
Keep up the good work.
That’ll do Sheeple that’ll do
May 4th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
MBB: “If you’re keeping score at home, this is the third black eye for the Minnesota DFL.”
+++++++++
Perhaps too much listening to the American alternative rock band, 3eb (Third Eye Blind) for you – while you’re sitting at “the kitchen table in his tranquil suburban neighborhood,…”
May 4th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
So how does that work, HCDFL?
How do you get all of those independent/moderate/undecided voters into your refridgerator box condo to sniff out Republican hatred on the web with you?
Do you put out a little trail of M&M’s to lure them in close then throw a blanket over them and drag them in?
I’m sure you’ve got a fascinating story line floating around in that perfect vacuum you call a brain pan…do share, won’t you?
May 4th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
With Norm Coleman’s help, George W. Bush’s blunders have killed over 4000 Americans, we’ve p-issed away trillions of dollars, the national debt has doubled under his administration, countless people are losing their homes, fuel costs have doubled and on their way to triple what they were since Bush took office, food shortages have appeared in the last few months, wages aren’t keeping up with inflation, and with Norm Coleman’s enthusiastic help the Republicans and George W. Bush are well on their way to delivering The Great Depression II … and the list goes on.
Al Qaeda hasn’t damaged us to the degree George W. Bush, Norm Coleman and the Republican leaders in Congress have damaged us.
John McCain as Republican nominee offers more of the same in the form of George W. Bush’s third term. How do you think that’s going to work out for him? He may as well use “Heckuva Job, Bushie” as his campaign
May 4th, 2008 at 5:04 pm
Franken has both Reagan Democrats and moderate, liberal, anti-war Republicans in the bag, huh?
I don’t think so. He hasn’t made a dent. He goes to the house parties of the “in” crowd. He may as well be driving around St. Paul all day in his car with Franken signs in his windows. We have yet to hear any substantial policy positions.
May 4th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
No, Mr Berg, you misread what I wrote.
Also stalking is not writing things critical of a politician, and attending events where that politician might be. If that was the case, you could say that Michael Brodkorb “stalks” Al Franken. That’s not the case. Brodkorb reports on Al Franken, and spins things negatively. And he’s good at it. I – and others at Dump Bachmann have done similar with Michele Bachmann.
May 4th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
So, to summarize, a tracker following a candidate from another race does not register as required by the convention, and is asked to stop. He does briefly, and then starts up again.
And Michael is confused why he was asked to leave.
Seems to me the desperation of the repubicants to harass Al Franken every moment he is out of his home proves that Norm has every intention to let Michael do all the talking this fall, as he tries to avoid the public where he may be asked to *GASP* defend his record as Senator.
May 4th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
Swiftee;
I phone bank, visit with my neighbors, attend community events, walk in parades, door knock, e-mail, and when talk shifts to the elections I suggest they visit this web site.
If I have my laptop with I show it to them on the spot.
The reactions are priceless.
Keep it coming
This how a typical MDE thread goes.
1) repeat Ron, Michael, or Norm’s talking points
2) belittle a comment you don’t agree with, but don’t respond with fact
3) blame the Democrats and call them names, but don’t respond with fact
4) use personal insults, but don’t respond with fact
5) and if Tommy is posting we get to hear all about his time in the service and the VFW, but don’t respond with fact.
That’ll do Sheeple that’ll do
May 4th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
FrankenToast,
I think that FrankenFrenchToast sounds a tad classier.
ColemanCrepes sounds tad classier than ColemanCornstarch.
May 4th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
HCDFL said: “I … walk in parades…”
Cleaning up after the mounted patrol doesn’t really constitute “walking in parades.” Though, it will give you a pretty good view of the brains of the DFL leadership.
May 4th, 2008 at 9:34 pm
Some folks refer to this website, as the premier website in Minnesota?
The clean up is done in motorized carts; there is no walking.
Most candidates, and their workers do not perform horse clean-up [manure] duty in parades.
In the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul it could be a position under a contract that is bargained collectively.
May 4th, 2008 at 11:33 pm
Chestnut,
way to prove HCDFL’s point, you probably didn’t read past the first line, but he pretty much called you out, and your next response just backed up his claim.
now that is priceless…..
May 5th, 2008 at 12:48 am
Yoni, is Franken going to move his fat butt over and let a viable candidate run, or not? Because 51% of Minnesotans think he should.
May 5th, 2008 at 5:52 am
Yoni, you have got to be kidding. HCDFL cites facts about as much as Tommy does.
I’ve actually got a pretty fair rep here for destroying liberal arguments with facts… a few of yours included.
Don’t you have some anti-Semitic rally to plan? I mean, Hammas really needs your support right now. They want you to volunteer some more time for Obama.
May 5th, 2008 at 7:17 am
Chestnut
Just because you don’t agree with what I post, it doesn’t make the facts any less true.
Thank you for continuing to prove just how far right, and hateful the MNGOP has become.
That’ll do Sheeple that’ll do
May 5th, 2008 at 7:34 am
HCDFL, please cite any time you have ever made a fact-based statement, supported by a source. You’re a reflection of your own criticism. You pop on here, make wild, uninformed and wholly inaccurate statements, and then pretend that you’ve stated a fact.
If you cited “fact” then one could make a judgment as to whether the facts are true. You post opinion. And your opinion ain’t worth shit.
May 6th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
Chestnut,
According to your post #28, my post #29, and now your post #30, the worth/clean-up appear to be of considerable expense.
Is this the Mudhens vs the Mudhens or what?
People in the MINNESOTA MIDDLE Might be better off with MIKE [Ciresi].
May 6th, 2008 at 10:02 pm
Ummm… Did the original post refer to someone using a video camera to tape something? As in “taping”? Because “tapping” is what a blind guy does with his cane… Which is how most Republicans search for the truth… I’m just sayin’…