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Reporters Fire Back After Ocasio-Cortez Defends Barring Press From Town Hall So People Would Feel Safeby Joe DePaolo | Aug 17th, 2018, 5:23 pm
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez the New York-based Congressional nominee poised to make history this November by becoming the youngest woman ever elected to the House has come under fire for barring the media from a public town hall this past Sunday. Now, her defense has prompted even more head-scratching from critics.
The political wunderkind, who has gained national notoriety for her stunning primary win over longtime Rep. Joe Crowley (D-NY), took to Twitter Friday afternoon to say that she wanted to provide a forum for local residents to feel safe discussing sensitive issues in a threatening political time.
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But the comments drew even more flak from a number of prominent reporters:
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https://www.mediaite.com/online/reporters-fire-back-after-ocasio-cortez-defends-barring-press-from-town-hall-so-people-would-feel-safe/
msongs
(67,462 posts)NCTraveler
(30,481 posts)But I can understand where she is coming from in her response.
mythology
(9,527 posts)It sort of makes sense until you realize the press would protect the identities.
DeltaLitProf
(770 posts)Just asking.
pnwmom
(109,009 posts)She allowed anyone in except reporters.
gratuitous
(82,849 posts)The media can defend their prerogatives after all, and demand that they get access. After watching their supine behavior toward the administration over the last year and a half, including the passive acceptance of a President who has held exactly one press conference during his term, I thought the media had just acquiesced to being told what they can and cannot cover.
But they've found their voice at last, and directed their ire at Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Can we look forward to this same assertiveness in their relations with the White House? Or is their dudgeon reserved only for Democratic candidates because the White House is too scary?
JCanete
(5,272 posts)Tiggeroshii
(11,088 posts)They suddenly grow a spine when it comes to a non elected democrat who banned the press from one event, but somehow are helpless when it comes to the scary orange buffoon threatening them on a daily basis and trying on a daily basis to throw them in jail for doing their jobs??
Sophia4
(3,515 posts)Do they demand to be invited when politicians speak to businesses like Goldman Sachs?
I don't think so. Some meetings are open to the press, and some are not.
R B Garr
(16,994 posts)Or only Hillary?? Only Hillary was transparent about her taxes. Neither Trump, Bernie or Stein showed their taxes.
That whole canard about Goldman Sachs being equal to a politicians townhalls while they are running for office is absurd. Were the press invited into the million dollar contract negotiations that Bernie had with his book publisher?? Some of the superficial analogies are meaningless.
Fullduplexxx
(7,872 posts)brush
(53,924 posts)of course the press, right wing press included is going to report it.
It's called The First Admendment. Some here are writing and acting like it's non-existent.
gratuitous
(82,849 posts)But Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is not Congress. Holding one campaign appearance without the media is not an abridgment of anyone's rights under the First Amendment.
If the media are really interested in covering her campaign, they can come to the next rally. She closed this one because she's talking with some incredibly vulnerable people who are being kidnapped and tortured by the government, and the media have demonstrated that they can't be trusted to protect them. But for those who are distressed by this horrible breach on media etiquette (replicated several times every month by President Trump at his "campaign rallies," who is an actual elected official, not just a candidate like Ocasio-Cortez), then by all means volunteer, donate, canvass, and vote for Anthony Pappas.
brush
(53,924 posts)No excuses.
It was mishandled not to make it private. Hope the experience they gained helps them once they get to DC because if they can't handle a little. local paper I can't imagine the horrible press they will get in Washington.
It's called the First Amendment.
gratuitous
(82,849 posts)Let's review. The First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America says, and I quote:
The key first word is "Congress." The First Amendment pertains to Congress passing laws. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, as I said, is not Congress. That is, the First Amendment does not apply to her as a private citizen should she decide not to talk to the media, or allow them into the hall that she has rented. If you think she's made a mistake excluding untrustworthy folks from her rally, fine. But it has nothing to do with the First Amendment.
brush
(53,924 posts)Ok, then. So it's all right for soon-to-be Democratic office holders to abridge the freedom of the press from public events because said office holders were too inexperienced to make it a private event?
Such nice PR and transparency in the trump the-press is the enemy of the people era.
Gotcha.
gratuitous
(82,849 posts)I quote the First Amendment verbatim, and you somehow extend that to a candidate for public office? That is a nitwit argument that I would find wanting from the worst - the absolute worst - from Fox or Alex Jones. The First Amendment does indeed refer solely to Congress, not to private citizens, even those running for public office. If you are having difficulty with that, well, I really don't know what to say. Where in the text of the First Amendment do you find it applying to private citizens, even if they are a candidate for public office? Because I'm here to tell you that it doesn't, and you're making a specious argument.
brush
(53,924 posts)from a public meeting by a soon-to-be Democratic office holder.
It's not that complicated. She's smart. She'll learn. As for others, we'll see if they continue trying but failing to justify it.
Sophia4
(3,515 posts)There is nothing wrong with that.
Freedom of speech, the press and assembly do not require that all meetings be open to the general public.
This has nothing to do with the First Amendment. Not all meetings that politicians hold are open to the press and the public. Think of meetings politicians hold with their donors. They don't have to allow the press to attend.
brush
(53,924 posts)of the press.
pnwmom
(109,009 posts)That includes the press, which is both part of the public and stands in the the public that can't attend.
pnwmom
(109,009 posts)and stands in for the public.
If she wants a private meeting with supporters, that's how she should bill it. Let people know from the outset who is included and who isn't.
Can you give examples of how the media has demonstrated they can't be trusted to protect identities?
gratuitous
(82,849 posts)The media isn't to be trusted with protecting the identities of vulnerable persons? Truly?
There are just too many examples to list, but let's just go with anyone in the last 30 days who has been tased or arrested or incarcerated or being beaten to a pulp for being insufficiently compliant with the orders of an out-of-control cop. After that, if it's not enough, how about anyone who has accused a rich, powerful, well-connected white man of sexual harassment? Or an applicant for asylum or refugee status whose family has been torn apart by ICE?
Have you really been paying that little attention to the media?
pnwmom
(109,009 posts)fallout87
(819 posts)But shes one the democratic primary and will most likely be in Congress after the midterms. Explain to us how the press is a threat to the vulnerable people at the town event? There have been countless town halls such as this WITH press and they went off without incident.
Sophia4
(3,515 posts)So why should they necessarily invite the press when they speak to groups of constituents?
I don't understand the fuss.
mythology
(9,527 posts)The press has been overwhelmingly negative about the Trump administration. It's just an objectively false claim to claim otherwise.
https://www.npr.org/2017/10/02/555092743/study-news-coverage-of-trump-more-negative-than-for-other-presidents
Fully two-thirds of news stories about Trump from his first 60 days in office were negative by that definition more than twice the negativity seen in stories from the first 60 days of Bill Clinton, George W. Bush or Barack Obama's presidencies.
Devil Child
(2,728 posts)brush
(53,924 posts)You never want to be known as a politician who bans the press.
Older Than I Look
(95 posts)You know, the people that actually know what they're doing.
brush
(53,924 posts)Older Than I Look
(95 posts)brush
(53,924 posts)Autumn
(45,120 posts)It was a dumb thing for a Democrat to do.
Hekate
(90,865 posts)Autumn
(45,120 posts)joshcryer
(62,277 posts)DeltaLitProf
(770 posts). . . but maybe you saw a statement from her I didn't see. If so, show it to us.
joshcryer
(62,277 posts)But it enables it from people who like to make such patently ugly arguments. Merely bringing up peoples safety in regards to the media allows bad actors to continue demonizing the media.
Cal Carpenter
(4,959 posts)Unreal. I almost typed 'unbelievable', but that would be a lie. Knee jerk crap is all there is anymore.
This is happening for one event and she has what looks to me like a very legitimate reason for not inviting the press. Can anyone just slow down enough to listen to her reasons and see that they might actually be good? That it may be about her constituents and not some fucking political game?
Or is it better for people to take the situation out of context and turn it into a reason to slam someone who they disagree with?
I don't care where anyone stands in terms of this candidate, this particular outrage is blown out of proportion and it is bullshit.
NCTraveler
(30,481 posts)Its also far that in her short career as a campaigner after her primary win she sets herself up for these things. Im still confident she is going to learn quickly. She isnt someone who just wants to yell at walls, in my opinion.
lapucelle
(18,361 posts)The local press was barred from two of them. That's the context. Of course the local press is upset at being shut out. And of course they are going to cover the story.
http://www.qchron.com/opinion/editorial/aoc-must-deal-with-press/article_882eed8d-4056-5f74-88ca-f5e7185717b5.html
brush
(53,924 posts)Democrats should never put themselves in a position to favor banning the press.
NO EXCUSES. One event or not.
It was mishandled and I hope they learned their lesson.
If a campaign can't handle a small, local paper, not even a major daily, look out when they get to Washington with reporters roaming the halls of Congress constantly.
pnwmom
(109,009 posts)and now a Democratic candidate for Congress who claims that the event is open to the "public" and the press isn't part of the public.
Not good.
JCanete
(5,272 posts)It could absolutely do that and some "news" organizations are in the business of demonizing people and outing them...etc.
That doesn't mean I think this was a smart political move, nor that I think the press isn't vital for American democracy, but we don't need to be naïve about it.
Hekate
(90,865 posts)Democrats and progressives should be on the side of freedom of the press and transparency or give up and join Trump.
brush
(53,924 posts)NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)Was it an ego based mistake? Or something else?
Cha
(297,799 posts)she wanted us to believe.
Aloha Friday, Jackie
NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)If she's tired of having her mistakes and missteps documented and called-out, then she should stop making mistakes (or at least ADMIT when she's made a mistake and LEARN from the mistakes she's made.) But that would require swallowing one's pride and being humble. I'm sure she can do that.
Cha
(297,799 posts)move the fuck on.
Don't Ban the Press. Bad example.
tonedevil
(3,022 posts)aren't you just too cute by half.
Hekate
(90,865 posts)It's a steep learning curve. She will either learn the ropes or she won't. Best of luck to her this November, because we need that House seat, and it is not all about her.
I've participated in putting on many town halls and public Commission meetings. The protocol is: if you need the whole thing to be done without the press there, don't call it a town hall. Be honest about your motives (ie "We are talking with sexual assault survivors and would appreciate privacy this time." ) If the Commission (or Board of Supervisors) needs part of the Agenda to be private, make sure that is written in the Agenda. Then open the doors after that bit is done.
Otherwise people will wonder what's going on, and you end up with revealed recordings like Romney and Nunes got.
The press is not the enemy of the Democratic Party. I can't speak for the rest of the political universe.
tonedevil
(3,022 posts)Last edited Sat Aug 18, 2018, 03:31 PM - Edit history (1)
is an insult to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and any Democrat who considers themselves on the left. As someone who registered as a Democrat in 1974 to vote for Governor Jerry Brown and has voted straight Democratic ticket since then while always identifying as on the left, I don't appreciate your tone.
Hekate
(90,865 posts)tonedevil
(3,022 posts)but at least you were able to use it to get another dig in on me.
Hekate
(90,865 posts)tonedevil
(3,022 posts)Hekate
(90,865 posts)I await your words of wisdom -- but you should be careful who you call "Darling" as hearts may be broken.
tonedevil
(3,022 posts)a post using my phone, something goes wacky almost every time. Sorry for the misunderstanding.
brush
(53,924 posts)brush
(53,924 posts)SkyDancer
(561 posts)Hekate
(90,865 posts)Who let us know about the secret fundraiser Devin Nunes just held?
Let me think...let me think...
Oh, I know -- the Fake News!
SkyDancer, do not fling around gratuitous insults at me or anyone else on DU.
SkyDancer
(561 posts)all that? Whistleblowers.
OMG imagine! People speaking out! Meanwhile the press is being used by Trump to round up people.
Hekate, do not try to DUsplain to me exactly what you did calling AOC the "darling of the left".
Hekate
(90,865 posts)... "The press is being used by Trump to round up people." Links and details, please.
Wwcd
(6,288 posts)Eeewwww!
Hekate
(90,865 posts)..."mansplaining," which is condescending "explaining" that men do to women, or "whitesplaining," which is "explaining" that white people do to black people.
Which is weird, because it's almost like SkyDancer feels I'm a DUer and s/he isn't. But that can't be right.
Wwcd
(6,288 posts)WOW!
Hard to just brush that off one's shoulder when it's directed at you.
Jeezus...!
wellst0nev0ter
(7,509 posts)The reporters, that is.
Not every meeting with constituents needs media coverage, and the presence of the press CAN create a chilling effect on those who do not want publicity.
If the media wants transparency, they can start with Agent Orange in the White House, whose closed-door meetings are more pernicious.
Cha
(297,799 posts)"It won't happen again"?
"Oh, those preening fucks".. are the free press.
wellst0nev0ter
(7,509 posts)SkyDancer
(561 posts)USALiberal
(10,877 posts)If a GOPer did this we would rip them! So funny how we can hold a double standard too.
wellst0nev0ter
(7,509 posts)It becomes a problem when its with power brokers.
Jake Stern
(3,145 posts)For President Cheeto and Pinocchio Fuckabee Sanders I'll be glad to hear what they got to say about AOC.
Jeeesus I thought Dems were for safe spaces.
Cha
(297,799 posts)for a Dem to ban them from a public event.
RelativelyJones
(898 posts)What is up with that kind of talk?
JonAndKatePlusABird
(315 posts)Who is gonna be most upset at MSNBC over this unforgivable faux-pas?
I'm gonna guess Steve Kornackie, Kacie Hunt, and Chuck Todd. But didja know Ari interviewed Steve Bannon??? Priorities
Hekate
(90,865 posts)It's always interesting to get a feeling for how people form their opinions.
comradebillyboy
(10,178 posts)rookie mistakes. But she's young and in a safe district so she has time to learn from her mistakes and fix her problems.
pnwmom
(109,009 posts)Alexandria has a great deal to learn. Coming of age in the era of Trump seems to have left her with some misunderstandings.
Cha
(297,799 posts)Last edited Sat Aug 18, 2018, 04:39 AM - Edit history (1)
Link to tweet
And, AOC's campaign said.. "It Won't Happen Again".
AlexSFCA
(6,139 posts)Hekate
(90,865 posts)Why do you think Trump has been screaming at the news media in his rallies, singling individuals out by name, singling out individual news organizations?
It isn't because they flatter him. It's because they dare to ask questions and fact-check him.
As a whole the media certainly made some mistakes early on, but I distinctly remember Rachel Maddow giving us all a heads-up months and months and months ago about Ukrainian financial papers with Manafort's name all over them that had been tossed in a pond at some dacha. When he first surfaced as Trump's campaign manager? She had a LOT of questions. Sorry if all the details aren't on the tips of my fingers, but by gods when he got arrested a lot of already-familiar details emerged. Not everybody is Joe and Mika.
The media (print and cable) made the mistake of thinking Trump was an entertainer who couldn't win. Then they made the mistake of thinking he would "rise to the office," and "grow into the office." Even the ones who were not asleep at the wheel initially made that mistake -- except for the people who have been my go-to sources all along.
Now they are really awake, with a job to do. What else do you call it when some 400 newspapers put out First Amendment editorials on the same day?
JCanete
(5,272 posts)public, not feed us pap and dog and pony shows. They are the News. They did a horrid job and that's not the only thing they've done horridly over the years. And seriously, anybody who made the mistake that this man was going to rise to the office and grow in the office has no business being in journalism. What would they have based such an absurd notion on? What did he show us that would have warranted that interpretation?
None of that changes how important they are or how the sanctity of the Press should be respected, but sadly, corporate media doesn't exactly produce an independent press.
I do think whatever the intentions, Cortez and her advisers should have thought this one through in the wake of Trumps war on truth, but I'm not going to elevate our American press to sainthood simply because they(and WE) are in jeapardy of our 4th estate being dismantled by our President. They own that too. In sooo many ways they own that and it hardly started with Trump.
Bottom line: I can fear for the loss of our shitty journalism and still believe its mostly shitty.
robbedvoter
(28,290 posts)It's not just guys who become divas!
gulliver
(13,197 posts)She is very talented, but she shouldn't be sucking up all of the oxygen on the left. We need to stop being lazy and "star hungry," and we need to stop fixating on her. That plays into the hands of the right.
yardwork
(61,715 posts)What the hell is wrong with people defending this.
dgauss
(883 posts)How is it that DU, with rules about supporting democrats, is more negative about this particular democrat than a sampling of responses on various twitter feeds?
pangaia
(24,324 posts)SkyDancer
(561 posts)Link to tweet
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After talking to The Seattle Times about his girlfriends arrest by immigration officials, a Pacific County man was detained himself. He said an agent told him it was because of what had been written.
A man who recounted his longtime girlfriends arrest in a Seattle Times story about ramped-up immigration enforcement in Pacific County last month has now been detained, and says U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents told him the arrest was because he was in the newspaper.
Baltazar Rosas Aburto Gutierrez, speaking by phone from the Northwest Detention Center, where he is being held, said he got off work about 4?a.m. Monday he harvests clams around Willapa Bay went back to his Ocean Park home and, a few hours later, headed to Okies Thriftway Market for coffee and eggs.
An SUV blocked his path into the parking lot, he said. An ICE agent got out and approached his car.
You are Rosas, the agent said, according to Aburto Gutierrez. You are the one from the newspaper.
More
Now that being said, this is what AOC was trying to do; protect the most vulnerable who are too afraid to speak and too afraid to have a voice. AOC has said before the community she represents has a very high amount of undocumented immigrants. Are people forgetting what is happening right now in this country with immigration and how Trump is using ICE to pout kids in cages? Seriously? It was just a few weeks ago that was the top news story.
The press this! The press that! The press is being used by Trump to round people up. Think about that for a second.Immigration activists are being targeted left and right who are in the news and give interviews ( See The 20+ Immigration Activists Arrested Under Trump )
Why should AOC risk the safety of her constituents? I for one am glad she isn't.
Why is it so difficult for some to understand what AOC was doing? Her tweets above spell it out quite clearly yet I see some not getting it. It's sad, it's depressing and it makes me wonder if some simply can't stand the fact that she was endorsed by Bernie and because of that can't stand her and can't see through their own hate of Bernie to see what she was doing.
Yup, I'm going with that.
Nanjeanne
(5,003 posts)R B Garr
(16,994 posts)things.
Its not hard to remember the false attacks on Democrats and the accusations about lack of transparency. I just heard the recording of Bernie on Colbert saying my party has to quit being the party of the 1% and that is not true. That is simply self-promoting propaganda. Our Revolution berated our nominee/party with nasty insinuations about speeches and transparency, and we see the press being banned. Still no taxes. Its the hypocrisy and double standards.
Please quit with the RW attacks on Democrats. Read the Mueller indictments and who was attacked and why. The Russians are loved by the GOP for helping attack Democrats. Our Revolution needs to quit contributing to the GOPs war on Democrats.