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*** UPDATED x1 *** Rodney Davis operative poses as reporter while Davis freezes out largest TV station in his district

Thursday, Jul 25, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Mark Maxwell

On Wednesday, July 17th, [congressional candidate Betsy Dirksen Londrigan] held a joint press conference call with a campaign finance reform group called End Citizens United. The campaign sent invitations to local media and asked them to RSVP.

WCIA has learned an unpaid volunteer working on behalf of the [US Rep. Rodney Davis] campaign crashed the call, lied about his name to pose as reporter for a college newspaper, and ambushed Dirksen Londrigan with pointed arguments, including jabs at her husband’s career.

The caller identified himself as Jim Sherman with The Alestle, the SIUE student newspaper.

* But

According to a call log provided to WCIA, the phone number used to dial into the conference call matched the cell phone number for Nick Klitzing, the former Executive Director of the Illinois Republican Party who most recently worked as the deputy campaign manager for former Governor Bruce Rauner.

Reached by phone, Klitzing confessed to committing the hoax and said, “I was willing to help. I’m just a volunteer.”

Falsely identifying yourself as a reporter is not only highly unethical, it’s also an amateur move and truly stupid.

* The Davis campaign stonewalled

Confronted with the established facts of the story and Klitzing’s confession, Davis’ campaign manager Matt Butcher initially tried to deny having any knowledge about the phone call.

WCIA gave Butcher another 24 hours to explain how an unpaid volunteer living in Chicago could have possibly been aware of a closed press call happening downstate, and how that volunteer might have known to parrot Congressman Davis’ talking points. Yet, Butcher still declined comment.

* Now, scroll almost all the way down

It’s unclear if Congressman Davis has any knowledge of the hoax phone call his campaign commissioned, or if he’s aware of WCIA’s persistent efforts to seek any comment or explanation from his campaign manager. His staff has taken the unusual step of repeatedly ignoring phone calls, text messages and emails from WCIA’s political reporters, and no longer sends press releases or notices of media availability to WCIA’s political staff, despite frequent requests to include them in media releases.

I reached out to Maxwell to ask if his station was just being iced out by the campaign or if the government side was also stonewalling. He said both sides had cut the station off.

So, the congressman is refusing to communicate in any way with the largest TV station in his district.

Really smart.

*** UPDATE *** Clarification…



       

92 Comments
  1. - Nick - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 9:38 am:

    This is the same guy who just yesterday was complaining again about ‘civility’ in politics. And surprise surprise it’s his campaign, again, playing around in the mud.

    It would be more sad if it also weren’t just unbelievably incompetent.


  2. - Honeybear - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 9:40 am:

    This is exactly why Raunerites need to be removed from high positions in state government.

    Rauner and his minions
    are perfidy itself


  3. - Rich Miller - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 9:43 am:

    ===if it also weren’t just unbelievably incompetent===

    Yep. I mean, as an example, Nick used his own phone? A number that every political reporter has?


  4. - please - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 9:43 am:

    ==This is exactly why Raunerites need to be removed from high positions in state government.

    Rauner and his minions
    are perfidy itself==

    Don’t lump all Raunerites in with the B squad.


  5. - Former Downstater - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 9:45 am:

    ==Don’t lump all Raunerites in with the B squad.==

    Haven’t they all proven to be B squaders, at best?


  6. - ItsMillerTime - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 9:45 am:

    From the campaign that brought you “drunk field director assaulting people at a fundraiser” last year comes “sending an intern to pretend to be a reporter to harass your opponent”.

    Are we really supposed to believe that this was another lone wolf thing after what happened last year? It seems like the modus operandi of the Davis campaign is harassing Betsy till she drops out. No wonder she doesn’t like him.


  7. - Vern - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 9:45 am:

    Class act by Klitzing. /s

    The Raunerites are still running the GOP in IL without any money. They are going nowhere fast with them.


  8. - Joe Bidenopolous - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 9:47 am:

    ===Don’t lump all Raunerites in with the B squad.===

    LOL, which ones are the A squad? The folks who couldn’t pass a budget or the ones who lost an election?


  9. - lakeside - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 9:49 am:

    The problem is this is so wrong to do, but also so inside baseball that it’s impossible to punish. Davis can keep going on and on about ‘civility’ while his campaign does low garbage like this.


  10. - Generic Drone - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 9:49 am:

    Hopefully the end is neigh for Davis.


  11. - Ron Burgundy - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 9:53 am:

    This is dumb on so many levels. Grow up and talk to the media.


  12. - Candy Dogood - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 9:54 am:

    ===former Executive Director of the Illinois Republican Party who most recently worked as the deputy campaign manager for former Governor Bruce Rauner.===

    “Volunteer.” If this guy gets to be a volunteer, then maybe those Russian troops in Ukraine really are just on vacation.


  13. - Nova - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 9:56 am:

    Rodney: With friends like Klitzing and Levi Lovell, who needs enemies? You can tell a lot about a person by the company they keep.


  14. - Ducky LaMoore - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 9:58 am:

    Okay, so cutting off the campaign is petty and weird. But as a congressman, to cut off people from the business you are supposedly conducting, just plain unbelievable.


  15. - XDNR - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 9:59 am:

    BTIA® continues to outdo itself post Rauner.


  16. - Dotnonymous - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 10:00 am:

    I smell swamp gas…it’s stinky.


  17. - Anon221 - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 10:00 am:

    Davis owns this. And he owned this…

    https://www.sj-r.com/news/20180816/davis-staffer-arrested-after-altercation-at-londrigan-fundraiser

    Time.To.Vote.Him.Out.

    I’m sick and tired of Davis’ games and votes. Hopefully it will be 3% in Betsy’s favor next time.


  18. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 10:00 am:

    Matt Butcher is better than this.

    Raunerites continue to ruin the party, and infect campaigns and the party.

    It’s embarrassing.

    Who #%^$& cares in July of the year before?

    It’s bush league ignorance to campaign stylings.

    You *must* be able to be trusted. You *can’t* ice out the press for telling the truth.


  19. - Nick Name - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 10:03 am:

    Is this a step up or a step down from a year ago when a Davis staffer crashed a Dirksen Londrigan fundraiser, got drunk, and tried to pick a fight?

    Hard to tell.


  20. - NotAnonymous - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 10:04 am:

    What was the campaign expecting to accomplish by this?


  21. - Lester Holt’s Mustache - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 10:05 am:

    ==Davis can keep going on and on about ‘civility’ while his campaign does low garbage like this.==

    Not sure why he bothers with the civility talk, his voters cheer for what you refer to as “low garbage” actions. Harassing Dirksen-Londrigan probably gets him more votes instead of less


  22. - Donald Segretti - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 10:07 am:

    Kids today.


  23. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 10:08 am:

    Oh. This is delicious.

    ===Reached by phone, Klitzing confessed to committing the hoax and said, “I was willing to help. I’m just a volunteer.”===

    Typical Raunerite. Throw *anyone* under the bus.

    It’s pathetic, even with the left-handed admitting.

    Children admit like that.

    “I did it, but Sally and Jimmy said so, i was just helpin’ them”

    Again. Lesson.

    You hire a Raunerite flunky who is capable of this, that’s on y’all.

    And realize, they aren’t stand up folks, they’ll take you down even if it means they themselves look even more foolish.


  24. - Nick Name - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 10:10 am:

    Still fifteen months to go before the election. Ugh.


  25. - Nick - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 10:18 am:

    ==What was the campaign expecting to accomplish by this?==

    Usually the idea I think would be to have someone listen in on the call to pick up any awkward audio or gaffe so as to later use for oppo. As for why they would have someone pose as a journalist to ask questions, even with the risk of discovery, I don’t know. The Davis campaign seems desperate to gin up controversy about her husband, so whatever idiot(s) thought this up apparently decided to prod it along themselves in the most incompetent manner possible.


  26. - Fixer - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 10:19 am:

    It’s too early (both in the election cycle and the day) for this kind of stuff. Rodney, get your kid interns there under control.


  27. - Gohawks123 - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 10:21 am:

    I mean what’s next? How far are you willing to go Rodney. 15 months till 2020 and you’re already sweating.


  28. - Henry Francis - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 10:24 am:

    ==an unpaid volunteer living in Chicago==

    Rodney is getting help from a yankee up in Shee caw go?

    I get the phony media angle, it’s all fake news anyways so why not play that game.

    But Rodney’s campaign bringing non-downstaters into the campaign? Isn’t that what he was just complaining about with Londrigan’s campaign?


  29. - Dotnonymous - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 10:32 am:

    Did Davis know?

    Will he say?

    Will he ban other media from covering his campaign as well?


  30. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 10:32 am:

    ===Reached by phone, Klitzing confessed to committing the hoax and said, “I was willing to help. I’m just a volunteer.”===

    So… Klitzing is so good, he uses his own phone, ===living in Chicago===, you know, the “parachutists” that are ruining downstate values, and after quickly willing to admit after others easily figured out… but can’t help himself by playing a pasty to drag others down for his own stupidity, on any and every level you’d like to discuss.

    After the Raunerite does all that damage himself… the Crew then stonewalls?

    What does that accomplish?

    Y’all are siding with a Chicago Raunerite who turned on y’all, and blame the press for a bush leaguer and his litany of mistakes, including throwing others under the bus?

    That’s how this works?

    Matt Butcher is a good guy. This… volunteer… decided to implode things internally, and force a worse situation externally that the campaign decided to then escalate.

    For the love of Pete… fix this.


  31. - illini - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 10:38 am:

    Rodney has been around politics for a long time. Working for George Ryan and John Shimkus has taken him through many campaigns. One would think that he had learned the right way and the wrong ways to run a campaign.

    This is another amateur move on so many levels.


  32. - Token Conservative - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 10:44 am:

    Maxwell is a hack who is trying to play a “gotcha” game with Davis. This is a dumb move by the Davis folks, no doubt, but it’s hard to imagine why Davis and his people don’t want to deal with Maxwell.


  33. - Orange and Blue - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 10:45 am:

    The fish rots from the head.


  34. - Nick Name - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 10:47 am:

    ===it’s all fake news anyways so why not play that game.

    But Rodney’s campaign bringing non-downstaters into the campaign? Isn’t that what he was just complaining about with Londrigan’s campaign?===

    What do you mean by “it’s all fake news anyways”?

    Are you saying that Rodney’s only error was to not use a staffer from his district to commit fraud?


  35. - JS Mill - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 10:47 am:

    =Are we really supposed to believe that this was another lone wolf thing after what happened last year? It seems like the modus operandi of the Davis campaign is harassing Betsy till she drops out. No wonder she doesn’t like him.=

    Nope, this seems to be a habit or part of their plan.

    Pathetic.


  36. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 10:48 am:

    ===who is trying to play a “gotcha” game with Davis.===

    LOL

    The hack is the one who used an identifiable number. For starters, and tried to pass himself off as someone else.


  37. - Candy Dogood - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 10:50 am:

    ===“I was willing to help. I’m just a volunteer.”===

    His language choice there really does sugges


  38. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 10:50 am:

    ===it’s hard to imagine why Davis and his people don’t want to deal with Maxwell.===

    Stonewalling was not a great reaction.


  39. - Candy Dogood - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 10:50 am:

    st that he was asked (sorry)


  40. - Anonymous - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 10:51 am:

    Lol this is such a non-story.


  41. - Fixer - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 10:52 am:

    Token, so guess you’re suggesting that Mark should try the Davis campaign’s approach of what is essentially identity theft to get a copy of campaign stops? C’mon, please tell me you’re kidding.


  42. - Anonymous - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 10:53 am:

    Are we going to act like every campaing amongst both parties hasn’t done something along these lines.


  43. - Rich Miller - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 10:53 am:

    ===trying to play a “gotcha” game with Davis===

    What?

    Maxwell didn’t put up somebody to call into a press conference. Maxwell did his job. What’s yours?


  44. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 10:55 am:

    ===this is such a non-story.==

    A Chicagoan who parachuted in to be a phony caller that turned out to be a Raunerite that threw under the bus the campaign and the campaign decides that freezing folks out is the proper response… that non-story?

    Amateurs can ruin lots and lots of things.

    That’s the inside baseball story


  45. - Demoralized - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 10:55 am:

    ==this is such a non-story==

    Only to apologists.

    ==Are we going to act like every campaing amongst both parties hasn’t done something along these lines.==

    So that makes this right? Again, stop being an apologist.


  46. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 10:56 am:

    ===Are we going to act like every campaing amongst both parties hasn’t done something along these lines.===

    Are we first gonna pick a name next time before starting “whataboutism”?


  47. - LakeCo - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 10:57 am:

    =So, the congressman is refusing to communicate in any way with the largest TV station in his district=
    I mean, he already doesn’t communicate with his constituents, so I guess this isn’t a surprise.


  48. - illini - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 10:58 am:

    “Lol this is such a non-story.” Really?

    And get a name.


  49. - Honeybear - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 10:58 am:

    This is also Raunerite hubris on display
    The shear arrogance it takes to
    disassociate ones self from consequences
    The shear arrogance it takes to
    think you won’t get caught and to not take precautions.
    The shear arrogance it takes to not accept any responsibility EVER.

    These are Raunerite characteristics
    and characteristics of
    Those with extreme privilege

    Respectfully take note Gov. Pritzker
    This is a danger for
    BPIA™
    Arrogant private sector folks
    are very susceptible to this form of
    Afluenza

    Don’t let Raunerite hosts
    infect your workforce
    Don’t let your own hires
    infect your workforce

    Look for Arrogance, Reckless Disregard, and Unaccountability


  50. - Misstate Indy - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 11:04 am:

    Admitted false personment seems to be particularly unethical for an actively licensed attorney to be doing.


  51. - Dotnonymous - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 11:06 am:

    Who was operating this admitted operator?

    Only Davis knows?

    Is silence an answer?


  52. - IllinoisCitizen - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 11:09 am:

    I hope the campaign also apologizes to the student newspaper. They stole their identity and in a way, sullied both the paper and the University.


  53. - Dupage Bard - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 11:10 am:

    Your better off having good relationships with the press folks and just taking your hits when they come. Then maybe somewhere down the line you can get them to cover a feel good story for you when it’s a slow day.
    Also Maxwell used to grill up the Governor pretty good. When others would just take the sound byte canned answer the Gov gave, Maxwell would keep at him.


  54. - whyohwhy - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 11:10 am:

    So… for clarification Oswego… you know Butcher well enough to defend him twice and you don’t think this is something that reflects on his “leadership” abilities or foresight of problems that he might cause with decisions as pedestrian as these? I generally agree with your perspective… but Butcher was the “manager” when the fundraiser was crashed and when he put messaging on Davis’ twitter account that had to be pulled down and now this stunt… so no accountability for ineptitude then?


  55. - TominChicago - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 11:12 am:

    Rodney seems a little edgy about his reelection prospects.


  56. - DIstant watcher - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 11:21 am:

    How does the refusal to send press releases to bona fide media fit in the context of the recent court ruling on banning constituents on Twitter? Just wondering


  57. - Skeptic - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 11:23 am:

    “Lol this is such a non-story.” Is that Klitzing pretending to be a nobody?


  58. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 11:29 am:

    ===Is that Klitzing pretending to be a nobody?===

    - Skeptic -

    You forgot “again”…

    :)


  59. - Henry Francis - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 11:36 am:

    Nick Name, I figured a lot of Rodney’s voters buy in to the “fake news” narrative, so being a fake news person wouldn’t offend them so much. (Think James O’Keefe).

    What would really offend them though was anything from Chicago having anything to do with their neck of the woods.


  60. - Former Quigley Supporter - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 11:48 am:

    Being lost in all of this is WCIA’s fair coverage in their reporting of this issue in its online article, including bringing up the valid points raised by Davis’ campaign concerning the Londrigan campaign’s financing, so credit goes to WCIA’s coverage of the overarching issue which will be and should be covered as the campaign progresses, once this journalist impersonation story blows over.

    https://www.wcia.com/news/davis-campaign-volunteer-poses-as-reporter-to-ambush-dirksen-londrigan-press-call


  61. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 11:51 am:

    ===Being lost in all of this is WCIA’s fair coverage in their reporting of this issue in its online article, including bringing up the valid points raised by Davis’ campaign…===

    So, you see why amateurs shouldn’t be all engaged in campaigns, or in this case have Raunerites blow up something useful.


  62. - Michelle Flaherty - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 11:56 am:

    go make calls pretending to be Davis or his campaign and see how they react.


  63. - Steve Polite - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 12:53 pm:

    ==Don’t lump all Raunerites in with the B squad.==

    Because most of them are part of the F-Troop.


  64. - Da Lobsta - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 12:56 pm:

    Can’t wait to see this in a TV ad.


  65. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 12:58 pm:

    The worst combo is an IPI and Rauner alum.

    The bottom-feeding Raunerites now aren’t the BTIA(tm) first teamers.

    A great many you see that were Raunerites weren’t on the stage.

    They are desperate to be players now… and you get stuff like this

    ===Nick Klitzing, the former Executive Director of the Illinois Republican Party===

    For the love of Pete, man… you were the ED of the whole state party.

    What are you doing?


  66. - Michelle Flaherty - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 12:59 pm:

    I predict Davis will hire the ousted, disgraced Goodwill CEO to work his campaign.
    #trifecta


  67. - Tammy Merrett - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 2:14 pm:

    - IllinoisCitizen -

    I hope the campaign also apologizes to the student newspaper. They stole their identity and in a way, sullied both the paper and the University.

    I’m the program director for The Alestle, and I can tell you some blunt conversations are on my agenda for the rest of this week — with both campaigns and the television station.

    The Londrigan campaign should have vetted their call participants. Davis’ campaign’s offenses are well known at this point. And the TV station should have only referred to the newspaper as “an Illinois college newspaper,” so as to minimize damage for us — purely a victim here.

    I’m also not happy that the WCIA reporter carried off the agenda for revenge on the part of the Londrigan campaign. Yes, the story needs to be told and is newsworthy, but there was a better way to do it.


  68. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 2:17 pm:

    ===I’m also not happy that the WCIA reporter carried off the agenda for revenge on the part of the Londrigan campaign. Yes, the story needs to be told and is newsworthy, but there was a better way to do it.===

    Really? How?

    I’m trying to find fault with the reporting. Facts and all.


  69. - Dotnonymous - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 2:25 pm:

    . Yes, the story needs to be told and is newsworthy, but there was a better way to do it.

    Then…do it?


  70. - the old man - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 2:42 pm:

    I was in attendance 4 years ago at a private meeting where Congressman was to speak. As he was called to the microphone, a cameraman appeared, walked to the front of the room and began filming Congressman Davis. That cameraman was identified as a “tracker” hired by the democratic party to trail the Congressman and videotape every word and expression of the Congressman. Remember this was a private meeting held on private property. I later learned that the ‘tracker” had gained access to the private meeting by lying. So we are not all virgins here, let’s quit kidding ourselves about Illinois politics.


  71. - Rich Miller - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 2:43 pm:

    old man, it’s a legit criticism, but has nothing to do with the current campaign. Londrigan didn’t run 4 years ago.


  72. - Anonymous - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 2:51 pm:

    All respect to OW, this is the second time something like this happen under Matt Butchebas Davis’ campaign manager. It appears from the comments made by Klitzing that others were aware. No grace, no respect.


  73. - Tammy Merrett - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 2:59 pm:

    Tammy Merrett - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 2:14 pm:
    AMENDED–
    I can’t seem to delete this post or edit it. So, I want to update it after speaking to the reporter Mark Maxwell.

    I’m the program director for The Alestle, and I can tell you some blunt conversations are on my agenda for the rest of this week — with both campaigns.

    The Londrigan campaign should have vetted their call participants. Davis’ campaign’s offenses are well known at this point. And the TV station should have only referred to the newspaper as “an Illinois college newspaper,” so as to minimize damage for us — purely a victim here.

    Yes, the story needs to be told and is newsworthy, but The Alestle did not need to be a victim.

    And thanks to Mark Maxwell for the conversation.


  74. - Stumpy's bunker - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 3:20 pm:

    I remember the disturbing image of the combined Davis-Rauner campaign headquarters…and also note that this is the second toxic eruption from the Davis camp. What is the message being imparted by this campaign to cause such occurrences?


  75. - JIbba - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 3:25 pm:

    ==I can tell you some blunt conversations are on my agenda for the rest of this week — with both campaigns.===

    I’m hoping you will start with the Davis campaign, since they committed the actual offense. I’m finding it really hard to blame the Londrigan campaign for much, and it is odd for you to lead your list of criticism with them rather than Davis. The offense of failing to vet every caller is minor at best.


  76. - Former Quigley Supporter - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 3:32 pm:

    Could there be civil litigation coming from this event, given there was some possible damage done to the student newspaper and/or the university? Litigation would send a message.


  77. - Anonymous - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 3:56 pm:

    - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 2:17 pm:

    ===I’m also not happy that the WCIA reporter carried off the agenda for revenge on the part of the Londrigan campaign. Yes, the story needs to be told and is newsworthy, but there was a better way to do it.===

    Really? How? After talking to the reporter, which I should have done before posting, the Londrigan campaign did not contact him about the story. So, that’s my assumption that should not have been made. You know what they say about assumptions…

    I’m trying to find fault with the reporting. Facts and all.
    As I explained, the name of our newspaper didn’t need to be there, and problems that we are now dealing with and have to anticipate could have been somewhat foreseen.

    As a journalist for 30 years, I agree the story definitely needs to be told.

    - Dotnonymous - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 2:25 pm:

    . Yes, the story needs to be told and is newsworthy, but there was a better way to do it.

    Then… do it?
    Since we are part of the story, we can’t report on it, but we will be issuing a statement about how we were pulled into this through no fault of our own.


  78. - Tammy Merrett - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 3:59 pm:

    - JIbba - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 3:25 pm:

    ==I can tell you some blunt conversations are on my agenda for the rest of this week — with both campaigns.===

    I’m hoping you will start with the Davis campaign.
    Absolutely.

    The offense of failing to vet every caller is minor at best.
    Not really. They could have not hurt their own press call by having done that. They need to control their message as much as possible and need to vet who they are talking to.

    - Former Quigley Supporter - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 3:32 pm:

    Could there be civil litigation coming from this event, given there was some possible damage done to the student newspaper and/or the university? Litigation would send a message.

    Probably not unless we incur some sort of damages from it. Damage to the reputation of a free student newspaper would be hard to prove unless there was some specific action taken against the newspaper.


  79. - Michelle Flaherty - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 4:08 pm:

    Tammy Merrett,
    Was the Alestle staff invited to the conference call? And if so, was someone one this call?


  80. - Rich Miller - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 4:19 pm:

    ===The Londrigan campaign should have vetted their call participants===

    I’ve been on a lot of those sorts of calls and never once been “vetted.” Are you sure you’re a journalism person? Maybe I should vet you. lol


  81. - Fixer - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 4:30 pm:

    Tammy, with all due respect, you guys can cover this. Being part of the story doesn’t mean that you editorial section can’t discuss it, if you guys have one. Good luck with the conversations over the next few days.


  82. - Rich Miller - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 4:36 pm:

    ===And the TV station should have only referred to the newspaper as “an Illinois college newspaper,” so as to minimize damage for us — purely a victim here.===

    There’s no damage to you. Stop blaming reporters for doing their jobs well. Never thought I’d have to say that to a college newspaper advisor.


  83. - Rich Miller - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 4:37 pm:

    ===They need to control their message as much as possible and need to vet who they are talking to.===

    And now you’re a campaign adviser?


  84. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 4:40 pm:

    - Tammy Merrett -

    With respect… here’s the ball game, for me;

    ===After talking to the reporter, which I should have done before posting, the Londrigan campaign did not contact him about the story. So, that’s my assumption that should not have been made. You know what they say about assumptions…===

    … add to this continued to feel you’re an aggrieved party.

    Respectfully…

    It happened, it was reported on by a professional that understood the story, checked the facts, got a quote, and while you may feel upset things were overshadowed… breaking news in real time to a moment can do that.

    Oswego Willy


  85. - Dotnonymous - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 5:00 pm:

    Since we are part of the story, we can’t report on it, but…Tammy Merret

    Sure you can,Tammy…feel free.


  86. - Dotnonymous - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 5:03 pm:

    I’ve been in on many of these deals.. no one has ever asked me nuthin’.


  87. - Truthteller - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 5:41 pm:

    Let’s not forget Rodney Davis campaign guy attacked the Londrigans in Springfield last election cycle and he assualted the bouncer. Sure looks like a pattern where Davis sends in his operatives to do harm and then steps it back. Davis is a slimeball, time to send him back working at his dads McDonalds..


  88. - Michelle Flaherty - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 6:27 pm:

    “Since we are part of the story, we can’t report on it …”

    Of course you can, should and absolutely must.

    Congressional campaign poses as SIUE reporter to infiltrate opponents event

    That’s news. Go report it.

    Then your editorial page should be demanding the Congressman personally come to campus and issue an apology.

    If you’re not going to stand up for independent journalism, who will?


  89. - The Dark Knight - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 6:32 pm:

    Very sure Maxwell was just at a Rodney event with Rep.Cheney.

    https://twitter.com/markmaxwelltv/status/1148365430395940864?s=21


  90. - OurMagician - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 8:18 pm:

    - The Dark Knight - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 6:32 pm:

    Very sure Maxwell was just at a Rodney event with Rep.Cheney.

    That was 17 days ago.


  91. - A State Employee Guy - Thursday, Jul 25, 19 @ 8:41 pm:

    Fun fact: Nick Klitzing was UIUC’s Student Trustee back in the when.


  92. - Oswego Willy - Friday, Jul 26, 19 @ 12:35 pm:

    ===says the … who runs a blog===

    That feel good? I hope so.

    - Tammy Merrett - appears to think being an “academic”… and ignoring what is being taught in real time… and the news that could be taught… is a schtick.

    You’d think if that happened an instructor could have… 2-3 good lectures on the press, campaigns, all kinds of stuff… and yet there’s a discussion on… hurt feelings?


Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.


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