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* UPDATED x1 * Stupid human tricks

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* What is it about people these days who see a video camera and don’t immediately think “My stupid overreaction could be seen by thousands of people on YouTube”? Sheesh…

More rough tactics were on display last night in Washington DC as a hotheaded campaign worker for the Alexi Giannoulias campaign for Senator of Illinois confronted a man with a video camera at a fundraising event.

The event took place on the rooftop of an apartment building in Washington DC which is a public space for residents of the building and their guests. The unidentified camera man has stated that he was, in fact, the guest of a friend of his who lives in the building. Even if one stipulates that the campaign had the right to the section of the roof that was set aside for the event, the way in which the situation was handled certainly calls into question the judgement and temperment of the people candidate Giannoulias surrounds himself with.

As seen earlier this week in the outrageous response by Rep. Bob Etheridge to two college students with cameras who asked him if he supported “The Obama Agenda”, Democrats seem more and more reactionary when they see a person with a video camera near by. In the words of a seasoned DC insider: ”The heat is on.”

It’s not nearly as bad as the Etheridge incident, but it’s not good, either. The video…

* The NRSC did a nice job of pushing the video into the public domain by issuing a memo advising campaigns on how to deal with trackers…

After the second clip in a week hit the web showing a confrontation between a Democratic political campaign and a person shooting video, the National Republican Senatorial Committee sent out a memo to its campaigns Thursday reminding them to be sure staffers don’t become “verbally abusive” or “make physical contact” with videographers.

The memo, penned by NRSC Counsel Sean Cairncross and obtained by POLITICO, warns GOP Senate campaigns how to handle video trackers, stating that “this physical confrontation took place less than 72 hours after Democrat Congressman Bob Ethridge was recorded grabbing and placing a chokehold on another videographer.” […]

The NRSC’s memo states that as long as the videographer is “on public property and not actively disrupting” the event, he or she can continue filming. The NRSC recommends that campaigns tell staffers not to insult or threaten or physically touch a videographer, and to “always be polite” with them because “your interaction is likely being recorded.”

“The video attached to the e-mail containing this memorandum is an example of precisely how not to handle a videographer – and has created potential legal liability for both the individuals involved and the Giannoulias campaign,” Cairncross wrote. “Instituting these policies will help your campaign avoid both the political embarrassment and legal exposure that accompany inappropriate responses to videographers.”

Thoughts?

*** UPDATE *** The Giannoulias campaign called to say that they had just one paid staffer at that fundraiser and that nobody in the video was a campaign staffer or a volunteer. They were event attendees, according to the campaign.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jun 18, 10 @ 10:25 am

Comments

Its clear the guy was on the roof illegally.

He claimed to be the guest of another resident, but that other resident wasn’t there.

I didn’t see or hear anything inappropriate in the video.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Friday, Jun 18, 10 @ 10:33 am
Can you say knucklehead supporter? If Alexi apologizes for his supporters actions and sends out a memo on how to handle these incidents in the future this gets blown over in less than a week.

Comment by Lake Watcher Friday, Jun 18, 10 @ 10:36 am
He was probably baiting them for some type of reaction. It would have been better to ignore him. It would be pretty boring video if he just had shots of Alexi & co. form a distance.

Comment by Lincoln Parker Friday, Jun 18, 10 @ 10:36 am
If you can’t stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Jun 18, 10 @ 10:36 am
As a Tracker, I’ve been impressed with the politeness of the campaign I’ve been following. I’m sorry it takes things like this in order to make others behave.

When I first started, I was terrified for my safety, and stuck only to events that I knew there’s be major news coverage, but the campaign has showed no agression when I show up at more private events and am non obtrusive. I hope all campaigns can be so professional.

Comment by Tracker Friday, Jun 18, 10 @ 10:38 am
The whole stalking thing that campaigns do to one another has gotten out of control.

Comment by Ahoy Friday, Jun 18, 10 @ 10:38 am
Yeah, most likely someone with a video camera is trying to bait you. Don’t take the bait, morons, you are obviously being recorded.

Comment by Heartless Libertarian Friday, Jun 18, 10 @ 10:41 am
Given who Alexi is known to deal with (cough, allegedly), he should feel lucky he didn’t lose any thumbs.

Comment by Anon Friday, Jun 18, 10 @ 10:43 am
I tend to agree with YDD, but still, the campaign’s response wasn’t right. If the tracker was there “illegally,” then the campaign should either call the police or building security. And if the campaign paid to lease the space, they should have required that building security be present to enforce their privacy.

When campaign supporters pretend to be cops, nothing good ever happens. Unforced error on the Giannoulias campaign, but no real harm done.

Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Jun 18, 10 @ 10:45 am
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Friday, Jun 18, 10 @ 10:33 am:

“Its clear the guy was on the roof illegally.”

Please explain how it is clear? Did the building post a sign saying guests had to be accompanied at all times by the resident? If you listen closely, the person being accosted by Alexi’s people say the security guard said it was okay. If it was okay for the guy to be on the roof, he has an assault case, and perhaps a battery case (if he was touched) against Alexi’s agent.

Comment by Cincinnatus Friday, Jun 18, 10 @ 10:49 am
Again, if the condo association’s policy requires guests to be accompanied on the roof, then the videotaping was most likely illegal.

Generally speaking, videotaping someone on private property is illegal unless they are visible from public property.

From Lawyers.com:

“Sometimes, whether a photograph or videotape was legally taken depends on the location where it was taken, and the photographer’s status to be on that property. Generally, the public has an implied right to be on the public portions of private property, such as in a restaurant or a stadium. However, that implied right does not extend to private areas of public accommodations, such as offices or the hallways of condominium buildings.”

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Friday, Jun 18, 10 @ 10:50 am
I always found the aggressive reaction to trackers strange. When I worked for Circuit City years ago we had to shop Best Buy daily and vice versa. We had a common understanding to do the job without $%&#*@@ with the other’s customers or business.

If someone is somewhere they shouldn’t be politely ask them to leave and then call the police if it is still an issue after that.

Comment by ArchPundit Friday, Jun 18, 10 @ 10:51 am
The whole “tracking” thing is, generally speaking, pretty obnoxious. But I find it hard to whip up a whole lot of righteous indignation about it, or sympathy for those being “tracked.” After all, private citizens going about their daily business on any random street in Chicago are under constant video surveillance, so why should the campaign events of our potential leaders be protected fry prying eyes? Plus, everyone says they want more “transparency” in the political system, right? Well, what are they trying to hide from the “trackers?”

Comment by grand old partisan Friday, Jun 18, 10 @ 10:53 am
Good to see that the “Don’t taze me, bro” guy has picked up some summer work.

Comment by reeedonkulous Friday, Jun 18, 10 @ 10:54 am
Seemed pretty mild to me. Why so paranoid, tho? Someone with a camera - big deal. If your candidate is prepared and aware that he is under the ’scope little harm is done. More dangerous for the bouncers.

Comment by dupage dan Friday, Jun 18, 10 @ 10:55 am
Cincinnatus -

MAYBE I’m wrong, but I don’t know of ANY condominium that allows guests to wander around and use the building’s amenities unescorted.

As it is, we’ve only got this guy’s word for it that he was the guest of someone in the building…my bet is he was trespassing altogether, because what are the odds that a Kirk staffer just happened to be friends with someone in the same building?

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Friday, Jun 18, 10 @ 10:55 am
YDD,

Ah, that’s better. Your use of the word “clearly” was clearly unintended.

Comment by Cincinnatus Friday, Jun 18, 10 @ 10:59 am
Was Barton ever attacked with his videocamera in hand?

Comment by Samwise Friday, Jun 18, 10 @ 11:11 am
Samwise, no. But Dan was unjustly removed from the Senate press box once. I wasn’t pleased, to say the least.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Jun 18, 10 @ 11:12 am
Dems thought this was legit when it was Mike Moore and his ilk doing it. Now that the tables are turned not so happy. Overall not a fan of this type of TMZ video crap unless illegal behavior is being shown.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jun 18, 10 @ 11:27 am
It’s not like they threw the guy off of the roof.

Comment by Highland, IL Friday, Jun 18, 10 @ 11:33 am
Sloppy campaign work on both sides, but GOP wins this one. They got the reaction they wanted.

The cameraman should not be on the roof without his escort.

Alexi supporters should have simply called down to security to report the problem and not approached the camera. Campaign event staff should have informed all guests of what not to do.

Heck, in meantime offer the guy a beer. Why get so uptight? Its what they (any opposing campaign)are hoping you will do.

Comment by ChiTownGuy Friday, Jun 18, 10 @ 11:35 am
Alexi blew the response in the UPDATE. Was the paid staffer one of the people in the video? Even if he/she was not in the video Alexi should have said “hey this is not the type of behavior I want to see out of staff or supporters.

So now I want to know the name of the paid staffer and if this staffer was apart of the video.

Comment by Lake Watcher Friday, Jun 18, 10 @ 11:42 am
It’s never the crime, it’s the coverup…

Comment by Cincinnatus Friday, Jun 18, 10 @ 11:46 am
Hmmm…Campaign paparazzi…will they be going for up-skirt shots of the candidates for Perez Hilton’s page?

Comment by D.P. Gumby Friday, Jun 18, 10 @ 11:48 am
Lake Watcher,

Try reading the update. Sheesh.

Cinci,

What are you talking about? What cover up?

Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Jun 18, 10 @ 11:49 am
“Moose, Rocco, help him find his checkbook!”

[Rodney Dangerfield’s character at the end of Caddyshack when Judge Smails needed a little encouragement to pay up on the bet.]

Comment by just sayin' Friday, Jun 18, 10 @ 11:50 am
Lake Watcher, what part of “nobody in the video was a campaign staffer or a volunteer” do you not comprehend?

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Jun 18, 10 @ 11:53 am
If I were attending a fundraiser as an “attendee”, I would not take it upon myself to do what these men did. I would look for security or staff to step in.

Comment by Say WHAT? Friday, Jun 18, 10 @ 12:05 pm
Maybe he was the host? he did say “we paid for this”

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jun 18, 10 @ 12:11 pm
Perhaps I am in the minority on this site, but I believe elected officials and politicians should not be scared of cameras or people with a tape recorder. Politicians are hoping to get elected, and elected officials are public servants who serve at the public’s pleasure. The press and people wanting a piece of the action should be realized as something that comes with the territory. Some kid with a camera is fairly innocuous, yet Alexi’s peeps apparently deemed it necessary to take matters into their own hands. And since Alexi is an elected official - he is still our state treasurer - he needs to be mindful of such instances. The same goes for Mark Kirk and his crew.

Comment by Team Sleep Friday, Jun 18, 10 @ 12:20 pm
This fear of being recorded to me is the wrong strategy. Somone is there with a camera, instead of fretting, invite thme in, give them an upfront seat. If you have time, offer an interview.

More video of your message is never a bad thing. If your concered your making extreme comments for the belevers that you do not want circulated…pull the comments and mug for the camera.

embrace the stalkers and turn them to a tool for your advanage.

Comment by Ghost Friday, Jun 18, 10 @ 12:22 pm
Let’s see who the “guest” at the party was who roughed up the videographer, and if that person was either a staffer or a volunteer.

Comment by Cincinnatus Friday, Jun 18, 10 @ 12:23 pm
And yes, I know I didn’t respond to the portion as to whether or not the tracker should have been on the roof. I’ve been to fundraisers at “public” buildings at which time uninvited guests showed up and essentially made a scene. But what can you do? Unless someone is being violent or threatening harm to the candidate and attendees, is a violtion occurring?

Comment by Team Sleep Friday, Jun 18, 10 @ 12:25 pm
Cinci,

If by “roughed up” you mean “touched,” does it really matter? I think it’s safe to assume the person who confronted the videographer was a supporter or guest of a supporter.

Please stop trying to make this sound like something sinister. It is a molehill, nothing more.

Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Jun 18, 10 @ 12:28 pm
Silly season has started early. The very nature of politics says a candidate can’t be responsible for the actions of every bonehead who tries to affiliate with the campaign.

Republicans have certainly seen much more heavy handed tactics at their own state GOP conventions in this state, authorized by their own party brass.

This is a nothing story. Latest attempt by Kirk to distract from his habit of making stuff up.

Comment by too obvious Friday, Jun 18, 10 @ 12:58 pm
==Let’s see who the “guest” at the party was who roughed up the videographer, and if that person was either a staffer or a volunteer. ==

Silly Cinci, on here it has become such that such a demand to prove a statement that we don’t know to be true or not is only made if the statement comes from the Kirk campaign.

Comment by Anon Friday, Jun 18, 10 @ 1:01 pm
Glad Alexi campaigns against PACs and lobbyists but he’s in DC collecting checks from those same lobbyists.

Comment by Moderategirl Friday, Jun 18, 10 @ 1:07 pm
Alexi’s campaign made a statement disavowing that the individual had nothing to do with the campaign. Certainly, since Alexi said this it must be true.

Every statement from the Kirk campaign is rightfully checked and explored. I certainly take everything coming from that inept campaign with more than a grain of salt. Should we not apply the same standard to statements made by Alexi’s campaign?

And as far as mountains and molehills are concerned, all you need to do is wander over to the Dolds/Seals campaign to see a construction project in the works.

Comment by Cincinnatus Friday, Jun 18, 10 @ 1:07 pm
Wow YDD you went from

“Its clear the guy was on the roof illegally.”

to

“Again, if the condo association’s policy requires guests to be accompanied on the roof, then the videotaping was most likely illegal.”

Another things you know for a fact you now want to hedge?

Comment by OneMan Friday, Jun 18, 10 @ 1:11 pm
It doesn’t take much to verify that bouncer-dude isn’t campaign staff. His name tag is visible and if you Google with the right qualifiers (like the city where the party was held), you learn his day job pretty fast.

Comment by Way South of the Border Friday, Jun 18, 10 @ 1:24 pm
Yesterday Rich defended NBC’s Edward McClelland as being an even-handed critic of both sides.

What’s McClelland’s headline for this story?

Giannoulias Has a Macaca Moment

Campaign supporters strongarming someone off private property is not the same as the candidate dismissing someone with an ethnic slur.

Is NBC declaring McClelland’s salary an in-kind to the Kirk campaign?

Comment by Carl Nyberg Friday, Jun 18, 10 @ 2:20 pm
Apparently one of Bob Dold’s campaign staffers tried pulling a camera-shoving stunt with a Seals guy last night.

Comment by Rob_N Friday, Jun 18, 10 @ 2:20 pm
All these guys should keep their hands (and their words) to themselves. Alternately, let’s see some punches thrown and at least make this interesting!

Comment by Cincinnatus Friday, Jun 18, 10 @ 2:38 pm
Well the solution is simple. If this tracker was in fact a guest of a tenant, then the condo association should evict the tenant for allowing his/her guest to wander the building and harass other tenants/guests.

Comment by Anon Friday, Jun 18, 10 @ 3:13 pm
Alexi should have turned the dogs loose on this idiot with a cross to bear. Voters have the right to be stupid, but not on the candidates’ dime. When a voter gets in a candidates face they better be ready to be thrown out. Being rude and telling tall tales is no substitute for political courage!

Comment by yEYYES Friday, Jun 18, 10 @ 3:14 pm
==When a voter gets in a candidates face they better be ready to be thrown out.==

So your definition of “in a candidates face” is 20-30 feet. Interesting.

Comment by Anon Friday, Jun 18, 10 @ 3:19 pm
Anon - Friday, Jun 18, 10 @ 3:19 pm:

==When a voter gets in a candidates face they better be ready to be thrown out.==

So your definition of “in a candidates face” is 20-30 feet. Interesting.

It’s a sliding scale. Somebody can get right on top of a Republican with no problems, but nobody can be on the same planet if someone is watching a Democrat.

Comment by Cincinnatus Friday, Jun 18, 10 @ 3:54 pm
Rob N, in the Giannoulias tape, the stalker was filming at a respectable distance and not harassing the candidate by being right on top of him or sticking the camera in his face.

On Wednesday night in Deerfield I saw the Seals stalker stick the camera within several feet of Dold’s face on several occasions, then set up a tripod for his in a restaurant blocking customers, employees and hemming in Dold into a corner.

Sorry, that WAY crosses the line! More like obstructing him from campaigning for office. We all have the right to campaign for office. If you want to film your opponent’s every movement, do it at a respectable distance.

Were those his instructions?

Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Friday, Jun 18, 10 @ 4:36 pm
Louis, Giannoulias event at private venue. Dold event at public event organized by Village of Highland Park.

Are you too obtuse to appreciate the difference?

Comment by Carl Nyberg Friday, Jun 18, 10 @ 5:18 pm
47th/Miller

Ya I missed that one and am “Taking responsibility for my actions or screw up”. How in the world does the paid staffer that Alexi says was there not see what is happening?

Comment by Lake Watcher Friday, Jun 18, 10 @ 10:08 pm