Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

* UPDATED x1 * Paranoia will destroy ‘ya

Posted in:

Illinois
Updated Posts

* Both campaigns have taken extraordinary measures in recent weeks to keep opposition “trackers” out of their events. But this was a bit much, if you ask me…

Team Rauner wouldn't allow 12 Columbia College journalism students into press conference. Nor would Rauner stop to talk to students.

— natasha korecki (@natashakorecki) September 16, 2014

Rauner tells Columbia College students/professor that pressers are open to "working press only." Locked them out. #twill #ilgov

— natasha korecki (@natashakorecki) September 16, 2014

Oh, c’mon, man. That’s just overkill.

*** UPDATE *** Sun-Times…

“When I asked about future events, she said that it was their ‘policy’ that only credentialed press would be allowed in,” [Columbia College Professor Curtis Lawrence] said. “When I mentioned that some of the students were published in the school-sponsored website, ChicagoTalks, she reiterated that they too would need credentials. This has never been an issue with other campaigns and we do this regularly during campaign season.” […]

“It appears we just got a sneak preview of what it would be like to cover a Bruce Rauner administration: little access and no respect for young journalists,” said Quinn spokeswoman Brooke Anderson. […]

“When I reminded some of the students that have taken classes with me before that this experience was totally different from when we covered Quinn’s press conference announcing Vallas as his running mate, one replied: “Yeah, they gave us candy.”

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Sep 16, 14 @ 11:49 am

Comments

Kinda like using your state-paid security to physically eject a tracker? https://capitolfax.com/2014/07/22/rauner-campaign-claims-quinn-security-detail-verbally-assaulted-and-physically-removed-a-tracker/

Comment by so... Tuesday, Sep 16, 14 @ 11:51 am
So the 12 students were…nobody that nobody sent?

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Sep 16, 14 @ 11:52 am
Thuggy.

Comment by Frenchie Mendoza Tuesday, Sep 16, 14 @ 11:53 am
What was Rauner concerned about?

Was he going to reveal his top secret plan to cut the budget?

Was there some other great secret that could be revealed only to working press?

Once again, Rauner walks into it. It is not too late for him to clean house and if he has any chance to win, he’s got to do so.

Comment by Gooner Tuesday, Sep 16, 14 @ 11:58 am
Nixonlike Rauner with an enemies list, and students are on it.

Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Sep 16, 14 @ 11:59 am
Ejecting a tracker is far different than barring journalism students from an event. Then not talking to them afterward? I think the Rauner thin skin is starting to show.

Comment by Former Downstater Tuesday, Sep 16, 14 @ 12:00 pm
On the surface, a rude move.

What lies beneath?

If they were just there to “observe”, he should have let them in. If his campaign got a tip they were planning to “participate” by hitting him with a stream of talking point-type questions, then he made the right call. If he was rushing to another event or something got confused in the campaign chaos, then it’s kind of a wash but he should reschedule some time with them.

Either way, good on the professor for getting those kids down there. Hopefully he takes them to see a Quinn presser, Durbin presser, Kirk presser, etc. every chance they get.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Tuesday, Sep 16, 14 @ 12:01 pm
or “she”. Whatever gender the prof may be.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Tuesday, Sep 16, 14 @ 12:02 pm
Who does rauner think he is, Rahm Emanuel?

Comment by William j Kelly Tuesday, Sep 16, 14 @ 12:06 pm
Nice way to tee-off a bunch of future reporters that may be cover his governing.

Comment by Just Observing Tuesday, Sep 16, 14 @ 12:08 pm
If this was a fundraiser or something that would be one thing but you call a press conference and you are kicking the press out just because they are writing a story for a journalism class or the student newspaper?

There is no license to be a member of the press. Heck lots of “working” press today is getting paid no more than these students thanks to the exploitive unpaid internship system rampant in the journalism field.

One would think a guy WHO OWNED A NEWSPAPER could have a little more respect for journalists than this?

Can’t help but think of the contrast with one of my journ classes in college where Jim Edgar came and spoke and answered questions to a room of about 12 of us. Yeah he was out of office at the time but I doubt that would have mattered much.

Heck when I was a college student journalist I was still able to get a press-hater like Blago to talk to me after a press conference and even the supposedly anti-press Bush White House was willing to credential me for a speech he gave at a fundraiser ahead of reelection.

I just share this info to make clear how abnormal what Rauner is doing. And if he acts this way during a campaign when he has to play nice to win votes and get good coverage, just how is he gonna treat the little people when he is in office?

Comment by hisgirlfriday Tuesday, Sep 16, 14 @ 12:12 pm
47th, LOL

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Tuesday, Sep 16, 14 @ 12:19 pm
BVC is making unforced errors. His campaign better get it together or that Tibune poll just might become reality.

Comment by Big Muddy Tuesday, Sep 16, 14 @ 12:19 pm
*Tribune*
Sure wish I paid more attention in typing class…

Comment by Big Muddy Tuesday, Sep 16, 14 @ 12:20 pm
Oh, those whippersnappers. They’re still naive enough to ask relevant questions.

Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Tuesday, Sep 16, 14 @ 12:25 pm
Sorry, Rich, but these kids aren’t reporters. Press conferences with candidates for Governor of Illinois aren’t field trips, it’s a real thing for real reporters to do. They can go cover Student Senate.

Comment by Gus Tuesday, Sep 16, 14 @ 12:27 pm
47, that’s pretty good.

The Rauner crew should lighten up. One bad poll has them off their feed.

Comment by wordslilnger Tuesday, Sep 16, 14 @ 12:31 pm
===these kids aren’t reporters===

It’s my recollection that they’re allowed into the House and Senate press boxes.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Sep 16, 14 @ 12:32 pm
You can tell more about a person or a campaign when things are going wrong than you can when things are going right. Unfortunately, there’s still time for the Carhartt Kid to make some adjustments and win this race. Keeping student reporters out is silly, silly, silly. Ask yourself what would Jim Thompson do? He would ask if they were 21 and if so supply them with some “brewskies”.

Keep this up and I will post a photoshopped pic of Rauner’s giant head on Nixon’s shoulders waving for that last ride on the helicopter out of the White House. “You won’t have Bruce Rauner to kick around, anymore.”

What’s next trying to out anonymous commenters on Capfax? “Who will bring me the ID of that meddlesome William from Oswego?”

Comment by IrishPirate Tuesday, Sep 16, 14 @ 12:41 pm
After he told all of those NIU students that mom-and-pop businesses were a bad investment, you can’t blame Rauner’s staff for being afraid to let him talk to students.

People say the darndest things when their guard is down.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Tuesday, Sep 16, 14 @ 12:46 pm
@Gus - Who are you to say they are not “real” reporters?

This mentality that the students are not real members of the press just because they are writing for a class is the same kind of not “real” reporter rationale that one might try to use against a guy like Rich because he has a blog or a newsletter. If someone is engaging in professional citizenship by attending a press conference for the purpose of reporting on a public figure they are a “real reporter” no matter their age, background, publishing format, or audience for the work they produce.

And by the way… these “kids” are not even kids. Unless one of them is Doogie Howser, they are all 18-year-old adults eligible to cast votes against Bruce Rauner. He should respect them for that reason if not for their status as members of the press. Is it any wonder the GOP is so toxic for people under 35 despite how awful the economy is for them?

Comment by hisgirlfriday Tuesday, Sep 16, 14 @ 12:46 pm
What’s that about transparency and openness of government Brucey?

Of course that only applies to the other guy.

Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Sep 16, 14 @ 1:10 pm
Whether they’re “real” reporters or not matters less. Sometimes time constraints make it hard to accommodate a period of time where kids might extend it with a lot of questions. But, on balance, it would be better to limit the questions, answer them and let them learn from the process. If they’re students, they could be restricted from bringing phones in. There’s a better way to handle this.

Comment by A guy... Tuesday, Sep 16, 14 @ 1:19 pm
- 47ty Ward - for the win.

===If they’re students, they could be restricted from bringing phones in. There’s a better way to handle this.===

lol, no phones. Why? Bruce afraid of what he might say?

Paranoia runs deep when you trust no one, because no one can trust what you say. Right?

“Exactly right.”

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Sep 16, 14 @ 1:23 pm
I can see why you’d be paranoid about trackers or student journalists if you’re running around the state acting like a completely different person for each constituency of voters. Is that the case for our Tea Party Social Liberal anti- lower- maintain- raise- the minimum wage dude?

Comment by BuzzFugazi Tuesday, Sep 16, 14 @ 1:32 pm
This is a dumb mistake by Rauner. It’s bad press that’s unnecessary. Seems completely silly to bar a group of journalism students from a presser. Paranoid indeed.

Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Sep 16, 14 @ 1:38 pm
In the house and senate galleries they won’t let you record on a phone either. Just for reference.

Comment by A guy... Tuesday, Sep 16, 14 @ 1:56 pm
A Guy, are you under the impression that there’s no audio recording or videotaping going on at press conferences?

Comment by wordslilnger Tuesday, Sep 16, 14 @ 2:00 pm
If this was linked to before I apologize. Chicago Magazine has a long piece on Rauner.

http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/October-2014/Bruce-Rauner/

I didn’t realize he had that many kids. I should pay more attention I know.

Comment by IrishPirate Tuesday, Sep 16, 14 @ 2:12 pm
I’m just wondering if the “working press” who were present tried to protect the rights of student reporters? While I know reporters really can’t editorialize (i.e., boycott the campaign for a day), I think the Boys on the Bus should have said something. Mr. Rauner, that was just plain rude and arrogant on your part.

Comment by Commonsense in Illinois Tuesday, Sep 16, 14 @ 2:24 pm
When I hosted an Internet radio show at UIC, the following people agreed to be interviewed.

Carol Moseley Braun (candidate for POTUS)

US Senate candidates
Nancy Skinner
Obama*
Jack Ryan
Steve Rauschenberger
Andy McKenna
John Borling
Andy Martin
Chirinjeev Kathuria

It was a bit frustrating that the Republicans were more accessible than the Democrats.

Rauner snubbing student journalists seems like dumb politics.

Why would Rauner prefer reporters from corporate media outlets to student journalists? Does he know that most of their bosses are telling them to avoid the hard questions?

Why would professional journalists be easier for Rauner to deal with than student journalists?
*agreed to interview in principle but didn’t like that the format would take 45 min. Wanted to do 10-15 min tops.

Comment by Carl Nyberg Tuesday, Sep 16, 14 @ 2:25 pm
Ryan and Rauschenberger made good impressions.

Andy McKenna was boring in that way criminals and spies aspire to when they want to be forgotten.

Borling was rude and nuts.

Comment by Carl Nyberg Tuesday, Sep 16, 14 @ 2:30 pm
Now I wonder how many media companies have been run through the GTCR mill and what became of them.

Comment by Cheswick Tuesday, Sep 16, 14 @ 3:04 pm
Also, in keeping with the title, there’s a Red under my bed.

Comment by Cheswick Tuesday, Sep 16, 14 @ 3:05 pm
Word: fix your moniker yet?

Comment by walker Tuesday, Sep 16, 14 @ 3:07 pm
Thank, Walk.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Sep 16, 14 @ 3:13 pm
I wonder, how do Rich’s former interns feel about this? What would BVC had done had Barton walked in the room?

Comment by Skeptic Tuesday, Sep 16, 14 @ 3:21 pm
Natasha, did you stand up for your fellow journalists? Help them try to get in? Argue with Chip? Or just snarky Tweets after the fact?
Not a Raunerbot, but I’ve had a bellyful of Ms. Korecki.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Sep 16, 14 @ 3:48 pm
=== wordslilnger - Tuesday, Sep 16, 14 @ 2:00 pm:

A Guy, are you under the impression that there’s no audio recording or videotaping going on at press conferences?====

First, when did you start spelling your name wrong?
Second, they record all the time; reporters do. Sorta why they call it a “press conference”. Students who are gaining experience may be asked to observe the process. I’m suggesting to you media types don’t love students or freelancers at their events. Their news organizations are paying a hefty price to compete with one another, not a group of students. So, no, that’s not what I was suggesting at all.

Comment by A guy... Tuesday, Sep 16, 14 @ 4:25 pm
=== Arthur Andersen - Tuesday, Sep 16, 14 @ 3:48 pm:

Natasha, did you stand up for your fellow journalists? Help them try to get in? Argue with Chip? Or just snarky Tweets after the fact?
Not a Raunerbot, but I’ve had a bellyful of Ms. Korecki.====

Artie A, She was probably put off by 12 students more than he was. Whatever time they take up, she doesn’t get. 12 is a lot. It’s half a class. If there were 2, I’ll bet you they would have been in.

Comment by A guy... Tuesday, Sep 16, 14 @ 4:29 pm
a guy, check the update. This is standard stuff. Rauner over-reacted.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Sep 16, 14 @ 4:30 pm
Also, sometimes the kids ask some pretty good questions. I’ve never heard a journo complain about their presence.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Sep 16, 14 @ 4:32 pm
What are these press credentials and who issues them?

Are they issued by media corporations?

Why does Rauner prefer corporate media to other forms of media?

Is Rauner avoiding media outlets where there’s no one in the chain of supervision that Rauner can lean on at some rich people event?

Comment by Carl Nyberg Tuesday, Sep 16, 14 @ 4:32 pm
To the Update,

Anytime you can be portrayed in front if the press to be less than transparent, it’s bad.

When the press starts questioning who is allowed to cover someone, when in the past, or even currently happening in the current race, it was never an issue…

It’s a massive overreact.

“Massive” really?

Dismissing students, when your opponent gives candy, the symbolism speaks for itself. Practically, it shows either a Press Staff unhinged on its own, or the Principle is running his Press Shop to his own detriment.

Bad Form, minimum. Paranoia, on point. Tin foil crazy? Yet to be seen.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Sep 16, 14 @ 4:41 pm
– I’m suggesting to you media types don’t love students or freelancers at their events.–

You simply don’t know what you’re talking about.

Media types didn’t bar the students. It was the Rauner campaign.

As a former media type, I never saw anyone have a beef with student journalists. As a former student journalist, no one ever had a beef with me.

Everyone just disliked Andy Shaw.

For crying out loud, the Dome is crawling with student journalists every session, and has been forever. The Baron will have to deal with that if he gets the gig.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Sep 16, 14 @ 5:02 pm
“It was their ‘policy’ that only credentialed press would be allowed in”

There’s always an excuse for Bruce.

– MrJM

Comment by MrJM Tuesday, Sep 16, 14 @ 6:30 pm
“Everyone just disliked Andy Shaw.”

Comment of the Day!

Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Sep 16, 14 @ 9:01 pm
@ArthurAndersen -

And completely true in my experience as well.

Anyway, as for the idea the student journalists might go to these press conferences and take up all the time with their questions… LOL. Most of the group would probably be too timid to ask a question at all and are just there to observe the experience. The best ones would be brave enough to ask questions and they would often be interesting questions because they would be coming from someone not bombarded by the press flacks pushing campaign narratives to shape their coverage.

Comment by hisgirlfriday Tuesday, Sep 16, 14 @ 9:52 pm
hisgirlfriday is correct.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Sep 16, 14 @ 10:23 pm