Theodore's World: Joe Biden's Staff Lock Journalist In Closet For Hours During A Fundraiser To Stop Him Talking To Guests ~ Guests Disgusted After Finding Out!
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Joe Biden's Staff Lock Journalist In Closet For Hours During A Fundraiser To Stop Him Talking To Guests ~ Guests Disgusted After Finding Out!
Powers snapped this image of the closet in which he was held and posted it online
Freedom of the press was stretched when VP Joe Biden's staff refused to let reporter Scott Powers, right, talk with guests at a fundraiser with Sen Bill Nelson
Biden's Staff Lock Journalist Incloset For Hours During A Fundraiser To Stop Him Talking To Guests
The White House website proudly says 'President Obama is committed to creating the most open and accessible administration in American history.'
But try telling Vice President Joe Biden's staff that, after they held a local reporter in a closet for hours after he was invited to cover a Florida political fundraiser because they did not want him talking with the guests.
As the unaware $500-a-head invitees dined on caprese crostini with oven-dried mozzarella and basil, rosemary flatbread with grapes honey and gorgonzola cheese, grilled chicken Caesar and garden vegetable wraps, veteran reporter Scott Powers was locked away.
The Orlando Sentinel reporter was ushered into the closet inside wealthy property developer Alan Ginsburg's Winter Falls mansion, after being told that Joe Biden and Senator Bill Nelson had not yet arrived.
Powers told The Drudge Report: 'When I'd stick my head out, they'd say, "Not yet. We'll let you know when you can come out."'
After 90 minutes he was allowed out to hear Biden and Nelson speak for 35 minutes, before being taken back to the closet for the remainder of the event.
From inside his temporary prison Powers emailed his office from his cell phone: 'Sounds like a nice party.'
Ms Alexander followed suit.
She said Power has accepted her 'unequivocal apology' made shortly after the fundraiser.
'This was the unfortunate mistake of an inexperienced staffer and the vice president's office has made sure it will never happen again,' she said.
She said pool reporters are usually given 'hotel rooms' when the Vice President speaks at private homes.
She explained that the closet was chosen because of its 'close proximity' to the room where Mr Biden was speaking, and that it had a table and chair where the reporter could work, as well as open space.
But she clarified: 'A hotel room, however, should not be a storage room'.
Some guests were shocked by the Vice President's staff.
One emailed the paper saying: 'I was in attendance at the Fundraiser and enjoyed a nice lunch.
'If I had known there was a reporter stuffed in the closet, I would have been compelled to stand up and demand answers.
'I would also like to know if this is actually legal to treat people like caged animals. I'm disgusted by these actions.'Florida state law says kidnapping entails 'forcibly, secretly or by threat confining, abducting or imprisoning another person against her or his will and without lawful authority.'
Powers said of his treatment: 'It was frustrating and annoying that I was not given a chance to do my job fully and properly.
'This was an extreme, and extremely inappropriate way of handling the press… it was essentially a rude and uncomfortable way to treat a reporter.'
He attempted to play down his treatment calling it 'hardly unusual or shocking' and confirmed that he received an apology from Ginsburg.
But he said the Vice President's staff emailed him an apology which 'I found far less satisfying than Ginsburg's.'
The incident is especially embarrassing for the administration because it comes at a time when the White House has been condemning the treatment of journalists trying to report in Libya.
Just ten days ago, President Obama's spokesman Jay Carney told reporters: 'journalists should be protected and allowed to do their work.'
The Vice President's office did not respond to requests for comment.
The shredding of the Constitution continues.
Makes me want to ask the question "who was a guest that they did not want this reporter to see?" Or "What other attendees made speeches?"
So will this reporter be voting for obama ....very possibly for a second time????? Shame him if he does.
Posted by Wild Thing at March 28, 2011 06:55 AM
In a way this is funny. However, it shows how many politicians use the press and how the press goes along. Too often the news is actually propaganda, and usually leftist.
Posted by: TomR,armed in Texas at March 28, 2011 05:10 PM
Tom, I agree it is kind of funny. This reporter if he had a spine should have just walked out and said something about the press can cover a republican instead. heh heh
Posted by: Wild Thing at March 29, 2011 03:21 AM