Oh, dear.
Saddled up to two "Scotts" — both white, mid-50s — campaign tapped me on shoulder, said I wasn't allowed
— Joe Vardon (@joevardon) October 22, 2012
Those tweets by Columbus Dispatch reporter Joe Vardon, covering a Biden campaign event, set off a firestorm on Twitter.
FWIW, was allowed to speak with whomever last week at various Paul Ryan events
— Joe Vardon (@joevardon) October 22, 2012
Fellow “real journalists” weigh in, with outrage. They aren’t so pleased when their rights are trod upon.
Outrageous. Counter-productive. And just plain dumb. RT @joevarden Reporters NOT ALLOWED to talk to voters at Biden/Canton event.
— Roger Simon (@politicoroger) October 22, 2012
https://twitter.com/GrahamDavidA/status/260405524808491008
Go into the pit, make em arrest u. They won't “@politicoroger @joevarden Reporters NOT ALLOWED to talk to voters at Biden/Canton event.”
— Glenn Thrush (@GlennThrush) October 22, 2012
Seriously. RT @GlennThrush: Go into the pit, make em arrest u. @joevarden Reporters NOT ALLOWED to talk to voters at Biden/Canton event.”
— Nick Confessore (@nickconfessore) October 22, 2012
ridiculous RT“@samsteinhp: AWFUL RT @DylanByers: Reporter 'not allowed' to talk to voters at Biden event http://t.co/ecZvxfWd”
— Ben White (@morningmoneyben) October 22, 2012
Recommended
Twitter users react with trademark, and hilarious, snark.
Don't try talking to @JoeBiden either RT @joevardon Reporters NOT ALLOWED to talk to voters at Biden/Canton event.
— Christopher Maloney (@CHRISMAL0NEY) October 22, 2012
#literally rt @joevardon: Reporters NOT ALLOWED to talk to voters at Biden/Canton event.
— Tom Crosson (@TomCrosson) October 22, 2012
https://twitter.com/ellencarmichael/status/260405603715911680
Would be a lot safer to stop them from talking to Biden. RT @joevarden Reporters NOT ALLOWED to talk to voters at Biden/Canton event.
— David Freddoso (@freddoso) October 22, 2012
Ha! It’s funny, because it’s true.
So much for that pesky freedom of the press thing … or is it? Vardon updated from the rally.
FWIW, Chicago and Biden's traveling press aides have said I can talk with whomever, ignore local staff
— Joe Vardon (@joevardon) October 22, 2012
And Politico rushes to cover.
UPDATE: "This was a miscommunication on the ground. Any reporter is entirely free to speak with event attendees." http://t.co/tgZ5dItn
— Dylan Byers (@DylanByers) October 22, 2012
More from Politico:
Vardon noted that he was allowed to speak to voters at multiple events for Rep. Paul Ryan, Mitt Romney’s running mate, last week.
The Obama/Biden campaign has yet to respond to a request for comment regarding the complaint.
UPDATE (12:03 p.m.): Amy Dudley, a spokeswoman for Vice President Biden, emails:
This was a miscommunication on the ground. Any reporter is entirely free to speak with event attendees.
Hmm. Why the initial order, then? And why has it happened before?
Ok, folks. This whole "no question thing" was local staffer's mistake. Let's be clear. But we also know it's been happening lately
— Joe Vardon (@joevardon) October 22, 2012
Stay tuned! Twitchy will monitor and update with further developments.
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