tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19402125.post6082110719440517308..comments2024-02-07T16:22:39.625-05:00Comments on Jeff Jedras: The Harper muzzle grows: No more media questions?!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19402125.post-14676092474440899012008-10-12T02:58:00.000-04:002008-10-12T02:58:00.000-04:00You know what I love about the Harpocracy site? I...You know what I love about the Harpocracy site? It slags Brian McGarry for taking time of to care for his critically ill wife.Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13366411272047035206noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19402125.post-57858039078967853212008-10-12T01:26:00.000-04:002008-10-12T01:26:00.000-04:00Here's the piece I was thinking of, interesting re...Here's the piece I was thinking of, interesting read:<BR/><BR/>http://www.thetyee.ca/Blogs/TheHook/Federal-Politics/2008/10/09/DembickiBarred/<BR/><BR/>As for media credentialing, in 04 I was communications chair for a rural Liberal riding association, and we had a visit from them PM Paul Martin. I was responsible for coordinating local media. This was before the election campaign. I did have to send a list of attendees to Ottawa ahead of time, I presume for a security check, and I had to make name tags, but no driver's licenses or anything were required.<BR/><BR/>In the following campaign, doing media relations in another riding, we had a visit from the Martin tour. I again wrangled the local media, but no list, no badges, no identification needed. <BR/><BR/>So I think it's fair to say security has been heightened under Harper, media wise. While there may be multiple motivations, I'd argue a large one is avoiding media scrutiny. I think that's supported by both the link I posted above, and the original news of this post, Harper's likely decision stop answering media questions at all.<BR/><BR/>As for security at rallies, I'm sure I had read somewhere ID was required, I think for the one in Courtenay. Can't find the reference though, so I can't say for sure.<BR/><BR/>Here, though, is what the CPC sent out for the recent Vancouver Harper rally:<BR/><BR/><I>For RCMP security reasons, you must pre-register by phoning 1-778-***-****. You will need to include your name, address and phone number.</I><BR/><BR/>I'd question if this is really for RCMP security reasons. It has never been a requirement on past PM tours. Both Dion and Layton also have RCMP security details during the campaign, and this isn't something they require for Liberal or NDP events.<BR/><BR/>Given that this campaign we have already had multiple occassions where Conservative staffers have used the RCMP to block or detain media (remember them keeping the media away from Dona Cadman?) I'm highly suspicious.<BR/><BR/>This isn't security. It's using security as a smokescreen to run a bubble campaign.Jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14971310821484459106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19402125.post-62373867856713340332008-10-11T21:48:00.000-04:002008-10-11T21:48:00.000-04:00It wouldn't surprise me if the press had to presen...It wouldn't surprise me if the press had to present some form of confirmation that they were, in fact, journalists. <BR/><BR/>I haven't worked on media set-up for these sorts of things, but it would make sense that if a Party is advised that Jane Smith will be attending on behalf of a given local newspaper, Ms Smith would have to present ID in order to pick up her press package, ID tag, etc. Or maybe they did require drivers' licenses for people at one rally but not another, who knows.Jason Hickmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17648786726787793783noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19402125.post-60885551836253589892008-10-11T21:31:00.000-04:002008-10-11T21:31:00.000-04:00Maybe it's the media that need a driver's license ...Maybe it's the media that need a driver's license (or photo id), I did read that somewhere, in a story about the Vancouver rally here earlier in the week.Jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14971310821484459106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19402125.post-43465582546670166112008-10-11T20:56:00.000-04:002008-10-11T20:56:00.000-04:00You need to bring a driver's license.That isn't tr...<I>You need to bring a driver's license.</I><BR/><BR/>That isn't true. I was at the PM's rally in Toronto last evening and I wasn't asked for a driver's license. I did register in advance, as was done for previous events involving the PM. I don't know if the Mounties did a security check or not.Jason Hickmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17648786726787793783noreply@blogger.com