First Lady Media Fly-By Leaves VT Press Out in the Cold
Curious what First Lady Michelle Obama is going to tell hundreds of people attending two political fundraisers in Burlington today?
Good luck finding out.
The Vermont press corps found out in the past 48 hours that the fundraisers are off limits to local media — with one exception. Print reporters from the Burlington Free Press will be allowed to cover the two campaign fundraisers. They will file a so-called "pool" report, which means a story that is released by the White House to the rest of us chumps (and the national press corps, too).
In other words, one perspective from the events for all Vermont media and Vermonters to consume. How fair and balanced.
State House reporter Terri Hallenbeck will be covering the Sheraton event while Molly Walsh will cover the ECHO dinner.
No word from the Obama campaign — or Freeps officials — regarding how or why the Gannett-run daily was chosen as the go-to outlet.
What, were they worried about contending with the crush of Vermont's media? All ten of us? Sheesh.
The only event where more than one media outlet is allowed in is the highly-staged and scripted event with the Vermont National Guard and assorted military families.
Can you imagine the outcry — nay, the outrage! — from Democrats and Vermont's liberal cognoscenti if this was a GOP First Lady swooping into Vermont to scoop up cash for her hubby's reelection and the only public press shots of her will be with local troops?
Yeah, me neither. Mission accomplished!
I'm sure there'll be plenty of anti-war Democrats lining up to shake the First Lady's hand, I mean, shake a sign at the motorcade yelling "No Blood for Oil!" and "No Justice! No Peace! U.S Out of the Middle East!"
Um, yeah.
First Lady Obama will be in Vermont today to thank Vermont troops for their hard work and sacrifice overseas and to launch a new program, Joining Forces, which is an organization that provides help to military families while loved ones are deployed and for soldiers when they return from the battlefield. A similar program already exists in Vermont and is co-chaired by Marcelle Leahy, wife of Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT).
After the 3:30 event with the troops — at which Vermont media is not allowed to cover live, or take shots that the Secret Service dislikes or talk to people in the crowd — Obama will swoop by the Sheraton and then a pricey dinner at ECHO.
About 900 paying ticket holders will attend the Sheraton rally and another 100 or so folks will be at ECHO. Tickets for the Sheraton rally ranged from $50 to $500. According to a report obtained by Seven Days, 879 people have tickets to the event, and the fundraiser will raise about $115,000 for the Obama reelection campaign and the Democratic National Committee. The dinner is a smaller crowd but much pricier tickets: 100 tickets were being sold; attendees could spend as "little" as $5000 or as much as $28,500. I guess it depends on whether you have an appetizer and dessert. That event is apparently sold out.
Do the math and the Obama campaign will walk away with more than $600,000 for just a few hours' work.
By comparison, when First Lady Laura Bush visited Vermont in 2006 to stump for GOP congressional hopeful Martha Rainville at the Inn at Essex and raised $150,000, reporters were allowed to attend the fundraiser, talk to attendees and report on the assorted speeches by political dignitaries. No direct interviews with the First Lady and no live coverage, but beyond that, the restraints were few. Unless you consider being sequestered hours in advance and cordoned off in a press "freedom" pen a restraint. Hey, it's a post-9/11 world.
The Obama hope and change crowd is a bit more scripted than even the Bush team. There are definitely more restraints on the media this year than in 2006. I guess that's the price for living in a post-post 9/11 world, eh?
Though, to be fair, the visit by Vice President Joe Biden last year was typical of a visit by a White House official. Some restrictions, but all Vermont media were welcomed to the fundraising event at the Patrick Gymnasium. Believe me, there was plenty of room leftover for ticketholders.
The number of cameras being allowd to film First Lady Michelle Obama at the Vermont National Guard event is six. Seven Days videographer Eva Sollberger wasn't allowed to attend because her camera would have made seven cameras. Ditto VTDigger.org, whose Digger-in-Chief Anne Galloway this morning penned a missive questioning the lack of media access.
Galloway told Seven Days she — like every other media professional I've talked with in the past three days — was bounced around like a pinball by Obama campaign and Democratic officials for weeks regarding access to the events. It wasn't until late Tuesday that the picture became crystal clear— no local media access inside the fundraisers.
Galloway didn't even learn until the last minute that she could attend the Guard event. And by that time she was told: No camera. No video.
Even Vermont's biggest TV station has had its share of tribulations trying to cover the First Lady's visit. WCAX News Director Anson Tebbetts told Seven Days via email that the restraints at the Guard event are pretty typical for a presidential-esque visit, but the fundraisers are a different story.
"That's been a challenge for sure," said Tebbetts. "We were told by an Obama campaign staffer from Chicago that there would be no broadcast reporters allowed at the Sheraton. Only print pool. This means no video of the event. No interviewing guests. No interaction between First Lady and guests."
The control around ECHO, Tebbetts noted, went beyond today's dinner.
On Tuesday night, WCAX scheduled a visit for Wednesday morning to ECHO for a basic story about prepping for the gala dinner. On Wednesday morning, WCAX was told by ECHO officials that the White House and Obama campaign didn't want pictures of the set up, so WCAX called off the story.
"We are all curious why? But we will still cover the fund-raising events even if we are pushed back from Leahy-Echo to neighboring towns," added Tebbetts.
Why don't you ask your good friends in the Vermont congressional delegation to stand up for you and demand that you be allowed in?
Posted by: Snarky Boy | June 30, 2011 at 12:38 PM
Why don't you buy a ticket?
Posted by: Jimmy | June 30, 2011 at 01:19 PM
Be grateful you're not subjected to the shill.
Posted by: William Boardman | June 30, 2011 at 01:26 PM
Oh yeah, Jimmy, let's start charging the press to get into political events. Brilliant./snark.
Posted by: Snarky Boy | June 30, 2011 at 02:58 PM
Every event draws the line somewhere. In this case, it was drawn just below the BFP. What a tragedy.
Posted by: Jimmy | June 30, 2011 at 04:30 PM
Ughh... knowing how Molly Walsh spins stories and misrepresents facts in her education coverage, I have come to completely mistrust reporting in the BFP.
Posted by: Joan | June 30, 2011 at 04:48 PM
Rumor has it that Shay was offered a spot in the "pool," but he demanded a hot tub. Alternative media just isn't the same.
Posted by: Snarky Boy | June 30, 2011 at 05:35 PM
"No word from the Obama campaign — or Freeps officials — regarding how or why the Gannett-run daily was chosen as the go-to outlet."
I got one guess for you.... and it involves some under the desk activities. JK, actually I am sure it's because the they realize that the Fanatical Left Free Press will make sure that only a glowing light will be put on things. No worries that anyone will ask poor Michelle why her husband feels he doesn't need to ask Congress for an Authorization to use Military Force. I mean after all, how dare someone want to enforce checks and balances.
LONG LIVE KING OBAMA !!
Posted by: Jcarter | June 30, 2011 at 06:53 PM
On a related note,
Ponder this, if Dubya had never asked for authorization to use military force for his invasion into Iraq, does anyone here doubt he wouldn't have been impeached?
Yet here we have King Bacrock, my way or the high way, Obama and no one, including Bernie, Peter, or Pat has even raised an eye brow.
Why does our government suck so bad? Partisanship and Appeasment of the masses.
First candidate to run on Term Limits, they've got my vote.
Posted by: Jcarter | June 30, 2011 at 06:56 PM
Shay, I didn't realize you were part of the press. Huh! Now I know. Get over yourself.
Posted by: Howard | June 30, 2011 at 06:58 PM
Shay, perhaps now you'll realize you don't count as a real journalist. Seriously. It's karma getting you back for all the yellow journalism and mud you sling on these pages. Payback is a bitch.
Posted by: slim | June 30, 2011 at 08:06 PM
Here's an excerpt from the crack reporting by the BFP in case anyone cared
"the first lady arrived at the aquarium as the guests ate seared beef tenderloin with roasted shrimp and shaved radishes, herbed bulgur salad and arugula bearnaise sauce. The vegetarian entree featured falafel pancake with roasted vegetable napoleon.
Dessert was homemade lime-coconut macaroon bars, strawberry lemon bars and chocolate chocolate chip cookies"
AND
"Diners ate at tables next to turtle and fish tanks with views of Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains.
Outside the aquarium, life continued as normal with joggers and bikers on the recreation path, a yoga class in the park and sailboats and ferries cruising Lake Champlain. "
AND FInally
"People came dressed in nice, but casual clothes. The crowd was all-ages, with some arriving alone, others with small children and grandparents."
Nice job!! You guys really went all out with this one. The lone newspaper to get a stab at this and they came up with a dinner menu....
Posted by: Jcarter | July 01, 2011 at 05:55 AM
If posters haven't noticed, our President and First Lady are a little different than their predecessors. The difference may only be skin deep, but the death threats to this President have tripled over threats to his predecessor. The Secret Service has to be extra alert because of this, and I would imagine that the First Lady has to have extra security detail and take extra security precautions as well.
The reason for precautions taken with the press over Michelle's visit may be as simple as that, I don't know for sure. But given the tone of some of the comments on this thread, it seems it was wise to take some precautions.
Posted by: Bonnie Duncan | July 01, 2011 at 08:52 AM
that was an expensive meal @ $5,000 a plate
Posted by: ChickMunkey | July 01, 2011 at 09:51 AM
A few comments.
A= If the Obamas did not want full reporting on this event it must really mean Michelle had nothing to say.
2= Michelle seems to be very personable and real in a scripted atmosphere,with questions remaining on when it gets tough how she does.
B= Do the song lyrics, OOH OOH take the money and run, fit here?
4=. No matter what party affiliation, it is not a bad thing to have the first Lady in town on any given day.
Posted by: dale tillotson | July 01, 2011 at 07:03 PM
"the first lady arrived at the aquarium as the guests ate seared beef tenderloin with roasted shrimp and shaved radishes, herbed bulgur salad and arugula bearnaise sauce. The vegetarian entree featured falafel pancake with roasted vegetable napoleon.
Dessert was homemade lime-coconut macaroon bars, strawberry lemon bars and chocolate chocolate chip cookies"
I wonder if they posted the calorie counts for the meal in a conspicuous place. We all know how important it is to Mrs Obama and her "Food Police"
Posted by: GreenMountainGal | July 02, 2011 at 01:14 AM
Why are the media people in VT surprised/offended? Vermont always votes Democrat & the 3 electoral votes will go to Obama, so why would the White House "campaign" risk the release video that is potentially harmful in swing states...
In other words, give us your money & shut up about it.
Posted by: jbtrevor | July 03, 2011 at 08:22 AM