Cops Called About Reporter Committing Journalism on Congressional Candidate

Cops Called About Reporter Committing Journalism on Congressional Candidate

By P.J. Gladnick (Bio | Archive)
Tue, 10/20/2009 - 07:44 ET

"Hello, 911? This is the Dede Scozzafava campaign. Could you send a police car over to the Elks Lodge? There is a reporter here asking our candidate uncomfortable questions. Thank you."

Something like this call went out last night when a reporter committed the "high crime" of asking Republican congressional candidate, Dede Scozzafava (endorsed by the Daily Kos), questions that she obviously felt very uneasy about answering. Scozzafava, who was recently the subject of an Open Thread here on NewsBusters, is running in the special election for the open seat in the NY 23rd congressional district. She was being questioned last night by John McCormack of the Weekly Standard when the police were called with a complaint about him for making Scozzafava uncomfortable with his probing questions. Here is how McCormack describes the scene:

Lowville, N.Y.
Tonight, Dede Scozzafava, the Republican candidate for the November 3 special election in the 23rd congressional district, spoke to about 100 Republicans at the Lewis County GOP dinner at the Elks Lodge 1605. After a dinner of turkey, mashed potatoes, and stuffing, Scozzafava fended off criticism that she wasn't as conservative as third-party candidate Doug Hoffman and urged her supporters to vote for her in order to keep her Democratic opponent Bill Owens from serving as a rubber stamp for Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama's agenda in Washington. It was a fairly typical evening--until the speech ended and someone with Scozzafava's campaign called the police. On me.

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Uh-oh! McCormack continues to regale us with his "criminal" activity:

Earlier today Lindsay Beyerstein reported that Scozzafava responded to an AFL-CIO questionnaire by saying she would support card-check legislation that eliminates the secret ballot requirement for organizing unions. As Beyerstein notes, this contradict statements made by a Scozzafava spokesman in September.
So after the dinner, I asked Assemblywoman Scozzafava if she supports card check. "Yes, yes I do," she replied.

Eek! How dare McCormack ask questions of a candidate! An attempt was made to stop this criminal activity but it seems to have failed:

At that point someone from her campaign placed himself between Scozzafava and me and told me I should direct all my inquires to the campaign's spokesman. I nonetheless asked Scozzafava if her signing of the Americans for Tax Reform pledge not to vote to raise taxes means she would oppose any health care bill that raises taxes. "What kind of taxes?" she replied. Then another couple of gentlemen interposed themselves between Scozzafava and me as Scozzafava headed for the door.

McCormack later continued his criminal assault outside:

I spotted Scozzafava later as she was walking to the parking lot, and asked her: "Assemblywoman, do you believe that the health-care bill should exclude coverage for abortion?" She didn't reply. I asked her twice more. Silence.

Finally the police ride to the rescue:

Minutes later a police car drove into the parking lot with its lights flashing. Officer Grolman informed me that she was called because "there was a little bit of an uncomfortable situation" and then took down my name, date of birth, and address.

"Maybe we do things a little differently here, but you know, persisistence in that area, you scared the candidate a little bit," Officer Grolman told me.

"[Scozzafava] got startled, that's all," Officer Grolman added. "It's not like you're in any trouble."

Having escaped the long arm of the law, the alleged perpetrator ponders the situation:

But I do wonder if it’s the Scozzafava campaign that’s in trouble--with a candidate who supports card check, who is unwilling to say she’d oppose a health care bill that raises taxes or includes abortion coverage, and who is so reluctant to answer questions that she has someone with her campaign call the cops when she’s questioned by a reporter who is (if I may say so) polite--if a bit persistent.

You can find out more about Dede Scozzafava and the New York 23rd CD campaign at Michele Malkin where she has been blogging extensively about it or by watching this Neil Cavuto report.

And as for the suspect in this case, John McCormack, here is a serenade for you if you are ever again caught in the act of committing journalism.

—P.J. Gladnick is a freelance writer and creator of the DUmmie FUnnies blog.

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HOW DARE YOU!!!! Don’t you

Tue, 10/20/2009 - 07:57 ET by ninerdog

HOW DARE YOU!!!! Don’t you know I am in the political elite and you are nothing but a plebe! Be gone or I will have you flogged!!!

Elitisim

Tue, 10/20/2009 - 09:38 ET by Thinking.Man

It really does appear that a super majority of the left feel this way, and so called righ is not too far behind.

We get what we derserve I guess, too many of us are acting like American Tenant's vs. American Citizens.

Conservative Libertaring Activism has to kick into an even higher gear than it already is, assuming the elites just dont sieze power and do away with elections all together.

Sounds nuts, but if I told you the Government would be siezing companies, squelching free speech, and hiring left wing marxist lunes to run the schools, banks, industry, FCC etc. a year ago that would have sounded as crazy.

I fear for my kids future

Hello, 911? No McNuggets, Dammit!

Tue, 10/20/2009 - 08:01 ET by Blonde

Don't give Obama any ideas, PJ.

He'll enact a law for which the sentence for committing journalism is 3 - 5 years!

"Committing Journalism"....thanks for the good laugh!

I hope he fails, too.

Filing a false report is a crime

Tue, 10/20/2009 - 08:14 ET by theduck6

is it not?

I guess you could ask Balloon Boy's dad.

Tue, 10/20/2009 - 08:16 ET by Blonde

Politicians are such cowards!

I hope he fails, too.

Rasmussen did a recent

Tue, 10/20/2009 - 08:24 ET by danbo

Rasmussen did a recent poll. Rating the respect americans had for the members of different professions.

Journalist were pretty low. But the very bottom of the pile was member of congress.

We already pay farmers not to farm. Why can’t we pay legislators not to legislate? PJTV

The best that could happen

Tue, 10/20/2009 - 08:09 ET by 10ksnooker

Is Dede Scozzafava lose the election.

I cannot believe that Newt would support this clown.

Maybe that should be a NewsBusters story

Tue, 10/20/2009 - 09:34 ET by Thinking.Man

Why is Newt supporting a facist leftist hag, just because she is willing to put an R by her name?

I don't trust any of them anymore, I hate the left, am appalled with the RNC, and just generally dismissive of anything that comes from or has to do with the word "Government" anymore.

Maybe that's all part of Lord Obama's plan, if so the RNC is playing right into his hands.

The GOP abandoned conservatism a while ago . . .

Tue, 10/20/2009 - 16:02 ET by Galvanic

You're right, Thinking Man. As long as she claims to be a Republican, and she hasn't self-destructed on the campaign trail with an non-PC statement or the exposure of some dark episode in her past, Newtie and friends will back her.

The Dems did the same with Zell Miller for years (D-GA). Miller even started a Georgians for Bush campaign, and the Dems still wouldn't kick him out.

The closest they came was when they tried to run Lieberman out, but he defeated their rich boy candidate (Lamont?) and retained his seat. The Dems have quietly reconciled.

Dum-de-Dede-Dummmm

Tue, 10/20/2009 - 08:09 ET by CO2Maker

"Dede, are you in favor of card-check?"

"Yes. Your identification. Show it to the police. Officer, he's stalking me with intent to ask embarrassing question."

I'm guessing she just boosted her Conservative opponent's numbers by 5 or 10 percentage points.

What the heck is Newt doing

Tue, 10/20/2009 - 08:12 ET by mattm

What the heck is Newt doing supporting this Dem in GOP clothing? Is that part of his American Solutions?

Newt is a RINO

Tue, 10/20/2009 - 20:16 ET by R D Helm

I mean, someone has to carry the water for McCain when he slinks back to Arizona.

-Dave

Our elected representatives have failed us.

"A little bit of an uncomfortable situation"

Tue, 10/20/2009 - 08:17 ET by CO2Maker

Oh, waaaaahhhhhh-waaaaaahhhh. Geez, if I were the policemanorwoman, I feel like an idiot saying that!

"Show me 10-300 at my location. I've got an uncomfortable situation that might turn into awkward."

"Dispatch, I'm responding to a 10-301 at the candidate's rally. It's egregious behavior with intent to commit consternation."

"The suspect was stopped and questioned about reports of possible perseveration."

Seemed like the officer was doing a routine

Tue, 10/20/2009 - 09:30 ET by Thinking.Man

Is the police department called on to squelch discourse and free speech so regularly that it's common?

I realize this is only one side of the story, but it seems the officer was not at all confused as to why she was there, she was there to suppress questions.

I would demand and apology from the candidate and police departement, and I would file a complaint for a false police report.

The police would then have to admit they dispatch officers for non-events to intimidate reporters/citizens or they would have to admit the complaint was bogus.

It would be good fun for all involve in my opinion.

Date of birth? He should

Tue, 10/20/2009 - 08:17 ET by SickofLibs

Date of birth? He should have told the cop to screw off or charge me.

We don't need another

Tue, 10/20/2009 - 08:19 ET by danbo

We don't need another democrat to rubber stamp. We need a republican to rubber stamp.

We already pay farmers not to farm. Why can’t we pay legislators not to legislate? PJTV

The werker that called should be charged with false reporting

Tue, 10/20/2009 - 08:20 ET by Willis_Leon_Johnson

When the 'law enforcement' starts paying attention to why they are called, and who did the calling, and taking actions to reduce the number of krank calls over politicians getting their chops busted by PEOPLE asking questions things may change.

On the other hand, why nor call the police when politicians start lying, refusing to answer and CAUSING their own discomfort and creating a hostile environment against themselves?

http://gjresult.com

Interesting Idea

Tue, 10/20/2009 - 09:26 ET by Thinking.Man

If the complaint was made at the bequest of the candidate she should be charged with filing a false report, which is a misdemeanor.

Wish the reporter would persue it, the police officer behavior is also highly suspect.

"Youre not in any trouble" Really, you just showed up with your lights on randonly to add to the festivities?

I think there is a bit more here than meets the eye, the local RNC probably has their hooks into this somehow, wish the reporter would run it down a bit more and make a bigger stink of it.

He would be doing every Libertarian and Conservative a favor.

It is all about INTIMIDATION!

Tue, 10/20/2009 - 10:02 ET by Willis_Leon_Johnson

Call the police and ice down these questioners.

'Ask a question I don't like and get grilled by the police.'

Here's a thought. Invite the police before hand to attend the 'event', so when the call is made, the nice police'person' can say, "Just answer the question and stop trying to intimidate the person asking the question."

http://gjresult.com

Inciting A Riot

Tue, 10/20/2009 - 11:49 ET by timrfrench61

It would be reasonable for the police to cite a politician for enciting a riot by perpetrating bald face lies.

quit hiding-answer the peoples questions-

Tue, 10/20/2009 - 08:27 ET by JIMMY1660

you want our vote-answer the questions asked. there is no hiding in politics.

we will not let buffoons into office-BHO has shown all of us what mistakes have big consequences.

NO MORE

BHO- THE PROGRESSIVE PIRATE

i wonder what newt was thinking

Tue, 10/20/2009 - 08:34 ET by larry on LI

backing this 'daily kos sponsored ' rino? maybe he wasn't doing the thinking part.there is absolutely nothing this person represents that would give her an R, backed by the working families party ,acorn,seiu ,kos,supports abortion, i'd give her a D and a set of walking papers.

The real problem

Tue, 10/20/2009 - 09:23 ET by Thinking.Man

Is the RNC for even allowing this lefist trash on the ticket

If this is how the GOP is going to win they are in for another sound beating regardless of the stupidty and tone deafness of the current administration.

So now the politicians want to be journalist free.

Tue, 10/20/2009 - 08:34 ET by c5then

This is just the normal manifestation in the age of Obama and the total control of the media.

I forget...can someone remind me what political system is it that controls the media and at least the major industries (like vehicle manufacturing and financial institutions)???

Throw 'da bums out!!!

no incumbent re-elected, with very few exceptions!

www.loyaltoliberty.com

Free speech zones

Tue, 10/20/2009 - 08:39 ET by CO2Maker

University campuses have had them for years, small spaces set aside for free speech, so that the rest of the campus can be spared the irritation of unpleasant opinions.

Perhaps candidate forums should have "free journalism zones," a roped off enclosure where journos can ask question. If the journo asks a question outside the zone, he or she can be stopped for jouronating in public.

The Clinton Strategy

Tue, 10/20/2009 - 08:37 ET by KC Mulville

Let me just say at the outset that this is the re-telling of the story by one of the participants involved. It doesn't matter if it confirms my every suspicion about politicians. It's still a story from only one side. That should give pause to making interpretations too quickly.

That having been said ...

I wonder if this is another example of the Clinton Strategy: all opposition is evil, and must be destroyed. They don't just deflect questions they don't like; they actively attack the questioner. It's banana-republic press relations. Attack anyone critical. That came back to haunt him when the press found Monica, but the strategy was working until then. Hillary worked that way. Obama works that way. Let's face it, they're all working that way now, regardless of party.

We reap what we sow, I guess ...

I have read

Tue, 10/20/2009 - 09:21 ET by Thinking.Man

Enough about this Candidate from other sources and seen her speak on video etc.

Sounds just like her, socialist lite, another RNC candidate that will reach across the isle and sell out the American people for a few bucks.

I am convinced she's scum, this whole thing rings more than true.

Voters in NY's 23rd

Tue, 10/20/2009 - 09:04 ET by tim413

If this Republican candidate is not conservative enough for your taste, vote for the 3rd party candidate. Let the Dem have the seat and send a message to the national Republicans that we aren't in the mood to send "moderate" Republicans to Congress.

Stop federal judges from foisting their notions of "fairness" on the States. Amend the 14th Amendment! - tim413

Better plan.

Tue, 10/20/2009 - 09:07 ET by Willis_Leon_Johnson

Send the THIRD party person to congress and send both partys scrambling to find out wtf is going on in fly over country.

http://gjresult.com

Voters in NY's 23rd

Tue, 10/20/2009 - 09:04 ET by tim413

Stop federal judges from foisting their notions of "fairness" on the States. Amend the 14th Amendment! - tim413

How dissapointing

Tue, 10/20/2009 - 09:18 ET by Thinking.Man

Is this how the GOP is going to win back America, by telling us to vote for someone that Obama would be willing to hire as a CZar?

I am truly sick and tired of the RNC forcing these socialist lite candidates down our throats.

Enough already, the gangs have a term "Cleaning House" which means getting rid of weak members, I think the time has come to ask lefty GOP'ers to just go over to the Democrats like Spectre did, it would be the biggest gift they could ever give us.

redefining the GOP from the inside

Tue, 10/20/2009 - 09:52 ET by katainkent

How can this woman call herself a republican? At best she's a moderate democrat.

Scared to take a question - fine, hide under your desk when the phone rings like every other congress critter. But to call the police to come save you from a reporter with difficult questions.... ? Ugh, I feel a headache coming on. They are a bunch of elitist spoiled brats.

____________________________________________
The Emperor, he has no clothes

Yep, if the GOP

Tue, 10/20/2009 - 09:54 ET by general company

Wants my particapation, they need to run this woman off. There should be some standards, let the socialist have her.

My Gov. thinks I am dangerous, so be careful

"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg

I'm sorry but anyone that

Tue, 10/20/2009 - 09:59 ET by gmaniac1

I'm sorry but anyone that doesn't find this amusing has just lost their funny bone. I mean other than holding up the 911 line, this is classic comedy.

Nothing more than a run-of-the-mill elitist Republican acting like a conservative. Nixon and Rockerfeller would be proud.

I

Tue, 10/20/2009 - 10:23 ET by jessieH

I saw a movie where the enemy used our own resources against us. We know the white house owns the media, but I didn't think they would try to use the police against us. Pretty brazen, to use the 911 emergency number, which is against the law if it isn't an emergency. I guess it's a matter of "don't do as I do, do as I say. Good luck with the election, you two faced bi**h.

Hunting Permits

Tue, 10/20/2009 - 10:23 ET by Utherpend

I think the reporter needed to get the New RINO Hunting Permits the Tea Parties are issuing.

"For a people who are free, and who mean to remain so, a well-organized and armed militia is their best security."

Meh, I wouldn't put too

Tue, 10/20/2009 - 10:26 ET by Cthulhu2012

Meh, I wouldn't put too much blame on the police department on this one. Sounded to me like the cop didn't see it as a serious issue at all and was just going through the motions. This politician (not even gonna bother trying to spell her last name) probably has enough power and inclination to make the police department's life difficult if she felt they weren't doing their job. The cop had to at least LOOK like she cared just a little bit. Besides, who knows what the person who called the police told her (likely something about harrassment or something similar)?

On another note, I'd be extremely surprised if the conservative candidate DIDN'T win over her in this district because of this little incident.

Hell I'd be surprised at this point if she actually managed to beat the democrat running against her!

Why choose the lesser of two evils?

Daily Kooks

Tue, 10/20/2009 - 10:45 ET by slickwillie2001

The loonbats at Daily Koss support Scozzafava; that black mark on her should be all voters need to know. Shame on 'Republicans' that endorsed her.

PS Can I still use the term 'black mark', or will that bring out Eric 'The Forehead' Holder's legions of seminar poster-trolls?

this women is in for one

Tue, 10/20/2009 - 11:38 ET by jkwtrading

this women is in for one hell of a ride if elected..

911 Call?

Tue, 10/20/2009 - 11:50 ET by slickwillie2001

The reporter in this case should see if he can get the 911 call from the police; I believe they are in the public domain. Might be interesting to see and hear how this was spun, and just stretch the story out a little longer.

"At that point someone from

Tue, 10/20/2009 - 11:58 ET by ThomNJ

"At that point someone from her campaign placed himself between Scozzafava and me and told me I should direct all my inquires to the campaign's spokesman."

sooooooooooo....a candidate for public office that doesn't want to talk to all members of the public, okaay - so who is running the candidate or the spokesman? ridiculous - this ranks up there with all the dems during the presidential primaries talking baout how tough they woudl be with the likes of iran and nokorea - but were all afraid to fce the likes of Brit Hume on Fox.....yeah, right

Never Let a real Republican in the Door.

Tue, 10/20/2009 - 12:09 ET by Avitar

Newt is so desperate to keep the Democrats from creating a facist dictatorship that he is supporting a Nancy Johnson clone. (Nancy Johnson was the Conecticut RINO who as chairman of the house ethics commitee accepted 86 false charges against Newt and hounded him out of Congress. ) I guess things must be worse than I thought.

Newt 2012?

Tue, 10/20/2009 - 12:44 ET by slickwillie2001

Newt is an inevitable Presidential candidate for the Republican primary in 2012, and I predict that the Scozzafava affair will be used to bludgeon him mercilessly..

Hoffman

Tue, 10/20/2009 - 14:02 ET by jacktheripper

will get my vote! I've been a Registered Repub since 1977 and sad to say voted for this "women". She is the reason I changed party affiliation with her support (vote) for gay marriage in NY and card check! She is a disgrace to the GOP and her district. Oh and McCormack shouldn't feel too bad, she would not answer my questions either.

"The American Republic will endure, until politicians realize they can
bribe the people with their own money." – Alexis de Tocqueville