While other media were allowed through the door, the Tucson Weekly was prevented from entering Sen. John McCain’s town hall today.
McCain’s town hall drew so many people to St. Mark’s United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall this morning that several dozen people were prevented from entering the room, which had a total capacity of 150, according to a sign on the door.
Team McCain was allowing media into the room, but when I presented my business card and driver’s license, the goon working the door didn’t even take a close look at it.
Instead, he demanded “media credentials.” When I asked what a credential was, I was told that it was a badge of some kind indicating that I worked at the publication.
“Anyone can have a business card,” the goon told me before simply closing the door on me as I tried to work out our differences.
I wasn’t the only one who wasn’t able to get into the hall.
Roy Goodman said he was “very disappointed” that he couldn’t get in.
“I’ve taken time off from work to here,” Goodman said. “The fact that they take a space that has an under-limited capacity for the constituents who live in this part of Arizona is very disappointing.”
Goodman said opportunities to see McCain at a public gathering were very limited.
“I’m hardly ever aware of when he’s here at something that the public can go to, not a fundraiser,” Goodman said. “I came here for a rare opportunity to attend a town hall meeting with one of my two senators,” Goodman said. “I wanted to listen. I wanted give him an opportunity to talk to me in person. I wanted to give him an opportunity to respond to questions from the community and hear what he had to say about them.”
Chris Hale, who is working on a campaign for Republican congressional candidate Gabby Mercer (who hopes to challenge Congressman Raul Grijalva next year), said he had arrived at 9:20 a.m. for the 10 a.m. town hall, only to discover that the event was already full.
Hale said he thought Team McCain has chosen “a tiny little venue. With the high schools closed, they could have easily gotten the CDO auditorium.”
Hale said he was disappointed he couldn’t get into the event.
“Everyone should have an opportunity to voice their opinion,” said Hale, who suggested limiting access to the town hall was a “strategy” on the part of Team McCain.
Hale said he identified with the Tea Party, but wanted to see the Republican Party “unite so we can start getting action done and make some tough decisions.”
This article appears in Aug 4-10, 2011.
“While other media was allowed…” (Posted by Jim Nintzel on Tue, Aug 9, 2011 at 12:14 PM)
Looks like a trap…
Hmmm, the Weekly really doens’t have badges? Totally not a McCain supporter, but your title was a little misleading. They didn’t specifically ban the Weekly, they were at capacity, and The goon kinda had a point…
Fixed, Red Star. Thanks as always.
SillyNilly, I really don’t have a badge. Nor have I needed one for any political event I’ve covered in Southern AZ, including presidential visits.
Don’t they use press passes any more? (or is that a relic from the days when Clark Kent would stick a press pass in his hatband?)
A liberal rant blog does not make you a member of the press.
Josh: Possibly not, but I’m going to say that 22 years at a weekly publication, thousands of articles and a stack of awards (even recently: http://www.tucsonweekly.com/TheRange/archi…) does make Nintzel a member of the press.
Thanks for playing!
The Tucson Weekly is a nothing more than fish wrap. . . or fit for the bottom of my bird cage.
The Tucson Weekly is a slanted liberal rag, not a news paper. In addition, you (Nintzel) had to ask “What Media Credentials are?” Clearly you had no business being there. Also, to open your article with name calling, e.g. Goon at the door, confirms my point that the Weekly is a rag, not a news paper.
It does not surprise me in the least that McCain denied the weekly access or had a small venue. McCain does not care about any views except his own. He does not represent all of his constituents. It is very sad as the same can be said for LD 26 where he was speaking today. There are no politicians representing all of the people in this area. They only represent themselves and the lobbyists interests. We are left to suffer in unemployment and poverty.
I have ALWAYS had to have actual credentials when I worked as a reporter (radio) and I’ve worked all over, including DC. An ID and/or biz card wouldn’t have let me in at all!
The US Senate is looking and acting more like the UK’s House of Lords every day. I wonder what the stats are for US Senators losing an election versus dying in office? Seems the ones with any sanity call it quits sometime before the winter of their life. It is past the time for term limits.
scumbags
Anyone can have a press pass, too. You don’t need anything fancier than Microsoft Word to make yourself some sort of badge, print it out, and if you wan’t to be super fancy, get it laminated. Personally, I’d love it if you wore a fedora with a card tucked into the brim that says “Press.”
Did anybody see how the crowd reacted when McCain says he wants to lower the “corporate Tax rate” from 35% to 25% ???He looked as if PANICED !!! Only Tim Conway in the Carol Burnett Show could have been funnier !! LMAO !!
this is great vehicle for all that is local. Because its ink does not smear when you handle the paper or use it, its become the paper of choice when one needs to satisfy a gassy Hassey moment which was a little more gassy than expected. First started by Tom Hassey a Tucson native son and local radio fame “The Gassy Hassey” movement is part of local charm and history.
McCain’s an establishment Republican, and as such not relevant.
He should retire soon, now maybe? This would allow for better
representation. The Republicans should be working toward the
elimination of Monopolies and Oligopolies, freezing taxes wherever
they are, and freezing government employment not BSing about tax
rates. The elimination of about a zillion pages of government regulations,
which individually my be valid, but in total make for zero employment growth
as business finds it hard to survive when its feet are stuck in a quagmire of
regulations should be our priority.