Ryan campaign apologizes for ''up-close'' taping (of Obama in IL): WLS-TV

[mark0rama]

Senate candidate Jack Ryan's overzealous videographer has (as predicted on these boards) become an embarrassment for the Ryan campaign:

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/news/052104_ns_ryan_taping.html

May 21, 2004 — There's an apology in the race for the U.S. Senate from Illinois. Republican Jack Ryan says that a cameraman may have crossed the line. The photographer was hired by the Ryan campaign to video type the democrat.

Most big political campaigns these days do employ so-called trackers. They videotape the opponents' speeches at news conferences so they can immediately react to a flip-flop and inconsistency or attack. But the tracker hired by the Jack Ryan campaign has been behaving more like a stalker, who got so up close and personal the Ryan campaign is offering an apology and ordering the tracker to back off.

"I have no reason to doubt his word and I offer an apology on behalf of the campaign," said Bill Pascoe of the Ryan campaign.

The Ryan campaign is ordering staffer Justin Warfel to back off. And videotape opponent Barack Obama from a distance when the candidate is in Springfield. After Obama accused Warfel of virtually `stalking' him in the state capitol for the past week. And even recording personal phone conversations from two or three feet away.

(more)

HAW - haw!

[salin]

1. funny what will happen when the media actually picks up a story

smart move by Obama when the kid follows him into the capital press room and Obama asks reporters if they want to interview the guy who has been stalking him (or something to that effect)... blamo story has to be printed... and because it IS embarassing - Ryan's team had to respond (and pull the kid back.) :thumbsup:

[mark0rama]

2. Smart move, indeed

Obama was assertive in bringing it to the press' attention, but in a way that showed grace and humor.

[henslee]

5. Bingo. Grace and Humor... which is harder than it looks!

eom

[Longhorn79]

8. Why wouldn't they fire his ass?

[wicket]

3. BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

I love it! I'm so glad this is embarassing them (as it SHOULD). I mean c'mon, it was basically stalking, what were they thinking??

[AlCzervik]

4. I called Ryan's office this morning

and spoke to a receptionist, a very weary sounding one. Some good poster put his number on the board this morning. They past me off to a press office person and i very calmly read her my litany. When i was done there i called Obama's office and told them they had alot of support here at DU, she said she'd heard of this place many times and she'd pass along the message to Obama and she thanked us all profusely.

[benburch]

6. 7 of 9 SLEPT with this turd?

Amazing. (Ryan that is)

[benburch]

7. BTW...

Rumor is that the suppressed Ryan divorce records involve group sex, swinging, and non-consentual wife beating. But we likely will never know unless the press can get the record unsealed.

[Insider]

9. i know it doesn't matter, but

he is a handsome fellow. the one pic of his family is off the website, but that's a nice looking family too. hopefully he has substance too.

[demgrrrll]

10. Group sex, swinging, wife beating. Don't tell me, let me quess, he's

the Republican family values candidate.


Oh Smarty Jones. a nation turns its lonely eyes to you

[BiggJawn]

11. They're only sorry they got their asses busted.

"Oh, it's wrong to stalk my opponent with a video camera? Mercy, I didn't know! My Bad!"

I don't know what's more sad, Ryan expecting people to believe he's sorry, or the knowledge that there are Sheep in Illinois who will actually believe he's truly sorry...