Romney Campaign: 'Don't Be Argumentative'
I posted this here just in case anyone hadn't seen it yet.
The best part of the video, and by best I mean worst, isn't Romney's snippy attitude or short temper, but Eric Fehrnstrom's post-interview words with Glen Johnson of the Associated Press. Fehrnstrom, the Romney Campaign's Traveling Press Secretary, tells Johnson in no uncertain terms: "You're out of line....Save your opinions...and act professionally...and don't be argumentative with the candidate."
I don't know if Johnson is a reporter who has been embedded with the campaign or if he merely showed up to report on this speech. Romney's familiarity with him seems to suggest that he has been on continuing assignment. Either way, this is a terribly interesting look into how Romney's campaign deals with the press. Isn't it a reporter's job to ask questions and to be argumentative when the need arises? Johnson clearly thought he was catching Romney in a lie, and he was reprimanded for challenging him about it. Not exactly a free exchange of ideas.
Can we assume that this is how the press is treated by presidential campaigns as a whole? "You're welcome to tag along and report, just don't get uppity and contradict anything we say."

Leave a comment