Ocasio-Cortez Communications Director: We will not exclude the Press from future events

[Shumi]

Corbin Trent spoke to The Washington Post:

But Trent confirmed that it would not be happening again. “It’s not been a policy of the campaign,” Trent said. “It won’t be the policy of the campaign.” Asked whether there would be any such media exclusions going forward, Trent said: “No.”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2018/08/17/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-will-be-facing-really-intense-scrutiny/

[nolabear]

1. Good that they're willing to learn.

[TheCowsCameHome]

2. I'm afraid it's too late

The initial story is all over the place.

It's a rookie mistake, and I hate to see this stuff happen.

[JI7]

3. why didn't they just plan a private event ?

[fallout87]

4. Townhalls aren't private

That would defeat the purpose of a townhall...

[Nanjeanne]

5. It was a question of learning anything. It was an event where they explained many times that they

wanted people to feel comfortable expressing their concerns and addressing issues. It was one event where they felt more comfortable not having press at. It wasn't their policy in the past nor their policy going forward to exclude press. But it's sounds so much more interesting to present it as something they have done in the past and learned their lesson from. Especially if one is prone to be looking for anti-AOC memes.

[frazzled]

6. Hello?

I’ve been at dozens of town halls where large numbers of press and cameras were present. There was never any sense that citizens who attended were uncomfortable asking any questions they wanted to pose, or that they were in any way impeded from “expressing themselves.”

That is a completely bullshit excuse, and those who keep explaining away these errors—of fact, of protocol, of transparency—should be ashamed. It is not helping the candidate at all to accept or excuse these kinds of errors instead of encouraging the campaign to do better. Indeed, any good campaign would admit its mistakes and apologize. Then get on the game and move forward. Defensiveness is never a good campaign strategy.

[brush]

7. Exactly. Perfectly stated. Can't believe so many here are defending banning the press.

It's an obvious error of inexperience. Apologize, learn from it and move on.

[Tarheel_Dem]

8. +1. Sounds like AOC's DU interns are engaging in "alternative facts" which makes me uncomfortable.

[Tiggeroshii]

10. Funny how we have a president working to change policies in order to jail the press

But AOC is the bad guy here for banning them from 1 event? Way to keep your eye on the ball.

[Older Than I Look]

11. Yes, AOC is the bad guy here. BECAUSE WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE BETTER THAN TRUMP!

[Tiggeroshii]

12. Because banning reporters from a single event is equivalent to wanting to jail them how, exactly?

False equivalencies are hilarious.

[Older Than I Look]

13. Dismissing valid criticism is stupid & short-sighted.

Again, not something Democrats should copy from the other side.

[Tiggeroshii]

14. You know what's stupid? Implying a candidate is against the free press when we have a president

Wanting to jail them. Ignoring that to criticize a non elected public figure is again, hilarious.

[Older Than I Look]

16. And now what you're doing is called "whataboutism".

Just because Trump has done something heinous & unAmerican doesn't absolve AOC from being criticized for doing the same thing, even if she does it on a smaller scale.

AOC barred the press from an "open" town hall. That's a fact. It was the wrong thing to do. That's a fact.

And the fact that her staff promised it wouldn't happen again should clue you in.

[Tiggeroshii]

17. AOC is a general election Democrat and we need her to win back congress.

Not sure you've identified exactly who the enemy is yet, but it's not her.

It was a bad call on her part, I agree. But I don't agree with the comments implying she is trying to be like the sunburnt Orangutan crap currently residing on pennsylvania ave.

[Older Than I Look]

19. Yes, the Dems need to win back Congress & start the country on a better path.

Copying the behavior of our enemies isn't the way to do that.

Again, AOC's campaign has admitted it was a mistake. Why can't you?

[Tiggeroshii]

20. Read my above comment.

Thanks

[lapucelle]

31. It was 2 out of the only 3 local events that she's held in the last 5 weeks. N/T

[Tarheel_Dem]

15. If her goal is to mimic the worst traits of this "president" and his ilk, she's off to an...

auspicious start.

[Older Than I Look]

21. Almost like you're talking to a brick wall, isn't it?

[Tiggeroshii]

22. Yep.

[George II]

25. Two events several days apart, never should have happened in the first place.

[Tiggeroshii]

27. Agreed things happen and it was a mistake

But maybe some folks should redirect their fire seeing what's at stake this year.

[lapucelle]

32. Maybe her campaign manager needs to rethink his strategy

given what's at stake this year.

[lapucelle]

33. And the local press should not have been shut out of

2 of the only 3 events in weeks. They were there for her when she was the under dog. She should make herself more available going forward.

[lapucelle]

30. Her campaign only held 3 local events with the candidate in the last 5 weeks.

The local press was barred from 2 of them. If that's the story, the local press is going to cover it.

And if the campaign is actively courting national recognition for the candidate, the national press is going to pick up the story.

[WE ARE SC13]

9. Good

If you can not deal with media, get the hell of politics.

[MineralMan]

18. Good decision.

[Yavin4]

23. Young politicians are going to make mistakes.

Let's stop nit picking.

[Tiggeroshii]

24. +10,000

[George II]

26. This wasn't the first "mistake".

[Yavin4]

28. That's why I said "mistakes" (plural of "mistake")

Republican candidates make bigger gaffes all of the time, but you don't see their base tearing them up about it.

[RandySF]

29. Growing pains