The latest mini-drama in MA-Sen is the battle of the trackers. Video trackers attending events featuring both Elizabeth Warren and Scott Brown have been the subject of inappropriate conduct. TPM has the story, noting that last weekend someone tracking Warren was shoved by a cab driver. The Warren campaign says that he was not affiliated with the campaign but was simply a cab driver, and has stated that the photographer should have been allowed to finish filming and that “the confrontation was wrong.” Likewise, back in March someone tracking a Brown event in Revere was manhandled while being ejected from the event. It’s unclear who the manhandlers were, but we are not aware of any apology from the Brown campaign or from the state Republican party for the incident.
In light of that, it seems painfully hypocritical of the Mass. GOP’s executive director, Nate Little, to put out an overly pious statement fairly brimming with fauxtrage, in which he (1) falsely says that the guy in the video was a Warren campaign aide; (2) assigns blame for the incident to Warren herself; (3) falsely says that the guy was on Warren’s “staff”; and (4) tut-tuts about how Warren needs to “address this situation” while not making any commitment on his own part to ensure that such things never again happen at a Brown event.
I think we can all agree that video trackers are part of modern campaigns, and that if you’re planning to say something stupid, you should simply avoid saying it when the camera is rolling. Warren trackers should have free reign to cover Brown campaign events, and vice versa. We look forward to hearing Mr. Little’s much-belated apology for the event in Revere, and to reviewing the measures he and the Brown campaign have put in place to ensure that Warren and Mass. Dems trackers have full and unfettered access to Brown’s appearances.
Video of the two incidents is on the flip.
Video of Mass. Dem tracker getting roughed up at a Brown event:
Video of Republican tracker getting whacked outside Warren event:
Discuss
8 Comments . Leave a comment below.…John Walsh very graciously introduced the Brown tracker to us.
got it worse than the GOP tracker, but it’s the kind of job that’s bound to piss people off. Political paparazzi.
I’m shocked at how well the GOP tracker is treated. Free beer even! Dem tracker? Not so much.
Extraordinary. The man is evidently channeling earlier days as an AC/DC fan. Check it out.
http://bluemassgroup.com/2012/05/scott-brown-grilled-by-one-person-asking-one-question-eagle-tribune/
Poor Scotty, just not up to task.
otherwise SB would be accused of being a sexist again as he was when he told EW to stop talking about his record.
I’ve never seen a politician of his/her staff stop someone from recording something.
johnd, commenting on the link provided:
From the link provided:
I’ve never seen a Democratic politician of his/her staff stop someone from recording something.
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