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| The fake CNN cameraman is at the far right, partially obscured, wearing the bright orange cap. |
When I first heard this story, I thought it had to be a
joke, or an attempt by someone to get Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mark
Schauer “punked.”
joke, or an attempt by someone to get Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mark
Schauer “punked.”
But apparently this is for real: Someone claiming to be
from CNN showed up at a little Schauer campaign event in Coldwater with just a
couple dozen people in attendance and he began filming every word. After some
checking, the Schauer campaign discovered that this guy actually does camera
work for Gov. Rick Snyder campaign ads. Dirty tricks in the works?
from CNN showed up at a little Schauer campaign event in Coldwater with just a
couple dozen people in attendance and he began filming every word. After some
checking, the Schauer campaign discovered that this guy actually does camera
work for Gov. Rick Snyder campaign ads. Dirty tricks in the works?
I envisioned a bit of Republican skullduggery — perhaps
GOP Congressman Kerry Bentivolio with a fake beard, imitating Wolf Blitzer.
But, no. The imposter was just some guy who shoots video and is pretty hapless
at pretending to be someone he is not.
GOP Congressman Kerry Bentivolio with a fake beard, imitating Wolf Blitzer.
But, no. The imposter was just some guy who shoots video and is pretty hapless
at pretending to be someone he is not.
The sleuth, identified as Jeff Steinborn, had a phony-looking
press credential and a bright orange CNN cap. While the Schauer appearance at a
coffee shop was nothing of significance, Steinborn videotaped the entire event.
Then he left without bothering to get any direct quotes from the candidate.
press credential and a bright orange CNN cap. While the Schauer appearance at a
coffee shop was nothing of significance, Steinborn videotaped the entire event.
Then he left without bothering to get any direct quotes from the candidate.
A memo produced by the Schauer campaign says:
“On Saturday, March 1, Mark Schauer hosted a public ‘Meet
and Greet’ with voters in Coldwater at the Northwoods Coffee Shop. A man wearing
a CNN hat attended the event with professional video equipment and a ‘Media Photographer’
credential, which identified himself as ‘Jeff Steinborn.’ The suspicious credential was issued on
January 1, 2014. When Steinborn was asked who he was with by Schauer campaign staff, he
pointed to his CNN hat. A Schauer staffer asked Steinborn explicitly if he was working for CNN, and
he replied, “Yep. We’re keeping an eye on the race.”
and Greet’ with voters in Coldwater at the Northwoods Coffee Shop. A man wearing
a CNN hat attended the event with professional video equipment and a ‘Media Photographer’
credential, which identified himself as ‘Jeff Steinborn.’ The suspicious credential was issued on
January 1, 2014. When Steinborn was asked who he was with by Schauer campaign staff, he
pointed to his CNN hat. A Schauer staffer asked Steinborn explicitly if he was working for CNN, and
he replied, “Yep. We’re keeping an eye on the race.”
It turns out that Steinborn is a professional
videographer from Tennessee whose work for the Snyder campaign included the
role of director of photography for the Snyder Super Bowl ad, which infamously featured
the governor snorkeling.
videographer from Tennessee whose work for the Snyder campaign included the
role of director of photography for the Snyder Super Bowl ad, which infamously featured
the governor snorkeling.
Clandestine audio and video recordings of an opposition
candidate are common in Michigan political campaigns. The tape that is secured is typically leaked
to the media – if it’s juicy stuff – or it’s used in negative advertising that
casts the opponent in the worst possible light. If caught, the person doing the
taping is supposed to come clean when asked who they work for.
candidate are common in Michigan political campaigns. The tape that is secured is typically leaked
to the media – if it’s juicy stuff – or it’s used in negative advertising that
casts the opponent in the worst possible light. If caught, the person doing the
taping is supposed to come clean when asked who they work for.
And falsely claiming to be part of a media outlet is
strictly forbidden.
strictly forbidden.
Meanwhile, it appears the governor’s campaign team has
yet to comment on Coldwatergate. The Schauer camp is demanding that all the videotape
shot by Steinborn of Schauer be destroyed.
yet to comment on Coldwatergate. The Schauer camp is demanding that all the videotape
shot by Steinborn of Schauer be destroyed.
A Schauer spokesman
called the incident a “desperate and Nixonian move” by the governor.
called the incident a “desperate and Nixonian move” by the governor.
“It should be beneath
a sitting governor to send a highly-paid political consultant to impersonate a
national news reporter at his opponent’s campaign events,” said Zack Pohl. Snyder
should admit his mistake, apologize, and agree to run his campaign above board.
Moreover, he should fire his media firm, Strategic Perception, and Mr.
Steinborn over this matter.”
a sitting governor to send a highly-paid political consultant to impersonate a
national news reporter at his opponent’s campaign events,” said Zack Pohl. Snyder
should admit his mistake, apologize, and agree to run his campaign above board.
Moreover, he should fire his media firm, Strategic Perception, and Mr.
Steinborn over this matter.”
Oh yes, I've seen this many times. Staging a condition that lends to capturing a candidate saying something or doing something that can be repackaged out of context and sold to the base. It's called Breitbarting, so named after the hack journalist who paid little lackeys to break into offices, steal records, roll tape and hide recorders so Breitbart could edit it into a news item (stitched together like a quilt made in the bowels of hell.)
Breitbart died. But I see his methods live on.
Snyder needs a Schauer as Michigan's Governor' and Michigan needs a Schauer as Governor after having Snyder as a Governor
Sending "trackers" to record the events of your election opponent is tolerated, even expected. It can sometimes make news — the "macaca moment" that derailed former Sen. George Allen's reelection bid in 2006 occurred when Allen took issue with a young tracker from Jim Webb's campaign, referring to him on camera in terms many considered racially offensive to his Indian heritage.
But pretending to be with CNN, forging bogus press credentials and then lying about them when confronted crosses many ethical lines, and is possibly an act of criminal fraud.
Shenanigans like these make the work of actual journalists more difficult, feeding the cynicism many already feel towards the media and devaluing the vital work they do.
Does not surprise me. Snyder has proven himself to be a liar (RTW) among others. He is sneaky and underhanded in all his dealings for our state. He has harmed us all, while pushing himself forward in the GOP. We are aware that the GOP and Snyder care nothing for the people … Mark will have my vote no matter how much the GOP lies to try and diminish him.
synder is the lowest of lowest
People are to stupid in Michigan to see the shit they have pulled. We are surrounded by sheeple. Look at the south, they are the poorest in the country and yet still vote red at their own expense. The Coch brothers are buying Michigan at the base level where the Fed has little chance to help the little guy.
Sadly, I must agree…
You and I are like this. (points at eyes) I've written very similar responses to the one you wrote. I've personally lost hope in the "dumb" people of Michigan. You could strip them of their pensions, take away all their benefits and yell "booga booga" at them and they'd still vote for the guy who's causing all their pain. The people of Michigan will reelect Snyder. Why? Because NO ONE KNOWS WHO THE FUCK MARK SCHAUER IS.
Tennessee? Could he also work for Corker?
and where exactly is the proof that anyone in Snyder's office knew anything about this? A snide comment that this guy worked on a campaign commercial is all I read in this article. Perhaps he was hoping to be rehired and thought this was the way to do it. It speaks volumes about that man's ethics but to try to pull the Governor into this story was cheap.
Rick is that you? Hiding in the shadows is the cowards way. You either believe in what your saying and post your name or you hide your identity and post cap that you'd be embarrassed to post under your own name.
Last post must have been from Rick Snyder or one of his lakeys
The sycophantic responses to this story are priceless. Chad is a "my-blood-runs-blue-too" liberal that will take any opportunity he can to trash someone that is right-of-center on anything.
I think for todays press, and anyone in todays government, at any level, to blush, and act hurt and surprised over anything is to absurd to even spend enough time to explain. Just remember, Washington D.C., CNN, NBC, MSNBC, CBS, ABC. etc. You are the low class pieces of DUNG, that started it. And FOX, ———-you too.