UPDATE: Here’s the fallout from the incident I playfully
call Coldwatergate:
call Coldwatergate:
Rick Snyder campaign manager Kyle Robertson initially did not
comment in detail on Jeff Steinborn’s antics when the MIRS news service first
reported the story on Thursday morning.
But Robertson told MLive later on Thursday that he took
the manager position late last year and has never met Steinborn. He strenuously
denied any knowledge of Steinborn’s appearance at the Mark Schauer event.
“Steinborn hasn’t done
any work for the campaign since last summer,” he said, also questioning
the way Schauer staffers described the incident. “He was not there in any
official capacity.”
comment in detail on Jeff Steinborn’s antics when the MIRS news service first
reported the story on Thursday morning.
But Robertson told MLive later on Thursday that he took
the manager position late last year and has never met Steinborn. He strenuously
denied any knowledge of Steinborn’s appearance at the Mark Schauer event.
“Steinborn hasn’t done
any work for the campaign since last summer,” he said, also questioning
the way Schauer staffers described the incident. “He was not there in any
official capacity.”
Several state and national news organizations picked up
on the story. It’s pretty clear at this point that Steinborn was not
telling the truth when he implied that he works for CNN. It also seems that
Steinborn’s connections to the Snyder campaign may not be as significant as the Schauer campaign believes.
on the story. It’s pretty clear at this point that Steinborn was not
telling the truth when he implied that he works for CNN. It also seems that
Steinborn’s connections to the Snyder campaign may not be as significant as the Schauer campaign believes.
Here are links to the burst of news coverage on Monday:
MSNBC: Video: The Ed Show: Rick
Snyder Sends Fake CNN Reporter to Schauer Event
MSNBC: Video: The Ed Show: Rick
Snyder Sends Fake CNN Reporter to Schauer Event
 |
| 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.
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.
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.
“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.”
Jeff Steinborn was the director and videographer of Rick Snyder's 2014 Super Bowl ad. That may not put him in Snyder's "inner circle," but it also shows he's not just some schmoe.