Current location:International Interactions news portal > opinions
Colorado reporter's expulsion from Republican gathering causes uproar
International Interactions news portal2024-05-07 15:09:36【opinions】7People have gathered around
IntroductionDENVER, COLORADO —Politicians and news outlets in Colorado expressed anger over the expulsion from a
Politicians and news outlets in Colorado expressed anger over the expulsion from a Republican gathering this past weekend of an experienced politics reporter who was told that the state party chairman "believes current reporting to be very unfair."
Journalists and prominent politicians, including the former chair of the Colorado Republican Party, came to the defense of Colorado Sunreporter Sandra Fish and against current state Republican Chairman Dave Williams, who said he had "no apologies" for ejecting Fish.
The controversy follows the contours of attacks on the press nationally, partly brought on by former President Donald Trump with the popularization of the term "fake news." The ejection also appears to have influenced an endorsement Monday in the Republican primary race.
The state Republican Party announced on the social media platform X that it was endorsing U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert over one of her primary opponent, Deborah Flora, in the state's 4th Congressional District race, partly because "Deb Flora lied about participating in the CD4 Assembly process, & now she's boot licking fake journalists who only help Democrats."
The post was a direct reply to Flora's post on X defending Fish, in which Flora said the expulsion was "wrong and a violation of the First Amendment."
The chair, who introduces himself on the party’s website as "Dave 'Let's Go Brandon' Williams," is seeking the nomination to run for the 5th District seat held by Republican U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn, who is retiring from Congress.
In a text, Williams said he had no apologies for kicking Fish out of the assembly in Pueblo on Saturday and accused her of being a "fake journalist" and The Colorado Sunof being biased. When asked by text for examples, Williams did not respond. The Colorado Sunis an independent, nonprofit and nonpartisan news outlet that covers Colorado.
"I invite anyone to share any example of The Colorado Sunor Sandra Fish being unfair or inaccurate. So far I have heard nothing," said Larry Ryckman, editor of the news outlet. "The Founding Fathers weren't any big fans of newspapers back in the day. But they understood that a healthy democracy demands free, unfettered press."
The assembly, held about two hours south of Denver, was partly to select representatives to the Republican National Committee and to work on a party platform for the election.
"There are 900,000 Republicans in the state of Colorado and a lot of unaffiliated voters who are interested in what happens at this assembly. And how they find out is via reporters like me being there to cover it," Fish told The Associated Press by phone Monday.
"I am, as one person on Twitter noted, a little old lady and I've been in this business for a long time, and I just don't think it's right to eject a reporter from a meeting like this," said Fish, who has covered politics since 1982.
Fish said she heard rumors prior to the event that she'd be barred from attending, and she asked event organizer, Eric Grossman, who texted her Thursday that he'd get back to her.
"Thanks. I've been covering these assemblies for at least seven cycles and have never had issues before," Fish texted back. Ryckman attempted to reach Williams on Thursday night to discuss but said Williams never responded.
Before dawn on Saturday, Grossman texted Fish saying she wouldn't be included on the press list and that "the state chairman believes current reporting to be very unfair."
"I went anyway because, come on, this should be an open event," said Fish, who was checked in and given press credentials that she wore around her neck along with a Colorado Sun nametag.
About an hour later, security asked her to leave. Fish showed her press credentials, then Grossman arrived and soon a sheriff's deputy was called. Fish left with the deputy.
"We make no apologies for kicking out a fake journalist, who actually snuck into our event," Williams said in a text. "Her publication is just an extension of the Democrat Party's PR efforts, and the only backlash we see is from the fake news media, radical Democrats, and establishment RINOs who hate our conservative base."
Grossman, in a text, said Fish's actions were "a selfish political stunt."
Republican state Senator Barbara Kirkmeyer defended the reporter, writing in a post on X: "Sandra Fish is a fair; honest and respected reporter, as a Republican I'm embarrassed by the GOP chair."
Address of this article:http://www.triple-v.org/article-2b099988.html
Very good!(6136)
Related articles
- Xiconomics: How China
- ULTIMATE GRAND NATIONAL GUIDE: Mail Sport's expert gives his verdict on all 34 runners
- Thierry Henry blames Declan Rice for Bayern Munich's opener at the Emirates
- Masters stars' adorable children take over the course on the eve of the tournament
- Countries welcome Chinese tourists
- Robert De Niro, 80, walks hand
- Premier League clubs vote unanimously for major new change to the offside rule
- Ai Weiwei launches new exhibit, says still trying to understand studio demolitions
- Xi Story: A Rural Street Food's Recipe for Success
- Diego Simeone is involved in feisty touchline bust
Popular articles
Recommended
Outbound tourism on the road to recovery
The Masters faces a first
Ellie Leach breaks down in tears over her cheating ex
What kind of cancer did O.J. Simpson die from?
View of spring in Beijing
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce doing Coachella in style! They will be staying at a TOP luxury members
Rachael Blackmore to place in BOTH rides on Day 2 of Aintree boosted to 11/4
How DO you deal with a problem like Gary Lineker?
Links
- Xi Says Chinese Modernization to Bring New Opportunities to China
- Ski resorts in east China make full preparations during Spring Festival holiday
- Enterprises in Guangxi ride RCEP momentum to expand ASEAN market
- Decade after divorce, woman finds new life on two wheels
- Used goods proving to be trendy commodities
- Counting down to Chengdu Universiade: venues with Sichuan flavor
- China's CPI up 0.1 pct in March
- Xi Calls on China, S. Africa to Strengthen Four Partnerships in Golden Era
- Highlights of women's 81kg event at 2022 World Weightlifting Championships
- Chinese paddlers reign supreme at Durban table tennis worlds