Reporter arrested at Manchester debates for asking wrong questions

[Rocketman]

great comment from the reason article comments section:

<< 'proof that any wing bat can get a press pass...'

I believe that Helen Thomas proved that over a century ago. >>

Heh, I had a press pass. 

Lepacek had every right to ask the question, but once Goeas made it clear he wasn't going to answer, Lepacek did NOT have the right to intentionally cause a big scene in the press room.  Once he started doing that, he was interfering with the many other reporters who were also asking questions.  A press pass entitles you with the privilege of asking questions, not the right to harass somebody on private property where you are a guest.  The police acted quite appropriately to remove him once it was clear he wasn't going to back off.  Like it or not, Goeas has every right to decline to answer any question.

He made his point, I guess, but all I can say is that people like that had better keep their distance from a certain candidate's campaign or I'll get real cranky... 

[Dave Ridley]

I called the state police and they referred me to goffstown pd...

the state police said they were getting a lot of calls but it was a GPD thing.  they gave me a GPD number:
497 4858

[Rocketman]

Dada, please explain your interest in this.  I was there (not "right there," but heard the ruckus, watched the exit, and later saw the video) and I had no problem with having the guy removed, revoking his press credentials, and refusing him readmittance. 

It isn't a public park, guys.  Attendance and participation at a private event is a privilege, not a right.  The Giuliani staffer was a jerk, yes, but he has a right to not answer, just as infowars has a right to gripe about not being answered.  It all plays out in the marketplace of ideas, but Lepacek has nowhere to hide behind the First Amendment -- the scene he was making goes beyond free speech.

[KBCraig]

The Giuliani staffer was a jerk, yes, but he has a right to not answer, just as infowars has a right to gripe about not being answered.

So why didn't they arrest Giuliani's guy instead?

That is what is troubling about this. Goeas had no authority there, but with a nod of his head he has Lapecak ejected and arrested.

[Rocketman]

The Giuliani staffer was a jerk, yes, but he has a right to not answer, just as infowars has a right to gripe about not being answered.

So why didn't they arrest Giuliani's guy instead?

That is what is troubling about this. Goeas had no authority there, but with a nod of his head he has Lapecak ejected and arrested.

Because being a jerk is not a crime?

Goeas may have asked for Lepacek to be taken away, but that doesn't mean it was done on his authority.  It appeared that the cops made a judgment call, and in my judgment they were correct to defuse the situation by removing the aggressor.

[Kat Kanning]

Why was his cameraman, who hadn't said a word, also ejected and almost arrested.  CNN was putting on this show and didn't want the guy arrested.  How come the politician can be a jerk but the reporter can't?

[Rocketman]

How come the politician can be a jerk but the reporter can't?

Because the "politician" is there to answer questions, and the reporters are there to ask questions.  The individuals are in two different roles.  In fact, they have different credentials for being there, and a different status, like it or not.

This guy was clearly trying to make news, not report news.  Hard to call him a reporter, once he wouldn't let Goeas turn his attention to others who were asking questions.

[KBCraig]

The Giuliani staffer was a jerk, yes, but he has a right to not answer, just as infowars has a right to gripe about not being answered.

So why didn't they arrest Giuliani's guy instead?

That is what is troubling about this. Goeas had no authority there, but with a nod of his head he has Lapecak ejected and arrested.

Because being a jerk is not a crime?

Quod erat demonstrandum. Thank you for scoring my point.

[supperman15]

There were other ways to defuse the situation.  The politician, and the journalist shouldnt be any diferent to the police in there rools, and finaly the proprieter is the only one that should be making a judgement call.  The cops were not there to keep the peace they were there simply to protect the politicans

[KBCraig]

Hard to call him a reporter, once he wouldn't let Goeas turn his attention to others who were asking questions.

There was no restraint. He was several feet away, with several other reporters in between them. Part of a press secretary's job is to ignore questions out of turn, and focus on other questions. Goeas didn't do that.

[Rocketman]

Watch reporters in any informal interview situation where there are several reporters and one interviewee.  The reporters all try to blurt out a question, but once it's clear that one voice has been recognized, the rest all bite their tongues and wait for the next pause to try again.

Journalists over the years have learned the virtue of cooperating with one another in this way because this informal code of conduct ensures that everybody gets at least a chance to ask questions, and not just one loudmouth monopolist.  Berating the interviewee more than violates the journalistic code of ethics, and in my view Lepacek lost his privileges the moment he began demanding an answer and monopolizing the interview opportunity.

[KBCraig]

As you said, reporters bite their tongues once the host recognizes one of the questioners. In this case, Goeas kept turning his attention to Lepacek, so everyone else shut up to watch and wait their turn. If he'd just turned his back and started talking to someone else, and if Lapecak kept up the shouting, then we'd have a case for removing him.

I didn't see that from the video. I wasn't there. I'd like to see what other cameras and microphones captured, though.

[alohamonkey]

How come the politician can be a jerk but the reporter can't?

Because the "politician" is there to answer questions, and the reporters are there to ask questions. 

Isn't that the exact opposite of what was going on?  I watched that video and Giuliani's guy didn't seem to be answering any questions. 

I'm not saying I agree with Luke and whatshisname's reporting tactics.  I definitely didn't like the way that they confronted Rockefeller a few weeks ago but there was no need for them to be arrested.  At the most, they should have been given a warning to keep it down.  Maybe escorted out.  Not criminal tresspassing charges.  The problem with mainstream media now is that reporters are afraid to ask tough questions just for this reason.  The media caters to the political elite instead of demanding transparency and accountability.  I'm supporting them in this fight and this will be the best publicity Infowars has ever gotten. 

[Rocketman]

A press credential entitles a person to participate in the media event, not disrupt it.  There are thousands, maybe millions of people who'd like to be in that room asking questions. 

Recommended reading: Chapter 3 of David Boaz's Libertarianism: A Primer, for those of you who happen to have it on the shelf. 

[Rocketman]

Isn't that the exact opposite of what was going on?  I watched that video and Giuliani's guy didn't seem to be answering any questions. 

Seems clear to me he refused to answer, and was well within his rights to do so.  Would he have sat down and watched video for any of the other reporters, right there on the spot?  In the context of an interview, a refusal to answer IS an answer.  (Reminder: I despise Giuliani, and from what I've seen, Goeas.)

I'm not saying I agree with Luke and whatshisname's reporting tactics.  I definitely didn't like the way that they confronted Rockefeller a few weeks ago but there was no need for them to be arrested.  At the most, they should have been given a warning to keep it down.  Maybe escorted out.  Not criminal tresspassing charges.  The problem with mainstream media now is that reporters are afraid to ask tough questions just for this reason.  The media caters to the political elite instead of demanding transparency and accountability.  I'm supporting them in this fight and this will be the best publicity Infowars has ever gotten. 

This will not be the best publicity infowars has ever gotten.  All those clowns have done is added further justification for the restrictions on access to candidates at events. 

Please don't support a group if you don't like their tactics.  I agree with a lot of "ends" which are sought by certain groups, but if you ever catch me promoting journalism you know to be dishonest, please call me on it.  The guy was not, as the article states, arrested for asking a question -- he was arrested for trying to get back in after losing his privileges.