Posted on 02/17/2005 7:44:02 AM PST by johnny7
The DNC chairman lifts the edict in time for his debate with Richard Perle on foreign policy
Howard Dean may be quoted after all.
Reversing course, the newly elected chairman of the Democratic National Committee on Wednesday lifted a "news blackout" that his agents tried to impose on anything he says during a debate in Portland tonight with a leading Republican advocate of the war in Iraq. The reasons for the blackout and its abrupt lifting remained murky Wednesday. But Laura Gross, a Dean spokeswoman, said the former Vermont governor would allow full news coverage of his remarks during the debate with Richard Perle on U.S. foreign policy since the 2001 terrorist attacks. Perle is a former Reagan administration Defense Department official and conservative foreign policy expert.
Gross portrayed the flap as the result of scheduling confusion since Dean's election as DNC chairman Saturday. "A lot of his speeches are closed," Gross said. "This is nothing new. Now that he's DNC chair, he's in a different role, so of course it's open to the press. There's really no story here. We just had to catch up on his schedule." But officials at Pacific University in Forest Grove said they were mystified by the Dean blackout edict, the first in the history of the Tom McCall Forum, which the university co-sponsors with Wells Fargo bank. "The idea of a press blackout has never occurred in the 23 years of the event," said Russ Dondero, a political science professor and founder of the McCall Forum. "It's something I never imagined."
Dondero said university officials received the blackout request Tuesday in an e-mail from an agent of the Harry Walker Agency in New York, which books speaking engagements for Dean, Perle and other prominent individuals. The university declined to make the e-mail public, but relayed its contents in a message Wednesday to news organizations that were planning to cover the debate. "DNC Chair Howard Dean has declared a news blackout of his appearance and requested the media not quote, record and/or paraphrase his remarks at the debate," said Steve Dodge, a university public affairs officials. "We ask that you comply with these wishes."
Dondero said Pacific University officials decided they had no choice but to honor Dean's request. "You're trying to be accommodating to make sure this event happens," he said. "If I have to make a decision that's the way we make sure Howard Dean comes west, then we do a blackout." The McCall Forum is named after former Gov. Tom McCall, a journalist and strong advocate of open meetings laws. It will be held at 8 p.m. today at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall in downtown Portland. Proceeds from the event support scholarships and internships for Pacific University students interested in public service.
Dondero would not disclose how much Dean and Perle will be paid for the appearance, but said that compared to some other speakers "these guys are being very reasonable." Dondero also said that university officials were not told why Dean initially wanted a news blackout, but that he assumed it was linked to his new duties at the DNC. Don Walker, president of the booking agency founded by his late father, said a standard clause in Dean's speaking contract gives him control of press coverage of the event. "We've been telling them for some time we're going to assume it's closed unless Governor Dean wants it open," Walker said. "Then it came to our attention that they would like it open and Dean said fine."
Dondero disputed that account. He said the university never asked for permission to open the forum to news coverage because officials always assumed it was open. "That issue came from them," Dondero said. Dean's outspoken opposition to the Iraq war helped propel him to the front ranks of candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination before his campaign imploded in Iowa. Perle is widely regarded as a key, behind-the-scenes architect of the war. Had the blackout edict stood and been honored, only Perle could have been quoted in news accounts of their debate.
Perle said Tuesday he was not surprised Dean changed his mind. "It was an untenable position," he said shortly before boarding a plane for Portland. "I can't imagine they thought it was a good idea."
Edward Walsh: 503-294-4193; edwardwalsh@news.oregonian.com
I think Frarrakhan operates on the same basis.
It's going to be a lot of fun over the next few years.
What, us hide something? Nothing to see here, move on... move on.
I told my liberal friend that Dean getting the DNC chairmanship is the one thing that can make both of us happy.
They folded pretty fast; never even put up a fight, it appears.
Many old line American Democrats will be leaving the Hijacked Progressive Socialist Democratic Party. The more the numbers grow that are leaving for more traditional values party, the weaker the Socialist Progressives become. Where are the Trad Dems going to? The Republican Party? or a Third Party to present their own Traditional Democratic Party Candidate? Does anyone know?
Hannity if your reading this get back on your own blog! I know it's lonely over there, your just going to have to live with the echo's!
This off the record crap is going to hit the fan big time when some blogger carries a digtal recorder into these events and posts it for the entire world. The more they try to seal the cracks and preserve a 'smiley face grumpy face' choice of venues, the more juicy this target will become. Can they spell H-Y-P-O-C-R-I-S-Y? Private conferences within certain limits are one thing, but if anyone expects privacy at a large scale gathering thee days, well, good luck. Better to have one face for all people at all times than play the dangerous role of Janus in the farsical RAT tragic comedy.
If you want to see the disconnect between reality and a polyannic dreamworld, this debate will show it. Poor Dean, I almost feel embarrassed for him. Perle is considered by some on the left as being svengali like. Controlling the entire right wing conspiracy. Poor Dean will be left saying: "WTF was that?"
Where & when will this debate air?
The crazy thing is that the dem base loves him! No way is Dean 'gonna write-off running in 2008... this job is just to keep him VIABLE for 2008!
And also, now, my "Dean People Suck" T-shirt is current again!
Two days...two mess-ups by the weirdo from VT. A very auspicious beginning...if you are a Republican.
Howard Dean debating Richard Perle is like Pee Wee Herman debating Stephen Hawkins. A truly one-sided battle of wits.
Mr. Perle will not have to whip his ass. Howard Dean will do a fine job on his own butt all by himself. It is really ironic that the DNC chooses Howard Dean as their Chairman, and then they immediately lock him in the closet. Do you realize that this guy has been the Chariman of the DNC for almost a week now, and has not appeared on one news/talk program? Go figure!!! I guess the Democrat Party wants to keep this guy out of the public domain, and just let him handle the whacko lefties that make up the current "traitor/treason" Democrat party.
I always assumed any public appearance (especially a public debate) by a party chairman would be on the record. Private strategy sessions off the record, sure. But a public forum? What were these guys thinking?
I'll bet in a couple of years the Dummies will convince themselves that Rove was behind Dean.
If this turns into a fight between him and Hillary it's going to be a joy to watch.
The federal Govt. is investigating charges of Mismanagement of funds and cost overruns in the Vermont Health care system, also for misleading investigators and off the books loans to the tune of 150 million dollars!!!! and who was in Charge? who had oversight?????
Howard Dean!!!! that make him PERFECT! for Chair of the DNC.
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