I am generally a Clinton fan and for the past few years I've looked forward to the day that I might vote for Hillary for President.
As that day draws closer, however, I find myself firmly in the undecided camp. Things I am hearing about regarding the Clinton campaign in Oklahoma are not helping.
Hillary has made two trips to Oklahoma this summer, both fundraisers
that were closed to the general public. Unless you were a member of the public that could fork over thousands of dollars. I did read Friday that you COULD get into yesterday's Tulsa rally for $50, but you were pretty much relegated to "steerage".
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I also know that this event was closed to the press although Hillary was quoted in this morning's Oklahoman. I am a freelance photojournalist, I have a significant source to what goes on regarding news photos in my state. http://newsok.com/...
I don't know how the writer of today's story managed to get in, assuming he even did, but I do know that the photograper was escorted in by someone with the Oklahoma Campaign organization, managed to get off three shots before he was pounced on by Hillary's people and escorted out.
The first consequence of this action was that a really unflattering photo of Hillary ran in the Oklahoman today. I've shot enough political speeches and rallies to know that it take more than three shots to find a decent photo to submit to a publication. Many professionals shoot up to a hundred or more photos at an event like this.
The second consequence is that it hardly inspires goodwill.
As a journalist and a person who appreciates transparancy and openess in government, I find this more than a little discouraging.
I paid $25 to see Barack Obama, I could take all the photos I wanted and the event was open to the media. Compare and contrast.
Journalists in Houston yesterday were allowed to cover Hillary at a rally that was free to the public. http://calendar.yahoo.com/...
This attitude harkens back to the old pre-Howard Dean days of the DNC.
Hill, if you're going to have any success in Oklahoma, you're going to have to make yourself available to people other than the wealthy of Tulsa and Oklahoma City.
Howard Dean has said that we should ask EVERYONE for their vote. Considering that Terry McAuliffe is Hillary's campaign chairman, maybe I shouldn't be surprised that the Clinton campaign has such a repressive attitude.
Hill, I've really want you to be "my girl"(snark), but this attitude, treating many of your potential voters as second class citizens, in addition to recent comments you've made (in rebuttle to Barack Obama) as to what a potential President of the United States should and should not be discussing with potential voters (we shouldn't know what you're thinking?) really has me turned off at the moment.
I really hope this restrictiveness on the campaign trail is a result of "your people" and not you, but whoever it is needs to chill out.
I've had enough respression and secrecy with the current administration to last me a lifetime.