Washington Post: Michele Bachmann’s handlers get rough with reporter

Washington Post ^ | 07/19/2011 | Greg Sargent

[SeekAndFind]

This morning, the Daily Caller published a story I was inclined to leave to others: Michele Bachmann suffers from severe migraines.

But now the Bachmann camp has suddenly invited a whole lot more scrutiny to the story. At an event today, ABC News reporter Brian Ross tried to ask her about her condition, and according to another reporter on the scene, Time’s Michael Crowley, Bachmann’s handlers got pretty rough and aggressive with Ross:

"Ross dashed after Bachmann, repeatedly asking whether she had ever missed a House vote due to a migraine. She ignored him. Ross pursued her into a parking area behind the stage. Her aides grew alarmed. When Ross made a beeline for the white SUV waiting to carry Bachmann away, two Bachmann men pounced on him, grabbing and pushing him multiple times with what looked to me like unusual force. In fact, I have never seen a reporter treated so roughly at a campaign event, especially not a presidential one. Ross was finally able to break away and lob his question at Bachmann one more time, but she ignored him again. Afterward, I asked Ross — a hard-nosed pro who nevertheless seemed slightly shaken — whether he’d ever been treated so roughly. “A few times,” he told me. “Mostly by mafia people.”

Jeffrey Schneider, a senior vice president for ABC news, reiterated the charge in an interview with me just now.

[truthfreedom]

that goon was high up at the DNC marty meehan I think.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Coakley was already a clown.

[Kirkwood]

obama must have had a lot of migraines because he missed 314 out of 1300 senate votes.

[budwiesest]

Thanks, I flip the remote so much I seldom see the beginning of anything- but lots of commercials. Now, THAT gives me a headache.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Brian Ross needs to be taken down and treated like the queer twerp he is.

(He was in my class at Iowa...)

[Elendur]

yes, liberal reporters are scum.
but
“It shouldn’t happen.”
...thugs and goons are the tactics of the left.
remember when SEIU goons beat up that black tea party guy?

and they aren’t “doing a palin” on her.
it was one reporter chasing her with a question.
he didn’t touch her, or even block her !

and yes, i dearly want to know Obama’s medical history.
these are legitimate questions, that SHOULD be asked.
(unless it’s your own pet candidate?)

...how many reporters have chased palin for the past 3 years?
any of them get roughed up?
(again, i AGREE they deserve it!!!)
but this is stuff we condemn when Coakley and Hillary’s goons do it.
(remember Hillary’s goon squad ???)

if Palin’s people did this, i would expect her to condemn it.
(and Palin enjoys PLAYING with the media! she owns them.)
...same with Cain, or even Romney.
i am continually amazed at the double standard Bachmann gets here.
if ANY of the other candidates lied about their taxes, etc., it wouldn’t be tolerated.
if any other candidate like Gingrich make the John Wayne mistake in the announcment speech, you’d be howling with laughter.
i simply don’t understand.
...if Romney’s people did the exact same thing, to a reporter asking a legitimate question, tell me you would support him ?
Palin initially supported the Libyan campaign. i think that was a mistake. i said so. Cain backpedaled on his “loyalty” test. he shouldn’t have.

but none of them have said things like 50,000 is “not a penny”. ...and Bachmann does this week after week.
and nobody starts to add them all up?
nobody thinks even HONEST independents might have honest questions?

and judging just by the numerous gaffes etc, just in the past month, do you really think she will be electable in Nov 2012?
i’m capable of being honest and objective about candidates i like.
(in fact, i praised Bachmann unconditionally, for her position on the Pigford black farmer case!
that was a very very courageous statement for a candidate!)
maybe Bachmann IS the leader we need, if she can inspire such blind loyalty. I don’t even see this in Palin followers.

[Vendome]

Lacking proof I find for Ms. Bachman.

Act aggressively get treated the same.

[RummyChick]

She is about to have a PR nightmare depending on what that video shows. Bachmann clearly knew he was a reporter and she was being filmed.

The video will indeed go viral.

The tweets on this are already brutal

dbldiamond54 Simon Peters
Brian Ross Received ‘Mafia’-Style Bruising From Bachmann Staff: “Mostly by mafia people.” Did Ross deserve it? T... http://bit.ly/nQRT7W

[Mamzelle]

What, no video? How about showing that video of that dreadful hag that was running against Scott Brown who had her thug throw a conservative reporter to the ground?

[newzjunkey]

He had already asked his question and was ignored.

Chasing down a 5' 2" congresswoman trying to get into a vehicle is silly and possibly dangerous.

Wake me when we have the video of the "mafia" hit on Ross. /s

I'm sure he'd have no problem chasing Obama or Shiela Jackson Lee with a question.

[Mamzelle]

Found no video at your link. Did I miss something?

[BerryDingle]

Agree, No video, never happened

[devolve]

[Cheetahcat]

It is time, for Blood and Teeth to be on the pavement!

[exit82]

Cry me a river, Brian.

Should have listened the first time, egghead.

[CharlesWayneCT]

If a reporter ran after Obama asking questions, Obama wouldn’t need handlers to stop him, the other reporters would beat him up.

[BerryDingle]

Meanwhile, keep in mind all the media attacks on “annointed” Mitt Romney.

[kcvl]

How ABC News’ Brian Ross Staged His Toyota Death Ride

John Cook —Brian Ross, America’s Wrongest Reporter, has been credited with owning the Toyota recall story, including one memorable report with Ross behind the wheel of an out-of-control car. He did it by splicing in staged footage to make it look scarier.

UPDATE: ABC News “fixed” the video by making it even faker.

Last month, Ross paid a visit to David Gilbert, a professor of automotive technology at Southern Illinois University who claims to have diagnosed a Toyota design flaw and found a way to reliably recreate uncommanded acceleration in its cars. To prove it, he let Ross drive around a car he’d rigged to suffer from the defect, and sure enough, it took off without warning! Scary. Here’s the video:

http://gawker.com/5486666/how-abc-news-brian-ross-staged-his-toyota-death-ride

[kcvl]

How ABC News’ Brian Ross Staged His Toyota Death Ride

Toyota Statement:

As revealed in their testimony before Congress, Professor Gilbert’s Preliminary Report was commissioned by Sean Kane, a paid advocate for trial lawyers involved in litigation against Toyota and other automakers. Mr. Kane also appeared on the ABC News broadcast in support of the claim that Professor Gilbert’s demonstration revealed a flaw in the electronic throttle control system that could lead to “runaway” Toyota and Lexus vehicles. The relationship between Mr. Kane, Professor Gilbert and the trial lawyers who support Mr. Kane’s advocacy was not revealed by ABC News during the newscast, nor was Toyota offered an opportunity to view the demonstration or given time to respond.

[IMR 4350]

That’s awful cold.

I’d let them have a drink from my hose.