Colorado firestorm: Administration bars scribes from public meeting

The Washington Times ^ | January 24, 2014 | Ben Wolfgang

[jazusamo]

The Obama administration’s testy relationship with the press is nothing new for Washington, but it’s now extended to Colorado and has touched off a firestorm after Interior Department officials booted local reporters from a public meeting earlier this week.

Journalists with Colorado's Craig Daily Press and at least two other media outlets were barred from a Tuesday question-and-answer session with Interior Secretary Sally Jewell, despite the fact that members of the public were allowed to attend.

“What happened would be in complete alignment with the administration’s policies. We were promised the most transparent administration ever and instead we’ve gotten the opposite,” said Moffat County, Colo., Commissioner John Kinkaid, who attended the meeting along with his two fellow commissioners, Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper and other officials.

“What Sally Jewell did — it makes total sense. That’s how this administration runs,” Mr. Kinkaid added.

The Interior Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and it’s unclear why administration officials felt justified in barring reporters from a public gathering.

The meeting came on the heels of Ms. Jewell’s tour of a ranch in Moffat County. The tour was meant to allow Ms. Jewell the chance to witness “innovative efforts to conserve and enhance habitat for sage grouse,” according to the Interior Department.

[jazusamo]

No reason to be sorry, something took place. Like you said, the administration lapdogs may have complained about something and they temporarily pulled it.

[jazusamo]

I hear you and don’t understand why any administration, no matter how corrupt they are would bar reporters from a public meeting.

They’re idiots.

[Triple]

There must be legal consequences to Sally Jewell for this violation of rights. She not only violated the reporter’s rights, but everyone who may have benefitted from hearing/reading the story on the meeting.

There should be criminal and civil penalties.

[jazusamo]

I couldn’t agree more, this act blatantly trampled the intent of First Amendment.

[BlueDragon]

Bammy is grousing about letting the sages in to report?

You're quick. That was actually pretty good, would leave a dent if it can be made to impact the Won long enough to absorb the whit and velocity...

Obama's people are "not letting the sages in to report", so although the Zero will attempt to blame others for this particular error, what we need is for it to stick on him (and the Hildabeast too -- never mind she was miles away --- I don't care -- we simply must torpedo that witch --- if we can do so by poke/reaching skewers right THROUGH the Won. all the better) for this barring of critics or potential critics from the "info-loop" is part and parcel of each of theirs hypocritical style, with agencies such as the IRS now likely to initiate rectal scans of Craig Daily Press, and it's associates.

Speaking of which --- we could really use some whistle blowers from within the IRS, itself -- yet that is difficult to achieve even for those who may consider assembling evidence from within that agency, due to it's own fairly strict compartmentalization in most all echelons, other than the very topmost crust --- which of course, in somewhat two-edged sword fashion, leaves responsibility for abuses stemming from that agency to be laid at the feet of those whom are politically appointed, and those whom have themselves made those appointments, resulting in all of the past, and any of future political use/abuse of that agency's "powers", initiated or conducted against Obama Admin critics, and critics of Democrat Party policies and persons generally also -- to be entirely Obama's "fault", and thus also the "fault" and true face of today's Democrat Party, by default, for he is their leader --- and there are but a scarce few whom dare openly condemn those abuses strongly enough to effectively police their "own" Political Party, even as they may seek to disavow any personal responsibility for these sort of high-handed abuses of power and "authority", their own selves.

Silence from any Democrat Party members at this part, is not merely acquiescence, but can be seen as form of agreement and collusion, for it is "they" and their own political party whom have been benefiting from the abuses, along with the daily double-talking hypocrisy of the Obama Admin, pretty much everywhere his and his own Party's political reach, desires, and decisions have extended...

America, now that you are finally a tiny bit "awake", rub that last bit of sleep from your eyes, and join us who have been up and awake since before this day's dawn...

It's time to go hunting. Or lose forever the opportunity to hold "government" accountable for it's own excesses, when such occurs. This is our golden moment --- do not let it pass, unexamined, un-lived...

[TurboZamboni]

Obama: “This is the Most Transparent Administration in History.”
BY Sarah Lai Stirland | Friday, February 15 2013
http://techpresident.com/news/23512/obama-most-transparent-administration-history

Obama-We’re the Most Transparent and Ethical Administration in U.S. History!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXWTdTnhebs

Pelosi tells C-SPAN: ‘There has never been a more open process’

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/homenews/58007-pelosi-tells-c-span-there-has-never-been-more-open-process

[BlueDragon]

There must be legal consequences to Sally Jewell for this violation of rights.

Sally Jewell (agent of Obama), enemy of Sunshine Laws of the State of Colorado...

[RinaseaofDs]

This is the ex-REI chick. What a crock.

I thought putting women in charge would make things freer, and more better?

[livius]

Incredible. And it’s so blatant that even other elected officials (I assume they’re Dems) are beginning to complain about it.

[jazusamo]

Yep, REI of Seattle. Iseewe’rebothinaseaoflibs:)

[jazusamo]

Yes, it really is unbelievable and they can’t justify shutting them out in any way, but that’s 0bummer and his followers.

[RinaseaofDs]

Yep, the People’s Soviet of Washington, where this very day in Olympia they are trying to pass gun control legislation.

Enjoy your rations, comrade!

Up to my armpits in socialists,

R

[kitchen]

... this act blatantly trampled the intent of First Amendment.

Others seem to share your belief:

HOW CAN THE MEDIA BE EXCLUDED?

Trust is compromised by feds' arrogance

WHY SO SECRET?

DUCK, DUCK, GROUSE, YOU’RE OUT: Hickenlooper Guest Brings DC Tactics to Colorado

[jazusamo]

Thanks for the links, it’s great to see this getting the attention of the media in CO.