Miller camp says Bush photos to move to noncampaign site
Posted on 01/25/2003 6:04:50 AM PST by MeekOneGOP
Miller camp says Bush photos to move to noncampaign site
Mayor: Intent wasn't to make it appear that president endorsed her
01/25/2003
WASHINGTON - Even as White House officials Friday accused Iraq of "willful defiance" and the president declared homeland security efforts unfinished, a key adviser deep in the West Wing was worrying about another "crisis."
The flap over White House photos on the Dallas mayor's Web site.
It wasn't a "situation room" situation, but two of the president's closest confidants were involved.
Mayor Laura Miller's campaign agreed Friday that it would create a new "official" Web site, which would include the photos taken in the Oval Office of the mayor and her husband, Democratic state Rep. Steve Wolens, chumming with their Texas friend, President Bush. The photos would be removed from the campaign site.
"They don't want the president's picture used in a political context in a nonpartisan way," said Rob Allyn, the Miller campaign's media consultant.
On Wednesday, the Republican National Committee's chief counsel, Tom Josefiak, wrote to Ms. Miller's campaign, asking that it "cease and desist" using the photos.
The letter said photos on a campaign site might mislead voters into thinking the president endorsed Ms. Miller, a Democrat, over her opponent, City Council member Mary Poss, a Republican.
Asked whether that was her intent, Ms. Miller quipped: "Oh gosh, no. I don't talk about Mary Poss at all."
Mindy Tucker, the RNC communications director, said: "I think people infer a lot from a picture like that - especially when they're on a campaign Web site."
Lisa LeMaster, Ms. Poss' campaign adviser, said she was pleased the photos were being removed from the campaign Web site.
"I would call that a victory," she said. "All we would ask for is that you play by the rules. The issue has always been what is right and wrong for a campaign Web site."
Ms. LeMaster added that the campaign Web page should not include links to the new site where the photos will be posted.
She said that displaying a photo of Ms. Miller, a Democrat, with the Republican president could confuse voters.
"The Mary Poss campaign expects to launch its Web site next week," Ms. LeMaster said. "And the one thing I'm thoroughly certain of is there won't be a picture of Mary Poss and Al Gore."
Ms. Miller - who happened to be visiting the White House on Friday morning for a briefing with Mr. Bush as part of the U.S. Conference of Mayors - breezily suggested she would ask Mr. Bush: "Hey, you know, is this OK?"
Alas, the event for mayors was a bit too formal to do so, she said, although the mayor was happy to say the president singled out her and the Midland mayor for kind words.
Mr. Allyn, a Republican, said he talked with senior White House adviser Karl Rove and e-mailed adviser Karen Hughes, saying the Miller campaign would "fully respect White House wishes."
"This is pretty small potatoes compared with saving the world from terrorism and dealing with Iraq," Mr. Allyn said.
Staff writer Colleen McCain Nelson contributed to this report.
E-mail jfry@belo-dc.com
Pictures have RNC frowning - Miller asked to remove Bush photos from Web site; Poss is critical
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