Media Booted From GOP Convention

Katy Grimes: Just a few minutes ago at the Republican party convention in Sacramento, as convention guests began filling the ballroom for the scheduled luncheon to listen to pollster Frank Luntz as speaker, media were hustled to a corner of the room and told that we would not be allowed to be present for Luntz’s speech, as “proprietary information” would be shared.

Tom Del Beccaro, Calif. Republican Party Vice Chairman and Mark Strandriff Republican Party Communications Director

That did not go over well. Members of the media are very unhappy when told we are not allowed to attend a publicized, scheduled political event. After a few minutes of harsh words and challenges from inquiring media minds,  we were told we could stay and that Luntz would change his presentation. Now we are all wondering what is so super secret…

UPDATE: 1:15 p.m.: Luntz just announced that he didn’t want the Calif. Republican Party to take the heat for the decision, and told the media it was his idea to close the meeting to the press so he could have a frank discussion with the Republican attendees. However, he said he decided that nothing he was going to say is a secret, “and the Republican Party has nothing to hide,” so the media could remain at the luncheon.

MAR. 19, 2011