Closet Journalism: Reporter confined to closet for Biden fundraiser

Drudge Report: Staffers with Vice President Joe Biden confined an ORLANDO SENTINEL reporter in a closet this week to keep him from mingling with high-powered guests gathered for a Dem fundraiser.

Reporter Scott Powers was the designated "pool reporter" for the vice president's Wednesday visit to the massive Winter Park, Fla., home of developer and philanthropist Alan Ginsburg. The veep hadn't arrived yet but most of the 150 guests (minimum $500 donation) had. They were busy noshing on caprese crostini with oven-dried mozzarella and basil, rosemary flatbread with grapes honey and gorgonzola cheese and bacon deviled eggs, before a lunch of grilled chicken Caesar and garden vegetable wraps.

Not so for Powers. A "low-level staffer" put Powers in a storage closet and then stood guard outside the door, Powers told the DRUDGE REPORT. "When I'd stick my head out, they'd say, 'Not yet. We'll let you know when you can come out.'"

And no crustini for Powers, either. He made do with a bottle of water to sip as he sat at a tiny makeshift desk, right next to a bag marked "consignment." Powers was closeted at about 11:30 a.m., held for about an hour and 15 minutes, came out for 35 minutes of remarks by Biden and Sen. Bill Nelson, Florida Democrat, and then returned to his jail for the remainder of the event. [MORE]

Joe Biden's staff has since apologized to the reporter:

ABC News: "Scott - You have our sincere apologies for the lack of a better hold room today," wrote Vice President Biden spokeswoman Elizabeth Alexander last Wednesday to Orlando Sentinel reporter Scott Powers.[...]

A statement from the VP's office noted that "It is standard policy for the Vice President's office that a print pooler cover the speaking program at fundraisers. This has been the consistent policy throughout the Administration. At times, these fundraisers are at private homes and 'hold rooms' are provided for pool reporters to wait for the speaking program to commence. A hold room, however, should not be a storage room. This was the unfortunate mistake of an inexperienced staffer and the Vice President's office has made sure it will never happen again."

I don't know what is sadder here. Is it the complete lack of transparency that a reporter cannot report on exactly whom the Vice President of the United States is associating with or that a reporter, whose job is protected by the Constitution, would actually submit to this kind of treatment? Whatever the case may be, the truth is both problems are the reason why we have such crappy government today.

In our nation the media is suppose to exist as the eyes and ears of the people. It is their job to keep close tabs on all politicians (from both parties) and alert us when these politicians go astray. Can any of us honest say this is what we are getting when politicians get to decide when they wish to be transparent and the media sheepishly goes along with it?

Great damage has been done to this nation, especially during this last decade, and much of the blame falls right at the feet of our lazy, lopsided and sheepish media.

Via: Memeorandum
Via: The Drudge Report
Via: ABC News