INDCJournal: DNCC Credential Update: Even the CYA is SNAFU

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July 09, 2004

DNCC Credential Update: Even the CYA is SNAFU

Posted by Bill

It seems that John Tabin, the other right-leaning blogger who was issued, then denied credentials to the Democratic National Convention, may have caught the Dems in a lie.

7/9

12:13 - 12:25 PM -
Tabin speaks to Francesca Gage and is told that the rejections really were based on the limited space of the facility, and not ideology. Tabin wonders what conservative bloggers were approved ...

1:45 PM
Oxblog (a particularly staid and thoughtful right-wing blog) posts that they've just been invited to cover the convention ... via phone, not letter.

Which begs the questions:

1. What happened to the "space issues?" Why were they inviting additional bloggers after rejecting us?

2. Were the Dems hurredly inviting a more tolerable, prominent, mature, safe brand of conservative writer to the convention, just to cover their asses?

Looks like it.

UPDATE: the Dems say "To Err is Human," in their announcement on the matter. What about taking responsibility for your error? Travel cancellation fees might be a good start.

Wizbang also has some thoughts on the matter, including the theory that the lack of WiFi access at the convention might render the blogger experiment pointless. I disagree; not all bloggers (myself included) feel the pressure to blog in real time. The convention would have been a goldmine of material that I would have released in bits and pieces for weeks.

UPDATE: My guess on what the Dems will say? "We had already planned on inviting Oxblog, but the phone call was delayed ... the original letter was lost in the mail ... etc., etc. "

UPDATE: I sent Eric Schnure the following letter:

Eric,

First of all, "to err" may be "human," but what about taking
responsibility for the error?

As I've pointed out thus far on radio and my blog, I wasn't so upset
about being denied credentials based on ideology or format (I almost
expected it for such an experimental situation), but the (acceptance)
followed by the rejection was unprofessional and costly to an
independent blogger stuck with cancellation fees on travel plans.

I have two questions for you:

1. Will the DNCC reimburse me for what's likely to be a couple hundred
dollars in travel cancellation fees?

2. Why did the DNCC Press Gallery invite right-leaning blogger Patrick
Belton AFTER saying that the press pool was closed for "space issues?"

Your response would be most appreciated.

I've received one e-mail back indicating that they might be able to help me with the travel fees (excellent), and another saying that the Dir. of Communications will provide a "fuller response ... shortly." (also positive)

I really think that they ought to just reissue the credentials, but ...

UPDATE: Jeff Jarvis makes a lot of sense: invite us back!

Posted by Bill at July 9, 2004 09:16 AM | TrackBack (4)

Comments

It would be interesting to know which "left-leaning" blogs similarly lost their credentials. After all, if (according to Schnure) the "vast majority" of bloggers who lost their credentials were "left-leaning and progressive," then couldn't we expect some brouhaha from those quarters?

For that matter, I'd love to have a list of the 200 blogs who applied. Something tells me neither will be revealed. Demands for transparency only applies to conservatives, it seems.

Posted by: John Tant at July 9, 2004 10:03 AM