Update | 9-6 6:50 AM EDT: Booker Rising Blogger Stands By His Statement
I informed Shay Riley of Booker Rising of the statement by Ms. Russo of MSNBC, immediately below. Here is his response [emphasis added]:
I relayed what I overheard on the shuttle bus from the convention center in St. Paul back to Minneapolis, which was packed with RNC staffers because their host hotel was the Hyatt. I stand by what I overheard the convention organizer named Phil told the convention delegate sitting next to him. I guess the bar coding on the convention credentials will reveal the source of Code Pink's credentials.
Update | 9-5 2:56 PM EDT: Responding to my inquiry, Alana Russo of MSNBC has stated it's "completely, totally untrue" that the credentials had originated from MSNBC. In a subsequent message Ms. Russo indicated she did not know whether the credentials used by the protesters had been scanned to determine their origin.
H/t Kimberly M.
Did the Code Pink members who interrupted John McCain's speech last night use MSNBC press badges to get into the hall? Not according to Code Pink itself, which claims the two women "obtained passes to the convention from disaffected Republicans."
There is another, much more intriguing, explanation out there. According to Shay at Booker Rising, which describes itself a newsite for black moderates and black conservatives [emphasis added]:
I took the shuttle bus back to Minneapolis, and I overheard a convention organizer named Phil telling a convention delegate that the protesters on Wednesday night got through because of media credentials that were traced back to MSNBC (he told her that each credential has an individual bar code for each convention invitee). They suspect MSNBC this time as well.
If indeed the badges are bar-coded, it should be a simple matter to check those in the possession of the protesters and determine their provenance.
In the meantime, will the MSM—starting with MSNBC itself—try to get to the bottom of the story?
Note: I have contacted MSNBC requesting comment on the story. I've also emailed Shay at Booker Rising seeking further information.
Note: At about 12:17 PM EDT today, Rush Limbaugh mentioned having heard about the protesters allegedly using MSNBC badges. Audio of Rush discussing the matter.
Note: Gateway Pundit reporting one of the Code Pink protestors might have stolen an alternate delegate's identity to get into the convention. But update at Gateway says delegate claims she attended convention every night--so how could her badge have been used by Code Pink?
Update: Video of Code Pink leader saying they got credentials from somebody who wasn't returning to convention.
Note: NB's sister publication CNSNews reports a separate incident of a Code Pink protestor using a press credential to disrupt an RNC convention-related event.
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
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Anyone suprised?
September 5, 2008 - 12:23 ET by AgentAmericanThis is a huge scandal...if it's true.
Drill ANWAR
As you suggest, caution is
September 5, 2008 - 12:28 ET by Mark FinkelsteinAs you suggest, caution is in order. But if it's true badges are bar-coded it shouldn't be hard to determine the origin of those in possession of the protesters.
Mark
September 5, 2008 - 12:47 ET by BlondeCan't you just call Matt or Noel to find out (about the bar codes)?
David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive
Caution Mark
September 5, 2008 - 14:12 ET by allanfMark - why don't we just follow MSNBC journalstic standards and run with the story using the "Some say" moniker?
allanf - bingo
September 5, 2008 - 14:21 ET by Gary HallI was just going to say the same thing. At this juncture in time, this is surely as solid a news story, as fully vetted, as what the MSM was taking to the public last week on Gov. Palin. (;~> gary
PS did you read my "They say" comment the other day?
or this doozy
September 5, 2008 - 14:37 ET by sawing battaRun with the story not because of
"the nature of the evidence, but the seriousness of the charge"
Send it to print, the liberals have given you precedent.
Or use the
September 5, 2008 - 15:25 ET by NotafraidDavid Gregory approach "I spoke to a woman today who said..." 100% of the time it is a comment favorable to Democrats or unfavorable to Republicans such as "I spoke to a woman today who said that she could never vote for John McCain because it will just be more Bush." You would never hear him say "I spoke to a woman today who said that she could never vote for Barack Obama because his house was financed in part by a felon, he was on the board of an organization of a radical activist who blew up American buildings and did not regret it, and he sat in front of a preacher for 20 years whose stock in trade was saying that America should be damned."
I tuned in myself off and
September 5, 2008 - 13:33 ET by Susan II tuned in myself off and on to MSNBC just to hear what smack they would be talking. (Boy, what a difference from last week!) Anyway... I noticed they were the only ones that were outside, and I believe they do it on purpose to get protesters to get behind them.
They barely showed signs that were for McCain, but were mostly shooting angles that would have negative signs against Bush or the war in the background. Don't tell me it was coincedence. How did the protestors get so close outside anyway. Only MSNBC would allow that.
So I myself don't hesitate for one second that they gave passes to Code Pink (who were in some of the shots).
As for being a scandal, the MSM will protect it's own, too bad. We will have to rely on Rush & Hannity.
NO KIDDING...
September 5, 2008 - 12:23 ET by danybhoyMaybe this is why MSNBC kept BathTubBoy at 30Rock to "cover" the RNC convention from NYC. It would be embarassing for MSNBC/NBCnews to have Olby being arrested with the Code Pinko nutjobs. That would be TV ratings GOLD. Seeing him getting hauled away in cuffs in a pink sportcoat, shouting at McCain that he knows better then anyone about what this country needs. What might have been...sigh.
"...it's still We The People, Right?" Megadeth
Excellent theory!
September 5, 2008 - 12:56 ET by SickofLibsImagine if they're traced down to be credentials issued to Olbercretin or his handlers that he obviously didn't need...
"They broke into my penthouse and stole them!"
Not possible. The
September 5, 2008 - 12:28 ET by Hero SquadNot possible. The protestors were too calm, well-behaved and balanced to have come from MSNBC.
*****
"People only insist that a debate stop when they are afraid of what might be learned if it continues." - George Will
Does the woman protester have any kids?
September 5, 2008 - 12:40 ET by Mica the MagnificentAnd I wonder if that young woman protester in the picture has any children?
If so, I expect the MSM to criticize her for neglecting her kids to go to 'work.'
I'm guessing she's more
September 5, 2008 - 13:00 ET by SickofLibsI'm guessing she's more likely to be an abortion advocate than one of those nasty 'baby' women.
You are correct, Sickolibs
September 5, 2008 - 13:18 ET by Mica the MagnificentI forgot. The woman with the highest pile of dead babies gets to interrupt the republican convention.
(This is really a tasteless comment. Should I delete it? What will my vote be? Thinking . . .thinking. . . . I think I'll vote 'present.')
Yo Mica - don't sweat it,
September 5, 2008 - 14:25 ET by SickofLibsYo Mica - don't sweat it, the tastelessness scale has been ratcheted up so far in the last week or so your comment would not even register on it.
HERO SQUAD...
September 5, 2008 - 12:45 ET by danybhoyThat's funny, well done!
"...it's still We The People, Right?" Megadeth
All of the media organizations should be investigating this
September 5, 2008 - 12:28 ET by Dee Bunkthis type of thing could make ALL of their access to events harder in the future.
If they don't get to the bottom of this then they are all equally responsible.
I sure hope that the police investigate it.
Quoting the democrats . . .
September 5, 2008 - 12:36 ET by Mica the MagnificentIt's the seriousness of the charge that requires us to investigate with vigor.
Now the MSM can use the word 'scandal' for the proper reason.
Please keep us informed.
September 5, 2008 - 12:37 ET by danboPlease keep us informed. True or not.
Limited Disclosure: I used to belong to the Sierra Club untill they went crazier. Worse of all, I was bribed by Exxon with free New Orleans Saints glasses with fill ups in the 70's.
accomplices
September 5, 2008 - 12:38 ET by Gat New YorkI would not be surprised if they were MSNBC. I would also not be surprised if Olbermann directly had a hand in this. We may think the MSNBC folks are nuts by Olbermann is mentally unbalanced and views his job as the loyal ally of those let wing organization. Afterall how may MSNBC undits regualrly blog on Daily Kuss?
One other thing any of those protestors could have had a weapon and ot too close to McCain. I hope there is a full scale investigation.
MSNBC
September 5, 2008 - 12:49 ET by saw the lightI watched coverage of the speech on MSNBC (everybody pray for me) to hear any extemporaneous comments made. Did the other networks show the Iraq vets against the war holding a sign just after the speech began? By my count, there were four different times the protestor was shown on TV instead of showing McCain. The producer obviously made a conscious decision to show it that many times. Maybe they knew the where the protestors would be?
Also, did anyone see the coverage before the speech? Joe Scarborough was on and turned it back to Olby. Olby then began made a few comments and began to preview what was after the commercial when he stopped and said something like, "What's that? Joe's talking off mic?" And then made some comment on speeches. I wish I had recorded it, it seemed that there was another issue between the on-air "personalities" on that network.
On Gateway Pundit, there's
September 5, 2008 - 13:12 ET by greenfairieOn Gateway Pundit, there's a post on this issue as well. Jodie Evans claimed she got her credentials (i.e. someone else's identity) from an alternate delegate "frustrated with Republicans" named Annie Eckrich from Indiana. There's a picture of Evans being interviewed while wearing the a badge with Eckrich's name on it. At first I was furious at the idea of a mole delegate and referred to Eckrich in not so nice terms but as it turns out (just checked GP again), Evans stole Eckrich's identity.
That Commie hoor needs to have her @$$ thrown in jail.
Still, if MSNBC is involved in any way, this could be a HUGE scandal.
KEEP ON IT! DON'T LET THIS ONE GO! There is something fundamentally wrong when even the press is engaging in the heckler's veto to disrupt any political party's right to speak to the American people.
This code pink woman
September 5, 2008 - 16:22 ET by danboThis code pink woman discribes hereself as a... (Are you ready?) ....... Community Organizer.
Shame on you. The real community organizers do things like work between agencies and community organizations to get things done. As provide services. Not try to stop people from speaking.
Limited Disclosure: I used to belong to the Sierra Club untill they went crazier. Worse of all, I was bribed by Exxon with free New Orleans Saints glasses with fill ups in the 70's.
The Pink-O in the pic is Jodie Evans
September 5, 2008 - 13:59 ET by Robin BoydJodie Evans is a bundler for Obama and a big fundraiser for him. Will he denounce her or just keep claiming that his hands are clean? Haven't heard one mention of this in the media but am I shocked... Nah...
Here's the heroic Evans
September 5, 2008 - 14:40 ET by SickofLibsHere's the heroic Evans being canonized on the CP site, looking like a friggin deranged day-glo Statue of Liberty.
An MSNBC undercover operative AND Obama bundler in one odious package. No story here!
I'll wait for official confirmation
September 5, 2008 - 14:50 ET by bmovies"Responding to my inquiry, Alana Russo of MSNBC has stated "that's completely, totally untrue.""
So she says.
Breaking News
September 5, 2008 - 14:54 ET by harqmanSome say, and reports have confirmed that some have said and likely will say again, that Keith Olbermann is a credible Journalist. Others say, have suggested if you will, because some have, so why not, that Keith helped Code Pink secure MSNBC press passes to the RNC.
Fact check done at I'mnotanidiot.com.
Fact Keith Olbermann is not credible or a journalist.
Fact Code Pink is a wing of MSNBC.
Fact Kieth is an obnoxious windbag who has narcissistic tendencies as defined by the DSM-IV (diagnostic manual of the American Psychiatric Association).
Fact Chris Matthews, another obnoxious windbag, is embarrassed by discredited, non-journalist Keith Olbermann
Fact Tom Brokaw asks himself every second of every minute of everyday, why the hell he did not stay at the ranch, literally.
CBS coverage
September 5, 2008 - 16:18 ET by doodlebugI watched the speech on CBS and they did a shot to the Vietnam vet protester 2 times. They also panned to some CP protesters while McCain was speaking (in addition to the time when he actually stopped speaking and remarked about the incident).
I have spent a year trying to convince my husband about the media slant and I'm happy to report he has finally seen the light. Even though he's Republican he is such a moral and innocent fellow that he couldn't believe that the media was biased. He felt it was my pre-conceptions that forced me to "see" bias when there wasn't any. Last night he actually pointed out some examples to me! TG for Newsbusters for I have been reading the forum here religiously since a co-worked told me about it 1 1/2 year ago.
Imagine This
September 5, 2008 - 16:41 ET by JoelCTImagine this: It is 2004, and FoxNews got DNC credentials to some of the Swift Boat Veterans For Truth. They snuck inside, and right after Kerry's "reporting for duty" comment, they rushed the stage and had a protest.
Four years later, the MSM would still be talking about it, and FoxNews would probably be out of business.
With the situation reversed, all you hear from the MSM is crickets.
They. Have. No. Shame!
Too bad...
September 5, 2008 - 21:46 ET by Tom in NCI would've paid good money to see the secret service taser this code pink cow and watch her convulse on the floor and then pepper spray Olberputz if he tried to help her
On Gateway Pundit, there's
September 5, 2008 - 23:22 ET by CooltomOn Gateway Pundit, there's a post on this issue as well. Jodie Evans claimed she got her credentials (i.e. someone else's identity) from an alternate delegate "frustrated with Republicans" named Annie Eckrich from Indiana. There's a picture of Evans being interviewed while wearing the a badge with Eckrich's name on it.
The pic on GP shows what looks like a typewriiten name tag. In the video from the convention, the moonbat is wearing a real credential. They're laminated, the size of a large postcard, with a barcode on the back.
I caught a snippet where they now are saying they lifted it off a table used by reporters.
If Jodi Evans............
September 6, 2008 - 00:04 ET by connmanis a big donor and bundler for the O campaign, has personally met with BHO and Biden, how is this not news? She tried to rush the stage for crying out loud! Put shoe on other foot and you know it would be.
It appears there were a few ways that these loons could get passes, I would find it hard to believe that MSNBC would jeopardize the teeny smidgeon of credibility that's left for something as asinine as this.
This town needs an enema! - The Joker
Ron Paul or MSNBC.....
September 6, 2008 - 09:13 ET by PabloHoneyI think the pink deviants got the badges anywhere they could.....but a buddy working security at the convention told me, and I quote:
"Pinkos got press passes from Ron Paul people (or MSN-BO)."
Never underestimate the bias of the USA press.
I can't believe that they
November 22, 2008 - 14:54 ET by joeAnneI can't believe that they could do something like this. I have bever thought it could happen like this. Actually I heard something about this when I was on a trip with the Carnival Cruises, but I didn't really want to believe it. Anyway, because this is the second time when I hear it then it must be like this. I am very sad to find out that is happened like this.
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