Before I get to the tweets that serve as a timeline, we need to set the stage. David Rauf is the Austin bureau reporter for the San Antonio Express-News and the Houston Chronicle. Those newspapers serve Texas’ largest and second-largest cities. They are big dogs among the Texas press. Jan Soifer is the chair of the Travis County Democratic Party.
The Travis County Democratic Party held a fundraiser with Wendy Davis on Tuesday, and Davis delivered her stump speech. That’s normal stuff. But in a highly unusual move, the TCDP and the Davis campaign barred the event to all but one media outlet, the Texas Tribune, which livestreamed it. According to Rauf, not only did the Tribune get exclusive access, a Davis campaign press release told other media to stay away. They would not be welcome or admitted.
Rauf took to Twitter today trying to get some answers, because apparently the TCDP and the Davis campaign have circled their wagons.
David Saleh Rauf @davidrauf
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Hey @jansoifer -- why did your group bar state press Monday but give exclusive access to one outlet to hear a gubernatorial stump speech?
12:06 PM - 30 Jan 2014
Soifer’s initial reply to him was a non-answer.
Jan Soifer @jansoifer
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@davidrauf @TCDP had @texastribune broadcast sold-out fundraiser bc hotel forbade addl bodies in room; our way to showcase @wendydavistexas!
Rauf noted that the TCDP and the Davis campaign limited access to just one outlet, keeping competitors from doing anything other than reporting on what they saw on the Tribune‘s livestream.
David Saleh Rauf @davidrauf
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. @jansoifer @TCDP also allowed only 1 print reporter inside-- this was your way of selectively choosing which outlets get access. Be honest
David Saleh Rauf @davidrauf
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. @jansoifer @TCDP It's a flat out lie to deny that you barred the state press corp and granted exclusive access to one outlet.
David Saleh Rauf @davidrauf
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@jansoifer @TCDP And the Wendy Davis folks were complicit in your plans
David Saleh Rauf @davidrauf
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. @jansoifer Did you know that your exclusive deal forced the Davis press team to apologize to eds/reporters around the state?
1:01 PM - 30 Jan 2014
Jan Soifer @jansoifer
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@davidrauf: This was my decision. Sorry you didn't like it. Glad you and others saw @wendydavistexas' awesome speech @TCDP's private event.
1:25 PM - 30 Jan 2014 from Austin, TX, United States
David Saleh Rauf @davidrauf
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@jansoifer @TCDP -what a poor strategic decision! Wasn't just me who disliked. Ask the @WendyDavisTexas press team which dealt with fallout.
David Saleh Rauf @davidrauf
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. @jansoifer Glad you support your decision that put a gubernatorial candidate's campaign in the cross hairs on press access.
1:32 PM - 30 Jan 2014
David Saleh Rauf @davidrauf
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Here @jansoifer -- explain to @BoDelp and @racunatx how your decision hurt their credibility with the press corps.
More tweets at link:
http://pjmedia.com/tatler/2014/01/30/wendy-davis-campaign-just-started-a-war-with-the-texas-political-press-corps/
