July 12, 2006
Times Out
The Washington Times has been scorned by Linda Cropp, and they're not going to let her get away with it. Not quietly, anyway.
It appears that at a Council breakfast meeting yesterday morning, a Times reporter, who was the only journalist present, pulled out a tape recorder. Seeing the device, Chairman Cropp asked the Times to stop recording. After being refused, she calmy pronounced the meeting over.
The Times took the affront to the pages of their newspaper today, publishing a story that includes comments from Cropp's chief mayoral rival, Adrian Fenty ("You did nothing wrong") and includes the following gem:
When asked to explain the difference between recording and taking notes, [Cropp] said she did not "want to get into that."Not without a chalkboard, at least. There's all kinds of charts and graphs involved.
While one might doubt the Times' commitment to freedom of the press in all times and circumstances (search the paper for "New York Times" to see counter examples), it's not hard to join the Times in their frustration over this incident. While the Council is trying to avoid press coverage of their breakfast meetings, where the "sometimes raucous discussions during the breakfasts could make them look foolish if reported," the city at large is looking for leadership during a troubling, though not dire, time. Perhaps the Council Chairman could have taken the opportunity to reassure Washingtonians that the safety and well-being of District communities was a real and present concern for her and her fellow legislators. And perhaps later, the Council could have addressed the legal loopholes that allow troubled juveniles to slip through the cracks. Instead, we learn from the Times, "the council voted 7-6 to hold hearings on a revision of its open-meeting rules before voting them into law."
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Linda Cropp is right. When councilmembers are making deals about how they will vote in exchange for support on other proposals, the public really should be kept in the dark.
You want to make an omlette, you gotta steal a few eggs, ya know?
Will we see the Wash. Times take Antonin Scalia to task next, then?
The reason recording is different than taking notes is that if she is recorded, she can't later say that she was misquoted or her statements were taken out of context. She's claimed just that quite a few times when she's been called out for changing her position on an issue.
Remember the responses people got from her regarding the Logan parking issue? She would respond to e-mails asking the person to call her. That way she wouldn't really be on record.
that's why linda cropp can't get my vote. she's a politician in the worst definition of the word. slimy...
Let's not forget what the Washington Post had to say about the Councilmembers who conspired to kill Open Meetings legislation:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/30/AR2006063001505.html
"DISTRICT residents eager for the right to witness the workings of their government were dealt a low blow this week by D.C. Council members Phil Mendelson (D-At Large) [and] Carol Schwartz (R-At Large)"
"It was a disgusting and cowardly performance on the part of Mr. Mendelson and Mrs. Schwartz."
Exactly the problem with our mayoral candidates - too many coucil members to choose from.
This is the only city in the country I would imagine that only needs to get 8 people to agree (7 council plus 1 mayor) to enact some real change.
And they still can't get it done. They are truly sad.
(I feel a little dirty supporting the Wash Times though)
that's kinda awesomely hilarious. just how raucous might the councilmembers get?
..or appoint task forces when they do not want to make a tough decision.
JCH
linda cropp is wrong again and fortunately for the citizens of the district of columbia in september she will be rejected as her parties candidate for mayor. she's slime.
gawd. it's going to make me lose a little more faith in DC's ability to reinvent itself when that woman is elected in the fall. frankly, i'm totally underwhelmed with all the candidates... but she reaks worst than most and still smells too much like barry's administration.
Having sat through more Council meetings than I'd care to admit, I have to enthusiastically echo two earlier remarks:
1. Cropp is a politician in all the worst connotations of the word.
2. One of the worst aspects of our Mayoral options is how many Council-proven incompetents we have on the roster.
I am glad to see that DCist isn't letting the Washington Times get away with falsely portraying itself as some general champion of press access and freedom.
cropp blows, but so does the times. enough said.
cropp blows, but so does the times. enough said.
Between a Cropp and a hard place.
Or, this being the Washington Times, a Cropp and a poorly edited, blatently propagadistic, badly written place. This item is my first notice that they have done any actual newsgathering themselves.
Forget the fact they're Moonies. These are the people who keep Tony Blankley living and breathing within fifty miles of me. Getting censored by Cropp is almost to good for 'em.