Colorado Sun politics reporter kicked out of GOP state assembly

[essentialsaltes]

Partial Eclipse of the [Colorado] Sun

A Colorado Sun politics reporter was escorted out of the state GOP assembly by a sheriff’s deputy Saturday after being told that party Chairman Dave Williams found her “current reporting to be very unfair.”

Reporter Sandra Fish, who has covered politics since 1982, received a text at 3:45 a.m. Saturday from a Colorado Republican Party event organizer saying that she was no longer allowed to attend. Fish went anyway to the assembly at the Colorado State Fairgrounds in Pueblo, where she checked in at the door and received a press credential to enter.

Fish ... was later escorted out by a law enforcement officer, who told her, “You have to be invited here. They don’t want you here.

In the past year, Fish has written news articles about the 2023 election of Williams to lead the state party, as well as stories about the party’s financial struggles. In February, she authored a Sun article about the state GOP sending a pro-Donald Trump mailer that attacked William’s congressional primary opponent, calling it “the latest example of Williams using his party leadership position to benefit or defend himself and his allies.”

Several Republican leaders criticized the ousting of a reporter from the state assembly

Williams responded Sunday to The Sun’s request for comment Saturday. He called Fish a “fake journalist” and accused her of sneaking into the event, despite that she received press credentials at the door.

The Sun, he said, “is just an extension of the Democrat Party’s PR efforts, and the only backlash we see is from the fake news media, radical Democrats, and establishment RINOs who hate our conservative base and who always look for opportunities to boot lick the crooked press or pundits who hate true Republicans and President Trump.”

 

[Pommer]

Partial Eclipse of the [Colorado] Sun

A Colorado Sun politics reporter was escorted out of the state GOP assembly by a sheriff’s deputy Saturday after being told that party Chairman Dave Williams found her “current reporting to be very unfair.”

Reporter Sandra Fish, who has covered politics since 1982, received a text at 3:45 a.m. Saturday from a Colorado Republican Party event organizer saying that she was no longer allowed to attend. Fish went anyway to the assembly at the Colorado State Fairgrounds in Pueblo, where she checked in at the door and received a press credential to enter.

Fish ... was later escorted out by a law enforcement officer, who told her, “You have to be invited here. They don’t want you here.

In the past year, Fish has written news articles about the 2023 election of Williams to lead the state party, as well as stories about the party’s financial struggles. In February, she authored a Sun article about the state GOP sending a pro-Donald Trump mailer that attacked William’s congressional primary opponent, calling it “the latest example of Williams using his party leadership position to benefit or defend himself and his allies.”

Several Republican leaders criticized the ousting of a reporter from the state assembly

Williams responded Sunday to The Sun’s request for comment Saturday. He called Fish a “fake journalist” and accused her of sneaking into the event, despite that she received press credentials at the door.

The Sun, he said, “is just an extension of the Democrat Party’s PR efforts, and the only backlash we see is from the fake news media, radical Democrats, and establishment RINOs who hate our conservative base and who always look for opportunities to boot lick the crooked press or pundits who hate true Republicans and President Trump.”

The (eventual) lawsuit will be an interesting read.

 

[AlexB23]

Partial Eclipse of the [Colorado] Sun

A Colorado Sun politics reporter was escorted out of the state GOP assembly by a sheriff’s deputy Saturday after being told that party Chairman Dave Williams found her “current reporting to be very unfair.”

Reporter Sandra Fish, who has covered politics since 1982, received a text at 3:45 a.m. Saturday from a Colorado Republican Party event organizer saying that she was no longer allowed to attend. Fish went anyway to the assembly at the Colorado State Fairgrounds in Pueblo, where she checked in at the door and received a press credential to enter.

Fish ... was later escorted out by a law enforcement officer, who told her, “You have to be invited here. They don’t want you here.

In the past year, Fish has written news articles about the 2023 election of Williams to lead the state party, as well as stories about the party’s financial struggles. In February, she authored a Sun article about the state GOP sending a pro-Donald Trump mailer that attacked William’s congressional primary opponent, calling it “the latest example of Williams using his party leadership position to benefit or defend himself and his allies.”

Several Republican leaders criticized the ousting of a reporter from the state assembly

Williams responded Sunday to The Sun’s request for comment Saturday. He called Fish a “fake journalist” and accused her of sneaking into the event, despite that she received press credentials at the door.

The Sun, he said, “is just an extension of the Democrat Party’s PR efforts, and the only backlash we see is from the fake news media, radical Democrats, and establishment RINOs who hate our conservative base and who always look for opportunities to boot lick the crooked press or pundits who hate true Republicans and President Trump.”

Whew, this one is gonna be interesting. Man, the GOP (or the MAGA-run GOP) is restricting freedom of the press.


Here is the article summary, for those fed up with Magadonians:

In an unprecedented move during the Colorado Republican Party assembly on April 6, 2024, a local journalist, Sandra Fish, was escorted out by a sheriff's deputy after being banned from attending the event by party Chairman Dave Williams. According to an article in The Colorado Sun, Fish had received press credentials at the door but was told to leave about an hour later due to Williams' objection to her "unfair" reporting.

Fish, a respected and experienced journalist with a career spanning over four decades, had previously written articles critical of Williams and the party's financial struggles. Her most recent article, published in February, highlighted the GOP's mailer attacking Williams' congressional primary opponent. Williams had been elected as party chairman on a platform that included false claims about former President Trump winning the 2020 election.

The incident sparked condemnation from various Republican leaders and organizations, including State Senator Barbara Kirkmeyer and Kristi Burton Brown, who criticized Williams for disregarding the Constitution and transparency in the political process. Senator Kirkmeyer called it "disgusting" and "embarrassing," while Brown labeled it a "dangerous take."

Colorado Sun editor Larry Ryckman defended Fish as an "experienced, accomplished journalist" and expressed concern over the suppression of the free press. He compared the situation to his days as a correspondent in the Soviet Union (Russia before 1991) and emphasized the importance of transparency in selecting candidates for public office.

Williams, however, accused Fish of being a "fake journalist" and an extension of the Democrat Party's PR efforts. He also claimed that she had sneaked into the event despite having press credentials. The Colorado Sun is an independent, nonpartisan and nonprofit statewide news outlet.

The assembly was significant as Republicans were advancing candidates for the primary ballot for University of Colorado regent at large and selecting representatives to the Republican National Committee. The party was also setting its platform for the upcoming election season.

 

[Hank77]

Dave Williams is also a supporter of Boebert.

 

[hislegacy]

MSN

Republicans have rebuked the Colorado GOP on Saturday on social media for ejecting a journalist from a statewide event.​

​

Seems like at the National level, Republicans do not agree with his actions and are calling him on it. One of the things I like about Republicans and Independents is their diversity of thought. There isn't the tribalism, or group speak/think I observe with the Democratic Party.

While disagreeing - the Republicans don't go into outrage mode like with what is happening with John Fetterman.

I digress: Should he have barred the reporter - no - too bad if you don't like what they are writing - but I am glad the leadership of the party is standing up for free speech.

I personally like what Republican Matt Soper stated:

Colorado state Representative Matt Soper wrote on Saturday: "A healthy and transparent republic means you allow the public and media to observe the process of selecting candidates to represent our state in public office. This is regardless of if you agree or disagree with the reporter."​

 

[essentialsaltes]

Republicans have rebuked the Colorado GOP on Saturday on social media for ejecting a journalist from a statewide event.​

​

Seems like at the National level, Republicans do not agree with his actions and are calling him on it.

Well at the state level, anyway.

Definitely there's a difference between the MAGA "the press is truly the enemy of the people" GOP and the remnants of the grand old GOP.

 

[hislegacy]

Definitely there's a difference between the MAGA "the press is truly the enemy of the people" GOP and the remnants of the grand old GOP.

It's a great line - I think possibly right out of the DNC play book - but the demonization of the MAGA term is quickly getting old and worn out. I think it is another desperate attempt to detract from the sheer numbers of people leaving the Democratic narrative because it seems to have been commandeered by the radical left ideology. They need a boogey man.

But that is just my .02 and I could be completely wrong.

 

[wing2000]

It's a great line - I think possibly right out of the DNC play book - but the demonization of the MAGA term is quickly getting old and worn out. I think it is another desperate attempt to detract from the sheer numbers of people leaving the Democratic narrative because it seems to have been commandeered by the radical left ideology. They need a boogey man.

But that is just my .02 and I could be completely wrong.

Ah...you call out the "demonization of the MAGA team" and then go on to suggest the Democratic narrative is driven by "radical left ideology". : )

Of course, every party needs a boogey man.

 

[hislegacy]

Ah...you call out the "demonization of the MAGA team" and then go on to suggest the Democratic narrative is driven by "radical left ideology". : )

Of course, every party needs a boogey man.

Now yer pickin up what I'm a puttin down.

 

[DaisyDay]

It's a great line - I think possibly right out of the DNC play book - but the demonization of the MAGA term is quickly getting old and worn out. I think it is another desperate attempt to detract from the sheer numbers of people leaving the Democratic narrative because it seems to have been commandeered by the radical left ideology. They need a boogey man.

But that is just my .02 and I could be completely wrong.

A hostile takeover is how one Magadonian put it. The non-MAGA Republicans, who are leaving the House and Senate, who are being driven out as "RINOs" and "Establishment Republicans", have little elsewhere to go.

What are the actual number of registered Republicans circa 2016 compared to today? What are the comparable numbers for registered Democrats vs registered Republican 2024? Too often, Magadonians refer to themselves as "half the country", but from what I've heard, they are nowhere near that.

 

[essentialsaltes]

It's a great line - I think possibly right out of the DNC play book

Once upon a time, you could get 100% of Republican senators to join 100% of Democratic senators in affirming that the press is not the "enemy of the people".

(After a certain MAGA-hat wearing president said that they were.)

That guy is still wearing a MAGA hat, and still calling media properties "the enemy of the people".

I wonder if the Senate GOP would still be unanimously against him if he wins the presidency again and again uses the bully pulpit to declare the media the enemy?

 

[hislegacy]

Once upon a time, you could get 100% of Republican senators to join 100% of Democratic senators in affirming that the press is not the "enemy of the people".

(After a certain MAGA-hat wearing president said that they were.)

That guy is still wearing a MAGA hat, and still calling media properties "the enemy of the people".

I wonder if the Senate GOP would still be unanimously against him if he wins the presidency again and again uses the bully pulpit to declare the media the enemy?

Who was President when they did that?

There is your answer.

Sorry, I don't believe there is a vast Right Wing MAGA conspiracy.

 

[essentialsaltes]

Sorry, I don't believe there is a vast Right Wing MAGA conspiracy.

It's not a conspiracy that the MAGA founder openly says "ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE" at his rallies.

 

[hislegacy]

It's not a conspiracy that the MAGA founder openly says "ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE" at his rallies.

He isn't entitled to his opinion? Or do you support censuring viewpoints you do not agree with?

I voted for him twice - I will vote for him again - for two reasons

1. IMHO - he was good for the country on a number of different levels - that is my opinion
2. He is not Joe or Hillary. Neither is good for anyone but themselves and the radical Left - - that is also my opinion.

 

[essentialsaltes]

He isn't entitled to his opinion? Or do you support censuring viewpoints you do not agree with?

Quite the opposite, I hope Joe Buden popularizes a lot of Trump's bigly all-caps opinions in political ads.

 

[hislegacy]

Quite the opposite, I hope Joe Buden popularizes a lot of Trump's bigly all-caps opinions in political ads.

Me too! Every time they do, they put their foot farther down their throat until they almost covfefee themselves into a frenzy and again in my opinion look even more foolish.

And that my friend is hard to do.