Jolt
Afternoon Jolt: Now It's the Democrats' Turn to Get Camera Shy
I'm not sure if there's a winner or loser today, but here's an Afternoon Jolt of irony for you.
Remember Zach Wurtz? He's the Washington State Democratic Party cameraman who wasn't allowed to film Republican Attorney General Rob McKenna last week at a King County Young Republicans meeting at the North Bellevue Community Center. McKenna was there to give his campaign stump speech.
The Democrats got a lot of mileage out of McKenna's reticence (McKenna, after all is supposed to be Mr. Open Government)—releasing the embarrassing video of Wurtz getting scolded by McKenna and following up by releasing the the KC Young Republicans' 911 calls to the police.
I was at the event, and was impressed with Wurtz. Calmly (and repeatedly) telling the irked crowd, "I'm just here to listen," he was supernaturally cool and evasive, sitting in the front row, challenging the state AG on legal grounds.
McKenna: You can stay ... but you need to put the camera away.
Wurtz: I don't mind staying ... I saw this event advertised online, I'm here at a public building. ... Actually, Mr. McKenna wrote a law saying I'm allowed to be here in public areas.
Well guess who—despite the fact the he's become a bit of a public figure by inserting himself into the political process and getting headlines—the Washington State Democrats won't let me interview? Zach Wurtz.
Here's what Reesa Kossoff, spokeswoman for the Washington State Democrats told me:
I did talk to Wurtz after the McKenna event. He told me he got paid $2000 a month during the 2010 election to track Republican Dino Rossi for the Democrats, and he's getting paid "enough" now. He was a funny, friendly guy, joking with me that same Bellevue cops who showed up to kick him out of the McKenna speech were the same ones who showed up to kick him out of McKenna's press conference a month earlier, when McKenna announced he was running for governor. He also happily walked me over to his car to show me the North Bellevue Community Center rules and a letter from his lawyer.
Remember Zach Wurtz? He's the Washington State Democratic Party cameraman who wasn't allowed to film Republican Attorney General Rob McKenna last week at a King County Young Republicans meeting at the North Bellevue Community Center. McKenna was there to give his campaign stump speech.
The Democrats got a lot of mileage out of McKenna's reticence (McKenna, after all is supposed to be Mr. Open Government)—releasing the embarrassing video of Wurtz getting scolded by McKenna and following up by releasing the the KC Young Republicans' 911 calls to the police.
I was at the event, and was impressed with Wurtz. Calmly (and repeatedly) telling the irked crowd, "I'm just here to listen," he was supernaturally cool and evasive, sitting in the front row, challenging the state AG on legal grounds.
McKenna: You can stay ... but you need to put the camera away.
Wurtz: I don't mind staying ... I saw this event advertised online, I'm here at a public building. ... Actually, Mr. McKenna wrote a law saying I'm allowed to be here in public areas.
Well guess who—despite the fact the he's become a bit of a public figure by inserting himself into the political process and getting headlines—the Washington State Democrats won't let me interview? Zach Wurtz.
Here's what Reesa Kossoff, spokeswoman for the Washington State Democrats told me:
Zach is not a spokesperson for the party, we're unfortunately going to be unable to meet your request. However, I'd be more than happy to answer any questions you might have, or link you up with some consultants who can talk about [video] tracking in greater detail.
I did talk to Wurtz after the McKenna event. He told me he got paid $2000 a month during the 2010 election to track Republican Dino Rossi for the Democrats, and he's getting paid "enough" now. He was a funny, friendly guy, joking with me that same Bellevue cops who showed up to kick him out of the McKenna speech were the same ones who showed up to kick him out of McKenna's press conference a month earlier, when McKenna announced he was running for governor. He also happily walked me over to his car to show me the North Bellevue Community Center rules and a letter from his lawyer.
