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April 23, 2010

Attempting to Control the Media for Campaigns

Justin Katz

Ian Donnis relates the strange tale of General Treasurer (and gubernatorial candidate) Frank Caprio's appearance on Tim White's Newsmakers:

Caprio's press secretary, Tim Gray, solicited the treasurer's Newsmakers' appearance earlier this week, as part of a media blitz to promote his pension plan. But the Caprio team balked at the concept of Caprio being paired as a guest with the NEA's Robert Walsh. Caprio ultimately agreed to appear by himself...

Ian notes that Caprio proclaimed that he'd appear with any other candidate for governor, even though the media outreach was ostensibly a function of his role as treasurer. In either case, one can understand his desire to spend his TV time promoting his plan, rather than defending it against a key figure from a dominant special interest group who not only knows the issue, but also has prepared talking and spin points.

But understanding is not agreement. It's more than a little insulting for politicians to treat mainstream media productions as venues for self promotion distinct from the host's view of newsworthiness. Perhaps Tim should have declined the appearance if the treasurer's office/Caprio campaign was insistent that it/they must be allowed to craft the outcome.

Comments

I think that in is heart Caprio wishes he was Steve Laffey.He carries the baggage of being a Democrat and he lacks the courage to be a breakout candidate. He knows what needs to be said and done but all he can do is split the difference between the status quo and the change we need . He was groomed to be governor in good times . He is not up to the job that needs to be done.RI needs a leader not Frank Caprio

Posted by: ED at April 24, 2010 12:22 AM

He just about had the Dem nomination in the bag before pulling this. All for a Sunday morning talk show a handful of voters watch.
Even if Walsh drank his milkshake, it wouldn't get as much attention as this ham-fisted attempt at dictatorship does.

Posted by: rhody at April 24, 2010 9:51 AM

ED why would Frank Caprio wish he was Steve Laffey?? Unless of course Frank wants to run away and hide in Mississippi. lol

Posted by: Tim at April 24, 2010 6:07 PM

lukewarm condition. position, and never leaving it, could not be exposed to the for I could not expect to find apples any where but in your

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