Politician All For Transparency Until It Might Make Him Look Bad In A Campaign Commercial
from the hello-streisand dept
Apparently, California broadcasts many key state legislature hearings, just like many legislative bodies these days. However, right before a hearing on some key ballot initiatives, apparently California Senate President pro tem Darrell Steinberg ordered that the feed be turned off for the meeting. Critics noted that Steinberg was vigorously supporting one of the ballot measures, which involves sales and income tax issues. After complaining about cutting off the feed, Steinberg and his staff basically admitted that they did it because they don't want footage to be used against them in campaign commercials by opponents:Steinberg spokesman, Rhys Williams justified the disruption of CalChannel service this way: 'It was inappropriate to provide legislative resources to promote the ballot measure campaigns of either side, and in particular to make those public-funded resources easily available for exploitation in political TV commercials.'"In other words, because the public debate on these issues might lead others to make campaign commercials, it should not be transparent or shared at all.
The committee's own chairperson, Lois Wolk, was apparently horrified that the video was cut off, noting that "she had begun the hearing with a statement expressing hope that it would help voters reach a reasoned decision on the four measures." Oops.
Steinberg, to his credit has now apologized and admitted that: "It wasn't a good reason... When you mess up, you mess up. I'm sorry and it won't happen again." At least he recognizes that, but the initial move was still pretty blatant and raises significant questions about his motivations in cutting off this most basic form of governmental transparency.
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Filed Under: california, darrell steinberg, live feed, politics, taxes, transparency
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"Steinberg doesn't want you to know what he's doing on the issues that affect you."
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Politicians v. The Truth
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Stainberg's Campaign Motto
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Re: Stainberg's Campaign Motto
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Re: Stainberg's Campaign Motto
You wouldn't wabt your neigbours to act like a bunch of politicians would you?
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Be fair...
In all fairness to Mr. Steinberg, he and his people WERE incredibly transparent about why they don't want to be transparent. So....that's something....
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Re: Be fair...
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The bigger problem is that he even considered such a thing, much less acted upon it, to begin with.
This points to a serious character flaw and character flaws are not cured with the utterance of an apology. He needs to go, ASAP.
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Back in the day
TL;DR Be careful about putting Pols in charge of broadcasting Pols.
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No the Other Words that apply here are ACTUALLY
Because his support of these issues, if VOTERS KNEW ABOUT IT may well change their decision to vote for him, he would rather keep it as quiet as possible.
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So..
you dont want someone video taping your DOINGS.?.?
Are you?
Ashamed? smoking habit, you said you quit?
Embarrassed? First time on a nude beach?
Doing something Against the rules? You are supposed to represent a GROUP, and now you ARENT??
Doing something against the LAW?? Striping in public? speeding?
I thought we were supposed to place ideological persons that LIVED by what they said..
I thought we were supposed to elect SMART people that Looked ahead and made decisions they could live with..
THIS is a public OFFICE. This is a public JOB.. this is SUPPOSED to be where we can EXPECT those that we elected to "DO THE RIGHT THING""protect the public"
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