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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Police in Ohio block the public from videotaping meeting
Jack Kurtz, Photographer
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Phoenix | AZ | United States | Posted: 12:56 AM on 08.25.11 |
->> Police in Ohio went through the crowd confiscating camera phones from the public at a congressional town hall meeting held by Rep Steve Chabot. After confiscating the phones, the officer gave the phones to the Congressman's staff. No word on what happened to the footage recorded on the phones.
Youtube to the rescue.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5R0a8CcegxI
This takes the whole police overstepping their bounds (not to mention the congressman's role in it) to a new low. |
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David Scott, Photographer
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Portland | OR | US | Posted: 2:37 AM on 08.25.11 |
->> I find it sad that in other parts of the world people are literally fighting for their rights while in this video it takes just under 3 minutes for these folks to give up their phones.
-- Dave |
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Michael Fischer, Photographer
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Spencer | Ia | USA | Posted: 4:48 AM on 08.25.11 |
->> Email to Mr. Chabot below. Doesn't matter to me what party this guy is in - he's an idiot. Some of you will take offense with my tone. Some of you will think that this kind of behavior is ok. It's not - from either side. I'll take the inappropriates now, thank you. And thanks to Jack for starting this thread. When do we start to elect people who care more about our country, than getting re-elected?
Mr. Chabot,
I don't live in your district. Or your state. Good thing. I just saw a public meeting in a public place where you spoke and a police officer, evidently at the direction of you and your staff, confiscated cameras from people of the opposition.
As someone who is sworn to uphold the Constitution of the United States, you have a responsibility to protect the Constitution. Instead, you smashed it.
Whoever your opponent is in next election cycle, they'll get a nice check from me. By the way, it should be pretty easy to connect your detestable behavior to despots all over the world that trying the same tactic. You realize people are dying around the world try to get freedoms RIGHT NOW that people like you are trying to quash?
Is getting re-elected ( which is what this is really about) worth trampling our Bill of Rights and the Constitution? Really? Go back and read the Bill of Rights and the United States Constitution, Mr. Chabot. Read again what the founding fathers wrote. Think about all the Americans that have given their lives defending and upholding those rights. (I won't refer to you as "congressman" either, because, quite frankly, you don't deserve that respect.)
You're nothing more than a professional politician who doesn't want any uncomfortable situations broadcast that would make you look bad. Don't even think to try the "protect other members of the audience" line. No one believes that. Instead, consider the words of Oscar Wilde, who once said: "A statesman is a dead politician. We need more statesmen." Was he thinking of you when he wrote those words, sir?
If he wasn't, he should have been.
Michael Fischer |
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Sean D. Elliot, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Norwich | CT | USA | Posted: 8:05 AM on 08.25.11 |
->> I would seriously suggest not sending Michael's text to the congressman verbatim. While I agree in principal with his sentiment ... including a thinly veiled death threat in the message is not an ideal way to make your point.
Everything up to the Oscar Wilde quote is right-on and worthy of sharing with the erstwhile Congressman from Ohio. It differs mostly only in tone with a letter the NPPA's General Counsel sent to the Congressman (as well as the Cincinnati police chief) today.
Sean |
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Mark Peters, Photographer
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Highland | IL | USA | Posted: 9:14 AM on 08.25.11 |
->> I'll leave open the debate about whether the general public does or does not have the right to film at these events, but the one thing that seems blindingly obvious to me is that the seizure of private property was wrong. If the activity was indeed legally prohibited (and I'm not saying it was), the offenders should have simply been removed from the premises.
Now they have a 4th amendment issue as well as a 1st - and possibly a 5th if the items weren't returned (though I would assume they were as we have the youtube video). |
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Mike Ullery, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Piqua | OH | USA | Posted: 9:42 AM on 08.25.11 |
->> http://cincinnati.com/blogs/politics/2011/08/24/democrats-cameras-seized-by.../
Another story on the incident. This one claims that the cameras seized belonged to Democrats. (Chabot is a Republican.) It also states that a sign was posted on the door saying the photos and video was prohibited. I'm not saying that the sign/order/request was legal, just that it was posted.
I don't see any legality in an elected official holding a public meeting and even thinking that he/she can ban photography of any kind. |
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Mike Burley, Photographer
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Dubuque | IA | USA | Posted: 10:11 AM on 08.25.11 |
->> The truly sad thing is that there's very little mention of this in the mainstream media. The Cin Enquirer covered it, but its mostly independent blogs and alternative media. FoxNews mentions it on their blog, but thats about it. Maybe its because this sort of thing happens all the time. This case just seems so obviously wrong though..
These clear, blatant violations of civil rights and police enforcement of unlawful orders seem to be a blip in the news, if reported at all. Really sad. Hopefully John Steward or Colbert picks this up, that would be priceless. |
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Michael Fischer, Photographer
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Spencer | Ia | USA | Posted: 9:16 PM on 08.25.11 |
->> Sean, not to tear the scab off of something but while I respect your efforts to further the cause of news photography; to accuse me of issuing a "death threat" is a bit over the line. You put words in my mouth that I didn't speak.
The quote is from Oscar Wilde, a noted writer known for his biting wit; (he also wrote "The Picture of Dorian Gray'). No one that has used that quote in the last 100 years (he died in 1900) has ever been accused of issuing death threats.
Please, don't accuse me of doing that when clearly I was using a time honored quotation that simply means that governments would be better off without those who seek to enrich themselves or further an personal agenda at the expense of those they are supposed to serve. At no time did I suggest that anyone copy my letter and send it. It's MY letter.
As Mike Burley so aptly points out, the real issue here is that this behavior got so little play in the national media. The problem with being "too nice" is that it is viewed as weakness by people like Mr. Chablot. Calling out the NPPA lawyers may feel like you've done something, but having several hundred angry constituents yelling at you has a lot more impact for someone like Mr. Chabot. Trust me or not, but I've been involved in politics since I was 16 - and I guarantee you Mr. Chabot could care less about a lawyer. 200 pissed off voters is something else entirely. IF I offended your sensibilities I'm sorry.
Geez.. I'm starting to understand what Jim Colburn feels like.
Enough said. |
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Brian Blanco, Photographer
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Tampa / Sarasota | FL | USA | Posted: 9:38 PM on 08.25.11 |
->> Michael, for what it's worth, I read that letter exactly the same way that Sean did. I cringed at those last few sentences despite the fact that I'm familiar with the quote and have an understanding of Wilde's original meaning, intention and context.
I'm certainly not accusing you of anything, but Sean is not alone in having concerns about your wording. In fact, the notion of that letter, particularly your last three sentences, existing on this message board gives me cause for concern. |
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Mark Peters, Photographer
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Highland | IL | USA | Posted: 9:47 PM on 08.25.11 |
->> The salvos are coming from both sides:
"I don’t know any other way to put this. Chabot is a moron. First, you cannot confiscate the property of a private citizen without a warrant or some other due process. Second, and I will type this slowly just in case Chabot is reading this so he will understand this. PHOTOGRAPHY IS NOT A CRIME."
Judson Phillips, Tea Party Nation
http://www.tngovwatch.org/america%E2%80%99s-dumbest-republican-congressman/ |
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Sean D. Elliot, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Norwich | CT | USA | Posted: 10:51 PM on 08.25.11 |
->> Michael, I'm not saying you issued a death threat, I'm saying that by using that quote someone could interpret it as a death threat. It's a great quote ... but your words that followed the quote "was he thinking of you when he wrote those words ..." are pretty obtuse. You might not be suggesting that you have any such intention, but you clearly suggest that his death might be preferable.
Sean |
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Andrew Brosig, Photo Editor, Photographer
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Nacogdoches | TX | United States | Posted: 11:13 PM on 08.25.11 |
->> Michael:
Gotta agree. I think it would be sufficient to quote Mr. Wilde without editorializing. It gets the idea across while at the same time defuses Chabot and his staff from being able to dismiss the sentiments as just coming from a kook. (Not saying you're a kook, but it makes it too easy for Chabot/minions labeling you as one.) |
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