TV trucks evicted from Bush event

By Wally Edge | May 30th, 2007 - 6:02pm
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Local news trucks prepared to cover President George W. Bush’s attendance at a New Jersey Republican State Committee fundraiser in Edison this afternoon were asked to leave their designated area by police and secret service agents before the President’s arrival. Apparently the owner of the property did not grant permission and wanted the media out. "Clearly (the) GOP didn't do (their) homework," one veteran reporter told PoliticsNJ.com.

From WNBC-TV's Brian Thompson:

Back Story: GOP Embarrassed At N.J. Bush Event

By New Jersey Reporter Brian Thompson

New Jersey's Republican party has been struggling in recent years, unable to win a statewide race since Christie Todd Whitman a decade ago. Now, adding insult to injury, just as they bring in the president for a major fundraiser, the television live trucks get kicked off the property where the event is being held just before we're supposed to go on air. Seems as though the owners of the New Jersey Expo and Convention Center in Edison don't like the news media. So they asked the police department and Secret Service to get us to leave, a little more than an hour before we're supposed to go live. I called Todd Riffle, executive director of the state GOP, and he was almost apoplectic with the realization that our live trucks were being forced to leave the biggest event of the year for the party. Still, at that late hour, there was nothing he could do to save the situation, and we had to set up our shots a block or so away. Even the state police at the roadblock where we were moved to were chuckling over the GOP's embarrassing lack of preparation.

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Well done!!

Submitted by fedupnj on May 30, 2007 - 10:53pm.

Jeez, NJ Republicans seem to be going out of their way to demonstrate their ineptness. The biggest event of the year is now going to turn into their biggest embarassment of the year. Congratulations!

On purpose?

Submitted by mikeassad on May 31, 2007 - 1:32am.

Think about it -- because of this "oversight" the press won't be able to show a whole lot of footage of BUSH in NEW JERSEY. An accident I am sure.

Todd Riffle?

Submitted by BenedictArnold on May 31, 2007 - 2:49am.

Todd Riffle, executive director of the state GOP? That's the guy who took shots at his own party during a Republican primary and got indicted, but he now is their executive director?

Reporters are calling him and his State GOP Party Inept?

No wonder why the State GOP can't win a state wide election.

Who's running this show?

Submitted by Allaboutme on May 31, 2007 - 10:02am.

Sounds like the event was organized by Guy Talarico...how else can something so potentially good end up as a complete nightmare?

Laurel and Hardy and the 3 stooges

Submitted by Humbleservant on May 31, 2007 - 10:29am.

how long  does this Republican nightmare last ?? When these clowns and the Clown in Bergen are replaced. I say Joe Caruso for state chair now !!! he gets things done.

I love Tom

Submitted by Lee Atwater on May 31, 2007 - 12:31pm.

Yea, Tom's doing a great job!

NEW JERSEY

Submitted by The Birthday Man on May 31, 2007 - 2:33pm.

When are Republicans going to wake up! A Revolution is needed! RED Faction is alot more organized than the State GOP. maybe they can learn a lesson from them. Happy Birthday!

Disgrace in NJ disgrace in Bergen

Submitted by Networker on May 31, 2007 - 3:50pm.

$400,000 taken in by Wilson  last night and not one sign out yet in Bergen. Mc Guire has hundreds out already. Wilson show us the money 

Was Tom Kean, Jr. there?

Submitted by smallmouth on May 31, 2007 - 10:30pm.

Or was he still stuck on Rt. 1 ...

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