Subject: CT Post: Hearst reporter gets into GOP convention after all
From: "Wei, Shu-Yen" <[email-masked]>
To: Comm_D <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 9 May 2016 16:23:24 -0700

Flagging CT Dems press call earlier today (highlighted below)

Hearst reporter gets into GOP convention after all

By Ken Dixon<http://www.ctpost.com/author/ken-dixon/> and Frank Juliano<http://www.ctpost.com/author/frank-juliano/>

Updated 6:59 pm, Monday, May 9, 2016
http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/GOP-chairman-reverses-decision-on-reporter-s-7422986.php

HARTFORD - Hours before the state Republican Party<http://www.ctpost.com/search/?action=search&channel=local&inlineLink=1&searchindex=gsa&query=%22Republican+Party%22> gathered to select candidates for Congress on Monday, Chairman J.R. Romano<http://www.ctpost.com/search/?action=search&channel=local&inlineLink=1&searchindex=gsa&query=%22J.R.+Romano%22> relented, reversing his Friday decision to prohibit a Hearst Connecticut Media reporter from the party's nominating convention.

Neil Vigdor<http://www.ctpost.com/search/?action=search&channel=local&inlineLink=1&searchindex=gsa&query=%22Neil+Vigdor%22>, political reporter for Hearst, was escorted to a VIP-credential table in the Connecticut Convention Center<http://www.ctpost.com/search/?action=search&channel=local&inlineLink=1&searchindex=gsa&query=%22Connecticut+Convention+Center%22> shortly before 5 p.m. and given his press ID for the statewide convention to nominate Republican challengers to U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal<http://www.ctpost.com/search/?action=search&channel=local&inlineLink=1&searchindex=gsa&query=%22Richard+Blumenthal%22> and the five Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives<http://www.ctpost.com/search/?action=search&channel=local&inlineLink=1&searchindex=gsa&query=%22U.S.+House+of+Representatives%22>.

Romano announced in a Facebook video Monday that Vigdor, whom he had charged on Friday with unfair reporting about the Republican State Central Committee<http://www.ctpost.com/search/?action=search&channel=local&inlineLink=1&searchindex=gsa&query=%22Republican+State+Central+Committee%22>, was welcome after all.

By early evening, Romano stood at the podium and referred to his three-day ban of Vigdor as "a little hubbub" that he did not regret.

"I'm always the type of person who will stand up for the Republican Party when I believe we're being mistreated," said Romano, who after informing Vigdor on Friday that he would not be allowed into the convention, sent out a fundraising email asking for contributions and for state Republicans to join in the criticism of the reporter, whom he referred to as "an anti-Republican blogger."

Shortly after noon on Monday, Romano posted a video "Welcoming all media and delegates to tonight's convention!" on theConnecticut Republican Party<http://www.ctpost.com/search/?action=search&channel=local&inlineLink=1&searchindex=gsa&query=%22Connecticut+Republican+Party%22>'s Facebook page.

Barbara T. Roessner<http://www.ctpost.com/search/?action=search&channel=local&inlineLink=1&searchindex=gsa&query=%22Barbara+T.+Roessner%22>, executive editor of the Hearst Connecticut Media Group<http://www.ctpost.com/search/?action=search&channel=local&inlineLink=1&searchindex=gsa&query=%22Hearst+Connecticut+Media+Group%22>, said denying Vigdor a media credential would not have prevented Hearst from reporting on the convention.

"We proceeded with our convention coverage as planned, regardless of Mr. Romano's actions and accusations," Roessner said. "Reporter Neil Vigdor simply did his job. He provided fair, independent news and analysis to our readers - and he will continue to do so."

Romano's reversal came amid criticism from party members and leaders that the first-term chairman had possibly overreacted.

"I sincerely believe we need more transparency in politics today, not less," said House Minority Leader Themis Klarides<http://www.ctpost.com/search/?action=search&channel=local&inlineLink=1&searchindex=gsa&query=%22Themis+Klarides%22>, R-Derby, in a statement. "Banning a member of the press because you may disagree with coverage is not a wise move."

Since Friday, Democrats<http://www.ctpost.com/search/?action=search&channel=local&inlineLink=1&searchindex=gsa&query=%22Democrats%22> had seized the opportunity to take shots at Romano.

Sen. Cathy Osten<http://www.ctpost.com/search/?action=search&channel=local&inlineLink=1&searchindex=gsa&query=%22Cathy+Osten%22>, D-Sprague, in a Democratic Party<http://www.ctpost.com/search/?action=search&channel=local&inlineLink=1&searchindex=gsa&query=%22Democratic+Party%22> conference call on Monday that focused on attacking presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump<http://www.ctpost.com/search/?action=search&channel=local&inlineLink=1&searchindex=gsa&query=%22Donald+Trump%22>, blasted what she characterized as an attempt to intimidate the news media.

"We open up our party's convention to any of the press, yet the Republicans seek to manage the message by denying access," Osten said.