Friday, May 14, 2010
Media House Resolution Urges AP Reporter's Expulsion
Posted by Jeff Woods on Fri, May 14, 2010 at 7:05 AM
- Schelzig's offending photo
WHEREAS, during a medical emergency in the chamber of the House of Representatives, a member of the Capitol Hill Press Corps acted without thought and good judgment in attempting to take photographs and thereby needlessly hindering emergency medical personnel from providing necessary medical care; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, that the chair of the Capitol Hill Press Corps is urged to revoke Erik Schelzig's designation as a member of the press to be admitted, pursuant to Rule 22 of the temporary rules of order of the House of Representatives of the 106th General Assembly, to the House Chamber thirty (30) minutes prior to and during any floor session for the remainder of the second session of the 106th General Assembly.
A couple of points about this resolution: First, Schelzig didn't hamper help for Williams, as the video plainly shows. By the time he tried to snap his pictures, Reps. Mike Turner and Gary Moore—two Nashville firefighters—already were tending to the speaker, along with a crowd of others. All Williams needed was a little candy and orange juice.
If the passageway was blocked, it was by the cursing mob of lawmakers—Towns in the middle of it—that rushed at Schelzig. He stayed behind the glass partition that separates the media from the House floor as Towns threatened to whip his ass.
Second, Schelzig is the chairman of the Capitol Hill Press Corps this year. So Towns is urging Schelzig to revoke his own credentials. Schelzig might wish he could do it because it would mean he wouldn't have to cover these goofballs anymore, but we doubt his bosses would let him.
Update: Aunt B thinks Joe Towns is creepy.
Comments (8)
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Joe Towns is a moron. If you watch the video, you see that the reporter is in the press box, behind glass. How did he obstruct emergency personnel?
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Wow, I saw this coming, but not from a Democrat. When will I learn: Tennessee Democrats are virtually indistinguishable from Tennessee Republicans.
Yeah Beale. Viewed from the rear, below the hairline, they're all the same color.
yeah see, when you're a PUBLIC OFFICIAL having your picture taken during the course of public business is just part of the gig. you don't like it? find another line of work. i seriously doubt you'll be missed.
It is crystal clear from the video that Schelzig was violating no law. That must mean Joe Towns thinks the reporter's action was distasteful, not illegal. Towns' resolution points up a common malady which seems to affect many in our General Assembly -- they somehow seem to believe they have been elected the Taste Police for the state of Tennessee.
Personally speaking, I vote in every election and I don't recall ever appointing any legislator as Emily Post.
Rep. Towns, even though Erik Shelzig was clearly just doing his job, you're entitled to believe he is the scum of the earth, if that's the way your mind works. What you are not entitled to do is to ban him, or any other reporter, from covering the legislature simply because you don't like his manners.
I don't care much for your manners, either, but that doesn't mean I think I should be able to stop you from representing your district. Why don't you go back to doing your job and leave the taste and etiquette questions to Judith Martin?
Yeah, the sensationalists stick up for the sensationalists here. Shelzig should cover cellulite for the National Enquirer if he likes documenting human frailities. And look at the way these shithead commentators politicize it! Southern Beagle, you are beyond the pale. If someone has an epileptic seizure in your office, do you make a video and post it on YouTube? Let's have an article on what a fat pig Aunt B is.
