Bush censorship press coverage of NCLB anniversary event

[Csubstance@aol.com]

In a message dated 1/3/08 4:38:06 PM, monty@fairtest.org writes:

<< Bush will be in Chicago to tout the 6th anniversary of the signing of 
NCLB. FairTest will have a news release tomorrow. Meanwhile, Julie Woestehoff of 
PURE weighed in on her blog - a good short read at 

http://www.pureparents.org/?blog/category/3 >>

January 3, 2008

Colleagues and friends:

I've spent part of the afternoon on the phone with the White House Press 
Office. They informed me that Bush will be arriving at Greeley Elementary School 
(832 W. Sheridan Road) at 10:30 a.m and will be speaking about No Child Left 
Behind at about 11:00 a.m.

When I asked about covering the event, since Substance has covered education 
news in Chicago for more than 30 years, I was told that it was "pool coverage" 
and that we were not in the pool. The guy from the White House Press Office 
(Trey Bohn, he said his name is) also said he didn't know how the "pool" was 
set up and who was in it.

I asked him to make a space for Substance and called back about 5:00 p.m. but 
was told he was on another call.

If anyone knows a lawyer who wants to have fun tomorrow, it's a priority. 
There shouldn't be a restriction on press coverage of the anniversary of No Child 
Left Behind because the Bush administration deliberately found a location 
that was "too small" to accommodate all media people. As you know, we carry 
Chicago Police Department "spot news" press credentials, and have been vetted 
(fingerprinting, background checks) for all press events in Chicago. This was so we 
wouldn't face problems at times like this. Many people who cover "news" 
(e.g., for example Catalyst) don't have CPD credentials.

Let me know if anyone thinks there is a major First Amendment issue here. It 
would require some fast work, but as of now Substance has been told, by a 
spokesman for the White House, that not all media are being allowed to cover Bush 
Monday.

George N. Schmidt
Editor, Substance

www.substancenews.net

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