If anyone in the crisis management industry needs a reminder that the line between ordinary citizens and card-carrying member of the press has been blurred beyond recognition, then look no further. Straight from this month’s Bimbo Awards, this is not the kind of sound bite you want circling the airwaves.
“Mind your g——-d business,” said Congressman Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., when stopped by one of the new breed of citizen journalist/bloggers to ask about the congressman’s taxpayer paid Cadillac DeVille, his four rent stabilized apartments, including one used as a campaign office (two direct violations of the law), his 50 percent discount on those already below-market rents courtesy of the real estate owner, and his failure to pay taxes on rental income from a condo in the Dominican Republic. (The ‘reporter’ intercepted the congressman with questions on these topics, obtained the obscenity laced quote, posted the written text and video on hotair.com and published a print piece, as a “special correspondent.”
JB
Jonathan Bernstein
www.bernsteincrisismanagement.com