Blunt: A YouTube kind of guy
During a news conference that lasted almost an hour this morning, Gov. Matt. Blunt covered virtually every angle of his surprising announcement Tuesday that he’s not running for re-election.
One of the most intriguing aspects was his decision to film the video of his decision and post it on YouTube, an online video site. The video was posted simultaneously online as his news release was sent around the state.
Blunt said he and his wife filmed the video Monday night in the Governor’s Mansion. He didn’t say who actually did the filming. But it was clearly someone willing to keep a secret.
Why YouTube? He call it “a great way to communicate with people” and a way for him to get his message out unfiltered.
“Clearly I prefer communicating directly with Missourians,” he said.
Blunt long has been a fan of computers and the Internet, shifting many state functions online, or creating online components.
Blunt also disclosed that he had been pondering his decision in depth just within the last few days. At a news conference last Wednesday in St. Louis, he had told reporters that there was no question that he was running for governor.
(The comment was in response to a query about whether he might be willing to run as a vice president to his favored candidate for president, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. Blunt said he was flattered by the talk, but had no interest in being a v.p. He enjoyed being governor and was only running for governor, Blunt said then.)
Another hot question dealt with his latest campaign report, which shows almost $90,000 in legal fees — far more than in any previous report. Is he under some kind of investigation?
Blunt replied, “No, and that is an offensive question.”
Earlier in this post, I speculated that some of those costs may be for some of his legal representation in the suit filed against him and the governor’s office by former staff lawyer Scott Eckersley.
However, Blunt spokeswoman Jessica Robinson said that’s not the case. “Any legal expense paid for by the campaign would not have anything to do with the official office,” she said.
Inappropriate?
Is it appropriate to funnel legal fees through a campaign committee anyway?
Gee, I don’t know suzyjax
Would you rather that you and me paid for it? (tax payers)
Blunt charged $90,000 in legal fees to his campaign? Which law firm got the windfall? Campaign finance laws aren’t as complicated as Cynthia Davis claims….I would rather have the tax-payers pay the bill so we can have open disclosure…..What else is Blunt charging to his campaign?
Actually, Garrison, finance laws ARE more complicated than some would suggest.
Kudos to Blunt for choosing the You Tube medium in which to disseminate his message to the people instead of the print or “other” electronic media, who often choose to sensationalize simple messages.
Seems to me that the fire is no longer in his belly to continue. Can’t people accept that?
Jo, I’m a bit disappointed in your speculative comment above. I know you’re better than that.
I think it is very appropriate to question if these legal fees are the result of an investigation considering the stonewalling the governor’s office has been doing regarding the e- mail inquiry and Eckersly case. Also, finance laws are not that difficult to understand, anyone and everyone should know that campaign cash can not be used for personal expenses such as purchasing vehicles or paying taxes on personal vehicles, everyone but certain St. Charles reps that is.
To continue in the new media vein of this crazy announcement, sign the online petition to
DRAFT KENNY HULSHOF!!!
http://drafthulshof.blogspot.com
Jim (R)…”Kudos to Blunt for choosing YouTube?”
What a candypass way of telling your state party….Who does Blunt think he is….Paris Hilton? This caught everybody off gaurd including the state chairman. Now Blunts states that he’s confident he would have won if he stayed in the race….If he actually believed this, he would have been re-elected and handed the keys to Kinder….The Lt. Governor must feel like the biggest chump in the state…..other than Blunts contributors.
Wrong again, Garrison…I understand the state party chair was the very first one to put out an announcement about Blunt passing on re-election…not that facts would ever get in your way of bashing Matt Blunt.
Garrison, you’re the LAST person who should be running in to call foul on behalf of the Republican Party!
My point in his choosing YouTube, INSTEAD OF THE “NORMAL” MEDIA, was so that it couldn’t be edited or taken out of context.
Good God, when will you learn to comprehend?