Strange RNC tale: A protester stole my name tag
Shortly before yours truly left Minneapolis-St. Paul today to return home (finally) after two weeks on the road, I got a call from a reporter (apparently from the Christian News Service) who asked a stunning question:
How did a convention anti-war protester get my name tag?
I had been wondering the same thing for a couple days, after two Missouri GOP delegates had told me an amazing tale of what apparently happened at a St. Paul reception Tuesday hosted by the Republican National Coalition for Life, led by St. Louis’ own Phyllis Schlafly.
I had gone to cover the reception, which was to feature and honor Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. ( Schlafly had set up the event to honor Palin months ago, well before she ended up as John McCain’s running mate.)
Palin was a no-show, presumably because she was working on her Wednesday night speech.
I had checked in at the press desk, and was given a hanging badge that read “media.” (I still have it, by the way.)
I waited around the reception for about an hour, working on a story in a corner on my laptop, until Schlafly kicked off the program. After getting the quotes I needed for the story, I left the ballroom and made a pit-stop in the nearby ladies room.
As I was walking out, I heard the melee in the ballroom and ran back in, just in time to see security men snag a protester who had jumped on the podium and yelled “Be pro-life, stop the war!”
The young woman was escorted out, still shouting. I wasn’t close enough to get a good look at her.
After hearing and writing down Schlafly’s response, I left for the convention hall a couple blocks away to finish the story and get ready for the evening’s events.
Here’s where it gets interesting.
The next day, Wednesday, I’m on the bus with the Missouri delegates.
Janet Engelbach, with Missouri Eagle Forum, then proceeds to tell me that she and another delegate at the reception had witnessed the woman protester being interviewed by a TV crew.
She had a name tag on. I’m told it read, “Jo Mannies, St. Louis Post-Dispatch.”
Engelbach said she jumped in front of the TV camera and — apparently channeling 1988 Democratic vice presidential nominee Lloyd Bentsen — shouted, “That’s not Jo Mannies! I know Jo Mannies!”
Engelbach said the woman then quickly ripped off the tag and dropped it.
So, how did she get it?
I’m assuming that the woman at the press check-in desk who gave me the tag saying simply “media” had overlooked that I apparently had a tag waiting with my name on it. (Thanks Mrs. Schlafly — I think.)
I’m further guessing that the protester snagged a name tag in order to get into the reception, and that it just happened to be mine.
In any case, I’d pretty much forgotten about the incident until the reporter called Friday.
Apparently, the TV footage of my imposter also is circulating all over the Internet and on some TV stations — at least one local station aired it tonight, I’m told.
From what I hear, the alleged Jo Mannies is a heck of a lot younger and thinner than I am.
She’s apparently a lot dumber, too.
And, thank God for Janet Engelbach!
I for one will give you the benefit of the doubt on this one. Please do not become the next Elliott Davis, who earns a paycheck by putting himself (the reporter) directly into the middle of his stories. Us J-schoolers know better!
Make her life miserable. Sue her for ID theft. Code Pink has to spend money to defend, your paper covers your legal fees and gets the publicity, and it will do wonders for your paper, to show you are not in the tank for the Pinkos.
Ms. Mannies “explanation” is a little too simple and ignores other facts. The woman captured on camera says that she was given the media credential by Mrs. Mannies or a friend in the media who wanted to help her get into the event. More investigation needs to take place to get to the truth of this. Lee Pulitzer, http://www.PostDispatchWatch.com
The irony of this story is just too rich. Thanks for sharing Jo. The RNC really brings out some intersting characters for some reason. That may be one of the best reasons not to be a Democrat. I wouldn’t want to be associated with any of those types.
You are an idiot. However, disrupting a far right wing rally isn’t going to do anything to stop the war. The people who were thirsty for blood and don’t care about troops or innocent civilians getting killed while they consider themselves “pro-life” are too far wedded to their extremism to recognize the contradiction.
Jo, I will take your explanation at face value, even though I am some what concerned by your lack of concern about having your credentials stolen. IF it is discovered that you did give your credentials to the pinko, would you be willing to resign?
Back off Lee. Upset because the paper was sold out from under you is no reason to go after Jo. I have been to many of these events where the staff at a party is some dummy who doesn’t know how to check ID’s. Including many at the Conventions, including some events at both. Just back off of a good tale!!!
In response to Si Vis and whoever else may question my explanation:
Even if you don’t believe my account, which is ABSOLUTELY the truth, I can guarantee you that I would NEVER be so stupid as to give my name tag — with MY name and newspaper on it — to some unknown person for ANY reason, much less someone bent on disrupting an event.
That defies logic.
Two young women were staffing the press check-in table and handing out the credentials. They were the ones responsible for monitoring them, not me.
I had no idea that there even WAS a credential with my name on it, until Engelbach told me about the incident the next day.
I assumed that all the press people got the same “media” badge given to me. And because I was working, and pretty rushed that day, I didn’t go around checking every other reporter’s badge to see what was written on it.
I also want to make another point absolutely clear:
This name tag in question has NOTHING to do with the credentials necessary to get into the Republican convention hall. I wore those credentials at all times, and was on the convention floor Thursday night with the Missouri delegates — which requires several types of credentials, which I wore around my neck — when the protesters (apparently from Code Pink) began shouting during McCain’s speech.
I have no idea how those protesters got in the building, or whose credentials they used. Certainly not mine. I could not have been in the convention hall if they had.
Since Jo has honestly explained what happened maybe Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum will resign from blogging.
I’ll take you at your word Jo.
Just continue to be careful.
Next time it could be an assassin with your name tag on..