UPDATE: Kinder responds to cell-phone-gate; chargers for everyone!
So much for bipartisan Kumbaya singing in the Capitol Rotunda.
Responding to the minor tiff (brouhaha, perhaps?) between Gov. Jay Nixon and the press corps preceding his first news conference, Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder — the only Republican statewide office-holder — issued a news release suggesting he would offer Blackberry chargers at all news conferences.
Said the release from Kinder spokesman Gary McElyea:
Friends,
Welcome back to Jefferson City.
I’m sure that the 2009 session will bring many exciting stories across our state.
Today, I would like to announce that we are also implementing a new policy for news conferences organized by our office. During capitol newsers, we will gladly provide Blackberry phone chargers for use during your reporting. It is my goal to do what I can to allow you to better inform the citizens of Missouri.
Enjoy your legislative session and feel free to stop by,
Gary
Hopefully the lieutenant governor’s office speaks multiple cell-phone languages, as this reporter uses a Sprint Mogul, which takes a far different charger than the Blackberry.
No other statewide officials have weighed in on the story, though it was clear that Blackberry devices were in copious use at the first of Senate President Pro Tem Charlie Shields’ seminars on key Legislative topics.
Here’s what AP had to say about the issue.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Gov. Jay Nixon gets off to a rocky start with the media by attempting to collect their cell phones before his first news conference.
Nixon scheduled a news conference on his first full day in office Tuesday to announce several economic development actions. Before allowing the media in, Nixon’s staff said reporters needed to leave their cell phones outside his office.
Nixon spokesman Scott Holste claimed the cell phone ban was for security reasons, although cell phones have been allowed by previous governors.
After the media threatened to boycott Nixon’s news conference, Nixon’s office reversed course and allowed reporters to carry in their phones.
Nixon communications director Jack Cardetti said later that the cell phone ban will stand for other non-media meetings with the governor.
UPDATE: McElyea sends word that his note to reporters was not intended as a news release but rather “a playful email to a few reporters.”
“We don’t play around with news releases,” McElyea says.
And the Democrat progressive fascism begins!
Just read in today’s P.D. that the horrific accident on hwy. 40 in July was caused by a cell phone, three killed and fifteen injured, some seriously and permanently disabled. ‘I reached across the dash to get my cell phone, I flipped the phone open, looked back at traffic, and I was there right at the last car’ The truck ran into and over a line of ten vehicles. Alcohol, cigarettes, gambling and cell phones are all addictions. Just pick your drug of choice.