Media being turned away from REC meetings?

On August 22, 2012, our friend Jack Furnari at Bizpac Review discussed the looming threat of media being shut out of both the Democrat and Republican Party meetings.  If you haven’t seen it, his article may be viewed at the following link: 

http://www.bizpacreview.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=news.details&ArticleId=765814&returnTo=jacks-blog

Except to say that I agree with Mr. Furnari completely, there isn’t a lot more I can add to this expertly written piece.  Clearly, there are those in both parties that feel the media should not be allowed, at least or especially during times when critical issues such as club strategies and budgets are concerned.  

At last month’s Palm Beach County REC Meeting, Boca Raton Republican Committeewoman Roslyn Goldstein pointed a finger at the media with a focus on Bizpac Review, claiming the discussion at hand was a private matter and she did not think the REC should have Bizpac Review on hand to record the event only to see it all over the internet.  

Being present myself, I had a moment to speak and let it be known that Bizpac was not the only media present; and in fact there were several of us in the room.  At the end of the evening, I approached Chairman Sid Dinerstein and thanked him for rightfully speaking his mind about the importance of allowing the media the opportunity to report on what really happens at such events and not creating the climate for what Jack so perfectly labeled as a “Media piñata.” 

In these days of overwhelming public mistrust of our political system and its operations, an administration that promised and failed to deliver complete transparency, the media must never be turned away at the door during such meetings.  The way I see it, if either party has nothing to hide, what are they worried about?  If they do have something to hide, that means they’re doing something underhanded and it needs to change.  Either way, an unbiased media is the only way to keep the playing field level.