TNGOP Communications Director Defends Closing The Statesman’s Dinner

By Kleinheider Posted on July 24, 2008 at 10:07 am

“I am paying for this microphone, Mr. Green!”

~ Ronald Reagan

Bill Hobbs chastises the media and blogger coverage of the news that, in a historical departure, the TNGOP will close this weekend’s Karl Rove-keynoted Statesman’s Dinner to the press:

[T]he suggestion that it should be open to the public because it is being held in a city convention center built with public funds is, frankly, silly. The Tennessee GOP rented the building - taxpayers aren’t paying for the building that night, the TN GOP is. That gives us the right to control access. And there are countless events held every month at city-owned convention centers across the state that aren’t open to the press. Weddings and business conventions, for example.

The Tennessee Republican Party from time to time holds events that are open to the media. In fact, we even invite the media to them.

They’re called press conferences.

PREVIOUSLY: No Tickee, No Rovee

SEE ALSO: Democrats accuse Hobbs of wearing pants that are less than fire-retardant.

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Tags: Bill Hobbs, fundraiser, Karl Rove, MC Rove, Mitt Romney, Statesman's Dinner, TNGOP  

No Tickee, No Rovee: TNGOP Statesman’s Dinner Closed To Press

By Kleinheider Posted on at 7:22 am

Unlike the Tennessee Democratic Party’s annual fundraiser, Jackson Day, the Tennessee GOP confirms that their annual money-raking event known as the Statesman’s Dinner will be closed to the press. TNGOP Communications Director Bill Hobbs:

Like most political fundraisers, the Statesmen’s Dinner is a private ticketed event. No one without a ticket gets in. It’s standard operating procedure for most every political fundraiser.

The keynote speaker this year is “The Architect” Karl Rove. At last year’s event at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, then Presidential candidate Mitt Romney spoke to the assembled Tennessee Republicans in the wake of speculation of Fred Thompson’s presidential bid. This year, the event will be held at the Nashville Convention Center downtown.

UPDATE 8:19AM: The Associated Press reports on the historical departure.

SEE ALSO:
Silence
The Donkey’s Mouth
Brainstem
KAG
R. Neal

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Tags: Bill Hobbs, fundraiser, Karl Rove, MC Rove, Mitt Romney, Statesman's Dinner, TNGOP