HD 46: Dukes Campaign Manager Tells Me to Chill
Colin Strother is a campaign consultant for State Rep. Dawnna Dukes, D-Austin, who's in a primary race against newcomer Brian Thompson in her East Austin district. After I saw that Dukes advertised for canvassers, it was clear that there would be an on-the-ground campaign for the district.
So I emailed Strother, asking how many volunteers signed up as a result of the ad. Strother responded and then some, and he never indicated at any point that he wanted to go off the record. Below is what he had to say in its entirety. Previously, I have summed up his comments or used a direct quote that he designated as a usable quote, but his full response speaks more honestly.
From: elisehu@yahoo.com
To: colinstrother@XXXXX.com
Subject: craigslist ad
Date: Mon, 28 Jan 2008 21:34:57 -0600Colin,
I just saw a screengrab of this craigslist ad for Dukes volunteers.
Do you have a number on how many volunteers responded to the ad and have joined the campaign?
Thanks,
Elise----- Original Message -----
From: colin strother
To: Elise Hu
Sent: Monday, January 28, 2008 10:03 PM
Subject: RE: craigslist adare you serious?
From: elisehu@yahoo.com
To: colinstrother@XXXX.com
Subject: Re: craigslist ad
Date: Mon, 28 Jan 2008 22:24:07 -0600Yes. I'm covering the campaign and asking a question, political campaigns are open to questions and she's a public official. If you choose not to answer that's absolutely fine, I'm just asking.
Thanks,
Elise----- Original Message -----
From: colin strother
To: Elise Hu
Sent: Monday, January 28, 2008 10:38 PM
Subject: RE: craigslist adWow, defensive much? It sounded like a joke. It sounded like you were poking fun at people trying to make an issue out of us hiring campaign workers. I was just asking if you really wanted an answer.
If you want to follow the lead of Capitol Annex and BOR on every story, go ahead. If you call that "covering the campaign", so be it.
You're not the only one allowed to ask questions, Elise. Your poor attitude whenever I have questions are a major problem. I'm well aware that I can or cannot respond to questions...I'm not sure YOU understand that.
All I asked in this situation was if you were serious. You need to calm down a little bit.
Response to your inquiry for the record:
"We're activitely recruiting paid canvassers on college campuses, community organizations, Democratic groups, and craigslist.
From my experience, craigslist is a great place to recruit field folks. I know of several local groups that use it to great success.
We've been inundated with offers to volunteer. We've hired and trained sufficient paid canvassers to execute both our field and GOTV plans. I'm not at liberty to disclose the numbers of staff, be they paid or volunteer."
you're welcome.
c.
p.s. Dawnna will get re-elected on March 4th. Both of us are going to be around here for a long time. We'd both like to have a productive and friendly relationship with you moving forward. Let's each not lose our heads during this next 37 days.
Comments
He still didn't answer your question.
Posted by: Matt Stiles | January 29, 2008 6:18 AM
** I'm well aware that I can or cannot respond to questions...I'm not sure YOU understand that. **
That was very nice of Mr. Strother to clear up the fact that he can (or cannot) answer questions.
Will he be bringing similar clarity to ALL aspects of the campaign?
:D
Posted by: kevin whited | January 29, 2008 8:12 AM
I'm not quite sure when "real" journalists started taking what they read on the blogs (which are unsubstantiated by their very nature) and try to report it as real news. Are you too lazy to look for real stories? Even the folks on BOR admit that other campaigns use craigslist. What's the story? Why don't you try to be a grown up reporter and actually look for stories.
Posted by: Rick Sanchez | January 29, 2008 11:36 AM
Elise:
I'm extremely disappointed in your lack of integrity as a journalist.
As you well know, EVERYTIME we have offered you information via email a designated "on the record" portion was included. When there were other parts you wished to use, you would email back and ask for it. I have record of this.
From Elise Hu:
I was gonna post some excerpts from your email (below) on the blog, but Ididnt want to jam you up so i want to make sure you don't object. If you do object, I'll just summarize your points... but I think your words make astronger case for your points.
Thanks,Elise
Elise Hu
KVUE-TV Political Reporter512.917.2422 mobile512.459.2095 officehttp://www.kvue.com/politicaljunkie
I would have gladly given permission to use the entire email, had you asked.
The portion of the personal email exchange that was for the record was designated as such.
It is an amateur move, but I completely forgive you. No big deal.
Posted by: colin strother | January 29, 2008 11:50 AM
Yeah, what's funny about Rick's comment is that Elise didn't report this on TV. She reported it on this blog.
Based on her comment above, she wasn't looking to smear anything or anyone -- she was asking a question about an on-the-ground campaign. For all we know, the story might have been "Dukes running aggressive grassroots campaign." I'm sure that's a story the Dukes campaign would have loved to see on TV.
Unfortunately, Colin -- just like you did, Rick -- assumed that she was coming from a place of attack. What gives with that?
Also, Colin's e-mail is blog-worthy for the same reason that this response would be blog-worthy if it came from Robert Black (Rick Perry's press guy). It's news, it's on the record, and it's interesting to the inside-baseball politicos like you and I who are going to be reading an Austin TV reporter's blog.
Posted by: Phillip Martin | January 29, 2008 11:54 AM
I think it's a story when a 7-term incumbant doesn't have a field team or volunteer base to draw help from... but that's just me. And I'm sure someone will probably find a reason to blame Maxey for that one, right?
Posted by: Crystal | January 29, 2008 12:07 PM
FWIW, I live in Dukes' district and was pleased to have an actual, unpaid volunteer from the Thompson campaign come by my house on a cold, rainy night - an African American 20-something who also lived in the district. Apparently the Dukes team is defensive because their opposition doesn't have to pay for supporters to promote their candidacy.
Posted by: Gritsforbreakfast | January 29, 2008 12:12 PM
"I'm not quite sure when "real" journalists started taking what they read on the blogs (which are unsubstantiated by their very nature) and try to report it as real news."
OMG! LOL!
I believe grabbing the screenshot of the Craig's List ad is the step she took to substantiate that blog item. And whaddaya know. It turns out it was true. Substantiated. If it hadn't been, she wouldn't have reported it.
Rick, you're a dumbass.
Posted by: RockStar | January 29, 2008 2:04 PM
Wait, he trashes Elise for her lack of integrity, and completely forgives her? Where is his apology for being a spokesperson who completely alienates the reporters he's supposed to work with, completely pisses them off, causing them to post his entire email proving that he's doing his client harm? Does this guy think it's about him? The disservice is being done to his client, Rep. Dukes. Seems that nobody is speaking for her, although somebody is paid to, but isn't.
Posted by: Jack Sprat | January 29, 2008 2:28 PM
Media Relations 101: When you send a reporter an e-mail, a letter, a phone call, or engage her in conversation, EVERY WORD that you say or write could end up being printed or broadcast. If there is some portion of your comments that you don't wish to be public, you must (A) ask that they be kept off-the-record BEFORE you start blabbing, and (B) you must get the reporter to actually agree to it (again, before you start blabbing). I've been amazed over the past few years at how many PR
people, consultants, and other people who ought to know better assumed that they were automatically "off the record" with me unless they otherwise stated. Sorry kids, it's the other way around.
Posted by: Lee Nichols | January 29, 2008 2:36 PM
Wow. What a bad consultant.
Posted by: Rusty Shackleford | January 29, 2008 3:17 PM
This in no way is a shock. Anyone who has met colin can attest to his lack of charm and any people interaction skills. Some people quit smoking when it makes them paranoid colin.
Posted by: David B | January 29, 2008 3:41 PM
There used to be a time when a campaign staffer or consultant would happily fall on their sword for their client/candidate for the slight chance of enhancing their client's interests. Those days appear to be over.
Enter the new breed of campaign consultant: arrogant, two-faced, and self-serving. On the other hand, this guy can probably only get work with sell-out Craddick Democrats, so maybe it all makes sense in a selfish rats on a sinking ship kind of way.
I haven't seen this level of idiocy since I saw Noriega's tech people were arguing with RG Ratcliffe. Why would you argue with a reporter about something trivial when you could actually do your job and spin it?
Posted by: Blah | January 29, 2008 4:00 PM