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James O’Keefe: “I wish the Tea Party Hadn’t Told The Press That I Didn’t Want The Event Videoed”

By Art Gallagher

James O’Keefe is blaming the Bayshore Tea Party for the BPR (bad public relations) he’s suffering from as a result of his demanding that the Asbury Park Press’s  videographer not record his presentation to the group’s St. Patrick’s Day Celebration on Thursday evening.

O’Keefe told MoreMonmouthMusings, “I wish the Tea Party hadn’t told the press that I didn’t want the event videoed,” before saying that he was on another line and promising to call back.  He hasn’t called back.

The rambunctious gumshoe didn’t leave Charles Measley and Barbara Gonzalez, the BTPG members who appeared on the APP.com video, much choice.  No one knew O’Keefe didn’t wanted the event recorded until he failed to take the podium after an inspirational introduction by BTPG Chairman Bob Gordon and an enthusiastic standing ovation.   He was hiding in the mens room and had be coaxed to make his presentation with the press present. 

It was only after Measley promised to get the videographer out of the room that O’Keefe emerged from the commode to address the admiring crowd.  There were reporters in the room. O’Keefe’s delay required an explanation.  The videographer was in the room when O’Keefe started.  Measley and Gonzalez handled the situation well.   Steve Grossman, the former Hazlet GOP Chairman who is heard off camera arguing with Gonzalez, handled himself just as those of us who know and love him have come to expect.

For someone who has demonstrated that he is quick on his feet, O’Keefe handled this one very poorly.  He gave the media, who he is a ferocious critic of, a story to discredit him where there wasn’t one.

O’Keefe knew that reporters and photographers were in the room during his presentation.  At one point while showing a video clip of a Star Ledger interview of one of the teachers exposed in his Teacher Gone Wild video, O’Keefe asked, “Are there any Star Ledger reporters in the room?”  Seeing none, he showed the clip that made the point that the mainstream media is out to protect those he is exposing and to discredit him.

Unfortunately, James gave his detractors in the mainstream media the ammunition to embarrass him this time.  There was no upside to banning the videographer.  There was plently in the presentation that had already made national news, but nothing that would have made a new national story.  Only O’Keefe knows if he altered his presentation because reporters were present.  Had he allowed the presentation to be videoed, APP.com might not even have posted the video.

APP reporter Alesha Boyd William’s initial story on O’Keefe’s presentation was excellent.  A fair and accurate report on what happened.  The story was featured prominently at APP.com on Friday morning and was front page above the fold in the Friday print edition.  I’d link you to the story, but it appears to be gone from the APP site, replaced by the far juicer “gotcha” story, that is now national news.

James O’Keefe is doing important work.  He is right when he says that the mainstream media no longer does investigative journalism and that their news coverage has devolved to “punditry, stenography and promotion.”

O’Keefe has the potential to become a long term major journalistic figure and make a real difference.  However, he needs to step up his game in handling the inevitable blow back from his work.  He needs to stop blaming others for his own missteps.  Otherwise he’ll be a flash in the pan.

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Posted: March 20th, 2011 | Author: | Filed under: Bayshore Tea Party Group, James O'Keefe | Tags: , | 36 Comments »

36 Comments on “James O’Keefe: “I wish the Tea Party Hadn’t Told The Press That I Didn’t Want The Event Videoed””

  1. Charles M said at 9:21 am on March 20th, 2011:

    Really James?!?! Yeah that’s cool!

  2. Freespeaker1976 said at 9:33 am on March 20th, 2011:

    And people paid $50 to see this guy?

    At least people didn’t have to pay to see Art get banned from the Highland’s Republican Club! 🙂

  3. Kathy Baratta said at 9:49 am on March 20th, 2011:

    What goes ’round, comes ’round as someone should have reminded this young punk.

    You know, what’s good for the goose is good for the gander. I could go on and on but the end point is he was exposed for the self-righteous, hypocritical coward he is and now everyone knows. And we have you to thank for it, Art, thanks to your heads up on his “appearance.” The tea-baggers could have kept it on the down-low, you know, just among the lunatic fringe he caters to. Without your posted “invitation,” he could have slithered in and out of town unnoticed.

    Thanks again,

    KB

  4. Gene Baldassari said at 10:02 am on March 20th, 2011:

    I look at this from another angle.

    It is great that the Tea Party is considered a viable force, regardless of their actual power.

    In the past, the political parties had a monopoly. Their monopoly is no longer guaranteed.

    Now, you do not have to be a committee person who bows down to every candidate in order to have a say on any individual candidates.

  5. Charles M said at 10:04 am on March 20th, 2011:

    I believe he did it because it was a closed-door ticketed event were he was giving educational and informative lecture on his tactics and methods that he normally gets paid for, and did not want it filmed or recorded to be given out for free. Keep in mind it was all videocameras not just the APP.

  6. Politicalpony said at 10:25 am on March 20th, 2011:

    I’m trying to make sense of what Kathy’s wanting to express. Doesn’t it make sense that when one places others under so much scrutiny that they should protect them self from that same scrutiny. The old say is “alls fair in love and war”. It would seem that the right is suppose to play by the lefts double standard rules, but when the right plays by the same rule as the left some how we’re no good. Isn’t it funny how the shoe doesn’t quit fit when its on the other foot. I love watching the left squirm. I loved watching “in disgust” as the union and their members made idiots of themselves for the nation to see in Wisconsin. Please! Please! keep it up! Help us with your actions of vulgarity. How could you as an individual ever support what the Progressive left does? Are you in your heart truly a Socialist? Or are you someone who just doesn’t know right from wrong, only to be led blindly by people who will in time, eat your lunch. Kathy, and anyone else that comes here to puke, I suggest you read and understand the constitution, then you’ll better understand what the battle is. Once you have done this, if your still in favor of views from the left, then prepare to get TEA BAGGED. Some how I get the feeling your gonna like it more than you’ll ever admit.

  7. brian said at 10:29 am on March 20th, 2011:

    Kathy,

    Stop polluting this blog with your homosexual fantasies.
    How about we teabag you???????????

  8. brian said at 10:30 am on March 20th, 2011:

    Why would the press be at a “closed’ event??

  9. Kathy Baratta said at 10:52 am on March 20th, 2011:

    Brian, (Or should I say “closet-case” since you’re too ashamed or afraid to use your last name),

    Doing a little projecting are we? Is he your boyfriend or just a secret fantasy? How else to explain why my critique of the tea-bagging, lunatic fringe’s fascination with this punk seems to have stirred your ire. Are you a pitcher or a catcher? (Just trying to figure out which shelf in the closet you belong on).

    Anyway, if it was a “closed event” why were tickets being sold to the public? Hell, Art went out of his way to advertise the event here; encouraging people to attend.

    The only thing “closed” at that event were the minds of the humanoids that attended.

    KB

  10. Politicalpony said at 11:40 am on March 20th, 2011:

    Kathy, To pay for admission into something makes it closed to all except who paid. This also means its private to ticket holders. When one does purchase admission they will be held under agreement to the privacy of others because it is a paid for event. Unlike an event that his held publicly free of charge. Such as a parade or any other communal event such as that. Kathy I can understand you being upset. Your side, the left side, has gone un checked for 40 years. Now that your called to the mat to justice all that has been done in the name of protectionism, it can’t be justified. And as we on the right expose the misguided direction in which the country has so foolishly been led, its a hard medicine for the blind to except. But once we show you the true meaning of freedom you’ll thank us for it. It’s nothing to be ashamed of. You as many other people have been being led to believing in a well orchestrated lie for many years. But the saying for that is “fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice,shame on me.” I don’t think you want to be anyone’s fool. That said, read the constitution and understand what it says. It will open your eye’s and view the world so differently. You will view freedom as you have never seen it before. Then you’ll understand what I mean when I say you have been taught a lie. Bless you Kathy and I hope you’ll someday understand.

  11. Kathy Baratta said at 11:56 am on March 20th, 2011:

    Now see, that’s where you’re wrong – again.

    I paid to see Kathy Griffin on Broadway the other night. Given your way of thinking, because I paid to gain “admittance,” that made the event a “private” event.

    Soon as she hit the stage, Ms. Griffin told everybody to feel free to break out their cameras and camcorders and fire away.

    That’s because SHE has NOTHING to hide unlike you and your ilk.

    You don’t sign your name either. Just what is it you are ashamed/afraid of?

    Giddyap,

    KB

  12. Politicalpony said at 12:15 pm on March 20th, 2011:

    There’s the difference. She gave permission.

    Check out “The 5000 Year Leap”. You seem like a smart and passionate person. Then after reading, you decide where your thoughts and beliefs should. But until you understand the lies “The New Society” and the “Great Society” you’ll never realize the original “Enlightened Period”. Original, you ask? Yes, there was a second during the twenties and we have now moved into and are living the third. You might not realize it but you are living in a time of our country that will go down in history just as the Roman Empire did. Lets just hope we don’t live the same fate. In case you didn’t notice, that was a small hint as to what might happen to us if we don’t pay attention to history. I could insert ancient Greece and Spain and Egypt in this category as well. I have a question for you Kathy. Do you know why America is called “The Great Experiment”?

  13. Mr. Brian Hegarty said at 12:25 pm on March 20th, 2011:

    First off let us establish the facts of the evening right off. This was a private orginization’s event.Invitations where given out.A entrance fee was to be paid to cover the costs of said event.
    Dose any one here have any evidence that invitations where given to the APP or the Star Ledger or any other news sorce other than Art Galleger?
    Also dose anyone here have any evidence that the partys excluded from said event had payed the entrance fee? or even recived an invitation from the BayShore Tea Party Group?
    With that said,If the main event did not want his seminar/presentation/class, video recorded than as Politicalpony stated:”When one does purchase admission they will be held under agreement to the privacy of others because it is a paid for event. Unlike an event that his held publicly free of charge. Such as a parade or any other communal event such as that” Is absolutly correct.
    Now this story and the APP story and what ever propaganda rags are currently trying to spin all the negitivity they can from this non-situation.Backing up everything that Mr. O’Keefe had presented in his seminar.THe media in this country had discredited itself time and time again,it is no surprise to see these storys trying to discredit Mr. O’Keefe and exspecially the Tea Party.
    It is a stradegy they have been playing for decades.The uninformed citizen ,whom really dose not pay attention or get involved will undoubtedly read these storys ,and if not personally aquainted with any active Tea Party members, would whole heartedly eat that Escriment right up.
    For fools are fooled very easy. Dose not take much ,exspecially if the only info they get is from the main st. press.
    I say GREAT WORK MR.O’KEEFE AND THE BAYSHORE TEA PARTY GROUP.KEEP IT UP.YOU KNOW WHEN THEY ATTACK YOU ,YOU ARE BEING EFFECTIVE.
    As for the nay sayers and propagandisers in the press.We are not fooled any more.Proof of that is in the tanking subscription rates of all your papers. Same goes for the television news outlets. Where is your integrity? Where is your passion to print the truth ? where is your balls to actually print the real storys?
    I say to those of you whom read these comments.Do not take for granted that you are being told the truth when you read the papers orr watch the news.You need to think,put the puzzle peices together.Use your brain and think for crying out loud!! if one was to take 10 steps back and look at the problems here and all around the world,they would realize that there is more to what is going on than what they tell you.See they only tell you what they want you to know in order to manipulate every situation the benifit of the comunist/marxist/socialist agenda that permiates BOTH POLITICAL PARTYS inrecent history.
    I hope that Mr. O’Keefe has inspired armys of citizens across america to do the same as he is, we all can step up to the plate and exspose the fraud . If we don’t who will? if not now than when? Do we need to lose everything before we take action? This is your country and if you want to keep it,get off your ass and fight for it. If you are comfortable being a lemming….well hope it is a fast trip to the bottom of the cliff.

  14. willow palin said at 1:20 pm on March 20th, 2011:

    ……..as l settled into my seat to see the despicable lesbian who tries to stay relevant by insulting children, l thought “Gee, what a principled Lib l am, as l puffed out my chest”.
    ” How dare those tea partiers attack adults when l can get press by attacking Malia and Sasha, whoops l mean Bristol and Willow”
    This is why Libs don’t have mirrors

  15. Kathy Baratta said at 1:29 pm on March 20th, 2011:

    Like I need you to tell me about Alexis de Tocqueville.

    The crux of this matter is in your second sentence. “She gave permission” unlike your pitch-weasel who didn’t because he’s a hypocritical coward.

    The rest is you trying to show you passed high school history even though you obviously failed both English and Grammar. Me? I got “A’s” in all three.
    As for the “Great Experiment,” try the following. http://thehistoricpresent.wordpress.com/2008/11/16/the-great-american-experiment/

    My favorite part is: “…As we think today about what divides Americans, I think it boils down to the fact that some Americans no longer want to experiment. They want to close the lab down. We’ve gone far enough into the unknown, making it known, they say; now let’s stop—let’s even go backward. We were wrong to conduct some of our experiments in liberty, and that’s the source of all our problems. Gay people shouldn’t be treated equally. Black people shouldn’t run the country. Women shouldn’t hold high office. Muslims shouldn’t be granted habeas corpus.”

    Tell me that doesn’t describe you and every cretin that attended that “event.”

    KB

  16. Kathy Baratta said at 1:46 pm on March 20th, 2011:

    Want proof of my assessment of you illiterate tea-baggers?

    I’ve got two words for you: Brian Hegarty.

    “Dose” for “does,” “storys” instead of “stories,” “exspecially” for “especially.” The list goes on and on. I stopped reading at “stradegy; afraid of getting an aneurysm. If you have any education at all, Hegarty’s post is enough to make you bleed from the eyes.

    No need to ask if Hegarty’s smarter than a fifth grader. His post answers that. As a matter of fact, it tells us everything any intelligent person needs in assessing the caliber and intellectual abilities of anyone who thinks this O’Keefe is anything but a pissant who should be ignored.

    KB

  17. Politicalpony said at 1:58 pm on March 20th, 2011:

    Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame in me. I’m sorry to find you lack the ingredients to be civil. I’m also sorry that you think your an Elitist. Notice I said think. This is Progressivism on display. Now since you know so much, please tell me who it is that says “we’ve had enough of the experiment”. And please give me your view the type of government you think best for people. In your first paragraph of your latest post, I can see who ever wrote that, was writing a lie. As I had mentioned earlier, you and many others have fallen for the lies. I want you now with all honesty to tell me what you know about the constitution. I want you tho tell me what the experiment was and why it failed. I’ll be waiting.

  18. lois said at 2:08 pm on March 20th, 2011:

    Great post Brian! We can always count on you for some good old-fashioned American Common Sense–in your remarks in every direction you turn that’s what you’re delivering (imho).
    Yes, “Yay!” for James and for BTPG’s leadership. They are committed to the truth (Truth)–as are we in the TP movement–telling the truth, and getting the truth out there. And we are hampered by the other side’s (sad/ongoing/horrifying/not-to-be-tolerated) lack of commitment to telling the truth–James exposes this very effectively, in his video journalism, and his presentation to our guests who came to hear him last Thursday.
    This has been an ongoing problem for TP members. When we donned Little shirts and knocked on doors to spread the word about the conservative message Anna Little carried, our members were confronted with, “Oh? you’re tea party? We know who YOU are—no good, and we don’t want to listen to you or consider the information you are bringing.” Why? Because the Press had so effectively lied to the public about the intentions of the Tea Party, and created such a negative (false) image, by broadcasting lies lies and more lies.
    How to countermand this? How do we get our message out? James O’Keefe has found a VERY effective way, and it was most enLightening to hear/watch his presentation.
    Now the MSM is prattling on, trying to make an issue out of a non-issue. Will the Bayshore Tea Party Group leadership reply? Maybe yes; maybe no—but if they do, it will be to tell the Truth, for that is what we are committed to, start to finish, top to bottom. The Truth about what happened at our fund-raiser, the Truth about the Obamacare, the Truth about the abuses by Union Management’s activities, the Truth about the horrors of “gerrymandering,” and why it must be stopped… THAT folks, is who we are and what we’re all about.
    Thank you Brian, and Charles, and Barbara and all. i salute you, and am honored to be working with you.

  19. Rick Ambrosia said at 2:10 pm on March 20th, 2011:

    Wow…seems more like “political horses ass” instead of pony. Like the way he makes demands? Too funny.

  20. Kathy Baratta said at 2:12 pm on March 20th, 2011:

    “Brian” refers to my “homosexual fantasies” and I’m not being civil.

    As I’ve been known to say, I don’t suffer fools gladly and this ship of fools is sinking.

    Not only will O’Keefe not be anyone’s “inspiration,” after this “reveal” he will be what he always was – a national joke.

    As for the constitution, the men who wrote it were just that – men. They are the “founding fathers,” not the twelve apostles. Times change and those changes are reflected in the constitutional amendments that have followed the original document.

    Like women getting the right to vote. Boy, I bet that one really pisses you off.

    I’m done with this wallow. You people are beyond redemption and certainly not worth anymore of my time. My point’s been well-made. I know when to exit.

    See ya in the funny papers,

    KB

  21. Russ said at 2:30 pm on March 20th, 2011:

    “I paid to see Kathy Griffin on Broadway the other night.”

    This is all anyone needs to know to understand Kathy Baratta.

    She paid money to see Kathy Griffin on Broadway.

  22. Kathy Baratta said at 2:50 pm on March 20th, 2011:

    Damn straight I did and I definitely got my money’s worth as you will see from the following.

    http://howellnj.com/smf/index.php/topic,7046.0.html

    Now I’m really out of here!

    Enjoy,

    KB

  23. Politicalpony said at 2:57 pm on March 20th, 2011:

    One thing is clear, you know about the amendments. This is the only way the constitution should ever have anything added to it. You want government run health care, put it in an amendment. You want gay rights, put it in an amendment. You Do Not! Do it through a Progressive Judge who refuses to follow the constitution. This document is not living and jut doesn’t breath to suit the daily whims of man. The founders where only men, you are correct. But know this, inge of the greatest Democrats to ever occupy the oval office said this as he say and ate dinner in the White House with some of the greatest minds in the country at that time. There has not been this much knowledge gathered in this room at one time since Thomas Jefferson dined here alone. Kathy, you better get a better understanding of the constitution and find out what real freedom means. But with your hateful arrogance I doubt you’ll ever do that. But don’t worry, when we fix this mess we find ourselves in, you’ll understand then what it is we’ve been doing. You won’t have to thank us. Just knowing we all remain free as the founders had intended and knowing that your free as well, will be enough to satisfy us all. Good luck with your struggle of identity. That’s how they want to keep you “in the dark”. Pray that we win, if not in our life time than with in the next generation. Socialism is not good. Socialism is the death of ideas and of freedoms. I refuse to have anyone tell me what to eat, how much water to flush my toilet with, where to work or what to think. Congressmen David Crockett stood on the house floor and said “you can all go to hell, I’m goin to Texas”. My sentiments exactly.

  24. Russ said at 3:02 pm on March 20th, 2011:

    Damn straight I did and I definitely got my money’s worth as you will see from the following.

    After looking at those pictures of “America’s Least Favorite D-Lister”, I can’t see anything.

    I’m blind.

    Thanks Kathy.

  25. Charles M said at 3:06 pm on March 20th, 2011:

    LoL

  26. Confused said at 3:10 pm on March 20th, 2011:

    I like how Kathy says that her using the words “tea baggers”, “cretin”, “lunatic” or “pissant” with Brian using “homosexual fantasies”. What is that supposed to mean? Are all these words equivalent? Gee… I thought liberals find nothing wrong with being a homosexual.

  27. willow palin said at 3:21 pm on March 20th, 2011:

    Russ nailed it. Anyone who pays to see that hateful shrew cannot be civil, it’s a double negative.
    But that is to be expected from the prize winning columnist of shopper’s weekly. Praise for the D list from the d-bag

  28. Politicalpony said at 4:16 pm on March 20th, 2011:

    Oh Kathy, you should have never posted that link. I have now lost all faith in you. I have not much time for people that indulge themselves in shows such as Nj House wives. It shows no capacity of thought. In fact one of the husband from that show is in trouble because he works for the state of Nj and outed himself lying about his home address to the state in order to hold his job. Mindless preoccupation on your part is all I’ll say. Tho bad, I thought there was hope for you. Now, see how easy it is for a person to admit they can be wrong? Can a leftist do that? “lol” I think not.

  29. Freespeaker1976 said at 5:17 pm on March 20th, 2011:

    Ms. Baratta,

    You lost the cover of civility when you used the highly homophobic term Tea-Bagger.

    End of story, enough said.

  30. Roselynde said at 6:56 pm on March 20th, 2011:

    Wow– Kathy, attacking the Tea Party by calling them a sexual slur is undignified and makes you look like a lunatic. If you had a point, it was lost forever.

    TP- calling her names ends in the same result– it detracts from any logical arguments you may have made.

    Instead of having an articulate conversation about the merits of the evening, it devolves into nonsense.

    It is Mr. O’Keefe’s intellectual property– and if he didn’t want it video taped– that is his decision– and it must be respected– because that is what WE DO IN THIS COUNTRY– with freedoms comes the inherent need to respect the other side no matter how wrong they may be—or it all becomes a mud throwing contest between 3 year olds.

    Bayshore TP– keep the pressure on the politicians from ALL parties. It’s good for them.

  31. TR said at 11:35 pm on March 20th, 2011:

    BLAH BLAH BLAH. YADA YADA YADA.
    Do you people listen to yourselfs.

    There are freaking wars and revolutions going on all over the place and about a dozen more places where they could break out at the drop of a hat. Japan is on the brink of collapse both metaphorically and in actuality. The economy is still in the tank. China is kicking our ass. Bin-Laden and his crew are still on the loose andIran is about to go nuclear. Meanwhile the President is picking his brackets?

    I mean really its like the apocalypse is here.

    What gets more comments then any other post Art has. Okeefe not wanting press at his paid gig.

    You people all need two things. 1. a life 2. a clue.

  32. NoNameThisTime said at 8:45 am on March 21st, 2011:

    Hey TR and Kathy…..here’s a “clue”….you sit back and be stupid. We will work on saving your “life”. No worries ladies.

  33. Jgirl said at 9:45 am on March 21st, 2011:

    This is quite possibly the most amusing thing I’ve read since your blog regarding Anna Little entertaining a Senate run. Thanks for the chuckle Art!

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  35. TR said at 11:11 am on March 21st, 2011:

    Why in the name of all that is holy would you lump me in with that nut job?

    I will have you know I am a nut job in a distinctly different category.

  36. Kelly said at 12:18 pm on March 21st, 2011:

    Well this was a fun read…

    The Bayshore Tea Party did a phenomenal job uniting the people of Monmouth county and beyond. Way to go, guys. Pure excellence in the midst of possible destruction. James O’Keefe managed to keep all the “cretins” entertained and interested for over an hour.. pretty impressive. Barbara and Charles handled the situation professionally and with class. Excellent!

    While others are tirelessly yapping away online, judging, pointing fingers, crying about how things should be done… BTPG is on the ground providing substance to their words. Doing their duty as New Jersians and Americans. Again, I say, way to go, Bayshore Tea Party. I stand with you in this fight.

    Stay entertained by the “all talk – no action” crew. They nurture us “tea-baggers” with so much energy. I applaud them for the entertainment, lovely ideas, thoughts, funny way they listen to people who tell jokes on TV, make music, or just spew loving socialism all over the place – while the very ones they “worship” have the lack of experience not only business and politics but life itself. They suffer with the rest of us, trying to care for our families, find jobs, and just live the American Dream – we watch them support the very people who don’t suffer this but would do anything they can to take it all away. Weak minds are indoctrinated. Good luck with that! Silly monkeys!