Shadow keeps eye on Obama (Chicago Democrat)

Shadow keeps eye on Obama
With camera in tow, a campaign aide to Republican Senate candidate Jack Ryan doggedly tracks the Democrats' choice to catch any missteps

By Ray Long, Tribune staff reporter. Tribune staff reporter Liam Ford contributed to this report from Chicago
Published May 21, 2004



SPRINGFIELD -- Even though he is the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, state Sen. Barack Obama is getting a closer following than he would like these days.

In the state Capitol for the end of the spring legislative session, the Chicago Democrat has found himself dogged by an in-your-face, video camera-toting campaign aide to Republican opponent Jack Ryan.

Like most elected officials in Springfield, Obama is out in the open as he mixes with the public and wades through crowds on his way to and from legislative hearings, rallies and debates in the House and Senate chambers. Right behind him virtually every moment is Justin Warfel, the 24-year-old Ryan staffer who is documenting virtually every move Obama makes.

"The young man who has been following me down here is literally a foot away," Obama said. "So I can't have a call. If I'm calling my wife on the phone, he's got a tape recorder in my face."
(snip/...)

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/specials/elections/chi-0405210072may21,1,1475108.story?coll=chi-news-hed
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I really hope this man wins.

Follow his ass around all day documenting this idiocy.

And ask them how they'd feel if the roles were reversed. Or ask them if it were cool if Kerry followed Bush around with a camera everywhere.


Jesus fucking Christ, republicans ARE SUCH SCUMBAGS!!!! THIS is democracy?!?!?!?


Lurking freepers: do you REALLY think this is a good idea?

of his own medicine...have a camera in his face a foot away. Catch every phone call on tape...the only way to fight these lunatics is to meet them on their own level...lowlife as it may be.

Tell the crowds what is going on...let mob rule take over.

as if that makes it o.k. More from the article:

An aide to Obama said Warfel went so far Thursday as to interrupt Obama while he was talking to constituents and "heckle him a little bit." Warfel also has sat in a car outside Obama's Springfield campaign headquarters, apparently staking out the campaign, the Democratic candidate's aide said.
(snip)

On Thursday, as Obama was talking to reporters in a Statehouse corridor, Warfel showed up with video camera rolling. He identified himself for reporters but referred all other questions about his activities to Phiel. Campaign disclosure records show he makes $2,500 a month working for Ryan.

When reporters asked Obama questions about being followed, Warfel tried to chime in with questions as well. Later, Obama ventured to the Statehouse press room to ask reporters there if they wanted to meet his "stalker," who had followed him inside.
(snip)

Obama said his campaign is not doing the same to Ryan, although an Obama campaign spokeswoman and Cook County Commissioner Forrest Claypool tried to attend a Ryan news conference last month.
(snip)

campaign, just like the Nazis could NEVER win honestly!

:puke:

This sounds like stalking to me.

Can you imagine if pols had every promise and back-room deal on a permanent video record. This would, by far, affect the repugs more than the dems.

Sheesh, just put someone on Ryan. That will put an end to this foolishness. Make sure that Obama's operative isn't too particular about his personal hygiene, and you'll have Ryan squealing like the bullying pussy he is within a week.

this happened here in PA during a congressional race.

The republican had a helicopter fly over the home of his opponent and take photos etc... when the people around here found out it really smeared the repubs character and made the Democrat look good...

here is the info

http://www.wqed.org/mag/features/0603_houseparties3html.shtml

"Despite his mixed political lineage, Turzai’s first big campaign—his 1998 run for Congress—became one of the most bitterly partisan races in Southwestern Pennsylvania history. His campaign sent a helicopter out to photograph incumbent Democrat Ron Klink’s house, and had camera-toting operatives ambush Klink and shout provocative questions. Klink turned the incidents into a potent issue, and a week before the election, Turzai apologized for his campaign’s tactics. “He apologized, and I accepted it,” says Klink, now a government-relations consultant. “He changed that campaign overnight. Literally in a moment, it was a different campaign.” Klink won handily.
"

the camera.

I'm not saying they should follow him home. But, so long as he's following Obama, they could talk to him, and show his picture. They could have a funny little thing on their web site where they interview him, and his mom, and his friends from high school.

They could turn him into a celebrity, the way that Letterman turns, say, that woman who worked in the publishing company accross from his old office, or the guy at the Deli, or those two indian guys into celebrities.

They could have some fun with this.

If they're really nice to the guy, and joke around, maybe he'll end up voting for Obama.

I'd love to see a video of, say Obama calling his wife and then sayin, hey, Justin is here with me. You want to say hello, and then he hands the phone to Justin.

After a couple weeks, as they get to know each other, they can invite Justin over for dinner. Maybe he can babysit the kids one day, or got to Obama's aunt's house for her birthdday.

This could be REALLY funny.

KnowhatImean? Don't raise up a scumbag like the fine regular folks working near Letterman. Let the people look at this, and decide who is the better man, Obama or Ryan.

and friendliness, could come to see the absurdity of what he's doing.

So I see your point.

The ability to cloud his own mind.....

please

Thank you for your excellent coverage and comment regarding Jack Ryan's creepy tactics of having Obama heckled and followed around with a video camera 24/7. These thug tactics alone disqualify Jack Ryan from the prestigious job of the US Senator. The difference in quality between the candidates is painfully obvious. Ryan is getting desperate and it hasn't even started yet.

Thank goodness Barack Obama is probably the most exciting Democratic freshman on the national scene. We Illionoisans deserve and will certainly get this great partner for Dick Durbin. I am so incredibly impressed with Barack Obama; I would go as far to say we may be looking at the first African American President. Paul Simon is definately smiling from heaven and maybe that video footage might be useful someday in the Obama Presidential Library.


write them too!

http://www.chicagotribune.com/classified/placead/chi-contactus.htmlstory

info@jackryan2004.com

... for updates.

http://www.suntimes.com/output/elect/cst-nws-sen21.html

Excerpt:

SPRINGFIELD -- For the past 10 days, U.S. Senate candidate Barack Obama hasn't been able to go to the bathroom or talk to his wife on his cell phone without having a camera-toting political gofer from his Republican rival filming a few feet away.

In what has to be a first in Illinois politics, Republican Jack Ryan has assigned one of his campaign workers to record every movement and every word of the state senator while he is in public.

That means Justin Warfel, armed with a handheld Panasonic digital camcorder, follows Obama to the bathroom door and waits outside. It means Warfel follows Obama as he moves from meeting to meeting in the Capitol. And it means Warfel tails Obama when he drives to his campaign office.

"It's standard procedure to record public speeches and things like that," Obama told reporters as the bald, 20-something operative filmed away. "But to have someone who's literally following you a foot and a half away, everywhere you go, going into the restrooms, standing outside my office, sitting outside of my office asking my secretary where I am, seems to be getting a little carried away."

Warfel interrupted Obama several times with heckling questions, but wouldn't respond when reporters asked him about who he was and why he was filming Obama's every move.

"You'll have to speak to the campaign office," Warfel said tartly to practically every inquiry.

Really, I hate them.

over this harrassment. It's just way too much.

From the article:

Some senior Republicans were turned off by the tactic.

"I don't care if you're in public life or who you are," Senate Minority Leader Frank Watson (R-Greenville) said. "You deserve your space, your privacy. I don't think it's appropriate."

But Jason Miller, Ryan's campaign manager, insisted Obama's public movements are fair game and the point is to make sure Obama doesn't contradict himself with his public statements.

:eyes: :eyes:

so his win can be celebrated in a documentary.

On this page, there is a phone number and email address listed for a Justin Warfel in Illinois.

http://www.jeffblock.com/wedding/men.html

Perhaps he would like to hear opinions from some Obama supporters?

How stupid is he to put himself in that position...let Ryan do it himself.