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Monday, July 21, 2008
Obama Girl responds to Statesman video
I meant to post this over the weekend, but we’re all back at our desks now and able to fully appreciate it. Late Saturday night (about 1:33 a.m.), Amber Lee Ettinger, better known as Obama Girl, posted a response to the Statesman video we posted on Thursday. I’m trying to reach her associate Melissa to make sure it was really her, but this is what was posted under Amber Ettinger’s name:
Omar, wow how uncool and ridiculous you are. I did walk in there 2 minutes before you put your camera in my face and attempted to ask me questions just to make me look stupid. I am not a political expert and I have said that time and time again. I can answer my own questions and I chose not to answer yours because I wasn’t there to talk about Howard Dean and YES I was bored. Sorry everyone. And to the comment below, I graduated from College, get your facts straight.
As I noted in a Twitter message over the weekend, her assertions of my being uncool, ridiculous and boring are at least accurate. As to the putting the camera in her face, I didn’t know that was out of bounds when she was specifically brought to the Media Room to talk to press. I asked, “Can I shoot a video with you?” and she said yes. I can see how that could be taken as a complete intrusion.
I do not, however, have a sufficient defense for the commenter from France who reposted Obama Girl’s response several times, adding only, “IN YOUR FACE Omar,” It kind of is in my face, so I believe that’s on point.
I like to think I’m one of the nicer journalists in the business, and I honestly meant no harm. As to suggestions in some of the Postcards from the Lege blog comments that I set out to embarrass Ms. Ettinger or make her look dumb, I can assure you that I don’t possess the foresight or the mad scientist skills necessary to pull off such a crackerjack caper. I was rattling off questions off the top of my head based on my limited time at the conference as a non-political reporter.
The whole affair could have been headed off at the pass if Obama Girl had simply told our viewers why she was at Netroots Nation and what she planned to do while she was here. Surely she and Melissa must have discussed this on the plane ride over.
Unfortunately, I don’t think Obama Girl knew, and that’s where the problems started.
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