Written on Tuesday, October 21st, 2008 at 3:04pm by Alan Bedenko | 18 Comments

Looking For Chris Lee

Marc Odien tries to hunt down Republican candidate for Congress in NY-26, Chris Lee. (I’ve cleaned up the misspellings):

About two weeks ago, we were told we needed to speak to “Andrea” over at Chris Lee’s campaign headquarters about trying to get Mr. Lee to interview with WNYM. If not an interview, to find a public event that Mr. Lee would be attending and answering questions from interested voters.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN

It’s no hidden fact that Mr. Lee has been avoiding the press and the public like the plague. Since his disastrous appearance at the WNED debate last week, no one has seen him. Not one interview.

We at WNYmedia.net are in no way “fair and balanced”, but we at least try to present both sides of an issue when there is one to be had.

Especially with an election, we always extend an interview request with as many candidates as possible. Yeah, we usually get turned down, but at the very least, we always expect professional courtesy whether its returning phone calls promptly or responding via email.

Not this time. For more than 8 days in a row, not one callback. Not one Email. Nothing.

After having to postpone the interview with Alice Kryzan due to a scheduling conflict, we decided not to pursue an interview with Kryzan until we could get Mr. Lee to agree to a similar interview.

No one at the campaign office is at liberty to tell us if Chris Lee has any public events or appearances. The girl in the audio above even admits that fact that she is “not privileged” to tell us if he has any public appearances. Hmm… Apparently that is “privileged” information.

If I was a constituent of Mr. Lee’s, I would be furious that almost two weeks before the election, that there is no way to contact him, hear his views, or get his opinion on anything in person.

When is the media going to do their job and hunt him down? Don’t worry, I already no the answer. When there is little to no time to fact check his answers or get negative ads on TV with a potential gaffe.

14 days before the election. Really working for the people there Chris. Nice Job.

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18 Comments

  1. Merr says:
    October 21, 2008 at 3:33 pm

    We at WNYmedia.net are in no way “fair and balanced”

    Hmm, seems you have answered your question right there.

  2. pirate's code says:
    October 21, 2008 at 4:02 pm

    “We at WNYmedia.net are in no way “fair and balanced”, but we at least try to present both sides of an issue when there is one to be had.”

    That made me laugh out loud. While I often disagree with the political views expressed, I read BP because it is usually well-written, snarky, and I sometimes learn interesting things about food and cars. But present both sides of an issue…? C’mon, Odien, who are you kidding? Have you been reading this blog for the last, oh, year? I half expect to see in the disclaimer…”this blog paid for the Democratic Party.”

    I know it’s not (it’s not, is it?), but both sides of an issue? YOu guys are a hoot.

  3. Buffalopundit says:
    October 21, 2008 at 4:29 pm

    Two things:

    1. The fact that I maintain an open comments section by definition mean I invite every conceivable point of view on this site; and

    2. When we report news, rather than offer opinion, we have an obligation to present both sides to a story, if more than one exists. When I tried to track down whether or not Bruce Jackson’s kids were on the Wendt payroll, I reached out. Whether they bother to get back to me is their own problem. So, if we’re reporting on Alice Kryzan, we want to offer Lee a similar platform. If he declines, that’s his decision – not ours. If his people say they’re not “privileged” to provide us with his next scheduled appearance, that’s news.

  4. Chris Smith says:
    October 21, 2008 at 4:42 pm

    It comes as no surprise that Alan’s page on WNYMedia is partisan with a Democrat perspective. However, that doesn’t mean that every site hosted by WNYM shares his viewpoints.

    The WNYMedia frontpage is a repository for video news, press conferences, and general regional issues. The bloggers can take that information and apply a partisan slant to it if they so choose. However, I like to think that our top level domain here is generally balanced. If we’re so liberal, why do we host Rus Thomspon? He’s just to the right of Sarah Palin.

  5. Marc Odien says:
    October 21, 2008 at 4:49 pm

    what Alan said. Your mixing news with opinion.

    We always provide the other side the courtesy of posting a story, leaving a comment, accepting an interview request, post a press release or any other means they choose to decide on how to respond.

    If they choose not to that is their decision. But we have never denied anyone the chance to post an opposing view to ours…

    So like I said, we are hardly fair and balanced but have always been cordial and respectful especially when it comes to interviews and video segments with opposing views.

    We allowed Chris Collins to spread his message via our sites last year for his campaign, through numerous interview clips and press releases. Sen. Dale Volker chooses on occasion to utilize our sites to spread his message. George Maziarz as well. On Bass Pro we showed all sides of the issue in a very balanced manner. Others have come through over the years as well.

    We also have a few contributors who write on the other side, and while they often get drowned out by the liberal in us, no one can ever say we do not offer the opportunity.

    and NO… it is not…

  6. The Wizard says:
    October 21, 2008 at 4:59 pm

    Will Alice beat Lee? Stay tuned..

  7. The Wizard Jr says:
    October 21, 2008 at 5:41 pm

    Well, BP, one thing you have totally ignored is Alice Kryzan saying she would not take special interest money and then taking $80K in the last month alone. Forget about Chris Lee not talking to you guys, why aren’t you guys demanding answers and holding people in power accountable. Screw it, I might just start reading WGRZ’s blog.

  8. The Wizard says:
    October 21, 2008 at 6:38 pm

    BP – while you are my favorite blogger, Jr. is correct. At least post about Kryzan’s hypocrisy and then try to defend her instead of ignoring the issue completely. This is a letdown. You are better than this.

  9. wizards cousin mizard says:
    October 21, 2008 at 8:43 pm

    I hate to say it, Jr’s right. I don’t support Lee – but damn Kryzan way to take special interest money after blasting all other candidates for it.

  10. Joanne L. Capone says:
    October 21, 2008 at 9:16 pm

    Chris Lee and his family sold their business for almost $400M dollars and now the bulk of jobs formerly held by Western New Yorkers have gone oversees. Chris and his family have done what many business people have done since the disaster of NAFTA…sold out his neighbors and friends by making sure the jobs did not stay here.

    So it is understandable why Chris takes a hike now and does not wish to debate Alice Kryzan. Alice would make mincemeat of Chris and he knows it and is running a “scared-deer in the headlights campaign”.. His ads on TV are filled with one lie after another.

  11. The Wizard Jr says:
    October 21, 2008 at 9:37 pm

    @ Joanne L. Capone – For the love of all that is holy, please tell me that you are not supporting Alice Kryzan. The same Alice Kryzan who supports abortion, even partial birth abortion??????? You are, perhaps, the biggest hypocrite that I have ever encountered.

  12. joe tullio says:
    October 21, 2008 at 11:30 pm

    You all are saying that Lee won’t debate. Am I missing something here? Didn’t these two candidates debate on TV already?

    I also know that there will be a hardwick faceoff. WTF???

  13. wizards cousin mizard says:
    October 22, 2008 at 12:56 am

    Joe – the only thing that is missing is Joanne Capone’s brain

  14. Ghost of Ellis says:
    October 22, 2008 at 12:56 am

    Marc and Alan hardly qualify as “press”. Stop expecting them to provide a reasonable dose of factual information.

  15. Just as many news conferences as Joe Biden says:
    October 22, 2008 at 8:07 am

    At Capone – Are you insane? Enidine/IMC’s employment right here in our backyard, Orchard Park, has INCREASED over the last year and is at an all time high. Not one job has left Western NY. Go on drinking the Kryzan and Democrat Kool Aid, but there is absolutely no honor in lying and you lady are the lowest of the low. Your comments are a disgrace.

  16. The Wizard says:
    October 22, 2008 at 10:18 am

    It’s about time the Lee folks come on here and support their boss. We’ve been waiting for you! Please kick Alice’s dirty ass in 2 weeks.

  17. Martin Van Buren says:
    October 22, 2008 at 12:02 pm

    http://www.wkbw.com/explorepolitics/31886109.html

    See this link from Channel 7’s free candidate Air Time. Kryzan couldn’t find the time in her schedule to answer questions of Keith Radford. I will no patiently wait for all of your outrage as to why she is ducking answering the questions.

    What is total bullshit is that the people here and elsewhere continue to say that Lee hasn’t been accessible. He has campaigned a lot. A hell of a lot more than I ever remember seeing Reynolds around here. Kryzan hasn’t even found her way out to half of the counties in the district. She was completely unaware of the largest economic development project in the history of Monroe County. And now, she has gone back on her pledge not to take special interest money. What a lying bitch.