Terry McMahon's Awesome Blog

Here's the AP headline: "Bill Clinton Backs Fellow Democrat, but Event Is Marred by Snags."

Here's the first mention of what those snags actually were:

Less than an hour before the event, people from Clinton's team and the Ferrer campaign stood shouting at each other in the middle of the blocked-off street, arguing about logistics. An area reserved for press was moved, reconfigured and pushed back several times.

Representatives from Clinton's office also vetoed the use of speakers and a small stage. Left without any way to hear Clinton and Ferrer as they spoke, many reporters handed their tape recorders and microphones to children who were standing closer.

I don't know how many times I have to say this: when I read about a political event, what I want to know first is how the event affected the reporters. I just can't emphasize that enough. Did the press area get moved at all? Did the press have a hard time hearing the event?

Seriously, this should be a lesson: when the press complains about the organization of the event, usually the prime victim is the press. A falling rock could crush the local high school band, and it would be called a "slightly marred" event. Fuck with the press box though, and you're asking for trouble.