VIDEO - John Quinn, heckler, REGISTERED REPUBLICAN, interrupts Obama event from press riser
AP coverage here. UPDATE - PD reports the man is John Quinn , of Parma, jquinn@sunartist.com.
UPDATE x2 - According to the Ohio Secretary of State voter records, John Quinn is a registered Republican, last voting May 8, 2007.
As Barack Obama began his remarks in Berea, Ohio, at Baldwin Wallace College recreation center, this man shouted “Sir, may I be heard!” from the press riser. He then demanded that the crowd say the Pledge of Allegiance. Obama asked if he was press, but the man wouldn’t answer. Obama asked if the man would lead the crowd in the Pledge. The crowd then said the pledge of allegiance.
Then this man began taking photographs. As Secret Service began to hover, numerous reporters, including myself, asked the man repeatedly who he was and who he worked for, and the man never answered. He was allowed to keep photographing. After the event ended, the man was surrounded by about 10 reporters and cameramen who kept asking who he was and who he worked for. He never answered.
I must say, this event really made me nervous. In the current environment, when a man shouts at Barack Obama from the press riser, in this way, over the Pledge of Allegiance, from a place reserved for media who are told not to disturb the event, that is troubling. Heckling from the crowd is standard - heckling from the press riser is almost never heard of. Then to watch the man go about lifting his camera to point it at Barack Obama, my heart skipped a beat.
In the hall, you could tell that tension rose. It was palpable. People kept looking at the press riser while Obama resumed his remarks. Press started to look at each other in confusion. And everyone nearby seemed relieved when the Secret Service became more visible in the area.
My impression after this episode is that this man was sent there to do just what he did by someone. He had a lot of equipment, he was prepared, took a lot of photos, and he didn’t shrink from the confrontation at all. And he was NOT going to tell anyone who he was, or who he worked for.
As I left the event he was being interrogated by Secret Service. Good. At least they know this man’s name. It would be useful if his name was released by the Obama campaign, as they should have a list via which he was credentialed. And my suggestion to the Obama campaign is to tighten things up so this never happens again. You are simply not permitted to be in this area without disclosing your name and media organization. If someone can remain in that area after being asked who they are and refusing, that is a problem.
Popularity: 58% [?]
Tags: barack obama, berea, heckler
August 5th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
If you are not able to identify yourself you should be escorted out. Period. Big problem.
August 5th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
Perhaps the Secret Service should have turned this FReeperesque tool… er, ahem, I mean our intrepid press photographer over to the Department of Homeland Security under provisions of the USA Patriot Act for a leisurely debriefing at Camp Guantanamo.
Wonder how his confederates would feel about that little scenario?
August 5th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
Shalom Tim,
Did Dimora make the event?
B’shalom,
Jeff
August 5th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
wow. that’s both creepy and heartbreaking.
August 5th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
FYI. No sign of Dimora or Russo… not sure about J Kevin Kelley though. He could be anybody.
August 5th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
… and contact information! Wouldn’t surprise me in this age of free long distance if he’s already getting an earful.
August 5th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
So how did he acquire press credentials?
August 5th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
It didn’t seem to phase Obama….I think he handled it very well. If it didn’t bother him why would it you?
I think you are worried more about Obama than he is…..
God forbid a man takes pictures of a Presidential candidate! How DAAARE the dirty republican!
August 5th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
A GOPer. I’m SHOCKED!
August 6th, 2008 at 12:17 am
this clown - John Quinn - needs his own page on Dickipedia [www.dickipedia.org]. If ever I’ve listened to a DICK, this is one.
It reminded me of the fake TV news crew (I’m not talking Fox News) who murdered Ahmed Shah Massoud in Afghanistan in 2001.
The Secret Service appears to have blown this clown’s vetting - big time. I suspect heads will roll.
August 6th, 2008 at 7:40 am
To be perfectly honest, I’m now a registered Republican. I voted an issues ballot on March 4, but the BOE marked me down as voting Republican, and apparently, Republican I’ll stay until the next chance I get to vote in a primary…2010. :-p
August 6th, 2008 at 8:44 am
Tim: the link to Quinn’s site contains a period that makes it go 404. But when you remove the period it goes to an under construction page.
Hmmm. Why doesn’t Mr. Quinn, the brave Republican tool, want to take credit for his coup? Love the PD photo of Quinn. All that’s missing is the brownshirt and the Horst Wessel leider.
I want to know what everyone else wants to know:
1. How did he get credentialed?
2. Who greased the skids to get him into the event?
3. What was the result of the Secret Service interrogation? Is he banned from being at other Obama events?
August 6th, 2008 at 9:25 am
The mirror of his sunartist.com homepage can be found at http://web.archive.org/web/20071024114911/http://www.sunartist.com/
The Google cache of his bio is at
http://74.125.45.104/search?q=cache:sab8×1aAOYkJ:www.sunartist.com/about.htm+about+John+Quinn+site:sunartist.com&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=us
Both are now being uploaded to the MetaMirror Archive for indexing
August 6th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
http://www.americanphotojournalist.com/Viewpost.php?id=406
This is John’s words from some time ago. Read the last sentence. You’ll be amused.
August 6th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
Shows how anyone get “credentialed.”
When you say you “witnessed” him being “interrogated” did you mean you saw him being questioned or do you mean water-boarded?
August 7th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
Phone number is not the right guy. People have been calling J Quinn of Parma who is not a photographer. Took off my post. Suggest same here.
August 8th, 2008 at 11:28 am
Phil,
I think both the last sentence and Quinn’s sign-off were interesting.
“Good journalism exists when the photographer finds the right moment and captures it without interference.
The Mighty Quinn ”
Without interference indeed. “The Mighty Quinn” - a little self absorbed are we?