Screenings of Excuse me Mr. Speaker this Week

Looks Great! (4.00 / 2)

Reminds me of two other awesome political documentaries: "Street Fight" and "Can Mr. Smith Go To Washington Anymore?"  Both featured losing candidates who eventually won office.  Let's hope this does the same thing for Paul Newell.

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by: Soundpolitic @ Mon Dec 13, 2010 at 21:54:41 PM UTC

Actually... (4.00 / 3)

Paul Newell did win another office last year; he is a District Leader.  Just the first step, of course, but stay tuned.

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by: Dan Jacoby @ Tue Dec 14, 2010 at 14:08:20 PM UTC

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Thanks! (4.00 / 1)

Though lets hope I don't wind up where Jeff Smith did.

http://www.studlife.com/news/2...

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by: Paul Newell @ Wed Dec 15, 2010 at 00:01:34 AM UTC

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Whoa... (4.00 / 1)

Didn't know about that one.  Changes the tone of the tone of that documentary radically.  Anonymous postcards and lying about them to federal investigators...from a guy who taught political ethics!  Yeesh...didn't Jeff Smith learn anything from Huck Finn?

Just keep on playing by the rules and telling the truth, Paul, and you'll get there.

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by: Soundpolitic @ Wed Dec 15, 2010 at 17:33:58 PM UTC

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Whoda thunk it? (0.00 / 0)

I found out last night that I'm in this movie.  Not a starring role, but I'll take it.

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by: Dan Jacoby @ Thu Dec 16, 2010 at 19:44:50 PM UTC

You're in the movie because... (0.00 / 0)

unlike Sheldon Silver, you showed up to the debate.

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by: Paul Newell @ Fri Dec 17, 2010 at 18:18:48 PM UTC

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Luke Henry was not "oddly motivated" (0.00 / 0)

I have not seen this movie, and while it would seem like an independent documentary about Albany reform would be my thing, I've heard from others that there are major journalistic integrity issues.

Luke Henry was also a candidate in this race, and he was motivated by the same principles that unite all of us at TAP.  Luke decided to run before he knew who Paul Newell was, and any suggestion to the contrary is ridiculous.  

I'll leave out my beliefs about how that stupid rumor got started and why the film maker bothered to portray it as some sort of credible conspiracy theory.

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by: Tracey in Hells Kitchen @ Fri Dec 17, 2010 at 04:02:30 AM UTC

Luke Henry's perception in the race (0.00 / 0)

Tracey,

Thank you for commenting on my movie and bringing up your concerns. I would be interested in knowing who thinks the movie has "major journalistic integrity issues" and discussing those issues with them.  In addition, I will gladly send you a screener of the film if you have an interest in viewing it and coming to your own conclusions. And please excuse the length of this post, but it's an important issue.

As to Luke Henry's "oddly motivated" campaign, I stand by that line and my film backs it up. For starters, this was a commonly held opinion by a majority of people outside of the Henry campaign that I spoke to and who offered an opinion on Luke.  A few people, such as yourself, praised him; some went out on a limb and said Henry was a possible Silver plant and one even published as much. But the grand majority of independent observers held the opinion that his campaign made less than perfect sense.  If among the people who agree with your politics there are very few whom also understand and agree with your motivations, that's a pretty good indicator that your motivations are odd.

At the heart of the issue is this:  one would figure that a politician hoping to topple a major Albany player- and by doing so take steps towards reducing dysfunction - would have some concern about another challenger seeking to do the same and diluting the effort. And you would think that a politician in such a position would try to dissuade the other challenger. Newell certainly was concerned and made such efforts; Henry did not seem to feel this way and made no effort. This was odd.

As was his reaction to my movie. I approached Henry repeatedly to discuss his possible participation in the documentary. He first promised me that we would meet for coffee and discuss it further. I called him to set up a time and he said he was too busy to discuss setting up a date at that moment and that I should call him back another time. I tried him again several times but my calls were not answered and my messages not returned.

In short, Henry never properly declined to participate in the documentary, but instead he declined to follow through on a plan to meet for coffee and hear me out. This by itself struck me as somewhat odd behavior by a politician and indicative of Henry's campaign in general. After approaching many of his supporters I was unable to get a single person to defend Henry on camera, you included, I recall. In contrast, Silver gave me a clear no and I found many people willing to support him on camera. Henry's reaction to me was the first time in my journalistic career when a potential subject listened to my pitch and then refused to tell me "yes, I'll participate" or "no, I won't" or even give me the time of day. I wasn't offended, just a bit confused.

This left me covering a primary with loudly spoken concerns that Henry's efforts were a distraction or perhaps even a sham and not much said in defense of him.  It was a reality that there was a rumor about his campaign, my movie includes people addressing this rumor as well as Newell saying he doesn't believe it. This is what happened in front of my camera as well as away from it. That Henry's campaign was a bit odd was a thought had by most people who paid the race enough attention, and to not include it would have been a bit misleading.

I don't believe Henry was a plant or dishonest in his beliefs; but that he was motivated in a way that seemed odd and confused many people is a fact.  That coupled with the additional fact that nobody was willing to defend him to me on camera (and precious few off camera) left me little choice. The alternative to an "oddly motivated" campaign is an "understandably motivated" campaign and Henry's behavior - both tactically and strategically - left many people unable to see him that way.

Tracey, please send me your address at info@excusememrspeaker.com if you're interested in viewing the movie and drawing your own conclusions. I would love to head them.

Best, Justin

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by: JustinSullivan @ Fri Dec 17, 2010 at 19:54:23 PM UTC

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