Equal Footing

EJ Montini took on Jack Harper in Sunday's Republic

When some folks visited the Legislature last week to reinforce the real pain that was about to be inflicted on our most vulnerable citizens, they were met by legislators like Republican Sen. Jack Harper, who said, "We're beyond the point of whether something is a good program, we're cutting everything we can; the time for whining is over."

A few years ago, guys like Montini ruled the world and if guys like Harper disagreed with him, Harper could pound sand...or write a letter to the editor. 

Now it's a whole new world.  Harper has sent out a blast email--complete with links to the video footage of the hearing-- and claims that Montini took him out of context and combined two quotes that were about five minutes apart. 

Here's Harper's letter and link.  You get to decide for yourself if Montini manipulated the quote.  My point is that the world is not the same... the internet allows Harper to point to archive footage of the meeting while email and blogs put him on an equal footing with Montini.

Since it only takes a few minutes to verify Harper's story, one would hope that Montini will check to see if he made a mistake and if so, issue a correction.  One would also hope that the brass at the Republic would be doing the same thing.

Harper points out that Montini doctored the quote

Ed Montini has taken two quotes of mine from Appropriations Committee and sited them together and out of context. About one hour and 15 minutes into the committee, I chided John Blackburn, from the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission for complaining about his agency’s budget (when we were cutting services and insurance to children). In the video, you would be able to see that I challenged Blackburn to justify his lobbying. I asked him how many lives his agency saves. I then went on to site money wasted by the Arizona Auto-Theft Authority by giving out Club Anti-theft devices to people who live in apartments or drive Honda’s, like it was the most important thing state government does. I told Blackburn that there was no sense in crying about it in public. Later in the meeting, I mentioned that we were no longer weighing the merits of a program, but cutting everything that we constitutionally could (at One hour and 19 minutes). Montini wrote his editorial as if I were saying that about children’s programs. Incidentally, there were emails being circulated by liberals that misquoted me, first. I wonder if Montini did his research before writing, or repeated the emails going around. He should watch the video, recognize that I was trying to make children’s issues a priority, and print a retraction.

Thank you. Jack State Senator Jack Harper 602-926-4178 1:15 and 1:19 in this video: http://azleg.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=13&clip_id=7038

Comments

[Donna Minor]

Wow, Jack Harper put egg all over Montini. The Repubic must be embarrassed. Can you imagine the taunting that Monini is facing from other "journalists." It will teach them to not underestimate anybody again.

This is what happens when you are the media elite, LOL!

[M.Devers]

Montini is a stooge for the left. Don't expect any retractions or better accuracy in his reporting. He has an agenda and it is counter to Harper's.

Montini is a big government knows best, tax and spend-a-holic.

He has no concept of individual responsibility or what government's primary role is. To him the welfare clause of the constitution means that everyone needs to submit to the nanny state.

No if ands or buts; submit to government.

If you stand for small government and individual liberty, he will do whatever it takes to take you down. Inaccurate or disingenuous reporting aside; Montini hates freedom and loves government control of every aspect of our lives.

[psrch]

"Since it only takes a few minutes to verify Harper's story, one would hope that Montini will check to see if he made a mistake and if so, issue a correction. One would also hope that the brass at the Republic would be doing the same thing."

You would think - but don't hold your breath...

[Jack]

So now I've watched the video. Sen. Pearce is respectful of the difficulties the budget cuts place on the Commission. Sen. Harper is not. When he says, "the time for whining is over" he is actually referring to himself.

[todd]

Is it clear the quote Montini is referring to is from something in this video? I searched and found the following news item on the local Fox station which reported this quote on March 9th.
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/politics/state_politics/public-input-budget-3-9-2010

I don't see a byline on it, but it might be interesting to see the Channel 10 explain where the quote was from.

[nice]

If you watch that Fox10 video, you'll see that they interviewed Senator Harper. What did he say? "We're cutting everything that we constitutionaly can, so the time for whining is over with. We've got to pass this budget we've already agreed to."

I don't know how this affects Montini, but the good senator certainly can't claim he never said what he's accused of saying.

[todd]

I guess we see the other edge of the sword here. Politicians had better be careful in claiming they didn't say something when there is a clear record of them doing so. Now Harper has guided numerous people to watch him 'in action' which likely does not show him in a positive light, but it also appears he has chosen to lie about statements he has made and done so to a wide number of people.

[ron]

This is the second time this week I have seen a GOP legislator misuse the word, site. If you are referring to a quote or a citation, you are "citing" it, not "siting" it. If you "siting" something, you are locating it on a place. You "cite" a quote, you "site" a mobile home.