Republicans took to social media on Saturday to express their disapproval of the Colorado GOP’s decision to remove a journalist from a statewide event.
Sandra Fish, a political reporter for The Colorado Sun, defied the orders of a Colorado GOP event organizer who had informed her that she was barred from attending the state GOP assembly. Despite being explicitly told that she was not allowed to be present, Sandra Fish decided to attend the event anyway. Consequently, she was escorted out of the assembly. It is worth noting that the assembly serves as a platform for the Colorado GOP to select their candidates for the upcoming November election.
According to The Colorado Sun, Fish was asked to leave the event because Colorado GOP chairman Dave Williams, who is running for U.S. Congress, believed that her reporting was “very unfair.” Fish, an experienced and accomplished journalist who has been covering politics since 1982, was removed from the event.
State Republicans expressed their disapproval of Fish being removed from the event on X, formerly known as Twitter.
In a post on Saturday, Kristi Burton Brown, a former chair of the Colorado GOP, expressed her concern over the decision to remove Fish, describing it as “dangerous.”
“Taking down a newspaper that masquerades as a legitimate news source is one thing. However, removing a journalist who is renowned for their tough yet unbiased reporting is an entirely different matter. In order to preserve the integrity of our nation, transparency is absolutely essential,” she expressed.
Colorado state Representative Matt Soper expressed his belief in the importance of a robust and open democracy. In a recent statement, he emphasized the need for the public and media to have access to the candidate selection process, regardless of any personal agreement or disagreement with journalists.
Sandra Fish expressed her disappointment and frustration with the GOP chair in a candid and straightforward manner. As a fair-minded and respected reporter, she didn’t hesitate to voice her concerns. Being a Republican herself, she felt embarrassed by the actions of the GOP chair. Furthermore, as a State Senator, she was astonished by the clear and flagrant disregard for the Constitution, particularly coming from a former Legislator. She found it deeply disturbing and repugnant.
Former state representative and state Senator Greg Brophy expressed his disbelief and frustration at Fish being ejected on Saturday. He emphasized that China Dave, who is currently leading the GOP and has been accused of disregarding ethical and moral norms, is not surprising in this situation. Brophy called for the Central Committee to take action and remove Fish from his position.
When Fish arrived at the Colorado State Fairgrounds in Pueblo on Saturday, she went through the check-in process and was given a press credential to attend the event. However, her presence was deemed unwelcome and she was asked to leave after about an hour. When she refused, a police officer escorted her out and explained, “You are not invited to be here…They do not want you here, so I must remove you from the premises,” as captured in a video recorded by fellow journalists.
In an email to Newsweek, Williams defended the decision to remove the fake journalist from the event, stating that her publication is merely an extension of the Democrat Party’s public relations efforts. He expressed no remorse for the action, pointing out that the backlash they received was primarily from the fake news media, radical Democrats, and establishment Republicans who have animosity towards their conservative base. Williams also criticized the crooked press and pundits who harbor a disdain for true Republicans and President Trump, accusing them of always seeking opportunities to curry favor with them.
In an emailed statement to Newsweek, Fish emphasized the importance of providing citizens with the information they need to be free and self-governing, as stated by Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel in The Element of Journalism, which is Fish’s favorite textbook as a journalism instructor. Fish also expressed his commitment to this purpose, stating that he was fulfilling his role as a journalist on Saturday and will continue to do so in the future.
In a previous article, Fish reported on Williams and the state Republican Party. Specifically, he discussed a mailer sent by the Colorado GOP that targeted Williams’ primary opponent, Jeff Crank. Fish described this incident as another instance of Williams leveraging his party leadership position to protect himself and his associates.