October 19, 2015 02:40 PM UTC

Absence of photo ops shouldn't have negated news value of Bush visit

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• by: Jason Salzman

(Excuses, excuses – Promoted by Colorado Pols)

Visits by former presidents usually make news in Denver, if nothing else, because these people are major celebrities, known by all. So you’d think an appearance in Denver by a former president, with his brother, a current presidential candidate, plus a cousin, would be high on the news radar.

Yet, I can’t find a Colorado news outlet that covered George W. Bush’s visit on Sunday evening to Denver, where he was apparently joined by brother Jeb Bush and cousin State Treasurer Walker Stapleton.

I asked Denver Post Politics Editor Chuck Plunkett why The Post ignored the event, which was a closed-door fundraiser at the Denver Art Museum.

Plunkett: We reported in advance that Bush would be here for a conference and a fundraiser. Had his appearance at the financial conference been open to press, we would have covered it. Same with the fundraiser.

Here’s The Post’s advance piece.

As it turned out, a loud group of demonstrators were on hand for the event, as depicted by a liberal group, spotlighting the closed doors.

But, journalism-wise, it wouldn’t have mattered if no one was yelling outside. With the concentration of Bushes (and power) in one room, it’s crazy that the visit went completely unmarked by big media, not just The Post. At least a mention of the secrecy, and the possible explanations for it, would have been welcome.

It’s not an exact comparison, but recall the media conniptions when Mark Udall decided not to appear with Obama last year in Denver. Udall’s decision was a legitimate angle on the story, and so was Jeb’s decision, in this case, to hide with his brother.

In other words, the secrecy (and lack of photo ops) doesn’t negate the issues at play (e.g., Jeb Bush’s fear of his brother). In fact, you’d think a reporter would find the closed doors even more newsworthy.