“A proactive media strategy of not responding”

No, that’s not the Bush administration. It’s Hanna M. Greer, the Public Information Director for the Franklin County Commission, in response to Open Records Act inquiries by a blogger, Patrick Poole, and a radio talk show host, Dirk Thompson of 610 WTVN. She emailed those words to Michael S. Brown, Mayor Mike Coleman’s spokesman. Brown, a city employee, had been giving advice to Greer, a county employee, on how to kill the developing story of Abukar Arman’s holding a seat on the county board that oversees the county’s homeland security matters. Arman has praised terrorist groups in the past. Here’s Brown to Greer on July 17:

Sending a note on this blogger issue I read about. I’m seeing Step 2 in classic right wing “from blogs to news” strategy on this Mr. Arman issue, see message below … They were mildly successful in getting electeds to react to some nobody blowhard on WTVN, now they got a different blog to accuse you of not doing enough or covering up, damned if you do or don’t. This is the next to last stages of their facist-esque defamation “balloon floating” on this person … Either credible media will pick up or they won’t, if not it goes away.

The “elected” is Paula Brooks, who on July 12 wrote to the Franklin County Administrator Don Brown:

I expect this to be investigated expeditiously. If true, these allegations are definitely grounds for removal.

Here’s Michael S. Brown to Greer:

Best strategy for responsible folks (in my opinion) is simple, factual defense from external validator. Have Don Brown or lower staff (not at request of Comm.) get short, clear statement from Sheriff, Police or Homeland Security folks on status of individual, good or bad … Not an investigation or hearing.

So an elected commissioner wants an investigation, but the Public Information Director takes the advice of someone not even in the same government and declines to investigate.

Greer writes:

Honestly Mike, I have no idea what Paula’s message is. I had put together, what I considered a proactive media strategy of not responding however, her office sent out the memo requesting an investigation which the other commissioners and I heard about on 610 WTVN and from Patrick Poole.

Finally in a message to one of the County Commissioners, Greer writes:

Commissioner, I do not plan to respond to Mr. Thompson’s request.

Dirk Thompson wanted to know about the status of the investigation Paula Brooks had requested. Since on the advice of Mayor Coleman’s spokesman there was no investigation, it’s best to not answer. Classic stonewalling.

Read the full story at Patrick Poole’s Central Ohioans Against Terrorism.

(Previous post: Franklin County Commission stonewalls.)