New Mexico was thrown into shock and confusion late Tuesday night when it was reported that venerable former Republican Congressman Joe Skeen had passed away at a Roswell hospital. But later reports said Skeen was alive, but in critical condition. The confusion started with a report on KRQE-TV where veteran anchorman Dick Knipfing took to the airwaves to report that State GOP Chair Ramsay Gorham had announced that Skeen had died. But at the top of the 10 p.m. news Knipfing announced that Gorham had called to retract the story and to report that the former eleven term Congressman was alive. The 10 p.m news broadcasts on KOB AND KOAT clarified Skeen's condition, making a point to say that Skeen had not passed away, but was seriously ill and had requested that close former staffers come see him at the Eastern New Mexico Medical Center. Skeen is afflicted with Parkinson's disease. He ended his service in the Congress in 2002 and was succeeded by fellow Republican Steve Pearce.
The series of events that led to the premature death announcement apparently began when Albuquerque Journal night editors were told that Skeen had died (By whom we do not know at this point). They put political correspondent Loie Fecteau into action and she started working the phones. One of those calls was to GOP Chair Gorham who tells friends she was told by Loie that Skeen had died and they were seeking reaction. When Knipfing got wind that Skeen was seriously ill he called Gorham for confimation and she told the anchor Skeen was dead, based on the information she was given by the Journal. Former Congressman Manuel Lujan, who served with Joe was also called by the Journal. Lujan was shocked by the news, but held off commenting until he could confirm it personally with Skeen family members. Lujan's decision proved prudent as the news came moments later that Gorham had committed what she told Channel 13 was "a terrible mistake." Sources say that the rumor of Skeen's death might have gained steam when a Lincoln County Republican Party official was told by a Skeen family member that Skeen would not be able to make a scheduled event, presumed the worst and the rumor began.
It's hard to fault 13 for going with the story considering their source of information. If you are talking to the head of the Republican Party and she says on the record the Congressman has died, you assume she has such serious news right and is speaking on behalf of the family. On the other hand, if you are talking to usually "reliable sources" who wish to remain anonymous, the "two source" rule comes into play: get two different sources to independently confirm before you go. Gorham has to be feeling pretty awful about her misstep, the Journal is sure to be looking at its role, and knowing Knipfing's obsession with accuracy, you can assume he too is not a happy camper.
Former Skeen legislative director Bruce Donisthorpe, working the phones with former colleagues throughout the evening, was relieved that the reports of Skeen's death were premature. "He's a wonderful man. Our staff was like family and no one wants to lose the leader of their family," said Donisthorpe while keeping a late-night vigil on the condition of his former boss.
Skeen made history and became a political legend when he won his seat in Congress in 1980 via a write-in campaign.
CAMPAIGN MANAGER ED ROMERO??
There was also media confusion Tuesday regarding former Ambassador to Spain and New Mexico political heavyweight Ed Romero and his role in the campaign of Democratic presidential contender General Wesley Clark. An Associated Press dispatch said Romero had been picked by Clark to "manage" his campaign. That had eyebrows arched as Romero is an elder statesman these days, not exactly prone to directing energetic twentysomethings in battleground states like Iowa and New Hampshire. A check of Clark's website had a different spin on the Romero story. It said the former Bernalillo County Democratic Party Chairman and big fundraiser for former President Clinton, was endorsing Clark's candidacy, along with several other prominent Hispanic leaders. Romero, a Korean war veteran, was also picked to chair the Clark NM presidential effort. However, Clark's release said nothing about Romero managing the campaign. The endorsement line is apparently the correct one, but if we see Romero manning the phones and barking orders in a campaign war room we'll be sure to let you know.
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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2003
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