Romney campaign bars reporters from Jerusalem fund-raiser
Update: The campaign said Sunday it will now allow the press to cover Romney's remarks at the fund-raiser, but reporters will be escorted out before he takes questions from the audience.
(CNN) - Mitt Romney's presidential campaign will not allow reporters to cover the candidate's Monday fund-raiser in Jerusalem, a campaign aide said Saturday.
That decision is a change in practice from an agreement the campaign and media outlets, including CNN, reached with the campaign last spring.
- Follow the Ticker on Twitter: @PoliticalTicker
- Check out the CNN Electoral Map and Calculator and game out your own strategy for November.
Romney press aide Rick Gorka told reporters following Romney on his international trip that the fund-raiser was closed press, but offered no explanation as to why. Romney touched down Saturday in Israel and will head later to Poland.
A rotating small number of reporters attend the candidate's fund-raisers held in public places - such as Jerusalem's King David Hotel, the site of Monday's event - and share their reporting with other outlets, but reporters are not allowed into Romney's fund-raisers in private homes.
Several reporters attended part of Romney's fundraiser in London on Thursday.
Among those who may attend the fund-raiser is billionaire Sheldon Adelson, the major Republican donor who last month donated millions to the primary super PAC supporting Romney.
The campaign of President Barack Obama allows a similar pool of reporters to attend some Obama campaign fund-raisers, excluding those at which Obama will not deliver remarks. Some of those venues have included hotel fund-raisers.
Romney's closed-door fund-raisers and his private comments to donors were highlighted when reporters from NBC News and The Wall Street Journal overheard Romney telling donors in a backyard in April that as president he might close the Department of Housing and Urban Development and scale back the Department of Education, items he had not rolled out in public events at the time.
In response to the news, Obama campaign senior adviser David Axelrod tweeted, "After London debacle, Romney team re-institutes Mittness Protection Program. Now media will be barred from his Jerusalem fundraiser."
In another tweet, he added, "Is it because Sheldon Adelson, the SuperPac King, will be among the guests?"
- CNN's Jim Acosta, Steve Brusk, and Kevin Bohn contributed to this report
typical Rmoney. I'm rich and better than you, and no I will not let you see what keeps me running or how I got here. I'm willing to bet $10,000 that Romeny payed ZERO TAXES for a multiple number of years, About as UN PATRIOTIC and FOREIGN as one can get.
Romney's for President of Lies, Distortion and Hate. The President of no details, just hate Obama...No spine, just hate Obama. This man is a worthless robot of the Tea Party...When is he ever going to tell the truth about anything, His taxes, His business, when was governor , his faith and his detailed vision for America. Instead he lies and distort others, like he did in the primary. I deal with many republicans who say he has no spine and that he is worse than John Kerry (And they cannot stand or trust him) . MITT STOP LYING TO AMERICA. GIVE AMERICA YOU DETAILED PLAN IF YOU HAVE ONE TO STICK TO.
This guy is not the President nor Department of State... so why is he putting his nose where it does not belong by having such discussions concerning US Foreign Policy? Its about votes = his self interests.... not the interests of the US people.
Gov. Romney cares only for the Jewish vote and nothing more. He has little interest apart from the desire to assume the office of President. His support for Israel is nothing more than window dressing, or at best leverage in garnering regional power. Political prestidigitation at its best is being applied to sway opinion toward his own political desires. Americans should not be so naive to be predisposed to a false gesture of generosity that is hidden in the lustfulness and cravings of greed and coveting I shall not be given to fools or politics as I have seen too many proxy our lives to afford their own privileges.
To have the press dogging your every move and every word looking for something to put you down and not doing any reporting on up lifting items is what is wrong with the drive by media todayl What a shame , that our news culture is so vile!
it's ironic how these repub screams about backroom deals, cornhusker kick back, etc for the whole 4 years since Obama took office, yet they are set to elect the most secretive candidate this country have ever seen. they yell about Obama care every second of this president tenure yet they are set to elect the architect of the same plan, and doesn't give a dam about the Massachusetts plan that their candidate created. I often wondered why the repubs hate Obama so much, because it's obviously not his policies. you figure this out.
Selling out America just like Cantor. Give me your money we'll give you whatever you want. Any more questions about foreign cash buying American offices? This man is absolutely disgusting and immoral. Love how he keeps touting a new war with Iran while he cowered in France during Viet Nam. Tell me Mitt. Are you going to govern from France too? Only too happy to send your kids to die, but not his. Won't kyour magic underwear protect you?
Good to see that he hides everything wherever he goes. I take it adelson has friends in Israel but the ones who really count are the Jewish folks in the US who don't like you. They are the ones who will be voting against you.
I can see why HUD and the Department of Education would scare you. One is to help people in trouble and the other one is to make sure our education system raises children who don't know who Jefferson is or keep them all umbed down enough to believe your lies and excuses as to WHY YOU CAN'T SHOW US MORE OF YOU TAXE RETURNS!!
It's because Romney hides the truth, just like with his income tax returns.
The truth would lose Romney the election, and he knows it.
So, Obama never bans the press from private fundraisers?
Oh, wait. The press doesn't have a problem with that.
Look at the 'Politics' page. Where are the articles critical of Obama, or any Dem for that matter?
Why is Romney backing an Israelly attack on Iran, we can do our own fighting. Just like Mitt; sit back and let someone else do your fighting for you.
Are you kidding? The press is not allowed to hear questions from the audience? The voters in America need to know what he is promising other nations and foreign policies. This man is so sneaky and secretive, it is disturbing that people are actually looking at voting for him. his kind of government scares me.
@dodgedart66 – Are you kidding? No attacks on Obama or any Dem? What the #$&^ do you read? Highlights for Children?
It is hilarious that CNN and all other Obama/liberal supporting MSM had no problem when Obama blocked reporters from events before/after Obama was elected. Not one word of complaint/criticism was ever spoken/reported by any of them. They had no problem when Obama/liberals used dark, smoke filled back rooms to threaten and bribe to get Obamacare shoved down our throats either. I say great job Romney--if Obama and the liberals can do it, so can you.
@sonnie3. I hear you about the press following you around looking for anything to use against you, our President has been enduring that same thing for years now.
OBAMA 2012!