Send your comments and news tips to roundup.editor@gmail.com or click on the "comments" button at the bottom of the storyUpdate, Thursday April 8, another layer added from Newstreamz – "Barton and Bishop were sitting in his car outside his Kyle office on March 30, discussing her treatment options for dealing with a rare and serious physical condition and its ramifications, when she threw a cell phone and hit his face. Bishop said the discussion involved some ongoing health and stress-related issues . . . he (Barton) and Bishop maintain that the latter’s cell phone throw was not a deliberate attempt to injure him.”
There are so many different accounts now being reported about the blow up last week between Commissioner Barton and his assistant, Kara Bishop, it's hard to keep track.
Maybe creating "confusion" is part of the latest damage control strategy by Barton's media handlers.
Here, for example, are two small bits of reporting from Newstreamz, April 6, http://www.newstreamz.com/2010/04/06/barton-no-hard-feelings-about-cell-phone-incident/ Including the updated version above, see if you can pick out some inconsistencies:
Commissioner Barton: "She was very upset in general and kind of threw her cell phone. And unfortunately, I was in her line of fire. We’ve laughed about that together.”
Photo caption – http://www.newstreamz.com/: "Barton said he has no hard feelings after his campaign manager, Kara Bishop, threw a cell phone at his face . . . "
From the Kyle PD incident report: "Jeff stated Kara had gotten upset and threw her phone and it hit him in the mouth and he began to bleed."
Rule Number One in a gloss-over or a cover up is to keep your story straight.
We also have learned there are two reports by law enforcement authorities that were filed on the Tuesday, March 30 incident – one by the Hays County Sheriff's Department and one by the Kyle PD.
The RoundUp has requested a copy of the sheriff's report.
You can read the Kyle PD's version, along with a statement from Bishop, here: http://www.sanmarcosmercury.com/archives/12675
We're not sure how the Mercury obtained the statement from Bishop. She reportedly is not responding to queries from other media.
12 comments:
What are you talking about? A cover up????
Please just leave this poor young woman alone. She is seeking help and, as decent human beings, we should respect her privacy.
Clicking on the links provided in this story, I see that Newstream and Barton himself just yesterday revealed more about Ms. Bishop and her condition than has been reported anywhere else. Quoting: "Bishop, who is in her early 20s, suffers a rare, serious, physical condition that necessitated her taking leave recently. Barton and Bishop were sitting in former’s car, discussing the possibility of getting Bishop additional treatment, when she threw a cell phone and hit his face." Sounds to me like Barton and newstream are the ones with the big mouths. Now everybody will be wondering what that rare physical condition is. Way to put the spotlight on it, Barton. I think Barton himself ought to think about taking leave from his job as county commissioner. Big Mouth.
The hate for Barton is so strong from some of you that you are willing to throw the young woman under the bus just to come up with something to discredit him. Failing that, you use terms like “Cover-up” and then do not back it up with any facts. The desperation is as evident as is your hate for Jeff.
Cut the phony indignation. If this woman is having mental health problems, of course she has a right to privacy. But most people with mental health problems don't simply act out of the blue. If anything she overreacted.
But the fact that she and Barton interacted in such a visceral manner does indicate there is something amiss here.
If anything, Barton is stupid for being involved with a woman who acts in such a volatile manner, especially with him running for an important local office.
It shows a lack of good judgment, which is a bad omen for someone making decisions about my money and your future.
Being naive and ignorant about a politician is worst than being speculative and gossipy. Where there is smoke there is fire.
These reports and Barton's own accounts seem to be all over the map. First it was a temper tantrum, a misunderstanding no big deal, lots of cops, a mental condition needing treatement, then a rare physical disorder, all pointed at Bishop, poor girl. Now they're all laughing about it.
Barton and his flacks have been playing loose with the facts from the start, at Bishop's expense. Someone(s) are trying hard to put a lot of dressing on this pig in a poke story.
So much for privacy.
http://www.newstreamz.com/2010/04/07/bishop-says-shes-sorry-about-cell-phone-throw/comment-page-1/#comment-198869
What Commissioner Jeff Barton is putting this young woman through to escape his accountability is disgusting. Using her, chewing her up and spitting her out—all for his personal and political benefit.
Anyone who associates with Barton has no conscience.
I didn’t believe it possible but we are witnessing a new low in Hays County politics and human indecency.
I'm confused by the comment "he had no business "sitting in a parked car" with a female employee. None. And he knows it."
If someone works closely with you why is it strange to talk about things in a parked car? Running for an office while holding another position you must be careful of having conversations in, for example, a county office when it's campaign talk.
Whoever wrote this is stuck in the 1940s. Welcome to 2010, women have rights and they talk to men, yes, even in parked cars.
So Anon who says he had no business sitting in the car with a FEMALE employee, would you feel the same way with Bill Clinton dalliances with Monica Lewinsky, et al? Now remember he is your Democratic darling before answering that question truthfully.
(Speaking of bags of manure, Bill C. certainly ranks up there as one of the BIGGEST bags of manure.)
Don't get off the topic with these silly accusations to the commenter.
When you are in the public eye you do not leave yourself open to obvious criticism and misinterpretation.
While for some, sitting in a car is fine, not so for public figures. It leads to public issues.
Barton could have opted to meet with this woman somewhere else out of the public eye, e.g., in his office. There was no need for this.
Furthermore, if this woman is so unstable, as Barton states, then why would he do this? To help her? If you believe that you are completely ignorant.
If she needs help, send her to a professional. You cannot and should not try to deal with someone unstable, especially if you are a public official. It is not your job and not your place.
Furthermore, you could be sued if you try. You can make a difficult situation much worse. If she is unstable she could say anything.
That Barton should not be with this person outside of business should not be an issue. It is common sense and it has nothing to do with being "stuck in the 1940's" or any such stupidity.
It has nothing to do with male vs. female, Ms. "Darling".
It has to do with commonsense, whether it's Barton, Clinton or "your mama"!
Howdy, folks.
I'm sorry but I'm a little old-fashioned. The nice lady needed help so Mr. Jeff thought he should provide the little filly some assistance.
Mr. Barton has the power to help so he decided to use it. Some uppity lefties would call that harrassment - but I call it simply being a gentleman.
Giddy-up Jeff.
Well, Bubba boy, I'm as right wing as they come and I'm a gentleman; however, I'd be damned and hornswaggled if I would sit in a vehicle with someone other than my wife or girlfriend, NEVER a member of my staff.
You can interpret what you what; however, Barton says the woman is unstable. The police were called and arrived on the scene. It was NOT a wholesome gentlemanly endeavor by Mr. Barton.
I'm a votin' for the GOP guy for Judge. Won't you join me please???
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