Just what story was KRQE-TV investigative reporter Larry Barker pursuing when he set off widespread condemnation by his aggressive finger-pointing and cornering of MLG spokeswoman Nora Myers Sackett?

Barker last week was demanding and being refused an interview with the Governor at the ABQ Convention Center where MLG was attending a cannabis conference, but what exactly he was covering got lost in the heat of the moment. We'll have to find out when the dust settles.

Barker is the second TV investigative reporter to recently be denied access to the chief executive. KOB-TV's Chris Ramirez took to Twitter two days before the Convention Center incident to complain that MLG "has denied every interview request I've made this year." (Lujan Grisham did sit for an interview of over 20 minutes with a colleague of Ramirez's.) 

So the roots of Barker's frustration were real and they were clear, even if his rude behavior crossed the line. 

Strangely, none of this was covered by most of the journalism junkies who pounced on Barker, demanding he apologize (which he did) and focused on his misbehavior but not what led up to it which is the limited access to the Governor. (The Journal did provide a smidgen of background.) 

The journalists, largely unknown to the public, did not want to know about Barker's story. It seemed to be about being politically correct and on the "right" side of the current political spectrum. 

There were also errors in the emotional and overwrought "coverage" of Barker's misbehavior. The spokeswoman was not literally backed up against the wall as reported. Her shadow is clearly visible against the wall where she is being confronted. And the allegation that the seventysomething Barker "physically assaulted" Sackett has yet to be documented but was reported as fact. 

Barker is an old school reporter in the style of the late CBS 60 Minutes investigative reporter Mike Wallace, a founder of "ambush journalism" and often known for shoving microphones in the faces of his investigative targets. Barker learned his craft in that era and when his interview request was denied he appeared to fall back on that instinct. His employer KRQE-TV said:

Longtime politics watcher Steve Cabiedes is 54 and has experience that crosses the generation gaps of the Boomers, Generation X and the Millennials. He opined:

As for Barker and Ramirez being denied gubernatorial access, the backstory there is that Ramirez is seen in Dem circles (fairly or not) as more a GOP operative than a journalist. He was the spokesman for ABQ Republican Mayor Richard Berry and has close ties to Republican operatives. 

Barker has been on the beat for nearly 50 years, starting in radio in the 70's and advancing to TV. His heyday was at KOAT-TV in the 80's and 90's. Democrats have been suspicious of him since GOP Gov. Martinez took office in 2011 and for eight years Barker rarely--if ever--confronted her or her administration. That was also noted in the aftermath of his confrontation with MLG's spokeswoman. 

Still, the administration has been cooped up for a year and a half and is not shy about refusing to answer inquires. That could use reassessing, and the unfortunate incident with Barker is an opportunity to do so. 

As for Barker, he lost his cool in the line of duty. Maybe he has stayed too long at the party but his infraction in trying to serve the public's right to know was rude manners. Nothing more. KRQE might want to slap him on the wrist but to buy into the cancel culture over a minor incident would be a blow to press freedom.

Sparkle Plenty

File this one under "for old-timers only" but reader Hal Hensley is not going to let it pass without notice:

I am stunned, nay, overwhelmed with disappointment. How the go-to political columnist of New Mexico can fail to give even a brief mention of the passing of a New Mexico political legend is beyond me. The recent passing of Sparkle Plenty brought back all kinds of memories from the 1972 primaries and the multitude of candidates for office (amazing what no filing requirements can do to the field), not to mention afternoons and evenings at the Bull Ring, where so many candidacies have been launched. I trust this was a simple error brought on by your desire to get out and get on with the open Fourth holiday, but do know tears were shed. 

Sparkle plenty died last month in Santa Fe. She was 77.

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