Chowing Down ... Is it Okay?

Sitting at my desk I am watching one of the news channels ... and I see Republican Presidential candidate John McCain invited about 50 reporters to a barbecue at the McCain ranch in Arizona over the weekend. That raises the question of whether reporters should be eating and drinking with the subjects they cover.

This has been a subject of controversy at the Capitol in Jefferson City. Several days a week an organization or lobby group can be expected to set up operations on the third floor of the Capitol and offer various goodies to one and all ... or at least to people who "work" at the Capitol. Sometimes it's meat and potatoes ... while other times it's pasta ... while still other times it's ice cream.

So, should members of the media chow down ... or treat themselves to a soft drink ... if something is available? Some news organizations offer a one word answer - "No!" They feel that by taking something that is being offered they are compromising themselves. Others offer a different one word answer - "Sure!"

Truth be told, when people walk into the rotunda and see food being offered, they don't always pay too much attention to which organization is allowing people to "tie on the feed bag." They grab a plate of food and walk off to an office ... or the stairs ... or somewhere else where they can sit and grab a quick bite before getting on with the work that has to be done.

The Missourinet philosophy is simple ... If you can be bought for the price of a sandwich you really aren't worth much to begin with. That is the rule by which we live ... and, as I pointed out earlier ... often we don't even know which organization is providing the eats. So, if there's some fear that special treatment might be given to a lobby group with food ... I haven't seen that in my time covering politics.

I think one of the examples of how this "Thou shalt not compromise thyself" idea is silly occurred last year at the Republican Party's annual Lincoln Days weekend, which was held in St. Louis County in 2007. Hospitality suites were set up by various individuals who were providing people with food, beer, coffee, cookies ... all kinds of food.

Another reporter (who shall not be named) had not had a chance to eat dinner and was very hungry. He asked me what Missourinet's policy was and I explained that eating food was not frowned upon. He then grabbed something to eat ... reached into his pocket for some money ... and left it on the counter to "pay" for the food he had eaten. No one wanted the money ... and as I walked by a half hour later the money was still there. I saw this reporter a short time later and suggested he pick up his money and - if it made him feel better - write a check to his favorite charity. I suggested this might make more sense than leaving money on the table. I'm not sure what he eventually did ... but he said he would consider my idea.

Don't get me wrong ... I think there is a line that should not be crossed: For instance … flying a reporter to Jamaica, in February, for a weekend in the sun. I dare say that would be crossing some kind of line. But eating a sandwich or a doughnut that might end up in the garbage if it is not eaten? Let's get real.

- Steve Walsh