GOP state convention tries to bar reporters

Party spokesman Mark Standriff told reporters Luntz would be delivering confidential information and strategy about the state of the California GOP, designed to be heard only by party members. Luntz himself told the luncheon audience that he had wanted to eject the media and talk with them privately, but later decided "there is nothing that Republicans have to hide ... we're going to have an open and frank conversation."

After reporters complained that the lunchtime address had been billed for months as open to the media, party officials agreed to let them stay.

The attempt to make Luntz's assessment off-limits to the media keenly illustrated why the party is saddled with so many political challenges, GOP observers said.

"The first step forward is honest analysis of where the party is and where it goes to be competitive," said Mitch Zak, a GOP strategist who worked on Whitman's campaign. "It all comes down to two words: voter turnout. The party clearly needs to attract more people to the GOP message."

How they do it, he said, "is no secret - nor should it be."

I believe very strongly in the need of oversight and involvement by citizens in government. This particular episode involves the GOP, but there are plenty of examples of Dems doing this too and the point is we need transparency to protect the citizens and articles of freedom from both parties and we aren't getting it.

This propensity for the hard left and hard right to accept or justify virtually anything 'Their Side" presents while ignoring the needs of the nation and our Constitution and rules of order is getting very old very quick.

"I am really appalled. Here we stand as Republicans, we stand for the First Amendment, freedom of the press," said Celeste Greig, chairwoman of the conservative California Republican Assembly. "This happens in Iraq, Iran, or the old KGB when they were in control."