The incident happened at an event in Iowa on Tuesday. A bodyguard for presidential candidate Herman Cain got a little physical with a Post reporter, The bodyguard made it known that he would physically prevent the Journalists from asking a question of the GOP presidential candidate, and then started backing into the reporter with his back and shoulder. Click on link to read full article: Cain’s Bodyguard
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That is the kind of thing we need more training on.
Of course, there is rarely a need to ‘get physical’ with anyone.
Here are two jobs that appear to have opposite objectives. How do you resolve these two? That’s what communication skills are about. We are so ingrained with the ‘us OR them’ mentality. Why not think: us AND them?
In the article there is a third perspective that is often overlooked. That’s a training topic. It’s about a cooperative communication approach.
Most comments focus on blaming one or the other. In fact, both individuals contributed to the situation.
I do wonder about the role of ‘body guard’. Wouldn’t he be inside with the person? Seems he was acting in a different role.. like access control? Obviously this was a high testosterone situation!
While it’s always interesting to learn about and discuss what others do, often from second-hand sources, it’s probably worth repeating that unless one were there (and even then), one never truly knows what happened. And also that it’s easier to judge a situation when completely removed from it, a luxury that none of the participants ever has.
The article is a one-sided account by one of the parties involved.
Leave it to the media to be persistent when asked to move. Too bad we can’t shoot them and just get it over with…
If you know anything about close protection etiquette the bodyguard made several key mistakes.
1. He should have averted one to one focused conversation; you lose your ability to give subtle commands that are necessary in maintaining control and the ability surveil the immediate area to be covered, thus increasing the chance of other potential interferences of occuring..
2. The reporter has a legal right to be present, provided he was not first restricted by the owner of the property, or, in the case of it being public property; he was told by an official other than private security, that there was a specific zone or area that reporters can occupy, because of safety concerns. This was not the case.
3. Bodyguards’ specific function is to: maintain security and protection of a VIP or other type Client, not to act as protectors from legitimate, lawful approaches by individuals who enjoy freedoms, that are outlined in the Constitution…
Note: There are many other mistakes the bodyguard made that he should have known before engaging with the reporter…
Some people have a total lack of respect for security and law enforcement and those are the biggest whiners when things get ugly. If someone in security politely asked me to move from a certain area, I would do it. I don’t get it.
Alonzo, you hit the nail right on the head. Many of us have been in very similar positions, and it can be very challenging when you have obnoxious members from the media, who are not professional themselves. Obviously, we don’t have all the circumstances here, but many of us have danced this dance several times. And it always seems we are the ones that are usually left out on the floor by ourselves.
Must be nice to have a national outlet to vent while security personnel are expected to keep their mouths shut. Gotta love the way the disclosure was phrased here too: “(Okay, me)”. If reporters are expected to be fair and unbiased, how can they report on themselves? Fine line between observing and… instigating.
Not taking sides on this story and not condoning unprofessional behavior towards the press and other “photographers” (okay, the paparazzi) in general, but the media and its various minions can really push your buttons at times!
Seems to me Mr. Cain has a lot to do to get its house in order