Obama Campaign Denies Leaning On Cory Booker To Make ‘Hostage Video’

Newark Mayor Cory Booker‘s YouTube walkback of comments criticizing President Obama’s campaign has been dubbed a “hostage video” by some, implying that Booker was leaned on to reverse himself. During an interview with CNN’s Brooke Baldwin, however, Obama/Biden Press Secretary Ben LaBolt denied that the campaign had any contact with Mayor Booker prior to the release of the YouTube video, despite David Axelrod’s earlier non-denial.

Mayor Booker made waves Sunday when he criticized President Obama’s campaign over an ad attacking Mitt Romney’s tenure at Bain Capital, then quickly walked those comments back in a YouTube video. Some wags have dubbed the walkback a “hostage video.”

In an interview with Andrea Mitchell this afternoon, senior Obama campaign adviser David Axelrod was asked if anyone from the campaign or the White House had reached out to Mayor Booker about walking his comments back. Axelrod responded, “He probably heard from a lot of people who feel that it’s a legitimate issue.”

At about the same time, Obama/Biden Press Secretary Ben LaBolt was telling CNN’s Brooke Baldwin that no one from Team Obama had contacted Mayor Booker. “Did anyone from the White House or the Obama 2012 campaign reach out to Booker, make him reel his words in?” Baldwin asked.

“We did not,” LaBolt responded. “These are his own views in the video. He made absolutely clear that the discussion of Mitt Romney’s private sector tenure was legitimate.”

“The central premise of his candidacy,” he continued, “is his tenure as a corporate buyout specialist. Mayor Booker said an examination of that record is entirely appropriate. If we go back and look at it, it turns out he profited off of bankrupting companies and outsourcing jobs. The question is, is that the economic philosophy the American people would like to see?”

Baldwin pressed LaBolt. “Hang on, I know Cory Booker is a rising star, he’s a superstar on Twitter. You’re telling me no one within the Obama 2012 campaign in any way reached out to Cory Booker to fix this?”

“He released that video of his own volition,” LaBolt responded. “We did not ask him to do so. We did not, no.”

Ms. Baldwin also asked about a new Obama campaign attack ad featuring, among others, a former AMpad worker named Randy Johnson (note to all the Mrs. Johnsons of the world: Randy, Woody, Dick, these are not names you should choose). “Just a yes or no answer, is randy johnson on your payroll?” Baldwin asked. “It’s been reported the DNC actually pays him to fly to rallies, yes or no?”

“He’s not on our payroll,” LaBolt replied, adding “He’s certainly spoken out on behalf his experience with Mitt Romney, and certainly those transportation costs to those events have been covered. But Mitt Romney had an absolutely devastating impact on his community and his family, and absolutely he’s been out there highlighting the story across the country.”

I’ve reached out to Mayor Booker to confirm what LaBolt said, but his office says he won’t comment further at this time, and he’s been uncharacteristically absent from Twitter. He did, however, reference the large amount of feedback he got immediately following his Meet The Press appearance, and given his extraordinary level of social media engagement, it’s reasonable to conclude that’s what prompted his response. If he gets back to me, I’ll update accordingly.

Here’s the clip, from CNN:

This is an opinion piece. The views expressed in this article are those of just the author.