R-J reporter has run-in with Lippold after 2nd Congressional debate

Call it political naivete.

Kirk Lippold, a candidate for the 2nd Congressional District, might have commanded thousands of sailors in a 26-year Navy career, but he doesn’t know how to deal with reporters who ask questions he doesn’t want to answer.

Following a Wednesday debate in Reno, Lippold accused Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Ed Vogel of “manhandling” him and threatened to have him arrested. Vogel had asked Lippold to explain comments he made during the debate about his support for constructing two nuclear power plants at the Nevada Test Site and making Yucca Mountain the center for nuclear fuel reprocessing.

Lippold initially denied he made those statements, but Vogel pointed out he had taped the debate.

Lippold briefly answered, turned and started to move away. Vogel touched him on his suit coat with two fingers and asked for a more complete answer. Lippold then angrily told the reporter not to touch him, complained about being manhandled and threatened to have police arrest him.

One of the debate coordinators who knew Vogel told Lippold he was a veteran reporter, and only then did the candidate answer his questions.

In 40 years of newspaper reporting, including 34 with the Review-Journal, this was the first time anyone has threatened Vogel with arrest.