The Ultimate First Rule: Never, ever, allow video cameras into fundraisers!

It may have made it to this blog before, but my maxim when shooting on the campaign trail is “film them everywhere but the bathroom and fundraisers.”

These are two places where folks really shouldn’t see their leaders. We all know they have to go both places. But what goes on there often stinks.

Now, I’m not saying that all fundraising is bad. But, even if nothing untoward is going on, someone will try and say so.

The someone this time is the Hillary Clinton Accountability Project, a group pushing the agenda of former Clinton backer Peter Paul.

Look at the footage in this clip. There were cameras in private clutches feet away from the principals. Look what it became.

Let this be a lesson to anyone left out there who’d still let someone with a video camera into an event.

If it’s a star-studded affair like Paul’s event for Clinton, shoot the stage program. Have multiple cameras. Make a nice piece to send around for donor servicing, or additional fundraising. When the song and dance act is over, make sure the lens caps are on and the batteries and tapes are collected.

Lest you become the star in the next “Peter Paul Production.”

NOTE: The only case to go to trial stemming from the Peter Paul/Hillary Clinton brouhaha wholly exonerated the fundraiser who put the event together. This entire mess has bothered me for a long time, as I’ve worked with the fundraiser in question – a great guy, who didn’t deserve to get run through the Right Wing’s shredder as they tried to “get” Hillary.