Aguirre v. Roth transcript

Thanks to the sharp ears and speedy finger of John Lamb, author of CityBeat‘s Spin Cycle column, we bring you the transcript—yes, the transcript—of the Mike Aguirre/Alex Roth kerfluffle:

MIKE AGUIRRE V. ALEX ROTH @ PRESIDIO PARK – FEB. 19, 2008

Video starts with Roth asking Aguirre to talk about the state Bar investigation. To the left of Roth, with his head bowed, is UT city columnist Gerry Braun.

Aguirre – You know there’s nothing I can do to talk about it. You’re just embarrassing me for whatever reason.
Roth – I’m not trying to embarrass you. I’m trying to… I’m writing a story about this.
A – Well, good. I’m sure it will be good.
R – …just the limited issue of the state Bar….
A – I have nothing to say. You know I can’t comment on anything like that. That’s a perfect example of what I’m talking about. You just did that, not to be a reporter, but you did that because you have a personal ax to grind. And I think if you examine your own conscience you can see that.
R – Let’s just step to the side and I’ll ask you quietly, without anybody there, just some limited questions that I need to ask for my article.
A – OK, fine. I’ll be glad to answer anything, but Alex I think at some point hopefully we’ll have a chance at some point. You don’t have to worry about living by any, you’re like a union. You don’t have to live by any ethical rules at the paper because you’re not in any way governed by them. And you’ve become part of the campaign. You and your paper have become part of the campaign. And I think it’s unfortunate. You’ve crossed… you’ve damaged the reputation of the paper so dramatically because you’ve crossed over the line so far. You’re an advocate, you’re an obvious advocate. And you’ve relied on a lot of stuff that just isn’t correct, isn’t true. And you know part of being a reporter is to actually check out the facts. Not just have somebody say something and then basically repeat that and then have the other person prove it’s not true, OK?

Roth and Aguirre walk away from camera, onto some dirt next to a tree, as the camera keeps rolling.
R – I’m sure you’re aware that the article…
A – You know I can’t talk about it.
R – But this is an issue of what…
A – I can’t talk about any of it.
R – Just a question of whether or not….
A – Listen to me, you need to see a psychiatrist. I’m serious!

Behind camera, Braun is heard saying to the cameraman, “I didn’t realize you were shooting me. I was just standing there, like waiting for the moment to pass.” Cameraman laughs. Gerry then turns director: “Good shot right here of these guys.” More laughter.

A – Alex, I’m telling you, you need to see a psychiatrist. I’m serious.
R (smiling) – OK.
A – I’m telling you, you’re a young guy but there’s something wrong with you, like a screw loose… Alex, you know how you are…
R (smirking) – Come on.
A – Alex, anyone can file anything they want.
R – Alright, I’ll give you that.
A – Listen to me, you’re destroying yourself.
R – That’s my problem!
A – No no… Seriously, do me a favor, go see a counselor. Get some counseling for yourself, because …
R – I appreciate the advice, but in the meantime…
A – Have you seen a counselor?
R – No but why does that matter to you?
A – Because you’re doing damage to the community…. It’s not about the state Bar. It’s about always just churning, churning, churning.
R – It’s about the state Bar. It’s a news story!
A – Alex, you know how many times I’ve told someone to go see a counselor? Once. You.
R – Well, I appreciate that. I’ll take that as, you know, for what it’s worth.
A – No, you won’t.
R – What do you want me to say?
A — The only …There’s only one other possibility. You need to step out of yourself and examine yourself and find out why you’ve associated yourself with all the people from the county and with Scott Peters.
R – Some of these things are legitimate topics within this article.
A – Alex, you don’t think I know how you get your information?
R – I’m sure you know how I get my information. I look at the documents and ….
A – Alex, I know who you talk with.
R – I’m sure you do.
A – I’m sure if you go back and look through your telephone messages, look at who you called….
R – On the one hand, you say look at who you’re listening to and then you won’t talk to me … Nobody on your staff talks to me. Maria Velasquez [Aguirre’s press secretary] won’t even take my calls.
A – Alex, you’re a young man. You’re missing… there’s a whole historical change in the city of San Diego.
R – I understand.
A – You’re missing the whole thing. No you don’t. You’re on the side of…
R – I’m not on the side of anybody.
A – Alex, you’re not telling the truth. Alex, who do you go out with? Do you have any relationship with San Diego State?
R (flashing ring) – I’m married!
A – No no, but I mean do you have any relationship with San Diego State?
R – San Diego State?
A – Yeah, on KPBS?
R — Well, my wife used to work there.
A – Yeah, well gosh, did you mention that in the story?
R – Well, let me ask you a question then. You’re suggesting that whether or not my wife worked at KPBS mattered?
A – Yes.
R – You yourself said that as a result of my articles, you made a change of course…
A – No.
R – … and you realized you were wrong…
A – No no…
R – You should be thanking me. I provided a service to you, Mike.
A – No no, Alex. Your wife worked at KPBS and you did not put that in your article.
R – What does that have to do with the fact that as a result of my article you acknowledged that you had to change…
A – Alex, see that’s why I say you’re pathological because you don’t have the ability to have a discussion. See, I raised a point and most people who are not pathological they say, ‘Oh OK, let’s go back to what you were talking about’…
R – And calling someone pathological is a way, ‘Oh, today Mike called me pathological, so now I see the light!’
A – I don’t think you need to see the light, but you …

More garbled bickering over whether Aguirre said he needed to change.

A – First of all, did you mention the fact that that guy gets money from your newsroom?
R – What guy?
A – The guy from the First Amendment Coalition?

That would be Peter Scheer, executive director of the California First Amendment Coalition. On its website, the coalition lists the UT as one of its “major” financial supporters.

R – First of all, I’m not aware of whether he does or doesn’t. If he does, I’m not aware of it. Number two, did you not talk to him and as a result of your conversation with him didn’t you change your, you withdrew…
A – Alex, you completely misunderstand.
R – Did you or did you not withdraw…
A – Yes.
R – Why did you do it?
A – I did it because I realized that I couldn’t bring the people along fast enough to reach any kind of solution….The guy is paid by your newspaper. You didn’t have that in your paper.
R – That’s the first I’ve even heard of that….
A – You didn’t put in that your wife worked for KPBS. That’s because you don’t do reporting. Then the woman back east, you told her that they were facing criminal charges. That was false.

Aguirre alleges that for a November story, Roth told Lucy Dalglish, executive director of Arlington, Va.-based The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, that KPBS was facing criminal charges from Aguirre over the cancellation of “Full Focus.”

R – I did not tell her that. And not only that, she didn’t tell you that. I called her back…
A – She did. She told me exactly that.
R – She didn’t….
A – Didn’t say it was criminal? See, there’s a third thing…
R – Third thing of what?
A – First that you didn’t put in your wife was working at KPBS, used to work there. Two, you didn’t put in the fact that the guy gets paid, money. Three, you told the woman it was a criminal case when it wasn’t and number four did you write a story saying Kittle was pulled off? Did you write a story saying the reason….

Apparently, this has to do with frequent-Aguirre-basher Bob Kittle’s disappearance since Feb. 7 from his UT-based “signonradio.com” show.

R – What does this have to do with the state Bar investigation?
A – Because I’m telling you what you’re doing. It’s all of it. I’m talking about you. See, you should not be covering this….
R – Be that as it may, I am. Now, let’s talk about the state Bar …
A – Let’s talk about this. Did you write up anything about Kittle getting pulled off the air?

Hmmm, video goes to black….