Hiding Sarah Palin

Sarah Palin, and to a lesser degree John McCain, hiding from the media has now become the big story. NBC ran the story above. At CBS News’ blog Scott Conroy writes that Palin Camp Goes to New Lengths to Shut Out Media:

She has been a candidate for the second highest office in the land for nearly a month, but Sarah Palin has yet to hold a single press conference. Now, the McCain/Palin campaign is attempting to take an unprecedented step in their apparent effort to protect Palin from having to face impromptu questions from national reporters.

Last night, the campaign provided locations for Palin’s scheduled meetings with two world leaders and Henry Kissinger to a network TV producer, who was assigned to provide editorial content on the meetings for the five television networks. The reporter was not going to be allowed to sit in on the private meetings but would be permitted to be on hand as still and video photographers took pictures at the beginning of each meeting.

But just a little more than an hour before Palin’s first meeting was set to begin, the pool producer was notified that he would not be allowed in to the photo spray. This means that the McCain/Palin campaign would get the benefit of free pictures of Palin’s meeting with world leaders without having to face the possibility that the candidate might have to answer a question from the media.

Television networks, including CBS News maintain a policy that if they are prevented from having an editorial presence at an event, they will not allow cameras to shoot it.

The McCain/Palin campaign’s effort to stifle editorial coverage of the candidate’s meetings with world leaders comes a week after CBS News asked Palin an impromptu question about the AIG bailout, while Palin made an off-the-record stop at a Cleveland diner.

After the Cleveland event, a Palin staffer told CBS News that questions “weren’t allowed.”

Jeffery Goldberg asks What Is The McCain Camp Hiding and wonders, “What will happen, God forbid, if Sarah Palin is forced into a position where she will have to meet someone who is not so nice? Such as, say, the prime minister of Spain?”

It is pretty clear what they are trying to hide, without much success. Besides her lack of understanding of the issues (or of the real world) they also must fear any situation where there will be follow up on all the lies she has told. They realize they made a terrible mistake in picking Sarah Palin but cannot admit to this. She must be far worse than we first suspected if they believe the risk of negative coverage from her speaking to the press is worse than the coverage they are receiving for their avoidance of the press.

12 Comments

  1. 1
    Horatio says:

    Why should she meet with the old media and give a “press” conference? Obama hasn’t taken unrestricted questions from a diverse pool of “journalists”. Hillary never did. Biden doesn’t. They latter three say what they want in very controlled environments, and it was only under severe pressure that Obama and Hillary agreed to let Bill O’Reilly have an interview.

  2. 2
    Ron Chusid says:

    You must be kidding. All the other candidates have faced the press. It is unprecedented to have a candidate be kept away from the press the way Palin is.

    Obama did agree to an interview with O’Reilly despite knowing that O’Reilly is a dishonest interviewer who will distort everything to present right wing views. If Obama is willing to be interviewed by a conservative such as O’Reilly, how about having Palin have an interview with Keith Olbermann, Rachel Maddow, or John Stewart? At least all three, even if on the other side ideologically than O’Reilly, are much more honest and fair in their interviews.

  3. 3
    Horatio says:

    When was the last free-form press conference held by Obama? Never happened. And…given the fact – and yes it is a fact – the “old” media is in the tank for Obama – why should she or McCain bother when they can talk directly to the people. Besides, Palin was interviewed by Couric yesterday.

    Why should she waste her time with the likes of Maddow or Olbermann?

    Face it, the old paradigm is dead. Welcome to the 21st century

  4. 4
    Ron Chusid says:

    Obama has held many news conferences throughout his career. I’m not sure if it was the last one, but he held a press conference on September 9, which was just one of many.

    We are not even talking of only press conferences. How about Palin appearing on the Sunday interview shows like every other candidate has? How about taking questions from the press pool traveling with her as candidates generally do?

    If Obama can spend time with O’Reilly, who has far less journalistic credibility, Palin should be able to handle an interview with Maddow and Olbermann.

    The media has changed, but it is still there. Internet news in the 21st century is still largely based upon the work of the type of journalists which the Republican candidates are now afraid to face.

    What you seek is not the 21st century but 1984 where Republicans can get away with Orwellian lies to the voters without being questioned.

  5. 5
    GonzoDon says:

    Horatio @ #3 said:  “Face it, the old paradigm is dead. Welcome to the 21st century”

    Indeed.  The “old paradigm” of a fiesty, independent, non-corporately-controlled news media doing its job.  The “old paradigm” of candidates for the second-highest office in the land having to actually answer tough questions to demonstrate whether or not they are prepared for the job.  The “old paradigm” of people voting for the best-qualified candidates, not the angriest, prettiest, and snarkiest ones.

    Dead, dead, dead indeed. 

    RIP.

  6. 6
    vote nov 4 says:

    If the McCain campaign can cancel/postpone Friday’s presidential debate, than they can claim that “we” need three presidential debates so why don’t we just change the vice presidential debate to a presidential debate and keep her mouth shut and her skirts tight and short.

  7. 7
    mb says:

    I suggest they send Tina Fey over to the debate. She is both prettier and more intelligent. Unfortunately she can’t see Russia from her house.

  8. 8
    Ron Chusid says:

    No, but she can see the Russian Tea Room from her apartment in New York.

  9. 9
    The Democrats says:

    ATTENTION REPUBLICANS:
    RE: SARAH PALIN

    Obviously there has been a HUGE mistake…..

    Palin’s Dribble, Weasel Wording, Mush-Mush, Asssss-Backwards speak Cleary demonstrates who carries the Downs Syndrome trait in her family, because of this we (the democrats) will allow you to send her back to Wacky-silla without prejudice and select another candidate.

    For this consideration the Republicans agree to sell Alaska to Russia (with Palin) and never mention the State of Alaska or her again.

    The Democrats

  10. 10
    mara says:

    Dear Horatio, Biden has given over 90 press conferences since his nomination for VP versus Palin who has only given 3 interviews which she had failed. You ask why should she, well people are trying to practice their democracy here in US and we’re demand to know what her opinions are these complicated world issues. 

  11. 11
    Ron Chusid says:

    We both want to know her opinions and to see if she is up to the job. We have the answer to that one as the fear by the McCain campaign to have her answers questions only provides additional evidence she cannot handle it.

    It sure said a lot after the debates when Joe Biden was all over television supporting Obama but they declined to have Palin interviewed.

  12. 12
    THE REPUBLICANS says:

    BREAKING NEWS:

    PALIN TEAMS CLAIMS DEBATE POINTS HANDICAPP:

    PALIN Camp now claims 5+ Debate points for the mentally disabled under [11CFR110– Sec.110.13].

    Citing:

    Warning signs of ADHD:

    1) Failure to listen to instructions:

    -Couric: I’m just going to ask you one more time – not to belabor the point. Specific examples in his 26 years of pushing for more regulation.

    -Palin: I’ll try to find you some and I’ll bring them to you.

    2) Inability to organize oneself (Incoherent responses)

    -Couric: What other Supreme Court decisions do you disagree with?

    -Palin: Well, let’s see…..(you know the rest)

    3) Leaving projects unfinished (Bridge To Nowhere)

    4) Trouble paying attention to and responding to details
    – Couric what publications she had read to stay informed and to understand the world?
    – Palin- “I’ve read most of them, again with a great appreciation for the press, for the media,” Palin replied. Asked for examples, she said, “Um, all of them, any of them that have been in front of me all these years.”
    5) Talking too much (blabbering, blathering ) Insert any answer 1 thru 4 here_____________.

    As respectfully submitted Pursuant to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 56, Candidate Sarah Palin respectfully moves for summary judgment in this action. In support of this motion, plaintiff relies upon the accompanying memorandum and the statement of undisputed material facts.

    Signed,

    THE REPUBLICANS

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