McCain-Palin Campaign Briefly Tried to Shield Palin From Questions

[maddezmom]

Source: ABC

ABC News' Kate Snow reports: In an apparent effort to shield Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin from journalist's questions today, the McCain campaign briefly refused to allow any editorial presence -- no reporters or producers -- to go with a network pool camera to take pictures of Palin meeting with world leaders in New York.

The McCain campaign eventually relented after the television networks threatened to ban and not use any footage of Palin meeting with leaders.
~snip~
However today the McCain campaign told media covering Palin's trip to New York that they would allow only one editorial person inside.

Then the campaign scaled back further, saying it will only allow a camera and no editorial presence.

The networks, including ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, and Fox fiercely objected to the McCain campaign's apparent effort to try to shield Palin from questions. Networks voted today to not use any video coming out of Palin's meeting as a protest.



Read more: http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/09/mccain-palin-ca.html

---

Palin bars, then admits reporters to UN meetings
By SARA KUGLER, Associated Press Writer
4 minutes ago



NEW YORK - Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, who has not held a press conference in nearly four weeks of campaigning, initially barred reporters from her first meetings with world leaders Tuesday, but reversed course after they protested.

At first, campaign aides told the TV producer, print and news agency reporters in the press pool that followed the Alaska governor that they would not be admitted along with still photographers and a video camera crew taken in to photograph her meetings with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, who are here for the United Nations General Assembly this week. She also was to meet later with former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.

~snip~

At least two news organizations, including The Associated Press, objected to the exclusion of reporters and were told that the decision was not subject to discussion. Presidents and members of Congress routinely allow reporters to attend photo opportunities along with photographers and the reporters sometimes are able to ask questions during the brief photo sessions, usually held at the beginning of private meetings.

CNN, which was providing the television coverage for news organizations, decided to pull its TV crew from the first meeting, with Karzai, effectively denying Palin the high visibility she had sought. But after the campaign agreed to let CNN's producer in as well, the CNN camera crew joined the session.

~snip~

Campaign aides subsequently announced that reporters would be allowed to accompany photographers into the later sessions with Uribe and Kissinger.

At that point, campaign spokeswoman Tracey Schmitt said it was all just a "miscommunication." Earlier, she had said, "The decision was made for this to be a photo spray with still cameras and video cameras only."

more:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080923/ap_on_el_pr/palin_leaders_6

Palin press may boycott UN conference
By KENNETH P. VOGEL | 9/23/08 12:04 PM EDT
NEW YORK – Journalists, displeased with Sarah Palin’s efforts to restrict their access to her, are threatening not to cover her events surrounding the United Nations conference here unless they're allowed more access.

The unfolding boycott is the latest development in a rocky relationship between Palin’s handlers and the press, in which the campaign has sought to tightly control her interactions with the media.

The campaign had originally indicated that the print reporters following her campaign would be among the small group of journalists allowed to attend the so-called “pool sprays” before Palin’s meetings with dignitaries on the sidelines of the U.N. meetings.

The sprays are basically glorified photo opportunities during which journalists can snap photos and film footage and – if they’re lucky – shout a question or two at Palin and her company before she adjourns for private meetings. On Tuesday, those meetings were to include Afghan President Karzai and former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.

But the imbroglio began developing Tuesday morning when Palin’s handlers informed the small print press contingent covering her campaign that the print reporter designated to cover the events, Elizabeth Holmes of the Wall Street Journal, would not be allowed to cover the sprays

more:http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0908/13783.html

[grannie4peace]

1. give him hell-media!!!!!

[curiousdemo]

28. Speaking for the media...

"We're trying to get the truth out about McCain/Palin, and they just think it's HELL!"

[Obamanaut]

38. Does this mean we like the media now? I think I need a copy of

the new program, considering all the bashing of the media that one normally sees here.

[calico1]

2. Hehehehe...love it! n/t

[Yavin4]

3. About Time

If they won't let the media interview her, then don't show her. Keep the McCain-Palin campaign stops off the fucking news.

[firedupdem]

4. They know she's an idiot and she knows she's an idiot...

I have never heard of anything like this in my life. Usually candidates want all the coverage they can get. Did Hillary or any other woman running for any political office ever run from the media the way she is. I cannot believe any sane person would be happy with her as VP. This is nuts!


She cannot handle the media but she's ready to lead the country? Give me a break!!

[KansDem]

5. "Paper pitbull"

Put wipstick on me...put wipstick on me!!!

[Politicalboi]

13. Awwwww

That is a cute puppy. They should dress The Dick up in drag and send him in her place.

[spotbird]

6. Even Fox?

That's strange.

[Raster]

8. They can smell the blood in the water. Rumor has it that Rupert M. is starting to feel...

"embarrassed" by roger ailles and the rest of the Fixed News jokers. It seems the new Mrs. Murdoch has been making her displeasure known to the old coot.

And let's call a spade a spade: Fixed News was and is one of the PRIME FACILITATORS of the cheney*/bush* debacle. Murdock and his reich-wing sleazy media empire has renewed the debate concerning The Fairness Doctrine and media consolidation anew. And rightly so.

[VaYallaDawg]

25. I guess if you live long enough you can see most anything, but.

the idea of Murdoch being "embarrassed" is kinda funny in its on right. Whodathunkit.

[Mabus]

7. From Straight Talk to STFU/No Talk

It's time for that bus and its riders to turn off the engine and figure out where they went off the road.

[Lucky 13]

9. This is SO concerning...

If they behave like this when they are RUNNING for office, the level of transparency will only get WORSE if elected. You think Bush/Cheney have been bad? McCain/Palin will take secrecy to a whole new level.

[debbierlus]

10. Okay, so she can't even be allowed to be seen with World Leaders

Yet, she is qualified to be VP.

Surreal.

[FightingIrish]

11. Pig in a Poke - With Lipstick

Pig-in-a-poke is an idiom that refers to a confidence trick originating in the Late Middle Ages, when meat was scarce but apparently rats and cats were not.

The scheme entailed the sale of a "suckling pig" in a "poke" (bag). The wriggling bag actually contained a cat—not particularly prized as a source of meat—that was sold—the bag unopened—to the victim. The French term acheter (un) chat en poche (to buy a cat in a bag) refers to the fact, as do many European equivalents, while the English expression refers to the appearance of the trick.<1>

A common colloquial expression in the English language, to "buy a pig in a poke," is to make a risky purchase without inspecting the item beforehand. The phrase can also be applied to accepting an idea or plan without a full understanding of its basis. Similar expressions exist in other languages, most of them meaning to buy a cat in a bag, with some exceptions:

[felinetta]

12. Give Biden and Obama 100% coverage

NO more coverage for McCain or Palin-gate anywhere. Only report on their continued lies. That's it.

[Doremus]

14. Pretty sad when they have to choose which is worse: limit access and get slammed or let her open

her mouth and get slammed.

Seeing as how she's apt to start a shitstorm if she opens her mouth, they really had no choice.

I would have preferred the shitstorm, but the headlines we got instead will suffice.

[truthisfreedom]

15. She WAS a boat anchor around McFucked's neck. Now she's an albatross.

[eagertolearn]

16. This is all so scary...It's like watching a new version of the Stepford Wifes

only now they are deprogramming McCain and Palin and putting in new brain chips. They just don't have it quite perfected yet. McCains has been working though occassionally malfunctioning like when he gives that odd smile to his audiences that gives us all chills. I saw an article in the Oregonian this morning that actually stated that Bush's team is running the McCain/Palin show now. I wish I knew how to transfer that to this.

[Hekate]

30. To post a reference to the article from The Oregonian, try this...

Do a copy/paste function, as you would for word processing. Highlight your choice, do Copy, come on over to the window for your post, then Paste.

Don't forget to include the url as well, so others can click on the link to go read the entire article. Due to copyright laws the rules here at DU say you can only post 4 paragraphs of any document or article, so the link is important.

I look forward to seeing that article!

Hekate

[SemperEadem]

17. well hush my mouth

it's about time the networks got out their bats and started swinging.

[Tutankhamun]

18. Who would have thought that picking a totally

incompetent figurehead for VP could backfire?

[gingersnaps1]

19. 'bout damn time

This election is important and they are making a mockery of it.

[Frisbee]

41. "This election is important and they are making a mockery of it."

I would LOVE to see Obama say that publicly, or even in an ad campaign run nationally. Call them out on saying Sarah is qualified, but being afraid to let her do anything beyond reading a prepared speech. Force their hand.

[CitizenPatriot]

20. Headlines: Media grows a pair!

American News Media insists on not being seen as international joke. McCain Palin campaign confused as to why deference isn't being shown their pig in a poke (thank you earlier poster). As McCain himself has said, "you can't put lipstick on that pig". This ticket is a no-go.

[Don Davis]

21. Palin to Bag VP Debate, for 'Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader?'

http://satiricalpolitical.com/?p=3321

[BlooInBloo]

22. Oh my gawd you guys are suckers.... They let them in for *29 seconds*!

:rofl:

http://www.americablog.com/2008/09/mccain-permits-press-to-observe-palin.html

"Wow, brave media. After treating the press like dirt this morning and refusing to let anyone cover Palin's meetings with foreign leaders at the UN, leading CNN to cancel its camera coverage of Palin's phony photo opps, the Palin/McCain campaign promised the media that it was all a misunderstanding. So during the next event, the media was let in to cover it. All for a grand total of 15 to 20 seconds. Then they were told to get out.

Have none of you people ever watched any Charlie Brown? Are you people stupid or something? You never had any clue that Palin/McCain woud pull the football out from under you again. And again and again. Seriously, stop covering these phony photo opps. Stop sending people on McCain's bus and plane (when you're not even on McCain's bus anyway, real journalists were kicked off of that thing long ago). It's like the Stockholm Syndrome with you people. I'm expecting the Palin/McCain campaign to release a photo any day now of Candy Crowley "

[Magleetis]

23. More lies and deceit

from the unamerican republicans. Who do they think they are fooling?

[jb5150]

24. I Guess With Palin They Figure

it's better for her to say nothing and be thought a fool rather than let her say something and remove all doubt................:rofl:

[No DUplicitous DUpe]

36. Great comment, JB...

I see a shitstorm on the horizon...And Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[YvonneCa]

26. And Palin-McCain wouldn't...

...hear of it! :7

[iamthebandfanman]

27. nice! finally!

the MSM is standing up...
its to bad they standing up for the wrong reasons(profits)...
but hey! ill take this over nothing!

[Jacobin]

29. What is sad about this:

The people who are supporting McSame/Lipstick are a bit bizarre and befuddled. I know several rabid supporters of Lipstick. They consider the news media to be 'the enemy' and are in love with Lipstick. They will embrace the idea of not letting the media ask "mean" "tricky" "unfair" questions of their beauty queen candidate.

These, obviously, are not people who think, but people who 'believe' in a candidate. Sadly there are tens of millions of them who are voters.

This won't backfire among her supporters. It will make them love her more.

This episode does of course reinforce what supporters of the other candidate think and know, which is that she is an empty vessel, all show and no go.

We live in very strange times

[lonestarnot]

34. So what is one to do about nutballs and whack jobs.

It is not for me to fret over, as I can't be bothered with their bullshit. I've had enough of it. :rofl:

[SemperEadem]

44. unfortunately, you are right on the money

like mclame's campaign chairman said, this campaign ain't about issues: it's about character, and boy ain't that sarry palin some character... she's a shit talkin', lipstick wearin' know nothing and it doesn't matter that she doesn't know anything or is slow on the uptake: that's not why they support her. They support her because she talks shit and they love that stuff. Even as the policies she and mclame support will rob them blind of their money, their freedoms and their constitutional rights, all they care about is that she talks shit.

[matt819]

31. The answer is simple

Maybe childish, but also very simple. Get off the plane, get off the bus, stop covering McCain/Palin events. No coverage. Zero.

[MadinMo]

40. Perfect! Truly Perfect!

[Liberal_in_LA]

32. wow! She must be dumber than Bush

[DWilliamsamh]

33. Yeah they relented and allowed 29 SECONDS of coverage...

The reporter's were ushered out. So they got their Photo-Op.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/23/networks-revolt-against-r_n_128608.html







Edited to add Link

[Javaman]

35. if it wasn't for the fact that she is so fucking stupid or able to lodge her foot in her mouth daily

they wouldn't be going to such extremes to protect this moron debutante.

[dennis00]

37. Nobody can say, "A'll ask 'er," so she won't make a fool of herself.

[MadinMo]

39. Aren't they able to CONTROL what she blurts out? Maybe she thinks

she is such a *mavrick* (sic) that she should be able to blab all she wants.

The spot on Jon Stewart's show this last week when she said she wanted to talk about something going on in the country and that it was going to need some shakin' up and fixin' up makes me think she is truly a loose cannon.

At least with Dumbya they can semi-control him. Maybe they will have to drug her?

[AnAnonymousDemocrat]

42. I almost puked watching David Gregory defend Palin today

He went on and on about how "this happens on both sides" and that "everyone wants to protect their candidate", etc. He's SO afraid of offending anyone that he's unwilling to speak up even when something is obviously not right.

Of course, I still can't get that image of him dancing on stage with Karl Rove out of my head. Look up the definition of "brown-noser" in the dictionary and you'll see a picture of David Gregory next to it.

[Gin]

43. I think they are afraid she will say "The Palin-McCain ticket..

wonder where Tadd was?

[blueclown]

45. You would think with all the free media that the media has given them...

They'd be a little more thankful.