Palin staffer to CBS News after impromptu question @ event: Questions "weren’t allowed."

[sabra]

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/09/23/politics/fromtheroad/entry4470968.shtml

<snip>

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.”

[livetohike]

1. Questions weren't allowed? I think it's, "Answers weren't allowed"

Palin must really be ignorant, or a loose cannon or both. I'd love to hear her conversations with world leaders.

[Alter Ego]

2. THE SOCKPUPPET MUST NOT BE TESTED! NO QUESTIONS!

Geez, I don't think they realize how they look when they do this.

[iceman66]

8. They don't care.

They are operating under the assumption that the majority of voters are too stupid and uninformed to take notice of this stuff.

Let's hope they're wrong.

[liberal N proud]

3. If there were ever required to answer questions...

The voters would wake up and the party would be over for McCain and Palin.

The only reason they can stay close in the polls is through secrecy, lies and propaganda. The people who blindly support them don't even know what they support.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

4. So then will CBS et al. remove their photographer

and the event won't be covered at all? Will Palin's avoidance of the media end up biting her in the butt if the TV networks walk away altogether (except for Fox, of course, which will sniff her butt instead of biting it)?

[sabra]

5. yes - they removed their photographer from UN meeting

[Egnever]

6. I think they are trying to set us up.

I think they are trying to lower expectations for her to a point that if she just answers a question she will be seen as successfully. I think she will actually survive the debate relatively unscathed because of the ultra low expectations and will actually get a boost in support after people think they see her being competent. Never mind the fact that she will have spent nearly all of her time since being selected preparing for that one event.

The american public for the most part is easily led and I think they are positioning sarah to be the victim of the big medias unfairness to her.

[central scrutinizer]

9. which may be why Biden let them pick the format they wanted

"Come on, bring it on. Give me your best shot."

[Overseas]

7. K&R for Her Imperial Candidacy ! Duchess Palin will not accept questions.

We must all obey.

Don't forget -- Country Club First !!

[ErinBerin84]

10. pretty damn nervy of them...

I hope that the media continues to push back a little.

[CoffeeCat]

11. How in the world do her wranglers....

...think she's going to fare in a debate with Biden, when she can't even
answer simple questions from reporters?

This is such a farce.

It's a slap in the face to our democracy, that she was even in the Top 100 of vp picks.
She's an embarrassment, and the way they hide her is completely outrageous.

Note to the McPalin camp--You can't hide ignorance. It seethes from her every pore. We
see it clearly, even if you continue to stow her away like some low-rent family who hides
a crazy aunt in the closet.

[CitizenPatriot]

12. I urge everyone to write

cnn and cbs who both pulled out of this sham and congratulate them on having journalistic integrity in the face of blatant campaign manipulation.

Also, we might as well write abc to let them know what these guys are doing and urge them to stand tall for their integrity.

Democracy is only as good as our free press.

This nation stands ready to sink or succeed based on how the PR machine decides to act. Say no thanks to propaganda.

[Skidmore]

13. In this current climate, any candidate who refuses questions should

be excoriated in public in the most humiliating way for even suggesting that they be handed a job without doing an interview for it.

[Mabus]

14. It's easier than admitting she doesn't know any answers.

And I half suspect part of the reason she's meeting with world leaders is to help McCain, Graham and Lieberman find bargains on rugs. :eyes:

[BearSquirrel2]

15. I can hear Kissenger's gravely voice in my head ...

I can hear Kissenger's gravely voice in my head ...

"Vaht a vuckeeng idioot. Nauw look ein miy muagical muerder buag."