Sarah Palin To Do Real Live Press Conference?
A nice catch from Ben Smith: In an interview on MSNBC today, McCain spokesperson Jill Hazelbaker appeared to suggest that Sarah Palin will do an actual press conference with reporters one of these days -- really and truly she will:
It was nice to see MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell swat aside Hazelbaker's snide aside about the media's "great interest in planning her press strategy." Hazelbaker quickly walked this back with some boilerplate about how the McCain campaign of course understands that the press performs a vital function and hence will eventually make her available.
Bull-bleep. The McCain campaign isn't going to grant any real media access to Palin because McCain advisers, out of the goodness of their hearts, know that the public deserves an unfiltered look at her and that this is key to making our Democracy function.
Indeed, the McCain campaign is cheerfully being very up-front about exercising total control over the terms as to how -- or whether -- she's made available. McCain campaign manager Rick Davis made this as clear as you could want by suggesting recently that he wants to see her treated with "deference" first -- basically flipping the entire press corps the bird.
Bottom line: The McCain camp will only allow the media to have meaningful access to Palin if the cost of keeping her sequestered begins outweighing the benefits. Period. And the only people who can extract that cost are members of the media themselves. The Obama campaign could give such efforts a big assist, but really, should they have to?
So where is Jeff Gannon these days, anyway? He'll probably be invited to these.
September 8, 2008 3:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Not Jeff Gannon. Sarah might start to "Pray away the Gay" which is a motto of her church, Assembly of God.
September 9, 2008 1:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm sure it'll be a fine opportunity for the press to roll over and scratch its soft underbelly.
September 8, 2008 3:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm sure it'll be a fine opportunity for the press to roll over and let Palin scratch its soft underbelly.
September 8, 2008 3:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yup yup.
And the blogo-media is blindly repeating their "vetting" blowup.
Taunting Palin over the "fears" and lowering lowering lowering lowering expectations.
September 8, 2008 3:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
No wonder why they are keeping her in undisclosed locations when she isn't still reciting her same convention speech via teleprompter: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/08/palin-makes-her-first-gaf_n_124792.html
September 8, 2008 3:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
She's stumping with McCain.
This strategy of "countdown" is the third stupidest thing I've seen the blogosphere push for.
Because they are only thinking about it one step at a time.
They can't even "imagine" that she can end up doing really well. If she does - what then?
Last time I checked, there's plenty of intereviews on YouTube, she did debates in state elections and she doesn't look like some kind of robot reciting talking points at all.
No matter. The Palin "strategy" reveals that the blogosphere and the Obama campaign share one thing here - they have absolutely no clue how to deal with Palin.
September 8, 2008 3:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, because the working folks out here struggling with their mortgages and fighting to afford gas and other energy costs all while hoping their kid will have a better life than they had...those folks are really making time to check YouTube for videos. You've been on here too long.
September 8, 2008 4:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Then why are you helping McCain by doing this??
September 8, 2008 4:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Your "concern" has been noted.
September 8, 2008 4:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Helping McCain? Are you high?
September 8, 2008 5:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
"This strategy of "countdown" is the third stupidest thing I've seen the blogosphere push for."
Wanting to see if a VP candidate actually knows something, oh the horror.
"Because they are only thinking about it one step at a time."
Steps are more for recovering alcoholics, not VP candidates - it makes her seem like she's a child.
"Last time I checked, there's plenty of intereviews on YouTube, she did debates in state elections and she doesn't look like some kind of robot reciting talking points at all."
Last time I checked, more times than not she was asked question pertaining to Alaska for the most part - nowhere near the depth of questioning a VP candidate would be asked concerning foreign policy to the economic issues plaguing the country.
"No matter. The Palin "strategy" reveals that the blogosphere and the Obama campaign share one thing here - they have absolutely no clue how to deal with Palin."
No matter what, the Palin Strategy just shows that McCain has a VP candidate who is intellectually inept concerning the issues of the day, so much in fact that they feel the need to keep her hidden away like a family's good china or some shit. The Obama campaign knows how to deal with her, sit back and wait until she exposes herself as the proverbial incompetent that she is.
September 8, 2008 4:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's not a question of intellect, it's a simple matter of what are her views , how does she think about the most important issues of the day.
There is no evidence to demonstrate this short-term governor of a small state that gets most of it's revenue through oil has any familiarity with the key issues of our time. If she did she would be talking about them yesterday. There is no other possible reason. You could name dozens of republicans who could do this.
The issue is the contempt it shows the American people.
September 8, 2008 5:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Do doubt, as Obama says, she is a skilled "politician". What the public needs to know are her positions and whether she can make a cogent argument for them.
She needs to be in a unscripted press conference where she can be asked any number of things.
September 8, 2008 5:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's not about "looking like a robot." It's about showing an understanding of major national and international issues. There is nothing in her history to show any sort of understanding, let alone interest, in the major issues that face this country.
I don't think Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, North Korea, the mortgage crisis, healthcare, the economy, etc…came up in her campaign for Mayor of Wasilla.
So far she's 0 for 1.
September 8, 2008 4:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well now that the blogosphere is setting her up to impress everyone once again, let's at least hope she gives them some credit in January.
September 8, 2008 4:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Well now that the blogosphere is setting her up to impress everyone once again, let's at least hope she gives them some credit in January."
She impressed everyone by simply reading, my niece can do that - Bravo! If today's gaffe signals anything, is that her "tutoring" isn't going as well as expected. I wonder if they are using flash cards with her? Nonetheless, she can't hide forever - and people who seemed appalled that voters actually want to see what she's made of, secretly know that she's an empty pant suit.
September 8, 2008 4:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
"This strategy of "countdown" is the third stupidest thing I've seen the blogosphere push for."
Wanting to see if a VP candidate actually knows something, oh the horror.
"Because they are only thinking about it one step at a time."
Steps are more for recovering alcoholics, not VP candidates - it makes her seem like she's a child.
"Last time I checked, there's plenty of intereviews on YouTube, she did debates in state elections and she doesn't look like some kind of robot reciting talking points at all."
Last time I checked, more times than not she was asked question pertaining to Alaska for the most part - nowhere near the depth of questioning a VP candidate would be asked concerning foreign policy to the economic issues plaguing the country.
"No matter. The Palin "strategy" reveals that the blogosphere and the Obama campaign share one thing here - they have absolutely no clue how to deal with Palin."
No matter what, the Palin Strategy just shows that McCain has a VP candidate who is intellectually inept concerning the issues of the day, so much in fact that they feel the need to keep her hidden away like a family's good china or some shit. The Obama campaign knows how to deal with her, sit back and wait until she exposes herself as the proverbial incompetent that she is.
September 8, 2008 4:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
You misspelled "stumping" it is spelled
"l y i n g" in her case.
Lying about her record and her biography.
As for YouTube she did not look too good defending a known sexual harasser when she fired him. Not too good in the Church making pronouncements like the war in Iraq is God's plan. No she didn't come off very well and that IS the reason she is being sequestered.
September 9, 2008 1:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
Her confusion regarding the operational realities of Fanny and Freddie notwithstanding of course, right?
I'd say she's doing just fine on her own in that respect.
September 8, 2008 3:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
How hilarious!
The McCain convention bounce is all the fault of the blogosphere! What morons! Pointing out the unfitness of Palin to be VP. I mean, you people must be crazy.
September 8, 2008 3:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Please tell us how you would handle palin, Lalo. You seem always to criticize, but you never offer solutions or polite feedback. I'm interested to hear how you would do things.
September 8, 2008 6:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama will respond by noting that Ms Palin is a fine woman, a fine mother, a wonderful governor and former mayor, and he is sure she will be a wonderful vice president, even though he, Obama, doesn't agree with everything she says. Republicans will all be shaking in their boots after that.
September 8, 2008 3:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Keep it up - keep up the pressure. Apparently the media and the McLame campaign feel it no matter what they are saying.
And Greg - you've been just awesome. This is another excellent post.
September 8, 2008 3:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Tena: I can't believe I was one inch away from actually liking you. But your refusal to see the stupidity of this Palin strategy just killed that.
Well.... I still like you, no matter what you say.
September 8, 2008 3:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
How fucking dare anyone out there criticize Sarah Palin after all she has been through!
She has to prove herself to the voters and deliver snarky one-liners and pretend that she knows something about other countries. She has five fuckin kids.
LEAVE HER ALONE! You are lucky she even gave a speech to you BASTARDS!
LEAVE SARAH ALONE!…..Please.
Anyone that has a problem with her you deal with me, because she is not ready right now.
LEAVE HER ALONE!
September 8, 2008 3:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Please
September 8, 2008 3:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown wrote an interesting piece in the op-ed sec of the SFC. He said , Palin's honeymood with the MSM will soon turn to scrutiny. He also said once she opens her mouth and voters listen they will be turned off. He said, once the shine dissipates from Palin, he said the Obama-Biden should go in for the kill.
September 8, 2008 3:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Howz about:
Governor Palin can run, but she can't hide.
September 8, 2008 3:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Totally agree that this is an important, if not vital point to hammer on. It's the only way to draw her out. And I think you also accomplish that by attacking her positions, along with her unwillingness to do an interview.
Btw, now that you mentioned Rick Davis, that reminds me he was on Morning Joe this morning talking about himself in the third person. That's the kind of Dbag we're dealing with.
Pufferfish
September 8, 2008 3:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
You're not serious, are you? He referred to himself in the third person?
Seriously?
September 8, 2008 3:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh yeah. Not once, but twice. It was phenomenal.
September 8, 2008 3:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
What the hell is it with Repugs? It seems as if sooner or later they all start that - it's so loony!
September 8, 2008 3:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yup, yup. Keep up the pressure. Palin is have a good day:
Palin's own "housing gaffe": Doesn't have a clue what Freddie and Fannie do!!
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/09/housing-credit-crisis-for-dumm.php
Palin's secessionist hubby's terror links!
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-brooks4-2008sep04,0,5675222.column
September 8, 2008 3:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm pretty sure your mom won't be mad if you say BULLSHIT, Greg. Go ahead, give it a try. It feels good doesn't it?
September 8, 2008 3:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
No, they shouldn't have to.
Thanks for keeping up the pressure by revealing this information. If bloggers don't keep pointing this out, it probably won't penetrate to traditional media.
On the other hand, if the Obama campaign can take advantage of this opportunity to frame Palin in very negative terms, maybe the McCain campaign will be goaded into allowing access to Palin (and not, I might ad, Charlie Gibson type of access).
September 8, 2008 3:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is a real opportunity for Obama. Too bad they are too nice to take advantage.
I would do something like send out a press release every day the Republicans keep her behind wraps. Maybe the press release could be entitled "Palin Briefing Paper" and would contain the kinds of issue oriented information that Palin should be studying to prepare for her first encounter with the press.
Turn her absence into a national joke.
September 8, 2008 3:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
We all need to start repeating how we know that when she is finally given access to the press, we know how polished she is going to be after spending all these days preparing and being spoon fed the McCain talking points.
September 8, 2008 3:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Lipstick
September 8, 2008 3:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey folks, one more thing:
Isn't this a good opportunity for Obama to get out there with Biden on every talk show venue possible? They were just on 60 minutes, and it ended with mention that McCain's camp was invited.
The media is a useful tool for free advertising. If McPalin relinquish, it's an advantage for us.
It will look strange when you have all these interviews with Obama/Biden together, taking shots at McCain, and either McCain shows up alone or they refuse the invite.
We can't control what McCain does, no matter how much we complain, but we can exploit it.
Just a thought.
September 8, 2008 3:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama and Biden should stop praising John McCain and start attacking him. I get so f&%ki*g annoyed when i hear democrats and the democrat ticket praise McCain military service.
I have not once heard McCain praise Obama for his accomplishments. Its time the democratic ticket start going after McCain's lousy senate record. Call McCain what he is: a liar.'
September 8, 2008 3:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Then it stops being about issues and starts being about character/personality issues. There is PLENTY of shit on the issue side they should be hammering home. And in the process they can paint the Maverick as the pandering politician he is or has become during this election. But don't give McCain what he desperately needs--to keep the focus off the issues.
September 8, 2008 3:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
But there's a line between ad hominem attacks, on the one hand, and showing excessive deference and politesse, on the other. I think Nulook's point, with which I agree, is that Biden and Obama may be taking this courteousness too far in praising their service, etc. It just unnecessarily reinforces that they are HONORABLE people, when the record shows that McSame is NOT an honorable man, and at best the jury's still out on Palin on that score.
September 8, 2008 3:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree with Doofus. It's not necessary to say how great McCain is before criticizing him. That's just lame. McCain never says anything nice about Obama but Obama keeps kissing his ass, like that's a prerequisite for calling the guy out. McCain is not honorable. His campaign is one big lie after another. They've been called on the lies and they keep telling them and Obama keeps saying "John McCain is an honorable man" whenever they speak of him. It's too much!
September 8, 2008 4:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Here's a good strategy for the surrogates to hit the media and Republicans...if Palin is so qualified to run this country how come the Republicans didn't support a bid for her to run as a presidential candidate? How come the Republicans didn't support any female candidate during the primary?
September 8, 2008 3:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Because she was running for Governor.
September 8, 2008 3:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Palin became governor in 2006. There was nothing stopping the RNC from running her candidacy.
September 8, 2008 4:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's up to the candidate to run for president. If she didn't throw her hat in the ring, that's hardly the fault of the republican party. Are the democrats to blame that Al Gore didn't run?
Please. There are more credible lines of attack than this.
September 8, 2008 4:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
In accepting the VP nod the individual is essentially saying that they feel they are able to step into the #1 position at any moment and lead this nation.
September 8, 2008 5:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
She is all I have ever wanted in a VP. Can't face the media, embroiled in scandal, family life that is splitting at the seams, no foreign experience, no knowledge of economics or finance, and it is all our fault. RIGHT. We are the ones that have issues.
I have been through more to get a job at McDonalds in high school.
You think she is crying now? Wait till the media and american people give her a reason to cry!
September 8, 2008 3:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
lol...Palin's incompetence and arrogance will soon reveal to voters what moron she really is.
September 8, 2008 3:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think the real reason the mccain campaign is keeping palin sequestered is because they know first impressions are hard to change, and palin's first impression was generally favorable.
The longer they can delay the "facts" getting out about how she's not anywhere close to being the reformer she claims she is, the harder it will be to change the minds of voters who have already decided they like her.
September 8, 2008 3:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Mayor Willie Brown said the same thing. He said once Palin opens her mouth the voters be turned off.
September 8, 2008 3:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Her reach has exceeded her grasp.
September 8, 2008 3:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'd certainly say so inasmuch as she did exactly nothing to be running for the 2d most powerful job in the country. She was given that position. By an old man. The same old man who is protecting her from everyone.
And they cry "Sexism!"
Oy vey - for awhile there I had forgotten where I was. I wish they hadn't reminded me.
September 8, 2008 3:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
A dirty old man. You did see the shots of him eyeing her ass.
I'll tell you, the funniest commentary on the whole Palin thing was on deadspin. Sidesplittingly funny and vulgar. Truly awesome.
September 8, 2008 3:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
She was running for Gov. of Alaska and she had lived in Alaska most of her life. I think it would be pretty easy for her to talk about those issues. Let's see her talk about national issues.
September 8, 2008 3:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Every news organization should start running a countdown ala the one FOX News ran on Obama not going on FOX. Obama has now been on Fox Sunday Morning, and done a one-on-one with Bill O'Reilly, in this case, what is good for the Gander is certainly good for the Goose.
September 8, 2008 3:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't understand why they even bother hiding her.
The invertebrate MSM are more concerned about how their steaks are grilled at The Prime Rib than they are about grilling Sarah Palin.
She could give a dozen press conferences and there'd be nothing but fawning.
September 8, 2008 3:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sarah Palin and John McCain are DENYING American's the ONLY ACCESS they have to INFORMATION before making a valid judgment on who to vote for in Nov.
they are not just spitting in the eye's of reporters, they are thumbing their noses at VOTERS!
September 8, 2008 3:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
How fucking absurd. They are making a mockery of the press (not hard to do) demanding that they bow before Princess Palin whilst she sleeps on a stack of her well-used mattresses in search of a pea underneath, when we know it's really just one simple question:
Why are you here?
September 8, 2008 3:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hazelbaker has a permanently frozen non-smile, and she appears to be wearing an entire can of stewed tomatoes around her neck.
September 8, 2008 3:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
You almost killed me with those stewed tomatoes - I was eating a chip and I sucked that baby right down my throat when I read that.
LMAO!
September 8, 2008 3:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
I just rewatched the clip and noticed Hazel also uses that "we understand that" device that W has used so often in the past 8 years. You know, the one where an issue or problem is raised in a question, and the respondent just says "I understand this is a problem", and never does anything to address it. Essentially, they just repeat the question and add "I understand" before it, and that somehow counts as an answer. It drives me f-ing insane.
Maybe it's just me.
September 8, 2008 7:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Why Does the Mainstream Media Hate Our Country?
Seriously. I don’t understand it. This is their country, too.
Gibson, Stephanopoulos, Matthews, Couric, Blitzer et al can’t possibly be comfortable with Palin being literally one old heartbeat away from the Presidency, can they? Knowing what little they know about her, in their heart of hearts, can they? If they can, they’ve no conscience and that’s pathetic.
I want to think more highly of them. That they take seriously the awesome responsibility they have to demonstrate honesty and integrity given their positions of contributing to a collective consciousness. Yet, they’ll hype her and fawn over her and give her and McCain a platform from which to LIE to the American public over and over and over again. They know enough to know she’s lying every time she lies AND they don’t call her or the McCain campaign on it. Every time. Nauseating.
Maybe values is easier to say than virtue.
September 8, 2008 3:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
If you watch the talking heads when they're discussing Palin, they look seasick. Especially conservatives like Will and Brooks.
They know she's not up to the job, but they've gotten used to playing a game where you can never say that sort of thing directly.
September 8, 2008 4:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
They know how they look but they don't have the balls or the brains to stand up and say what they know is right.
They are worthless scum.
September 8, 2008 4:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
No, no, no the talking hair class doesn't live in our country.
They live in multinational-stock-option-landia (a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Chinese debt holding company, aka Beijing 2008).
Their kids don't go to our schools, etc. etc. They are not invested in our institutions--except to make money off of them.
September 8, 2008 7:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
I wonder if the McCain campaign expects the same kind of deference and respect when she's VP. Do they expect to lecture other heads of state on how VP Palin expects to be treated?
For someone who "took on the Alaska legislature" she sure has thin skin. She couldn't make it one week in the glare of the US media.
September 8, 2008 3:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Caribou Bambi can run but she can't hide.
In a month, the polls that came out today will be seen as the kick in the ass that put us over the top. Keep fighting!
September 8, 2008 3:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
September 8, 2008 3:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
We need to stand up and make our voices heard. I need for you to reach within your gut, and sent a message to the media that we respectfully ask for due diligence of Sarah Palin. Some of us have gotten together and have already send out the first round, but it is going to take a lot more of us to make a statement. We have to bombard the media with Facts. We have voter registrations across the country being cast aside by various states, particurlary with Republican run governors.
Are we going to sit silently and moan and not challenge reporters to fair and equitable coverage?
Are we defeatests or are we victors?
I believe, as well as Senators Obama and Biden, we are victors.
Please stand up with me and do the following:
1. You may sign letter enclosed below in its entiretly and send to the media individually, or you may call upon every supportive person you know to sign the email collectively by including them in the CC: address line when sending the letter
2. Copy the enclosed letter in it's entirety and draft a new email and replace my name with your own.
3. Add the following to the TO: address line:
nightline@abcnews.com, 2020@abc.com, netaudr@abc.com, thisweek@abc.com, abcboard@abc.virginia.gov, wnn@abcnews.com, support@abcnews.go.com; tblake@thepolitico.com, letters@newsweek.com, national@washpost.com, hardball@msnbc.com, thisweek@abc.com, scams@cbsnews.com, letters@msnbc.com, letters@time.com, 60M@cbsnews.com, newseditor@MAIL.CNN.COM, managing-editor@nytimes.com, missioncalendar@oprah.com, charlierose@pbs.org, public@nytimes.com, earlyshow@cbs.com, larry.king.live@cnn.com, NBC_MeetThePress_NewsMail@MSNBC.COM, Dateline@NBCUNI.com, joe@msnbc.com, crossfire@cnn.com, evening@cbsnews.com, steve.capus@nbc.com, thedailyshow@comedycentral.com, mailings@mail.cnn.com, FNS@foxnews.com, me@glennbeck.com, loudobbs@mail.cnn.com, 2020@abc.com, phil.griffin@nbc.com, situationroom@mail.cnn.com, letters@usnews.com, dsaunders@sfchronicle.com, readers.rep@latimes.com, wnt@abcnews.com, weekends@cbsnews.com, abcboard@abc.virginia.gov, HeraldEd@miamiherald.com, ftn@cbsnews.com, netaudr@abc.com, executive-editor@nytimes.com, larryking@mail.cnn.com, KAC@cbsnews.com, colmes@foxnews.com, ombudsman@washpost.com, Comments@foxnews.com, casey.wian@turner.com, nightline@abcnews.com, dabrooks@nytimes.com
4. Keep circulating this and ask supporting friendss to do the same.
PLEASE HURRY and SREAD THE NEWS ANYWHERE YOU CAN
THANKS!
BJ ALAN
September 8, 2008 4:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, the letter can be found at http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/bjalan/gG5pmg
September 8, 2008 4:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks for this. I just sent my letter with some revisions and this addition: "Ceding the coverage of Palin to People would be irresponsible. We don't need to hear about Palin's work as a mother; we need to know what she knows about foreign policy (not what she has been spoonfed -- does she legitimately know anything about the Middle East?). We also need to know her views on creationism and global warning, about her role in Troopergate, her attempt to ban books in the Wasilla library, her preacher and the speeches she has given to her church."
September 8, 2008 4:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
do not sit silently and moan... reach within your gut... grab a handful of FACTS... bombard the media...
=====
could have just said - constipation can easily be prevented by throwing shit around.
September 8, 2008 4:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Done. Thanks for this.
September 8, 2008 4:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
I can't answer that, no one told me the answer to it
Is this the kind of press conference like Bush had after 911. The one where all the questions were submitted ahead of time.
Then Bush got angry with one reporter who asked an unscripted question.
September 8, 2008 4:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
I feel pretty good about the MSM pushback today. CNN is covering Palin's church, Andrea Mitchell is slapping McCain flacks around, and even the AP is doing some fact-checking.
Perhaps tomorrow, when the news isn't dominated by Fannie Mae, the Obama campaign will roll out a new ad or two.
September 8, 2008 4:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Interesting phrase...
"We understand that the press plays a very important role in informing the voters of their choice"
Very, very cynical and snide..... and fits their narrative of "the liberal press".
September 8, 2008 5:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
this is right along the lines of having people in your administration refusing to testify--despite receiving subpeonas. These guys don't think they have to answer to anyone!
McCain/Palin: If you liked the last 8 years, you're going to love the next four.
September 8, 2008 5:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
The McCain campaign's strategy is the true celebrity attitude, letting the celebrity magazines bid against one another for an exclusive interview. Palin's this minutes' hot item and they're handling her that way.
September 8, 2008 5:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
We now have a Republican nominee for Vice President who is emblematic of McCain's two primary criticisms of Obama: being a celebrity and a stirring speaker with nothing underneath.
The MSM is cowed and not reporting her gaffes, such as not knowing what Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac actually are. We've already had a Bubba in the White House for eight years, we don't need a Bubbette.
September 8, 2008 5:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yup, you got it.
September 8, 2008 6:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
For a self-described pitbull in lipstick, she sure is acting the coward when it comes to the press.
September 8, 2008 6:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Let's get real . . . Bush had no fear putting Cheney in front of any interviewers who wanted to talk to him. Ditto Kerry and Edwards, Clinton and Gore, etc. Sarah Palin is an airhead. In Illinois, they ask every candidate running statewide "How are you doing in Lincoln County?" Palin is out of her depth and they KNOW it. Keeping her away from the press (an anyone else who uses multisyllabic words) as long as possible is their only hope.
I will say it once and say it again: there is a percentage of White people who, chosing between the Black Harvard Med trained surgeon and the White surgeon who lost his license in three other states will stil take a chance on the White guy. In a sense, it does not matter how good a candidate is, some people will never accept him.
Palin, being White trash and proud of it, simply plays into that. That is why McCain chose someone as vice president who he would NEVER invite to dinner, nonetheless let date his son! If Clinton was the first Black president, Palin surely is running to be the first White trash vice president.
September 8, 2008 6:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
So I guess this is the new repub strategy. We all know how well hidden VP Cheney has been in the current admin. Not talking to people that weren't vetted beforehand. Now they are starting to hide the current VP candidate before they even win. In 2012 the repubs will show lifesize cardboard cutouts of their canidates with an email address to submit questions to that they may or may not answer. The republicans will then tell the American people that it is not important that they see or even hear their president and vice president the important thing to know is that they will start any war necessary and cut taxes for the top 1% of Americans. Just go vote republican, shop at Walmart and buy gasoline for your 6 mpg american made pickup truck and you will be safe.
September 8, 2008 7:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
This brings up the question of the VP debates: is Palin going to be apprised of the questions ahead of time? Or will she actually have to respond to whatever comes up? Will the moderator lob only non-content questions on the order of flag lapel pins? Will the moderator be content with non-responsive answers such as, "As those of us who love America know, our country's greatness rests in the heart of the family, and my family has been tested in the fire...." You know, the Palin version of POW POW POW.
September 8, 2008 8:23 PM | Reply | Permalink