(Jake Turcotte)
Why won’t Sarah Palin talk to the press?
By Jimmy Orr | 09.23.08
At one time, Joe Biden was the mystery man. Not getting any press. Not making any noise. That wasn’t of his own doing, of course. He was just being ignored. John McCain, Barack Obama, and Sarah Palin were just too newsworthy.
Not recently, however. Biden’s been all over the news. Some of his appearances have been positive for the campaign and some have made the Obama campaign wince, grimace, and imitate the Homer Simpson, “Doh!”
But he’s been out there. Sure, he dramatized the helicopter incident. And sure he flip-flopped on the McCain disco commercial. But he’s also fired up the base at different gatherings and has spoken forcefully about Obama’s agenda and slammed McCain into next year. And he’s given the press whatever they wanted.
Dick Cheney
We can’t say the same thing about the Republican nominee for vice president. In fact, it’s the polar opposite.
It’s like she’s disappeared in to Al Gore’s infamous lockbox. Either that or she’s pulling off the greatest impersonation ever of Dick Cheney in an undisclosed location.
We changed our minds
Today, for example, the traveling press was told there would be a print reporter and a producer in the pool at the beginning of the meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
But then the McCain campaign changed their collective minds and said video and still cameras only. The networks said the equivalent of “no shirt, no shoes, no service.” They weren’t going to cover the event at all.
High noon
So a standoff ensued. It was like the Old West. Just like the scene from Tombstone when Doc Holliday meets Johnny Ringo.
In the end, the McCain campaign relented, asked the press to be their Huckleberry and allowed a CNN producer entry. The networks get their footage. The campaign gets photos and videos of Palin with a foreign dignitary.
On the surface this all seems like it could be avoided. Especially because the condensed press was in the room for a grand total of 29 seconds. Why all the drama? “It was just a miscommunication,” said one Palin staffer.
Since being selected to the McCain ticket, Palin has participated in just three interviews and has yet to hold a press conference. She is scheduled to speak with Katie Couric later this week.
Beatles, U2, Pink Floyd
The fact is, Palin is the equivalent of a Pink Floyd show (minus the chemicals). They sell out every time, and so does Palin. She brings in tremendous crowds where she goes - reportedly drawing 60,000 people in Florida over the weekend.
John McCain’s chief honcho in New York, Representative Peter King, compared her to some of the immortals of rock ‘n roll.
“She’s become like the Beatles or U2,” King said. “She’s got a certain celebrity status now – people want to see her; they want to hear her.”
Attica! Attica!
The press feels the same way. They don’t have idolization thing going but they want access. And it showed this afternoon around the series of tubes.
Andrew Sullivan is creative in his criticism calling the McCain campaign’s handling of Palin “sexist” citing a different set of rules are applied for media access to Palin and “devising less onerous debate rules for a female candidate.” His advice to the beleagured press pool? Revolt!
“Fight back, you hacks! Demand access,” Sullivan writes. “Demand accountability! It’s our duty. If we cannot ask questions of a total newbie six weeks before an election in which she could become president of the country, then the First Amendment is pointless.”
Scott Conroy over at CBS grouses that this is not the first example of poor communication skills on behalf of the McCain campaign.
In Orlando on Sunday, Palin had another off-the-record stop at an ice cream shop, but the pool producer who was assigned to be in Palin’s motorcade was not notified when the candidate departed to get ice cream, and so there was no editorial presence at the event.
ABC’s Kate Snow reports frustration:
Palin has not held a news conference since being selected as McCain’s running-mate, nor taken questions from her traveling press corps, frustrating journalists assigned to cover Palin for the election.
Kenneth Vogel at Politico says things are getting testy:
Sarah Palin’s relationship with her traveling press corps went from barely existing to downright chilly Tuesday, when the two sides briefly engaged in a standoff over journalists’ access to Palin’s photo ops on the sidelines of the United Nations meetings here.
Mark Silva over at The Swamp says the campaign is trying to avoid a repeat of an incident last week.
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.
<< Joe Biden’s harrowing helicopter ride | Main“After the Cleveland event, a Palin staffer told CBS News that questions “weren’t allowed.”
Comments
2. Byron | 09.23.08
Strange that the McCain campaign would compare Palin to a rock star. Apparently that is a good thing when the celebrity belongs to their candidate, a bad when its the other guy. But indeed they are honorable men. So are they all. All honorable men.
3. Campbell | 09.23.08
Would you? You can’t blame Palin or her campaign considering the constant demeaning hate monger bashing by the media 24/7. The media picks and chooses its stories. The news media blacked out Palin’s 60,000 + rally in Florida but felt it was important to make the SNL incest skit a national story. You will never see the media attack Obama in this way under any circumstances.
4. JWx2 | 09.23.08
because most press people are morons who would do anything for a headline..even sell their own mother to make a dime. The press are always homeless because their glass houses have been shattered by the rocks.
5. Morris | 09.23.08
The best line of the article.
“It’s like she’s disappeared in to Al Gore’s infamous lockbox. Either that or she’s pulling off the greatest impersonation ever of Dick Cheney in an undisclosed location.”
LOL! The truth is coming out! She doesn’t know a d@mn thing!
8. Vincent D’Aloisio | 09.23.08
The answer is obvious. The press is biased and in the tank for Obama. Why wont they ask Barak the hard questions, such as his association with Bill Aires?
9. john warren gotsch | 09.23.08
Given all of the above, I don’t see why editors don’t pull their reporters away from this candidate who is no more than a Barbie-Doll?
10. greg | 09.23.08
Oh please vote for her I am sure that if something happens to the oldest president we have ever elected she will come out to talk all the time. And be totally honest with the Press……NOT!!!!!!!!
Besides what would she say to all those leaders anyway…..I can see your country from my state. Which is better diplomacy than we have had in 7.5 years.
11. How About That!! | 09.23.08
The crybaby press is at it again….and the Christian (substitute the word “Christian” with “Liberal) Science Monitor is no different.
Jimmy Orr is trying to be cute but ends up tripping over his liberal tongue.
Does he REALLY have to ask “Why”? Why is Palin keeping the media at arm’s length? Either Jimmy Orr has been living under a rock for the last month or he needs to put down his bong and pay attention.
Look at the way Obama’s stooges, including the media, have been doing their best to assasinate Palin’s character making making up stories or doing a Dan Rather on her like Charlie tried when he interviewed her……..common on Sparky!!!! Wake up!!
If I were Palin, I’d tell the press corps to kiss my……..
12. LouV | 09.23.08
You got to be kidding..why would any candidate in their right mind set the likes of Charlie Gibson and his fellow hacks on Palin? The only reason ANY of them want to interview her is to be THE ONE who ‘gets her’ makes her say something that would embarrass or taken out of context. The strategy is brilliant. McCain is playing his poker hand brilliantly..and the main stream media can’t stand it. They have been marginalized and they don’t like it one bit. Keep it up and let her do her talking direct to the people. For those hacks who complain about access…you are getting what you deserve, nothing! It is official, journalism died in 2008 and the Brokaw’s and Williams of this world can go an interview some profane, illiterate rap singers or actors. they have nothing to say that is of interest to more and more Americans as we find our news elsewhere…and their ratings continue to fall
14. Kathy | 09.23.08
OK, WHYNOT……… Let’s get the facts straight. I’m voting for Obama, but why is her religion questionable? Because you don’t agree with it? Most religion would be questionable, I’m sure, if that’s the standard applied. She supports shooting wolves from the air - even to the extent of rewarding any hunter for the submission of a wolve’s foreleg. Yes, that’s pretty inhumane. But I know that my folks hired a sharpshooter to shoot coyotes that killed sheep indiscriminately on their ranch. I doubt that’s her reason for promoting this. I think it’s far more likely that she wanted caribou, moose, and elk populations to rise so that hunters would be more likely to bag their game. Out of state big game hunters spend a lot of money when they visit your state. As far as bears, she wanted to sue the feds to get the polar bears off the endangered species list so that oil and gas exploration would not be impeded by concerns about the habitat of an endangered species. I was a pregnant teen, and had a pregnant teen 19 years later. I can tell you, like many other mothers, liberal and conservative alike, that it’s pretty difficult to make your teen daughter’s boyfriend put on a condom, or to make sure that a 16/17 year old girl take contraceptives with any consistency. Teen girls get preggers. I hate to be a fatalist, but it’s true. In any case, I’m pretty sure her mom wasn’t present when it happened. I can’t place the blame on her. What I think is questionable in this story is making these poor kids get married - in my opinion, the worst reason in the world for anyone to get married. Just compounding mistakes. It’s not that she doesn’t believe in global warming - just that she, idiotically, doesn’t believe that its causes are man made. AL stands for Alabama. Does she have a secret spyscope in her bedroom? Because I don’t know how else you could see past the curvature of the earth. AK stands for Alaska. Is that what you meant? What she said was that it was possible to see Russia from some of the outer islands of Alaska. I kinda doubt she, herself, has ever been to those islands and seen Russia. She just heard about it, and relayed the tale to Charlie. I appreciate you trying to educate folks, but let’s shoot for some intelligence and accuracy, OK?
15. Cindy | 09.23.08
Palin left her city with a huge debt as mayor. She spent $50,000.00 to redecorate her office. She built a hockey rink that no one uses and now the town can’t afford it. She had the rink built on land they didn’t even buy first. Does this sound like a fiscal conservative? I think we have more to worry about than not giving interviews. She’s trouble!
16. FactFinder44 | 09.23.08
The inside story is the McCain/Palin campaigh lives in terror of Palin being quizzed about her ties to Alaska Senator Ted Stevens, now on trial for taking bribes from the Alaska oil giant, VECO. What other campaigns received illegal contributions from VECO and Bill Allen, who has now plead guilty to bribery and is testifying agaist Sarah’s coconspirator? None other than Sarah Palin.
17. Justin | 09.23.08
Wow, Jimmy Orr actually wrote a balanced account of something political. Did **** freeze over today?
18. SteveG | 09.23.08
It’s simple. Palin won’t answer questions because she is not on the ball enough to stand on her on two feet. The people who think she is ready to be VP (or possibly POTUS) are either kidding themselves or they are liars! Everything she says is scripted.
Sad thing is…the same thing is true for McCain…only difference is he’s been allowed to put his foot in his mouth quite often!
19. GuyInCT | 09.23.08
My guess is that the McCain campaign realizes that the media is completely behind Obama and see it has their holy mission to take Sarah Palin down. There is really little to be gained by having her talk to the media.
21. bang | 09.23.08
“the fact she can see Russia from AL”, the only line worth reading of that comment.
Silence can be misinterpreted, but never misquoted!!!
23. nlc1 | 09.23.08
Sullivan is right that the McCain campaign is being sexist in their oh-so-chivalrous shielding of Palin–nothing “creative” about his claim. Palin is supposed to get to play by different rules: no scrutiny, no questions, treated with “deference” by reporters. There are serious questions about her leadership and experience that demand answers, not sliding into broad generalizations and sloganeering. Either the McCain people think she’s not competent enough to play a national role in her own campaign, or else they’re demanding special treatment based on her sex.
24. Sean | 09.23.08
WHYNOT - Not an Obama fan? Yeah right. All your lies/talking points come straight from the DNC. Please.
25. RichandDeb | 09.23.08
The answer is simple! No candidate in the history of politics has faced more media predjudice and negativism than Sarah Palin. She has a great record and you folks twist it to the negative side. She is charismatic and a great speaker and you act as though she is an airhead. The first politician to impose a windfall Oil Tax and give it back to her constituents; Forthright and honest; all with a smile and genuine emotional connection. Thank
God for those early interviews so we can all see what she was like before you media elite started crucifying her!
27. RickW | 09.23.08
Why is Palin acting like this unless it is to coverup something shady. She is acting exactly like Dick Cheney and George Bush.
28. nathan | 09.23.08
This does not surprise one bit coming from the McShame campaign. They probably do not want the media asking her about the Bush Doctrine and making herself look stupid all over.
29. bcd | 09.23.08
a Pink Floyd show? Richard Wright just rolled over in his fresh grave.
try a Madonna show - all style, no substance.
you owe Pink Floyd one apology, ASAP.
30. martin | 09.23.08
It is simple, really. There is a perception is the mainstream media isn’t treating McCain/Palin fairly and is actually working to elect Obama. Obviously McCain/Palin agree with that perception.
Since there is a benefit for a politician to get press, especially someone new to the national stage that could use name recognition or a chance to advance their policies to a national audience, why would Palin not take advantage of offers for more press? Only one reason: McCain/Palin must be convinced that the press is not composed of neutral journalists but instead journalists that will cause more bad press no press at all.
Given the past behavior of the press this seems like a reasonable belief.
32. Vernon | 09.23.08
It’s like I wrote before. It’s almost like she’s being pushed around on a hand cart with a muzzle over her mouth ala Hannibal Lechter. If I knew it would only take a week at the U.N. to get a certificate on foreign relations, I’d have done it straight out of high school. C’mon McCain, THIS IS A JOKE, ISN’T IT?? Please say “yes”.
33. John Little | 09.23.08
the reason they don’t want her to speak to the press is because shes a loser bozo who cant talk let alone think. how stupid is she when she believes the **** she does. No wonder they want to hide her, she’s a right wing religious exstremist who wants armageddon.
35. Katee | 09.23.08
I can see why she avoids the press. They have come at her snarling from day one. It doesn’t matter what she says or does the media takes it and turns it into something bad. A no win situation in my opinion. I don’t like or trust the press anymore because they are obviously very biased.
37. Repugnican | 09.23.08
Go to **** Bushite, anti-Obamists ; the constitution is what our christian forefathers gave their blood for - Not for letting the republican party get people like Sarah Palin into the presidency in order to turn America into a neo-nazi state.
What are they afraid of? Why don’t they let the press test her mettle? Because if she actually talks to the press we might find out what a nice looking bimbo we’ll be getting for a cardiac arrest heartbeat away from the Commander in Chief job? Oh, oh, I forgot, she is in charge of the Alaska National Guard units that actually can see Russia from across the Bering Straits. How dumb of us to actually think this gives her the credentials to run the country and lead us out of bumbling military excursions launched by Texan protestant pick-up truck cowboys we were dumb enough to let stay in the white house.
McCain/Palin - no ideas, no initiative, no change, no future. Just slime Obama so America can’t become the best country on the earth again.
38. nonsequitur | 09.23.08
More and more it sounds like the Bush administration. Controlled access - invitation only events. Secrecy is the policy of the campaign. What are they afraid of? The possibility that she’ll say something that will prove she’s unqualified for the job?
39. Babs | 09.23.08
If Sarah is not up to speaking with reporter’s, then how will she handle the Vice President’s role?? Apparently, not with the efficiency that I expect for such a high position. I’m a republican and she scares me!!
40. Oceania | 09.23.08
The McCain is shielding Sarah Palin because if she actually has talk and think with out script she’ll anger the voters and the press pool.
41. LXG | 09.23.08
So, I think the electorate in the United States will say to Palin, “Thanks, but no thanks!”
42. Obama is a left wing puppet | 09.23.08
What a stupid question. You’re in the press with your BA in lit (YIPPEEE)- you should be able to spell “biased socialist trolls”. Maybe I give you too much credit.
43. Mary Knight | 09.23.08
Why would you say gonna instead of going to? and
getta instead get to.? Because Mrs. Palin never learned english..Sad for a running VP…..
44. Kali | 09.23.08
Hello Sarah. Welcome to America. We have this thing called the First Amendment that entitles our press to keep the people of America (AKA “we the people”) informed. The press is guaranteed rights by the First Amendment to act as our representatives in gathering and broadcasting the information.
You see, people who are supposedly trying to lead “the people” are obligated to address “the people”, not just a hand-picked few who promise to be deferential.
This concept is ESPECIALLY important when you are claiming to be a “reformer” who will bring “transparency”. Since your actions are so contrary to this claim, it makes me wonder if you understand what the words mean.
For for someone who threatens to go toe-to-toe with Putin and Ahmadinejad it is strange a reporter from the Omaha Herald sends you scampering for cover. But isn’t that the typical bully-girl style? Like someone who talks tough with a junkyard dog snarl about folks like, say, community organizers?
If we give you the benefit of the doubt, we can presume your position is designed to help you remain silent and be thought a fool, rather than speak up and remove all doubt.
45. Scott | 09.23.08
Why not just stop covering her….the media is giving her everything she wants so why would she risk talking to them.
48. dacajun | 09.23.08
Yes, i can tell you are not an Obama fan. I would rather Sarah shooting wolfs from a plane than Obama shooting his mouth to the wolfs. Most of the other charges you mention have been aswered over and over.
49. Izabael DaJinn | 09.23.08
Does it really need to be asked “Why?” she is not doing interviews? It’s because of how atrocious her last one was. The longer they can keep her out of a critical eye the more they can bamboozle the common masses.
I don’t care much for Republicans, but they are smart, ruthless, and sneaky. They will milk Sarah Palin for all she is worth and they don’t give a penny in return if they don’t have to.
Thank God for the debates. We will finally see what she does (or does not have) going for her.
50. elitist | 09.23.08
Isn’t refusing interviews about as ‘elitist’ as it gets? Out of touch?
Our whole political process is a big joke. Since when can candidates for an elected office refuse to speak to the people unless it is on their terms?
This is fail. This chick obviously has a lot to hide! Maybe they’re trying to hide how ridiculously stupid she is.
51. birdy | 09.23.08
So let me get this straight McCain..
She’s not yet ready to talk to reports but she’s ready to be President of the United States?
I say, thanks, but not thanks to that governor of nowhere.
52. A Good Christian | 09.23.08
I don’t understand ? What is there to hide ? Why would you not want to talk to the press, seems like the country wants to hear her. Let me get this straight. She is a heart-beat away from the president and we know very little about her. I am outraged that she and the McCain campaign have this much contempt for the American public. This is not a way for democratic campaigns to function. What is there to hide, so there was some serious media attention given when she was introduced to the American public. Was anyone supposed ? We know nothing about her and we deserve too. She could be the next commander in chief.
53. birdy | 09.23.08
So let me get this straight McCain..
She’s not yet ready to talk to reporters but she’s ready to be President of the United States?
I say, thanks, but no thanks to that governor of nowhere.
54. Mike L | 09.23.08
How can a person say they will be ready to step up into the highest position in the United States at a moment’s notice when they are scared to take questions from some hack reporters?
McCain/Palin’s resistance to expose Palin to questions from the press is more of a tell that she is clueless and unqualified for the position than it would be to hear her goofy answers to the questions. Once again (like Troopergate) the Republicans are building a mountain out of a molehill and using the Bush favorite - Blame the media.
It’s tough to blame the media when Palin won’t even field a question. Any person independent minded enough to still be on the fence about who to vote for will not be impressed by this tactic. It’s bad enough that Palin has done nothing more than recite and re-recite her RNC speech. I didn’t look at her statements today but did she use the “Thanks but no Thanks” line?
This ticket really speaks volumes about the rut that the Republicans are in at the moment.
55. maureen | 09.23.08
It’s very obvious that McCaine’s campaign does not think Palin is up to the “job.” Any politicians job is communication with the electorate. She simply doesn’t know anything and they think she’ll embarrass herself…and them.
It’s also obvious that the American press isn’t up to its job. Any reporters job is alerting the public if a politician cannot do his or HER job. There should be a headline every day stating that Palin is “cramming” but still isn’t capable of normal intelligent human intercourse.
I think we will only see a Palin doll, where the string is pulled and the words come out, but nothing intelligent will surface.
56. John L | 09.23.08
I’ll tell you why not. You have a ravenous press that is hostile and will probably ask nothing but gotcha questions. This is the same press that took all sorts of rumuors about Sarah Palin and spread them as news without taking the time to verify them. This is the same press that has raised the bar to be vice president to a new level just so that can slam her as inexperienced. What was Bill Clinton’s foreign affairs experience when he ran for president. Not much. This is the same press that has ignored her accomplishments and zeroed in only on her negatives while ignoring or minimizing Obama’s and Biden’s negatives. McCain has every right to be wary of the press. He knows their real motive is not to get to know her but to try to get her.
57. Judi | 09.23.08
Yes, it’s getting totally ridiculous. The Mccain campaign wants so badly to distance itself from the current administration, but it’s behaving exactly like Bush and Cheney: secrecy, arrogance and deception.
I’m tired of waiting to hear Sarah Palin interviews. My opinion of her is so negative now I don’t think that anything she does get around to saying to the press will make any difference to me one way or another.
58. Fritz | 09.23.08
The Republicans have finally overstepped the mark. For years they
controlled the media agenda by controlling access. Now there’s none.
Maybe the media patsies will finally take it personally, get off their indulgent ***** and kick down the doors of this administration and daylight these KGB-style police-state tactics.
Maybe we’ll finally get invesitagtive and assertive journalists doing real
work, instead of vapid egoists and pol-trolls that obsess over their ratings and next prime time appearance.
The media are complicit and blameworthy.
P.S. The Christian Science monitor is a notable exception. Thank you.
59. mavisdarling | 09.23.08
The American public should be outraged by this Palin woman. We have had 8 years of lies, cover-ups, secrecy and back-door politics. This woman is more of the same. If she had ANY substance at all, they would let her talk. They are afraid she will say something that will upset people, becuase her views are even more right-wing that Bush’s.
She won’t cooperate with an ethics investigation in Alaska, a BI-PARTISAN investigation that she welcomed only a month ago. She can’t talk to the press. Her handlers orchestrate every move she makes.
Can’t you people see she is being USED to sway your opinion? So big deal: She wears a ton of make-up and can read off a teleprompter. There is no substance there under all the glitz. She is an empty head in an empty dress. If she wiped all the make-up off, nobody would pay any attention to her.
I can only imagine what the world leaders she just met REALLY think about her. I wonder if we will hear THEIR opinion of this foo-foo queen?
OOOH, I can’t wait until she meets Katie Couric. That should be interesting to say the least!!
60. oregon4obama | 09.23.08
Why?
Embarassment
She’s had to lie on numerous occasions to make her “resume” seem more compelling. i.e. troopergate(being investigated for abuse of power), bridge to nowhere, earmarks(that she says she never has taken and is now against), the polar bear population etc…..
Look, I dont hate sarah palin, i just hate bald face liars, If you have requested more money per capita than any other state while serving as governor, then say you are a champion of reform and against earmarks….thats a lie…..she could have said, since joining mccain she has seen the light or something…..
She is hiding because people are looking past her gender and paying attention to her agenda…..she claims to be a washingon outsider when she was the first mayor of Alaska to ever get earmarks, and she hired a lobbyist to get it too……she aint no outsider and her husband is probably just as responsible for all this as she is, but we shall see
61. caryn | 09.23.08
The really sad part is that even not knowing anything about Palin or what she stands for, she will get alot of votes. The American public should be outraged and THEY are the ones that should be ignoring Palin and McCain instead of making them feel like rock stars! What ever happenned to talking about the issues? Oh, I forgot you only have to look at the previous administration to know what McCain & Palin’s issues are and they certainly don’t involve any of the people that will be voting for them unless it involves taking more of our rights and money away. If McCain & Palin win I wish their voters good luck, cause they are going to need it!
62. new_york_loner. | 09.23.08
Sarah Palin, though not a member, is reported to have addressed the national conventions of the Alaska Independence Party, on at least two occasions.
Where are the transcripts of Palin’s speeches to these secessionists?
If Obama had addressed a secessionist party’s convention, we would all know about it.
In New York State, we tend to take secessionist talk very seriously. Why is Palin getting a pass on this?
63. Geoffrey Britain | 09.23.08
Palin’s reluctance to interact with the media has a simple explanation. Perhaps you might consider the biased press coverage.
After all, who willingly plays at a ‘rigged’ game?
This article/post being a prime example of such. Not one positive word about Governor Palin, not even the barest mention of how much negative ‘reportage’ has already been put out. Most notably by the very first you mention, Sullivan, whose truly vicious bile has set a new low in ‘commentary’.
When anything you say is sure to be misreported, either through the ‘tone’ or by partial quotes, that just ‘happen’ to support the agenda of the opposition, it’s understandable that a candidate will become ‘gun shy’.
The first comment is a perfect example of someone either unaware that all of the charges they make have been discredited or one for whom partisanship excuses spreading untruths, solely to advance their favored agenda.
After enough biased reportage by the MSM, clearly the campaign would rather communicate directly with the public. You can blame them but it is the MSM which has created the situation.
It’s well past time for journalists to look in the mirror. Recent polls show 69% of the public convinced that reporters and the MSM are actively biasing reportage.
64. Marcpatriot | 09.23.08
With legitimate concerns over her qualifications if not fitness, Palin should be eager to convince voters of her preparedness and ability to think on her feet. She owes her country and the process nothing less. Instead, she is confined to controlled events and scripted remarks. On face value, this is both suspicious and alarming. This conspicuous hiding ought to be the central question hanging over her candidacy and dominate the national dialogue about her. If the far right seems willing to entrust our nation to a stranger based on superficial first impression, the rest of us need to all the more vigilant. For unless she receives scrutiny and starts to reveal herself we have no way of knowing if we are asked to put a viper into our midst.
65. indi | 09.23.08
If you don’t like someone, you simply don’t talk to them. Liberal media are out to get her (they did), so it is better to be cautious. Media can choose to ignore her if they want, but they can’t. She is simply to news worthy. But facing the hostile media, I don’t blame her for being “hard to get to”. In the end, she would have to come out, but in her own terms. Smart lady.
66. Dave M | 09.23.08
lol, Hi there WHYNOT, I’ve seen your posts on another site and I still have the same questions for you. I just want to know who could possibly see Russia from Alabama?
But hey,, what can I expect from you, your full of misinformation I can see from you other statements.
67. mark | 09.23.08
END the NO TALK EXPRESS
Governor Palin isn’t running as McCain’s spokesmodel, she wants to be the VP of the United States of America.
It was beyond foolish to refuse one reporter at the UN photo op, which McCain hoped to show Ms. Palin’s worldliness, and they ended up angering journalists to the point the story has ten times the NEGATIVE.
“penny wise pound foolish”
btw Sarah, if the Press smells fear, they will be having barracuda sushi for lunch.
68. bluefox | 09.23.08
Why should Sarah Palin subject herself to the left wing liberal domocratic party news media.
69. Choprzrul | 09.23.08
Seeing Russia from AL would indeed be quit impressive. It would be far less impressive to see Russia from AK though.
70. Maddy | 09.23.08
She is the most dumbest VP america will ever have, if she becomes VP (in dream only).
If she becomes VP (in dream) then Americas road to riches will be the end as the Iranian President said.
I still don’t understand the STUPID People who are falling for her and not for the real problems the country is facing and not for the real person OBAMA who can lead this country into its previous GLORY.
May god bless America
71. Farmpsych | 09.23.08
The question should be: Why does anyone talk to the press? The press is rude, arrogant, ill-informed,and commonly just plain stupid. Every question that pops out of the babbling mouth of a reporter demands an answer, in their view–”the public needs to know.” No we don’t.
Most politicos talk to the press because they use the press. I hope Gov. Palin intensifies a tradition of “get a life,” instead of yearning for the latest “breaking news.”
72. soothsayer | 09.23.08
The same media that doesn’t question SNL about the “incest rape” “joke”? the same media that demands the resignation of any conservative that breathes a controversial statements while every liberal spewing hatred and un-truths is trumpeted as the next coming of the Messiah, you mean that media?
As long as SP does not speak to the media, she will have the support of many. An “unknown, radical, right wing-nut” SP is better than most every liberal cherished by that same media.
73. Andy | 09.23.08
Sarah Palin is nothing but a campaign prop. She was brought on two do two things - 1)Against the backdrop of Obama’s foreign trip, and his rousing speech in Berlin, the republicans needed a spectacle to remove all positive analysis of his gravitas overseas…and the Palin family drama was a squashable controversy that would immediately steal the media limelight. The palin family drama was not a new discovery, but an instrumental deciding factor for McCain’s choice. It worked. 2)Attract lower educated and less educated women, as well as the conservative base. It worked too.
Academically and strategically excellent, but at what price? Palin’s public and very embarrassing display of ineptitude on the world stage has embarassed us all, but her effectiveness as an aid to this campaign cannot be denied. One certainly questions the moral behind McCain’s choice.
74. Saxxon Domela | 09.23.08
It must be that the Republicans want us to have a religious experience with Palin. We’re asked to accept God as an act of faith and no proof. Now we’re expected to accept Palin with no information allowed, no questions allowed. You know what happens if you question God! Sorry Republicans, we want our politicians to stand up and look us in the eye and answer questions, not hide behind “handlers.”
75. Caldwell Young | 09.23.08
OK, we’ve heard this now for weeks. Palin won’t be permitted to meet the media, take questions, provide answers.
That was pretty bold when the news hounds decided they’d stop covering her if she wouldn’t let a pool reporter in for a photo op session.
If the media had any guts at all, they collectively would decline to follow this person around.
I have decided not to follow her in the voting booth. Can’t stand what I know of her history or her position on issues, and am pretty unimpressed that she isn’t willing to let me know any more than the McCain/Republican script writers issue for her.
But, I’d like to see the “free press” stand up… and walk out.
Caldwell Young
76. Amado Castaneda | 09.23.08
I wouldn’t compare myself to someone who sold drugs, was abondoned, or grew up on welfre… especially if he is pro-abortionist.
The reason why we don’t charge rape kits to the govenment is because a lot of women are of the wrong type either way, and hang out in places you shouldn’t. They should buy their own rape kits.
Most people aren’t racist, but this Obama thinks he is funny calling them racist. I think he is the racist. Try making someone who doesn’t like abortion forced to agree with your pathetic world-to-nowhere Obama beliefs.
77. steve | 09.23.08
If she is going to be the VP of the most powerful country in the world, she can not hide from her adversaries. She has to be willing to confront any and all situations. To not do so is rather cowardly of the McCain camp.
What scares me is how this reminds me of Bush’s secrecy in dealing with the public on matters that should of been disclosed about WMD report with Iraq. Bush kept important details from us that may of made a difference in us investing lives and billions of dollars in the Iraq war. We do not need that type of administration running this country.
Add to the fact how McCain’s campaign is handling the whole troopergate scenario in trying to cover it up is a Bush ego tactic all the way. What is hypocritical about how McCain is handling the Palin troopergate situation is he keeps saying how we need transparency in the White House. How can we believe he would be upfront with American people when he hides Palin from the press and spends tons of resources in covering up troopergate. That is not transparency…that is the same type of Bush tactics that got us in a war, destroyed our economy and lost the American trust.
I will say one thing. Foreign leaders will praise Palin salivating what it would be like having her running things if McCain kicked the bucket. Oh god help us.
78. Rick Huffman | 09.23.08
Palin is a shadowy figure with the press because if she speaks to much she will reveal that she is totally incompetent and un-fit to lead. McCain has shown a reckless disregard for the welfare of our country by selecting someone who’s education, back ground, ideology, and worldly experience is so shallow. The more you learn about her, the less she speaks to the press because she has nothing to say, no policies, no ideas, only venom and divisive hatred for anyone who does not see it her way. Sounds like Bush/Cheny and the far right wing. It is our responsibility to our children and our country to not get fooled again, by slander and slogans. God bless America!
79. Anita | 09.23.08
The McCain people cry sexism but they want a different set of rules for S. Palin.
Yet they printed the buttons “Hottest Governor Coldest State” which people proudly wore at the RNC.
We hear all about Obama’s extremist views but we hear nothing from the press about Palin saying soldiers are on a mission from God?
‘If you are a 13 year old daughter of Bill Clinton the press call your “first dog”
If you are a 17 year old unwed pregnant daughter of a possibly VP of the US the press call you “courageous and brave” ‘
The public did not make S. Palin’s family part of the political circus she did.
And why oh why do they call her husband a “blue collar worker” when he was obviously a shadow Mayor/Governor of Alaska? Or is this the trend of men in her life? They hide behind her skirts? Her husband has done a great job so far, and McCain is perfecting the art.
80. Jane | 09.23.08
The mainland US media appear to be running scared of the McCain campaign. I see almost no revelations about Palin on TV or in my two daily papers. I am reading about the less-beautiful side of Sarah Palin online—not on left-wing blogs, folks, but in the Anchorage Daily News. The Anti-Palin rally in Alaska had the largest attendance of any rally in Alaskan history. Details of McCain’s deal with the Christian Fundamentalists, using Reverend Franklin Graham (son of Billy Graham and a politico-religious big shot in Alaska) as go-between (or Bridge to Nowhere, if you prefer) continue to emerge. Apparently the plan is to show the public nothing but the slick package (Hockey Mom, Sexy Sarah, cute dangling baby, one-line insults shot toward Obama), conceal all the rest (minimal education, spooky church, tried-to-ban-books-then-fired-the-librarian, hiring unqualified cronies, a lot of getting even with her enemies and a WHOLE LOT of lying)and run the clock out. Huge crowds of people who think with their intestinal tract rather than their brain are screaming, “Sarah! Sarah!”—and it’s only six weeks until the election.
81. cal | 09.23.08
The press wants to report only what they can turn against her or McCain. The press needs to be cleaned out their quite the pigs.
82. Gerald | 09.23.08
I like Sarah Palin because she is clearly intelligent, has good instincts, and is highly popular in her state where she enjoys an 80% approval rating. Also because she is not inured to the way that Washington has been run for decades. She brings a fresh, common-sense, middle-class perspective to national and international politics. Sarah Palin put her plane on eBay and later sold it through a broker; there is nothing misleading in saying that she put it in eBay. It is a fact. Also, if her personal governor’s chef is now feeding the legislature, it does not change the fact that Palin eliminated a perk position that probably cost the taxpayers of Alaska at least $75k per year in salary and benefits. If her old chef was not cooking for the legislature, someone else would be.
Sarah Palin is the most popular of the 50 governors in the country. I am proud that she is serving our country and especially proud of John McCain for choosing her despite the heat he knew he would take about Palin’s pregnant daughter, etc. It was an enlightened choice and a choice that indicates McCain does “get it.” He is forward thinking enough to not be blinded by such considerations. I urge skeptics to open their hearts a little to the possibility that she may actually be a talented, fresh personality that will work to reform Washington. Her role as VP may be limited, but the pulpit that she has as the first woman to reach the upper echelon of executive politics will hopefully allow her to play a role in identifying and eliminating government waste and shrinking the federal budget to 2000 levels so that we can get back to healthy surplus levels.
I support the McCain-Palin ticket because they both have a track record of doing the right thing and their rhetoric matches their record with few exceptions. Obama’s record is not even close to his rhetoric. Obama just isn’t believeable.
83. THE curiousblack | 09.23.08
you press people are such whiners, if she won’t talk to ou about her, then find someone who will and see if they will dispute or support what you report. with only six weeks to go, the American people deserve more from you than you are giving. go on the troopergate story, the stories about the cost/consequences of “buy your own” rape kits, her fiscal record; stop hoping to get spoonfed the news and go dig it up! if enough surfaces fast enough, they will beg to talk.
84. TimL | 09.23.08
You forgot that she governs from her home and charges the taxpayers for it.
She refuses debates/interviews because she doesn’t know anything on the topic.
Fire’s people for personal reasons such as “Not firing her sisters X-husband”
And I am sure there are tons more. It is scary how much bad stuff was dug up on this person in such a short time.
85. jon | 09.23.08
I don’t blame her for not talking to any of the press corp after how they attacked her personally. Maybe if the media would lay off on the attacks, maybe she’ll smile at them and greet them. Don’t give these bloodsuckers anything they can use to devour you, Sarah! They deserve it!
86. John | 09.23.08
WHYNOT….please crawl back under your rock…your probably a poster child to why abortion should be legal.
87. James Mantas | 09.23.08
Wait.
“Celebrity Status.”
That phrase rings a bell…
Oh wait! I remember! That’s what the Republicans were saying about Obama ONE MONTH AGO. They were saying how he’s so popular it’s like he’s a celebrity, and they said that politicians shouldn’t have “celebrity status.”
In fact, I even talked to one particularly dumb Conservative who actually claimed she would like Obama if he stopped “acting like a movie star.”
WOW. FLIP. FLOPPERZ.
88. john | 09.23.08
your not a Obama fan, you have all his talking points down. Sounds like a lot of liberal bull
89. Marcia B | 09.23.08
The media should simply refuse to cover McCain/Palin AT ALL (no photos, no anything) until they guarantee free access. This isn’t China, Russia, Venezuela, come on folks. Either we have freedom of the press or we don’t. As a voter, I depend on investigative journalists to dig deeper than the campaign rhetoric. How else can we make decisions based on anything real? This isn’t a high school popularity contest! The future of our nation, the environment, education, our standing in the world community, the health and security of our families are at stake. Don’t let them hijack my right to be informed. Get a spine and use it. If the McCain/Palin folks don’t like the media asking questions, just shut them out!
90. Ajit Raj | 09.23.08
The main stream media has 150% fall into Obama camp. The only purpose for them to chase Gov Palin is try to find some way damage her, and help Obama.
I am sure Gov Palin will talk to media more after election.
The media should spend more time finding out the connection between terrorist Ayers and Obama, and 20 years relationship between Rev Wright and Obama.
91. Lori W | 09.23.08
I find it very frightening. I believe they are insulating her from the press because they are afraid her knowledge gaps will clearly highlight her inablity to lead our nation should that occur. We should all be very very frightened.
I pray for McCain’s continued good health because a Palin presidency is just plain unacceptable at this time. Any candidate that shrouds themselves in secrecy and is unwilling to be held accountable for prior actions is very telling.
I am willing to roll the dice on Obama/Biden for those reason alone.
92. chris | 09.23.08
I don’t blame her. Look how the press chewed her up right when she came on the scene. “Anything you say can and will be used against you..” That is why and I think it is wise because of articles just like this one.
93. Ross | 09.23.08
Response to WHYNOT: I agree with most of your points but for one. Palin’s religion is not questionable. She is an evangelical Christian. Palin wants Cretionism taught in public school science classrooms. She is candy for “The Base.” As Matt Damon said, her candidacy is like a really bad Disney movie. America needs her citizens this year, please vote.
94. Alex | 09.23.08
You have to admit the media is pretty sexist and the reason they are all after Palin is because the only thing on their agenda is to take her down. A lot of people are eating into the liberal media bias.
95. Oceania | 09.23.08
If Palin cannot stand up to the press then how will she stand up to foreign dictators?
96. ScaryDice | 09.23.08
Not only did “WHYNOT” hit the proverbial nail on the head with comments, but will someone please explain to me how she is going to teach Creationism without giving the sex education talk? Have you seen the list of books she asked to be banned? Huck Finn was about to be thrown out of Alaska on his Mississippi behind. PLLLEEEASSEEE! Charging rape kits to rape victims?? Rape victims are the VICTIMS. It’s difficult enough to come forward when something like this happens, but hold on…wait…”Let me find my Visa before you call the cops?” I think Ms. Palin, with her four year degree and many colleges, should stick to her journalism major. Esquiring minds want to know….
97. Bill Clinton | 09.23.08
I like Sarah. Hillary will have a good fight with her in 2012.
Remember that Rev. Wright is still a member of Obama’s family.
98. anon | 09.23.08
Maybe the question should be “Why should she talk to the press?” So they can ask her about her daughter or whether or not she thinks SNL is funny?
Maybe if the press starts acting like they have more than two brain cells to bang together more people would be willing to talk to them.
99. Andrew O | 09.23.08
It really doesn’t matter what Palin does, the media will put a negative spin on anything she does or says. I’m sure that if she had let the press in, they would have focused on something stupid and inconsequential anyway.
By the way, interesting that yesterday’s “uninvited” published speech on Iran got virtually no coverage in the national media. Jewish Democrats obviously put party politics before the threat of Iran. Palin would have brought tremendous publicity and participation to what instead became a non-event. How stupid and short-sighted.
Instead, Larry King Live is going to be the propaganda vehicle for a person who is busy training insurgents to kill American soldiers in Iraq.
Makes me feel real warm and fuzzy about the liberal media.
100. Mike Sweeney | 09.23.08
I’m amazed at how closely Palin is being controlled by the McCain campaign. It sure is disturbing that she isn’t being “let out”. Guess she can’t be trusted even by her own campaign! What if she becomes President of the United States? That is really scary to me.
101. Keith B | 09.23.08
Palin owes nothing to the press! That’s right. The press is becoming irrelevant - just a bunch of talking heads with nothing but opinions or bending of facts to fit their own cause. Long dead is the trustworthy Morrow’s who gave you the story. Now all we get is a bunch of **** from plain ole liberals with an ax to grind. She can talk directly to the American people. As far as I am concerned all we need is C-Span. They are the only ones I trust any longer.
102. Rachhpal Kukreja M.D | 09.23.08
:eventually people will select MaCain: ,accordingly he has better complexion, he was 5th from bottom in the class
his wife more beautiful,
His are better
hecause is maverick,he shoots from the hip”
East-Kentuckians and West Vigenia loves these qualities.
Why to care of the future when it is so beauliful today ,jobs are in abundance
drugs in plenty supply on Medicaid.
Obama is too intelligent thus inferior.
MaCain is mediocre os vote for him.
103. mark | 09.23.08
Okay, enough already…it is clear that the Mccain camp does not want her to get into discussions with the press bcause she is not credible. I think John McCain has sold his soul to win this thing…and at anyone’s expense…even Palin’s!….Too bad. John McCain and his group of merry men / women are doing the old Ali “roper dope”..they hope the sagging and shadow boxing will keep the public at bay, with his VP pick…c’mon, jeez!….she counld not run a bike repair shop, much less the VP role. And as McCain, who is one bi-opsey away from the big one, I think that Matt Damon said it well, “this woman is scary”…not everyone can be President / Vice president…not even me!…=))..I think Obama said it best - “The criteria for being VP draws up 3 lines of thinking” -
1 - They are ready to step in the role and be President. Now, do you think of that when you think of Sarah Palin? I think not!!!
2 - Have the judgement and EXPERIENCE to offer solutions in both Domestic and international affairs….Now, do you think of that when you think of Sarah Palin, uh, a big time NO!! The woman has not any credible ability to run her own small town, much less the USA.
3 - Be able to challenge the President when he / she needs to be challanged on thinking process or policy making…hmmm, Sarah Palin, uh, **** NO!….she will be the biggest “yes woman” in that role since Dan Qualye!…and sad to say, while Quayle was weak, he at least was a smart guy who knew that he was way overmatched…
At the end of the day, The McCain folks will keep her from the press and the nation, but keep her in the crowds as a cutie, as without her, McCain has no drawing power….too bad, I liked Mccain in 2000. He was tough and he took the high raod when needed, which is very Presidential….Now, he is a old s**** of man, who tapped a young woman and put her in a place that she has no business being in….and I have not gotten to her issues back in Alaska!….We need a serious President as these are serious times ( A line from Micheal Douglas in the movie The American President) Please join me in electing the next President of the United States, Sen Barack Obama, Illinois. Thx folks
104. fletc3her | 09.23.08
The press are flagging in their duty to the American people. There are many questions about Sarah Palin’s views on, well, every issue. The press must create an opportunity to ask some questions on behalf of the voters who have just over a month to make up their minds.
105. Nino | 09.23.08
It’s a very frightening thing. A person who would be a heartbeat away from the most powerful job in the world is afraid that if she answers a spontaneous question it might have a negative impact on her electability. Now, why could that be…?
John McCain has not selected her to be his VP because she is the best choice for the country. He chose her to pander to susceptibility of the electorate.
106. riri | 09.23.08
Why medias seek only negative things about Palin and seek positive tings about Obama? We don’t know the details Obama’s house deal with convicted Tony Rezko yet, because medias don’t talk so much about it at all. Obama is one of the dirtiest politicians. Don’t create fake question any more regarding Palin.
Could you tell me why all medias want Obama? This phenomenon is my first experience in American election. Usually, Medias were fair before.
I know black president may be a cure for white guilt. Even so, I want medias fair. It is most important for democracy. Look at dictatorship. They always manipulate medias. You are trying to do the same thing as dictators.
107. brazo | 09.23.08
We must not question Sara…. she is a true American. We should take her as the pick of our soon-to-be new decider. She can smile and read a witty speech that should be enough. She will tell you what to think once she is elected Mrs. America and will stand up to the democratic congress because that will get things done. As for interviews it will be her way or the highway. You can try to play stump the candidate but all you will get are glittering generalities. Forget about actually finding out what she believes and what she might do as president or vice president. This would be funny if it was so tragic for the American people or as John McCain said today “she’s already had enough interaction with the press in Alaska”….ok I’ll ask you – why do we send our best reporters up there, because it is such a hotbed of relevance for the nation?
108. Barack Hussein Obama | 09.23.08
I can’t attack her right now because I have less experiece than her.
But I have a media army to bring her down.
God D… America!
109. James | 09.23.08
Palin deserves whatever she gets unless she gets out there and starts offering some alternatives. Of course, she has nothing to offer. What a joke.
110. David | 09.23.08
Liberal Science Monitor?! What?! CSM is just about eh only unbiased source of information available- at all. I guess facts are liberal?
She is not allowed to answer questions, the press got in to her meeting for 20 second and were not allowed to speak to her… I mean, come on.
And Ayers and Obama, Wright and Obama… these have been proven as 100% irrelevant. Obama was out of that church before the ******* america quote and Ayres was never connected to Obama- at all. McCain and his whole staff being lobbiests and McCain’s former preacher, and Palin’s husband being part of the Alaska cessationists from 1995-2003.
111. Dr. Dave | 09.23.08
I am more amazed by how the press has vilified Palin from day 1. I was nauseated to see Campbell Brown’s twisted face as she accused Palin of child abuse for accepting the nomination. I was shocked to see the endless disgusting accusations by the so called “tolerant” people on the far left who care sooo much about fairness and human and animal rights but vomit bile as they trash Palin.
So why the **** should she talk to the “press”. Let her keep talking to real people at rallyies who want to hear what she has to say instead of biased “journalists” who are ****bent on making her look like a Hitler.
112. Mugsy | 09.23.08
A question for all of you “intelligentsia” who rail against the “liberal” media (by which you seem to mean any media outlet that has the nerve to ask tough questions of your particular candidate)…
why then, do you respond to websites like this, run by…that same media you are so quick to attack? Could it possibly be that the media truly is the most open and free place for the expression of ideas? Maybe you should think twice about why a candidate who is so unwilling or unable to be presented by his or her party to a critical press is ready to be presented to a public and world which is unlikely to be at all less critical
114. Peter | 09.23.08
Not to say that Obama needs the exposure (he is most capable) but could someone please explain how did Sarah Palin get to meet with all these foreign leaders? Did the administration approved this to shore up her lack of foreign exposure? What is the justification?
115. no facts from GOP | 09.23.08
The comments here are appaling. I wonder what is feels like to be so dumb and supoprt this woman.
Oh, the the “liberal media” comments are hilarious. Good stuff. Are these real people or 4chan prank posts?
I hope to God no one really is THIS dumb…
116. dmw | 09.23.08
It’s hilarious/terrifying listening to Palin partisans defend the indefensible. She could be our president. She won’t talk to the press, six weeks before a presidential election. No one can ask her questions. Can anyone seriously insist this is okay? OMG. When did brainlessness become a quality to be valued?
117. erik | 09.23.08
the world isnt fair… get with it or get out!!!
She is a gimmick that dosent know the first thing about what shes even doing.
Thats why she wont talk. You people are fools following a contender like this.. scared of the press??? What about the world you might have to lead…?
118. Tia | 09.23.08
Andrew Sullivan from the Atlantic was the hack who accused Sarah Palin’s daughter of bearing her disabled son and demanded medical records and DNA tests. Why does anyone take him and those like him seriously?? It seems to me we should take a look at Sullivan’s medical records, because he appears mentally ill and abusive. He certainly should not be allowed into an important event like this, he might cause an international incident… keeping in mind that he is causing all this ruckus for personal fame and profit, as well. It has nothing to do with freedom or else he would respect hers and her own right to privacy regarding her pregnancy. Her daughter couldn’t have given birth to that boy, she is pregnant, herself. It’s physically impossible and made Andrew Sullivan out to be a vicious partisan liar of the most repulsive kind. That is NOT journalism.
And Palin already said that she is not running to please the mainstream media, she is here to please the people and that’s who she is talking to. Have a problem with that? And she doesn’t block the press from her audiences. Who counts around here? They always act like everything is about them.
BY THE WAY, was the press in with Obama and the Iraqi President when he was asking him to delay the withdrawal and peace agreement, so Obama could be the one to sign it instead of Bush? I didn’t see you mention anything regarding that in this article. Palin also sat down with several reporters for in depth interviews on tv, so far, and plans to do more. I have seen three, there is another tomorrow night on CNBC, etc. And she’s been at plenty of gatherings like Biden has been to, doh! Since when was it up to your to control their campaign? If you want to do that, run one yourself.
No, the press definitely does not have the idolization thing going for her that they do for Obama, who they never vet or analyze, while ripping her to shreds with lies, half truths, sexism and personal insults on a non-stop basis.
What kind of journalist are you???
119. ScaryDice | 09.23.08
Andrew O stated: “Jewish Democrats obviously put party politics before the threat of Iran.” I think you do not know many Jews, my friend. We can debate McCain/Palin Obama/Biden all day long if you like,but let’s not target one ethnic group because they are trying to keep their families and heritage from being shoved into the sea, or worse…. The point of the rally was to send a message to Iran not to provide a stage for a press rally, intentional or not.
120. erik | 09.23.08
Shes a hack… Bono holds more press conferences than her… I know more about the lead singers views of U2 than who might be the USA Vice president????
This is outrageous… I will not vote for McCain and this absolute duplicity.
121. tdub | 09.23.08
Who is the celebrity in the guilded cage NOW?
It’s all our of the same Rove-ian playbook now. Everyone remember the “Mission Accomplished” photo op? Do we have a short memory, folks?
For such “changers” and “mavericks”, there sure seems to be an arrogant need for secrecy from the McCain camp and his trophy-mate handlers.
Apparently, the American people are not deserving enough to hear what she really stands for. Thanks, McCain. The more things “change”, the more things remain the same. I used to respect John McCain, but ever since the Bush era political operatives took over his campaign and kicked all of his original staffers out, this is what we get. And what we will get if people are gullible and stupid enough to elect him.
122. Heather | 09.23.08
I can’t believe people say that she’s in the right about this. We know nothing about a woman who could be president. Is she so clueless that the McCain campaign can’t stand to hear her speak? If so, why would we vote for this ticket–haven’t we already had 8 years of cluelessness in office? Ohhh, wait! That’s right! She’s a She! And she watches her kids play hockey! Well, *I’m* convinced! Pfft.
123. Linda | 09.23.08
It is so sad that so many people back someone who has really yet to utter one word of her own view… You are the sheep, you are the bandwagon, you are who do not question, you who will be branded without a thought…. very sad indeed when we live in a free country…..
124. Curt | 09.23.08
Just goes to show that anyone can have the chance to become a VP nowadays, even a soccer Mom. American politics has sunken to an all new low. People you get what you vote for. If the last 8 years weren’t miserable enough, then vote for McCain/Palin…and then you’ll be wailin’…when the dollar becomes worthless…and all the jobs are sent overseas…
125. Joe | 09.23.08
> Why wont they ask Barak the hard questions, such as his association with Bill Aires?
First, it’s Ayers, not “Aires” and the media DID ask him about him. There just wasn’t any real news there, so they gave up on it.
Second, his “association” with the man is that they both worked for the same charity. There was once a charity party at Ayers’s house.
Third, Ayers isn’t a criminal. Yes, some of the Weather Underground were. Yes, Ayers wrote an ill-timed editorial that got published on 9-11 saying he wished they could have done more to stop the Vietnam War. But Ayers himself never bombed anyone.
Fourth, all the bad stuff involving the Weather Underground happened back when Obama was 8. Unless you expect him to start doing background checks on everyone he works with, criticizing him for this “association” is ridiculous.
Finally, Obama has an entire page devoted to answering that smear. Read it yourself:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/invite/nextswiftboat
Contrast this with Palin’s refusal to answer questions about the Bridge to Nowhere. Ted Stevens may not remember her support, but her local paper does. Moreover, even if there was no way to give back the earmark money, she didn’t have to use it to build a road to a bridge that doesn’t exist, did she? The “road to nowhere” is sitting there waiting for the bridge that will get built whenever we forget about this whole affair:
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jZtEHKGz26P4lorJmh-lAIS1a5cAD93AQTJ00
The public has a pretty short memory. Quick! When is the last time you thought about Linda Tripp? See what I mean? The public won’t remember this stuff in a few years unless someone makes a new issue out of it.
126. BillClinton | 09.23.08
Stop attacking Sarah!
The more you attack her, the more people she will attact to the rally!
I like to see Hillary as President in 2012.
127. indiana007 | 09.23.08
We the people deserve to know who we are backing.. Not just what the campaign sees fit to release or tell the woman to say…. Journalists need to demand interviews… I dont give a whoot about sexism this or that… Who are you? where do you stand? Why are you hiding?
128. Palo Alto - Paul | 09.23.08
Access? Are you kidding? how dumb are you guys - she’s obviously an idiot and the McCain campaign knows what everyone else knows. How can you expect them to give access. But then I can’t listen to McCain either; he’s also an empty head (brainless). Then again, it was hard to listen this morning too: Poulson, Cox, Bernanke….. “fool me once,…..”; another one, “Fox in charge of the henhouse..”. The trick, of course, is to get ordinary middle class taxpayers to take the fall for the wealthy and powerful - this game isn’t new, and it is not republican or democrat.
130. Dianne | 09.23.08
Has anyone did a poll on how the media rates in the eyes of Americans? They wear me out with their latest and greatest biased “gotcha”. They are like sharks circling their latest victim or story. I think we could use a few less media “opinions” and just let the politicians speak out on the issues and let Americans make up their own minds without pitting us all against eachother with your biased opinions & latest and greatest polls. We are watching less and less news at our home.
131. Floretta | 09.23.08
From RichandDeb (#25): “No candidate in the history of politics has faced more media predjudice and negativism than Sarah Palin.” Are you KIDDING? Ever hear of a candidate named Hillary Clinton??
Sarah Palin is not ready for prime time. Any candidate who cannot think on his/her feet and respond to any question from press or just plain folk does not have the smarts to handle the real big issues which will be waiting come January. They don’t need to have a ready quip or regurgitated “talking points” but should be able to put themselves out there and be able to either give a reasonably well-thought-out response or an honest “I don’t know but I’ll find out for you.”
132. William | 09.23.08
The shameful tactics employed by the Republicans over the past several years have made it very difficult to have a civil political discourse in this country. Their aim is to muddy the waters, to jam the signal with noise, so only those who care to take the time and make the effort get the real story. Their schoolyard bullying is disgusting. That the American people are even considering a vote for the Republican ticket, at this point, is flabbergasting. What a bunch of deceitful, incompetent thugs.
Palin is obviously being kept from the press because the campaign doesn’t want her to expose her ignorance any more until the election is over. She’s a bad joke, another Harriet Miers. I keep waiting for the punchline. Do we really want the least-qualified VP candidate since Spiro Agnew to be one old man’s heartbeat away from the cockpit controls? Are we that asinine?
I pray that we’re collectively smart enough to vote against the McCain/Palin ticket.
It all reminds me of the movie “Idiocracy.” I guess Palin’s “got what plants crave!”
By the way, I’m a registered independent and always have been. I’m willing to consider voting for a Republican, though… in 30 years or so.
133. charlesd | 09.23.08
By comparison, Hillary routinely meets the press and provides intelligent answers to intelligent questions. Palin is an empty (pant)suit. McCain and company don’t want the people of the US to find out - just how unqualified she is to be President or even Vice President.
134. D33RHUNT3R | 09.23.08
They Media just wants to pounce on Palin to find a way to distort something or create something to bring Her down, and it Frustrating them that she’s in control and they arent lol. The PRESS and the rest of the Liberals are in shambles.. they thought this election was in the bag… Then along came SARAH “BARACUDA” PALIN and the Country fell in love with this NORMAL Mom with Kids that is Pro-LIFE, Pro-Guns, Pro CONSERVITISM and it makes all LIBERALS show the “”TRUE HATE”" of their AGENDA..The Democratic Party is at a New ALL_TIME LOW…Maybe the DNC should have Vetted Obama better because after 18 MONTHS the guy hasnt released lots of info hasnt answered any really tough questions about his connections to Tony Resco, Rains,and a multitude of other Crooks because the Liberal Media is gushing over Obama …
Not to mention Barack and Michele Obama are as Racist of Black people as I have ever researched and listened to… Why would I vote for a Guy that his Whole Campain is built of the fact He’s Black … Thats it thats all He’s got !!! other than that He’s an Empty Suit …
135. AMAL | 09.23.08
it is not that she dont want to talk to the reporter, it is that if she does the truth will come out, everybody will see what is her true agenda and her lack of leadership, management, and truthfullness. mccain pick her because everybody thought that if obama picks clinton it would be a good idea, so the GOP tried to steal a page from obama campaign by simply picking up a woman as his running mate and thought that the rest of us (or at least the republicans) are stupid and cant tell the difference between an accomplished woman like clinton and gun shooting, law silencing, power abusing sarah palin. to the their suprise it worked for a second but i hope that the republicans are not that stupid to not properly question the motive of the party, this is like if we give the democrat ticket to al sharpton and he picks switzer as his running mate and no body in the democratic party will question it. lol
136. Mark | 09.23.08
The McCain/Palin ticket has no one to blame but themselves. The more they isolate her, the more the press will ignore her. If she does not grant open access and field questions from the press, than she certainly isn’t ready to assume the role of VP let alone President.
If I were part of the press covering her, I would do everything within my power to ensure the American people have access to her, her thoughts, and beliefs before election day, or minimize her by not cover or publishing anything she does.
When you accept an offer to become VP, it comes with certain obligations.
137. Keith B | 09.23.08
Why is it now a sin to be a common-down-to-earth American and run for High Office. We trash our best and up coming brightest. I didn’t realize that the only way to be OK to run for president or VP is if you ONLY beleive in Abortion Rights. Where is that check box in the Bill of Rights or the Constitution. Though Shall Beleive in Abortion or to hades with you! That is really why Palin is so deamonized. Funny thing, she has never even mentioned it.
138. cdub | 09.23.08
Come on with the Pink Floyd analogy. If she can draw that crowd in any city on the globe, or in 20 years from now. Oh yeah. The other thing, the musicians in Pink Floyd have actual talent. She is like Milli Vanilli, a flash in the pan. “Anyone can pick up a guitar, it doesn’t make you #!*@! Pink Floyd” - Pink Floyd.(RIP Richard Wright)
139. eporsimove | 09.23.08
That all you have folks! Just the bloggs on the internet! You won on line by 90%-10%. Man, Palin scares the **** out of you Liberals. Yeah it was a political move by McCain and she is not qualified to be Vice President, but your buddy, the American Idol should be DISQUALIFIED to be President. Huge ego and no substance at all. Who writes 2 memoirs before achieving anything major in life? He didn’t even win an election at any level. We all know how he got to be an Illinois Congressman and Senator. He cheated when he run as a congressman and got lucky for Senate. Hillary said something such as: “All he has is a good speech 4 years ago” Does anyone know where Obama’s Presidential library is?
140. Craig | 09.23.08
There’s a rumor she might actually talk at her debate with Joe Biden.
I really think all the debates should set aside 5 minutes and just ask questions that must be answered YES or NO.
Governor Palin weren’t you for the bridge to no where before you were against it?
Even Sean Hannity asked her that question. A simple YES or NO question. But she rambled on for 2 minutes without even answering it.
Senator McCain for months the Democrats attacked you for your comment “The fundamentals of the economy are strong”. Recently you said the fundamentals were the American workers. Isn’t this statement just a recent fabrication by you? That’s YES or NO senator.
The above is just a spin by the campaign. They spin there own lies about themselves and just plain out lie about the competition. At least they are consistent.
If they do it it’s OK but if the competition does it it’s wrong. Just imagine the attacks we’d see if one of the Democratic candidates had a pregnant unmarried teenage daughter. The party of family values certainly wouldn’t keep quiet but it’s a positive thing when it’s one of their own.
You might think of the Republican Party as one of double standards. But I have come to realize they are the party without any standards at all.
141. Gaias Child | 09.23.08
She is being protected while she get tutored.
She is arrogant and will only use the press to serve her not the people.
The power behind the current throne doesn’t want her spouting off until she is thoroughly trained.
She’s ignorant but she’s smart enough to know the press will ask questions that make her look ignorant.
142. you forgot | 09.23.08
About the ongoing investigation of abuse of executive power.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601039&sid=aYSXZNB7PoJg&refer=home
I still can’t believe McCain wasn’t laughed and ridiculed right out of the race for making a VP selection like this. What a joke (and potential danger to our country) they both are.
143. tdub | 09.23.08
QUOTE: “I think we could use a few less media “opinions” and just let the politicians speak out on the issues and let Americans make up their own minds”
You proved our point. What is she hiding, why is she hiding? This whole, “the media are sharks asking unfair questions” riff is soooooo old. As an American, I would rather hear a candidate actually speak unrehearsed, something Palin is apparently incapable of doing.
And if I have to hear McCain go on with his, “I was a P.O.W.” refrain in the next debate, I may lose my dinner. That was then, thanks for your service, honestly. But this is now.
144. Jack Handy | 09.23.08
The polls are so close, not because the choice voters have to make between the uber-liberal Obama and Biden ticket and the more conservative McCain and Palin ticket but due to middle-America’s propensity for racism, religious bigotry and ignorance. If you support McCain and Palin, you are one or all of the following: an American racist, a stupid American or an American religious bigot.
Put another way, Palin is stupid. And so are you if you vote for McCain.
Can’t leave out that the world community does not want McCain and Palin in these powerful positions. They want Obama and Biden. The world has spoken. We should give the world what they want. If we don’t, we are stupid.
As a side note, Obama should have been meeting with the world leaders today. He is running for president. He needs all the experience he can get.
Did I mention we are stupid if we support McCain?
145. independent | 09.23.08
McCain made a bold move to pick Palin, which is a good thing to breath life and energy into his campaign. But he let his handlers over cautiously separate Palin from the public, which had the opposite effect of helping the campaign as it stopped the momentum and also gave Democrats amonition to cast Palin as unqualified and she wouldn’t function correctly without the campaign management telling her what to do. I hope McCain realize that soon and let Palin loose. It’s a gamble, but that’s the only way he can win. He already made a gamble in picking her, he need to trust his own judgement and instinct.
146. Count Iblis | 09.23.08
Aren’t pitbulls required to be muzzled when let outside by their owners?
147. J.Vames | 09.23.08
Everyone knows why Sarah Palin isn’t talking to the press. She’s getting prepped so her answers have more depth than a high school senior.
148. djools | 09.23.08
Why she won’t talk to the press? Maybe she is not ready yet. I can’t come up with a better reason.
149. Dmitriy | 09.23.08
Unless main-stream media will quit smears like ‘pregnant teenage daughter’ or ‘mother of 5 should never be a VP’ or will quit spreading lies like ‘books banning’ or ‘teaching creationism’… unless media will learn to be fair and ask the same questions of all candidates (even the Messiah Barack Hussein Obama) only then Palin should award them with her interview and cooperation.
Grow up and quit acting like you are a paid Obama staff.
150. George Kunz | 09.23.08
The Silence says it all.
Apparently there is no faith in her ability to handle even basic level questions. Were this not the case…..she’d be everywhere.
I think they should have picked Jimmy Hoffa as a running mate.
Hey PRESS…this is your chance for redemption. Refuse to be part of the blatant vacuous manipulative PR campagin….pickup your gear and Just Say No.
151. TJ | 09.23.08
Dear Republicans, Palin Supporters, and MSM,
Since she has not been, and is still not, available to the people whose vote she is requesting, we have nothing left but to write about her abysmal record as mayor and as governor, replete with rumors about her ideoloy. After 6 weeks, I, and I suspect the press, is tired of covering and watching her campaign rallies in various cities because she says the same thing over and over and that is nothing about the issues. She has not said one thing re issues that concern women, such as equal pay for equal work.
I agree with Adrew Sullivan. I suggested long ago, during this fiasco, that the press should stop covering her at all. We learn nothing from following her around with McCain to various cities where they repeat and repeat nothings. Even mentioning crowd size at rallies is not newsworthy except for it’s overinflation which falls right in line with all the other lies they continue to repeat over and over and over again.
Until this Republican Ticket and campaign begins to treat the voting public with the “deference and respect” they say they want their VP candidate treated, I say, stop covering them. Black out. No news is No news. I thought the networks had agreed today NOT to agree to photos only and I come home to find on the evening news, photos of her sitting in a chair and exiting to get into a car. That does not influence my vote.
It is growing to late in the campaign to change my mind. She is what she is, the most lightweight person ever to seek national office, bordering on dangerous. Your top of the ticket has shown extremely poor judgement. He has not put Country First. He is newsworthy only because of his instability and his bombastic acting out and his rash judgement and how easily his “honor” which he has so highly praised in the past, can be sold out, sort of like when he was in that dark box. I guess he feels he is in a dark box again, so, anything goes.
Sincerely,
An Intelligent Voter
152. cw | 09.23.08
To those that say the media should lay off Palin, how would you suggest going about making an informed decision? Looks, style, color of skin, campaign press releases?
Blind faith, perhaps? I’m sorry, but she’s running for VP, not God. Sorry to sound skeptical, but I question her omnipotence and omniscience. And if I’m wrong and she is all that, maybe she should be running for Prez instead.
153. Robert | 09.23.08
So let me get this right. Palin is not giving interviews to the press..however the press is not complaining…so when did the press become PRAVDA?
154. gene | 09.23.08
come on people think for yourself the problem with the whole united states and possibly the world is television and the news media. have you never noticed that no matter who is speaking wheathwer it be republican or democrat that after its over then the news media has to come on and tell us poor ignorant stupid people what they said. and most of the time they don’t get that right either. we here a speech and then they come on and give us their opinion. how long has it been since you heard any good news. and its my thoughts that you better do a lot of soul serching before you vote this term. and please stop trying to condem anyone about their religeous convictions. might be good if you had some too.
155. Buddy Duvall | 09.23.08
boy there is suse a lot of ******** on both sides of the isle why don’t all of you whiners get a life and stop ******** about every thing
156. Cindy McCain Likes Botox | 09.23.08
Women are plotting to rule the world. Cindy McCain and Sarah Palin are using John McCain to create a new world order. If he is elected, Sarah will become Cindy’s puppet and they will keep Johnny in the corner mumbling about breakfast cereal while they overthrow the sexist ******* who have made their lives miserable. All this “nice” talk from these two ladies about their near-do-well, good for nothing, sponge-of-a-husbands is a big lie. John McCain and Todd Palin are nothing without their Rich and/or Famous Wives. The real ticket for 2008 is Cindy McCain/Sarah Palin–Ballbusters Unite!!!
157. patricia | 09.23.08
I find it interesting that Palin defenders have little to say here save their mantra about the “liberal press” and its bias. It’s an old standard of the right wing and it’s pure bull. Fox News (no one but a conservative’s idea of fair and balanced) is now the most watched cable news channel, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, the NY Post, and the list goes on, are all major newspaper with right-leaning editorial boards, the Drudge Report is extremely influential and right wing. In fact, John McCain boasts that the press, who adore John McCain, are his base. And they are, they’ve let him and Palin get away with behavior they’d never let the Dems get away with. After all their fuss about not being able to cover Palin today, the press still went to the photo op and meekly took the McCain campaign’s much-soughtafter pictures of Palin sitting with Karzai (now she’s met a world leader) without getting a word from our potential VP. Additionally, the cowed press make an effort to always get a right leaning pundit and left leaning pundit to comment on issues even if there’s really only one way to see a lie, like the Bridge to no Where “thanks but no thanks” nonsense — it’s a lie. So don’t give me your garbage about the liberal press, Palin’s a big girl, running for a big job, and she owes it to the American people to face the media and answer some questions.
158. B H O | 09.23.08
Why Obama keeps saying that Rev Wright is part of his family until Rev. Wright said that Obama is just another plain politican, say and do anything to get elected.
Rev. Wright chanted “God D… Amercia” etc, and Obama said he never heard of that. Has he ever go to the Christian church? Or is he really a Christian?
PLEASE!!!!!!!!!! SOMEONE ANSWER MY QUESTION !!!
159. Mike | 09.23.08
Why don’t they let “Sarah Palin” talk to reporters? She doesn’t talk to O’Reily, Limbaugh, FOX or any other friendly venue, much less any other. The only interview she has had was with “Charlie Gibson”, hardly a heavy hitter when it comes to inteviews.
160. Good Question | 09.23.08
Why Obama keeps saying that Rev Wright is part of his family until Rev. Wright said that Obama is just another plain politican, say and do anything to get elected.
Rev. Wright chanted “God D… Amercia” etc, and Obama said he never heard of that. Has he ever go to the Christian church? Or is he really a Christian?
SOMEONE PLEASE ANSWER THIS QUESTION !!!
161. allan lang | 09.23.08
Sarah Palin made it clear during the convention that she is going to washington not to listen to the good opinion of reporters and commentators but to serve the american people, so, there you go
162. J.Vames | 09.23.08
Why can’t Palin just take questions like McCain does now? We know why, and the lies and excuses people make for her aren’t convincing.
163. jefflz | 09.23.08
Why is Palin being allowed to take on the press even in debates only on her terms. ABC/Gibson pandered to her in exchange for TV ratings. In that regard, she must hold a no-holds-barred real press conference or we must assume she is a lightweight and can’t cut it. Enough of this “walking on egg shells” nonsense. We need to know what someone who says she has foreign relations experience because she can see Russia on a clear day, and is ready to go to war with Russia at the drop of a hat really thinks. By the same token, she needs be in a debate that is not designed to let her off the hook yet again. Photo-ops with Bush puppets like Karzai or with Dr. Strangelove, is no proof of any trait but being photogenic. Only she can demonstrate that she is not an airhead. So far she has not even tried.Maybe they need to manage McCain as tightly as they manage Palin and rehearse him more before putting him in front of the public. Maybe he could use the remote prompter like they gave to Bush for the debates. Watch for the bulge on his back this Friday.
164. Jeff | 09.23.08
To those of who bash the media –
Boy the Republican party really has warped your minds. You are in constant fear and driven to hatred. In general, you are afraid of the press, afraid of terrorist, afraid of liberals, afraid of progressive tax policies, afraid of minority groups and immigrants. Many of you, or more likely your parents, joined the Republican party to begin with because of the end of segregation in our schools (you know the Republicans’ “Southern Strategy”) and the passing of the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act. You can’t use the same language as you did in the past, but the message is the same. They are not us (reporters, liberals and members of minority groups); and therefore, they are a threat to our way of life.
Without the help of the press, there is no successful civil rights movement, there is no outing of Richard Nixon’s criminal acts, there is no outing of President Bush’s torture policy, and there is a greater likelihood that democracy fails in the United States.
Even Fox news questions the truthfulness of some of Palin’s statements. When the press is unfair, we can see it for ourselves. If they mistreat Palin, then it will not go unnoticed by Americans. Have the courage of your convictions. If she can’t handle the press, then she can’t handle Congress or foreign leaders.
You don’t have to fear the press, you only have to fear your own fear.
167. Katee | 09.23.08
It amazes me what hypocrites you Liberals are. You say you want someone more like you who can relate better to the middle class and Sarah Palin is that person but yet you attack her every chance you get. Obama goes through his campaign money like it is water and you can bet he will do the same with yours. You people are so blinded by his change speech that it has never even occurred to you that his change might actually be for the worse and not the better. This man can’t possibly relate to the middle class because he is to busy hanging out with the stars. I will not ever vote for someone who wants to share our wealth with other countries either. NOT NOW! NOT EVER! All you smart Dems will be paying for it.
168. THE curiousblack | 09.23.08
if she is worried about the liberal media interviewing her, she could always be interviewed by the lap dogs of FOX.
now Amado Castaneda, your concerns need to be addressed. you seem to feel that the alledged rape victims were asking for rape by being somewhere they should not have been. I like that enlightened view, but I cannot really guess where some people are free to be and others are not, or why some places would be considered such. I can see why you would charge for rape kits however. they are expensive, and if someone comes into an ER of police station complaining that they were raped, a good test of truth would be the ability to pay for the test to prove it. see, no rape kit, no rape! also no rape counselling, no criminal investigation, no stain on some guy’s record that just “wanted a piece from a deserving though reluctant partner.” and the mayor looks better because violent crime is down. the law and order crowd is happy. also no abortion in the case of not rape so the evangelical side of the house gets happy. of course there is the problem of the misguided victim and her crowd trying to take the law into their own hands because the justice system declines to get involved …YET. the good news is they probably learn more about rape in prison than they want to know.
my prayers go out to any of your unaided victims. i hope they are not many.
169. Alec | 09.23.08
Obama - 1 car
McCain - 13 cars. yet he accuses obama of being an elitist.
Obama - 1 house
McCain - too many for him to remember
Obama - wants tax break for the middle class
McCain - wants tax break for the rich
Obama - wants to remove the political lobby system
McCain - claims to be again earmarks and corruption but has Lobbyist running his campain. He had to remove them after being pointed out.
Obama - Biden (Extensive record. VP ready to be president)
McCain - Palin (Flaky cheerleeder type with fake glasses, Shoots animals, Lies a lot)
170. Rodney | 09.23.08
If the media thinks that Sarah Palin is so dumb, then why has she been smart enough to get the media to repeat her lies while not answering any basic questions about her policies, beliefs, knowledge, scandals, or past record?
171. VAK | 09.23.08
The press has indeed been very negative about Palin, handing down a verdict way too quickly. I have no issue with her refusing to take questions from obviously hostile reporters.
I’d suggest making her campaign stops more townhall style events. Hearing her answer questions from the audience can be just as informative.
172. jl | 09.23.08
The Obamanites here are obviously acrimoniously ignorant. The more the mean-spirited, vitriolic left attack Palin, the more people will rally to her. The press is obviously in the tank for Obama. In twenty months Palin has suspended the state gas tax on Alaskans, negotiated a deal to have a gas line built, raise a tax on the profits of the oil companies and passed the money back to the people, vetoed over 200 million in spending and neither proposed or past ANY right wing laws. What has Obama accomplished in his twenty months in the US Senate? Not a darn thing. But he did vote 100% of the time with the liberal senate leadership. Who is the real lightweight here?
173. Montanan4Obama | 09.23.08
Cambell said “You will never see the media attack Obama in this way under any circumstances.” Really? Obama has been excoriated by the press for months. He was vilified for his pastor, his race, his bowling, eating arugula, for being a community organizer. Sarah Palins mocking and nasty tone about community organizing at the Convention embodies the mean sprited ugliness of the Republican Party.
174. William Roberts | 09.23.08
More than 90% of all media outlets are owned by corporations that are quite conservative. If it was still family owned businesses, maybe you could get away with calling the media liberal. Is FOX Network liberal ? When Fox had an opportunity to interview Palin, their “hardhitting interview” with Palin was a joke. Hannity should be doing “Entertainment Tonight” not news. When the really conservative media outlets who “are in the tank” for McCain won’t ask the hard questions it seems unfair to castigate the rest of the media when they do ask the hard questions. For all those out there who consider themselves social conservatives, be honest, ask yourself the following question.
“What if it was Obama who had a 17 year old daughter who was pregnent by a thug; and whose running mate had no foreign policy experience ? ”
Do you really believe you would be kind to them ???
Please don’t be hypocritical.
And this Ayers thing. That has been so discredited.
How about McCain’s responsbility for 132 deaths on the USS Forrestal when he tried to do a “wet start”, screwing around. Google it. It will shock you. His karmic debt was 5 years in a Hanoi prison.
175. Michael | 09.23.08
If she is allowed to take unscripted questions she will show everyone how totally unfit she is to be VP or President. McCain and crew are counting on the ignorance of most votors to pull off this enormous charade.
176. Wistfully witnessing | 09.23.08
My advice to the press: make the story be about how Palin refuses to talk to the press. That IS the story! Tell the American public “this is the 19th day that she has been in the public eye without answering a single question from a reporter. … And the 20th day … and the 21st day …” and on and on. That is the story. No UN coverage, no going to her rallies to witness her say the same canned lines over and over, no speculation on how she is being deployed by the McCain campaign. Just pointing out, day after day after day, that she WILL NOT TALK TO THE PRESS.
I think most Americans will begin to grasp what’s wrong with that if it continues long enough. Of course, we have become used to a president who talks to the press only when he has to explain the latest enormous fiasco that happened on his watch. But still. I mean, who among us would vote for THAT guy again, hmm?
177. Karen Riley | 09.23.08
The fact is, you can see Russia from AL. You just need a really tall ladder.
178. Waterside_1 | 09.23.08
The reason 60,000 people go to see Sarah Palin is because each one of them wants to be there when she makes a complete *** of herself, McCain and the Republican party.
179. Mary | 09.23.08
With out resorting to who does what to who, the simple question is, why should she be excluded from press coverage. Double standards? How about special provisions for little Sarah in regards to the debate format. The Mccain campain wants to get her ready so she can field unexpected questions from the press. Running a country involves much more than that, and they are running out of time. Maybe she should have said, thanks but no thanks, call me in four years.
180. Tom Blair, EA | 09.23.08
I believe Sarah Palin is playing it all pretty cool. All the news pundits have to find something newsworthy or they lose their jobs. Starve them and they become hungry and hungrier still when their boss demands a news story on Mrs. Palin and they can’t find one of interest to their readers or watchers.
It so happens I know quite a few soccer moms…be warned, Liberals, be afraid, very, very afraid…difference between a rottweiler and a soccer mom? Lipstick is only the most obvious at first look, but God help anybody that even tries to hurt her kids or family. Behind that lipstick is one bright, energetic and thoughtful person, and a set of politically-savvy and sharpened teeth ready to tear the flesh from a Liberal know-nothing’s throat.
Actually I suspect Sarah Palin is “gearing up” with ammunition against Obama-Biden that will explode only on her terms and only when she is ready to deal the “death blow” to Liberal appeasement offers to our nations’ mortal enemies: foreign oil cartels, terrorists and morons that tell the American people to deny themselves food, transportation, jobs, national security and a future worthy of their American children and grand-children. Liberals, be very very afraid…Sarah Palin will deal with your candidates all in her own good time…just before the November vote. Trust me, I know quite a bit about “soccer moms” and you can ask any coach of a kid soccer team exactly what I mean…pit bull or rottweiler…smile or lipstick…soccer moms have teeth and they leave very very deep wounds on any and all perceieved enemies.
If Obama did win I would make considerably more money myself as an Enrolled Agent while helping taxpayers file tax compliant tax returns and representing taxpayers before the IRS; but I suspect the McCain-Palin Administration will “shock and awe” Washington into doing, just once in a very long time, what is right and good for the American people, even those stupid enough to vote for Obama and Biden. When McCain-Palin have the reigns of power, I expect to make less money but I will at the very least feel better about the future of my children and grand children, and about America.
Respectfully submitted,
Thomas Avery Blair, EA
181. Elizabeth Gilmore | 09.23.08
I am willing to wager that Sarah Palin is avoiding interviews and press questions because her ignorance about national and international issues would become instantly exposed.
I think she has not read any world literature, or experienced art, music, philosophy, political geography, and general cultural knowledge which most leaders on the world stage are comfortable with. She is pretty much uneducated in anything other than sports broadcasting of local hockey games.
She is very good at reciting soundbytes with boiler plate answers designed to cover up her total lack of interest in anything outside of her native Alaska and the town of Wasilla.
This is not presidential material in any degree or fashion.
What on earth was John McCain thinking? At least he has read “Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire,” and “The Gulag Archipeligo” as proved by his “cross in the sand” plagiarism.
182. Katee | 09.23.08
Liberals are hoping Sarah Palin is dumb but I think they are going to be in for a big surprise. To the person who thinks Obama owns only one car, Get real! Are you honestly that ignorant!
183. jpjunior | 09.23.08
Finally people are starting to wake up to myth of the “liberal media” as nothing more than a conservative attempt to condition the population against listening to those who would ask them hard questions or hold them accountable for their failures. Example: “Hey, it doesn’t matter that Sarah Palin is the least qualified person ever to do anything and is a walking joke…if anyone brings it up just remember what we’ve been beating into your heads, they’re just liberal media out to get us, so put corks in your ears!” Sorry, not this time, we’re wising up to the game.
184. Fran Green | 09.23.08
“Trust me, I know quite a bit about “soccer moms.” Thomas Avery Blair.
Thomas,
apparently you have missed out on the fact that Sarah claims to have been a “hockey mom,” not a “soccer mom.” They are very different. She even built a $15,000,000 hockey arena in her small town of Wasilla so that her son “Track” could play more. Of course when she left office, the town was $27 million in debt and the land that it was built on is under litigation- Wasilla was debt free before her six year reign.
I’m afraid that the only “shock and awe” that will be felt by a Palin/McCain administration will be by other countries when they are confronted with “John McCain diplomacy.” Bomb,bomb,bomb, anyone who you disagree with.
Frightening. I don’t want my children and grandchildren exposed to this type of irrational, sarcastic, angry, and ignorant leadership.
185. toshtogo | 09.23.08
Hey, If McCain doesn’t think she is capable of answering questions from the press he must think she doesn’t have any answers. They are probably coaching her during every waking minute of the day, frantically trying to bring her up to speed on just about everything. There were many better choices for VP, McCain showed very poor judgement. He would rather win an election than put country first.
186. scott | 09.23.08
You seem to forget that Obama was under intense media scrutiny for the past two years. It has slowed down somewhat because most of us know who he is by now. The same can be said about Biden, and McCain. Palin, on the other hand, is completely new-an unknown. We need the media to scrutinize her, and to do it quickly. The election is 6 weeks away.
It doesn’t help that the McCain (Bush) campaign managers are keeping her hidden from the press. They seem be afraid of something she might say. What we have learned about her record so far is pretty disturbing. She has been dishonest about her background in many ways, and she and her husband are flouting the law by disregarding a subpoena.
I applaud the media for asking tough questions about all of the candidate. Without them we simply would have no way to make an informed choice.
187. Byron | 09.23.08
So what does Palin have going for her? Female well yeah. Knowledge -maybe - hasn’t been established. Leadership - in spite of all the **** - who knows? Time on the national stage will tell. Certainly keeping her secure from any real examination doesn’t help to answer the question. Past experience? A wash. Certainly the bridge to nowhere is lie and play the game. The librarian in the hometown is scary. So is the trooper. She may have real teeth in that pit bull head - lipstick or not. Integrity - probably not. She has been caught in several serious lies so far, and she is young yet. Attack abilities - established both by political opponents and moose. At least the political opponents walk away. Frankly she frightens me both by her lack of morality (not surprisingly, in spite of her supposed Christianity), her anger and her hypocrisy. McCain may be dangerous, but he has chosen his match.
188. Lex | 09.23.08
“To the person who thinks Obama owns only one car, Get real! Are you honestly that ignorant!” Katee
Katee; it’s true- just read the facts from Newsweek- another liberal rag.
When you have seven homes, that’s a lot of garages to fill. After the fuss over the number of residences owned by the two presidential nominees, NEWSWEEK looked into the candidates’ cars. And based on public vehicle-registration records, here’s the score. John and Cindy McCain: 13. Barack and Michelle Obama: one.
Obama’s lone vehicle also is a green machine, a 2008 Ford Escape hybrid. He bought it last year to replace the family’s Chrysler 300C, a Hemi-powered sedan. Obama ditched the 300C, once 50 Cent’s preferred ride, after taking heat for driving a guzzler while haranguing Detroit about building more fuel-efficient cars.
189. TommyF | 09.23.08
No matter how hard the liberals try, they still don’t get it. We would rather have genuine, green, silent Sarah than phony, just-as-green, over-analytical Obama.
You can go on and on about her backwoods naturalness, her obvious defects, etc, and you will still LOSE!
Don’t you get it? We LIKE her! You bashing her doesn’t make her any more or any less likable.
Just like you and Obama. No matter what we say, you ain’t budging. Get over it.
190. brian | 09.23.08
This is in direct response to the first entry here. 1. microbiology shows that evolution explains the developement of skills or senses, not the creation of new species. So, some very smart people do not accept evolution as a theory of creation. 2. Questionable religion? there’s one candidate whose religion I question, and it ain’t hers. 3. Is shooting animals from planes really that much different from shooting them from the ground? 4. Troopergate should be referred to as tasergate. get your facts, it ain’t that hard. 5. Abortions. everybody seems to pick a side. you are right and she is wrong? kinda arrogant, don’t you think? 6. experience? Not sure you want to get into those comparisons. 7. The earths climate has been continually changin’ for billions of years. it has to do with that big yellow thing in the sky called the sun. Change all the light bulbs you want, it won’t make the sunspots any more or less active. I think she’s ahead of the curve on this one. That’s about all I have. Except that you should remember that your guy isn’t running against Palin, he’s running against McCain.
191. TommyF | 09.23.08
No matter how hard the liberals try, they still don’t get it. We would rather have genuine, green, silent Sarah than phony, just-as-green, over-analytical Obama.
You can go on and on about her backwoods naturalness, her obvious defects, etc, and you will still LOSE!
Don’t you get it? We LIKE her! You bashing her doesn’t make her any more or any less likable.
Just like you and Obama. No matter what we say, you ain’t budging. Get over it.
192. Lizzie | 09.23.08
For the record, I live in AL. I can’t see Russia from my house, but I can see the moon. Thus, I might be qualified for a NASA position. The moon has craters. It has phases. I know much about the moon. There might be a Man in the Moon. I will meet him, but without press, please. That’s why they’re called “lunatics.”
Polar bears are resorting to cannibalism as a result of diminishing ice. God’s choice, I suppose (as told by Gov. Palin). Gov. Palin relaxes on a sofa, flanked by a great dead bear. Her infant swings before wolf hides. Gov. Palin embraces Alaska’s environment. Her five children may know otherwise, as they emerge into adulthood.
Palin shoots wolves from a helicopter, a game which involves exhausting the prey until the shot is easy. I posit that the “Press” do the same with Gov. Palin. Circle her. Circle her bulldog handlers. Hover and hover and cover and cover her frantic attacks to hide until she, too, is exhausted. But, perhaps we are too “bleeding heart” to bear that pain. Perhaps the “bleeding heart” conservatives (you paint “liberals” with a brush; I’ll do the same) will let her run back into the woods until she’s sworn in and ready to howl.
The Media is by proxy our only Human Resources department. Like it or not. Gov Palin, Biden, McCain, and Obama are our candidates for hire. Were I an employer, and I was told that I would only be interviewed should I show “deference,” that candidate would be hit by the door before it shut.
And, by the way, for all of you “Liberal Haters” (what is a “liberal,” by the way?), what is McCain’s middle name? Yeah, we know Obama’s. Why don’t you figure out his middle name, and use it as freely as you do Sen. Obama’s?
Hmmm.
Sometimes now, the moon looks like a good place to be.
193. Jamie | 09.23.08
All the cable news shows reported on Palin boycotting reporters, yet all of them ran the photos. Who won?
194. Chris | 09.23.08
So Palin supporters, help me understand. The McCain campaign with all their collective expensive, highly educated wisdom selected an unvetted runningmate who they deem unworthy and unskilled to take on a bunch of people armed with questions? But this same person is suppose to have the fortitude to take on the heavy-hitters in Washington and all of America’s enemies? Surely you can’t be serious.
Russia, Iran, Syria and all the other so-called villains don’t shoot with pen, pads and cameras, they shoot with bullets, bombs and all the above. Stop the foolishness already. Some of us may have been born at night, just not last night.
195. Deborah J. | 09.23.08
The press should cease covering the McCain campaign totally, until Palin emerges from her bunker to face the American people and face up to the serious questions for which we deserve answers. This is a vice presidential candidate, not the recipe for Coca Cola.
This secrecy and lack of accountability should not be tolerated. It echoes of the Bush regime. Along with memory lapses, comments “taken out of context,” and the blatant disregard of subpoenas.
They claim a slogan of “Country First,” yet their behavior undermines our nation’s political and legal core principles.
And, there are comments here that justify such behavior. Stunning.
There are others who rehash the same old vile stuff, ad nauseum. You obviously have access to the “internets.” Fact-check, please!
196. messiah | 09.23.08
hey mary - were you aware that, uh, i myself am taking a day “off” from um uh, campaigning to surround myself with uh, foreign policy experts so that I can be prepared and um uh for mccain on Friday? who cares if sarah is , um uh, educating herself - perhsps a world tour, uh, accompanied by the major media, uh, outlets to the middle east and europe will be all she needs to bring herself up to speed - I did this and the media thought it was, uh, wonderful….
Seriously, folks, in campaign season our candidates are darned no matter what they do. Palin is beaten up for “troopergate”, McCain is linked to lobbyists, Obama is linked to lobbyists and terrorists (and lipstick - lol), Biden is wondering why Hillary wasn’t picked for VP. I am an undecided voter - just waiting for someone - anyone - to show me actual ACCOMPLISHMENTS of candidates - not heresay, not rhetoric. While this blog has a strong anti-palin slant, is anyone out there concerned about the $700B “bail out” that we should be worried about? Who cares if palin’s daughter is pregnant, mccain’s wife has 7 homes, biden only gave $3k to charity and obama reads from teleprompters. I am looking for leadership - the forthcoming debates will be telling and decisive.
197. Laurie | 09.23.08
Anyone who thinks it’s okay that Sarah Palin thumbs her nose at the press should move to Russia and continue in their efforts to re-establish a communist state. We don’t need your type ruining our democratic government.
198. allaptr | 09.23.08
She changed 6 colleges in 6 years.. Professors do not remember her. No academic achievements whatsoever. Do you expect her to make rational decisions on international affair stage? She is end-timer too.. waiting for the end of the world.. I would not trust this person to be in charge of the country with nuclear weapons! What’s up with all these Palin supporters? What are they thinking? The reason she is shielded from the media because they are afraid she would reveal her ignorance like in Charlie Gibson’s interview. They don’t want us to know what she is about.
199. Georgia Wilson | 09.23.08
The selection of Palin was so outrageous that it should be a skit on Saturday Night Live. Is this what our country has come to?? We are in a sad state of decline just like all others who have failed and ended because of rot in the people who rule or want to rule.
200. John Carpenter | 09.23.08
It’s been interesting watching the frustration about Palin’s furtiveness boil over. More interesting still is that by my estimation, not one in a thousand members of the press or one in 100,000 voters have any idea what’s going on in
John McCain’s head.
Not one interviewer has put his finger on something that is so obvious to men and women who have ever served the armed forces as fighter pilots: McCain is employing analogs of strategies tactical pilots must employ to stay alive.
He is using Sarah Palin as his “wingman” and she is performing her job flawlessly which is to do whatever she has to take the heat of McCain, her lead pilot. As a highly skilled lead pilot McCain knows when to drop back into the slot for a breather and Palin knows when to assume the lead position. (You’ll notice at rally’s McCaain is very comfortable in covering Palin’s back. You’ll also notice that Palin has been at the center of the attacks by the media while the only slime that has been hurled at McCain concerns his houses and cars.
Palin, on the other hand, is out there leading hundreds of investigators and Obama attorneys on a fox hunt in Alaska while McCain sets his traps for Obama almost invisibly.
Most importantly, McCain has stayed on the offensive with the media. He is dictating the terms of the engagement.
Palin, if she is called upon to do so as McCain’s wingman is willing to sacrfice herself for the mision: to get McCain
out of the senate and into the White House.
One thing is really transparent: McCain and Palink know Sun Tzu:
All warfare is based on deception.
Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable;
when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we
are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away;
when far away, we must make him believe we are near.
Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder,
and crush him.
If he is secure at all points, be prepared for him.
If he is in superior strength, evade him.
If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek to
irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant.
If he is taking his ease, give him no rest.
Consider the timing of the meetings today with foreign leaders.
201. Stud | 09.23.08
People(I’m using this word loosely)who criticize Palin’s experience are so conveniently overlooking the fact that she is more qualified than Hussein Obama to run this country. As a mayor and governor of Alaska, she has executive experience of which Obama has none. Obama continues to attend a racist, black theology church that he and his family have went to for the past 20 years. His friend/fundraiser Tony Rezko, has has been convicted of 16 of 24 counts of federal corruption charges. Obama served on an education foundation called the Chicago Annenburg Challenge along with domestic terrorist Bill Ayers. This man along with his cohorts in the Weather Underground, a radical communist group that declared war on the United States in 1970, called for a white fighting force to be allied with the Black Liberation Movement. They participated in jailbreaks, bombings and riots. These are well documented, iron-clad facts unlike the unsubstantiated twisted fabrications that the Obamanists’ co-conspirators in the mainstream media attempt to poison the uninformed with in regards to Sarah Palin. Why don’t they ask Obama about his connections to aforementioned shady characters? I think the answer is obvious unless your just a partisan puppet who doesn’t wanted to be bothered with having to think on your own.
202. PoorLibs | 09.23.08
“To those of who bash the media –……………”
Let me ask you something, are you a media groupie? Or are you just studying for a career in the world’s oldest profession?
I’ll skip right past your elitist (must hurt having the tip of your nose directly between your eyes) garbage and go to:
“Without the help of the press, there is no successful civil rights movement, there is no outing of Richard Nixon’s criminal acts, there is no outing of President Bush’s torture policy, and there is a greater likelihood that democracy fails in the United States.”
1)Highly laughable, and oh those Republicans in Congress had a bit more to do with it than a bunch of Ed Murrow-wannabes. BTW what about your Democrat heroes of the day, like Albert Gore, George Wallace, William Fulbright, Orval Faubus, and so on. Care to explain to me their role in civil rights?
2)When do you care? Libs LOVE Nixon these days, or didn’t you get the memo from The Daily Liberal?
3)How exactly were we “torturing” these subhuman pieces of garbage anyway? By feeding them pork? Oh wait, **** Turban said it so it MUST be true……………
4)You only care about democracy when you get your way, otherwise you wouldn’t have been whining about the electoral college for the last eight years.
“When the press is unfair, we can see it for ourselves”
So that’s why Charlie Gibson’s sticking to a coined phrase used by talking heads on both sides of the aisle but never once used in an official capacity and using it in a “journalistic interview”, while lobbing softballs to Obama that were quite frankly reminiscent of Doug Williams at Super Bowl XXII (Frankly I’m shocked Gibbie didn’t make it to “How long have you been a black candidate?”)
“If she can’t handle the press, then she can’t handle Congress or foreign leaders.”
There’s only about, oh, a few hundred million people right now with no political experience who can’t wait to take Congress’ heads off. What makes you think a governor from Alaska can’t do the same.
“You don’t have to fear the press, you only have to fear your own fear.”
So which scrub do you work for anyway: the NYT, WaCompost, LAT, Seattle P-U, which? Or is the check just that good?
203. James | 09.23.08
Sad. Very sad. After the disastrous Bush administration and the despicable campaign that McCain/Palin has waged to date–to say nothing of what they would do if elected–we really must put country first and vote for the only reasonable ticket available to us: Obama/Biden.
204. FIX NEWS | 09.23.08
MC CAIN AND SARAH PIGGY SAID THERE WILL BE TRANSPARENCY. DO YOU SEE ANY TRANSPARENCY? YOU CAN PUT EAR RINGS ON A PIG, AN IT’S STILL A PIG. HA HA HA!
205. marilyn | 09.23.08
To Rich and Deb…Palin is a great speaker!!!?? You’ve got to be kidding…here is her great speaking ability..
Consider this exchange.
Hannity: What is our role as a country as it relates to national security?
Palin: Yes. That’s a great question, and being an optimist I see our role in the world as one of being a force for good, and one of being the leader of the world when it comes to the values that — it seems that just human kind embraces the values that — encompass life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and that’s just — not just in America, that is in our world.
And America is in a position because we care for so many people to be able to lead and to be able to have a strong diplomacy and a strong military also at the same time to defend not only our freedoms, but to help these rising smaller democratic countries that are just — you know, they’re putting themselves on the map right now, and they’re going to be looking to America as that leader.
We being used as a force for good is how I see our country.
Get her out of here!! Dufus…
206. jzelouise | 09.23.08
Jimmy Orr has worked in politics for the majority of his professional career working for two U.S. Senators, two Governors and one President. Most recently, Orr served as White House Spokesman and Internet Director for President George W. Bush and Special Advisor to Governor Schwarzenegger for Internet Communications. Though his previous experience has been with Republicans, his blog is non-partisan. He welcomes news tips and comments from all individuals and parties.
This is “liberal media”?????? Good article by the way.
207. Alexandra | 09.23.08
Let’s not romanticize Palin. She is running for VP of the United States and, as such, it is her obligation to be available to the media. I want to know who she is and isn’t. So far, here’s what I know: she has traveled to Kuwait and Mexico. (Hardly extensive travel) She not only reinstituted aerial slaughter of wolves, she enacted an illegal bounty of $150/foreleg. In the 18months she was governor, 800 wolves were killed this way. She has ignored sound science, and chosen instead to believe global warming is “natural.” She has sued to take the Polar Bear (which should be endangered) off the threatened list because as a threatened species, its habitat is protected from oil exploration. Her husband and administrative team has decided to “ignore” subpoenas from the Alaska Legislature investigating her possible abuse of power. Since when is a subpoena a “suggestion”? She considered banning books in the Wasilla Library. She made rape victims pay for their rape kits ($1,200 per kit). She is against earmarks, but her state has the highest per capita “earmark” income in the country. C’mon people…this woman NEEDS to be interviewed. I for one would like some straight answers.
208. Mark | 09.23.08
Interviews with Obama are like Public relations / campaign ads. They never dig down deep into his answers, in fact he hardly ever answers the questions. When you do get an answer it is always rhetorical and “studied.” Read that polled to death. Glossy feel good, but never any depth. Read the transcripts of the McCain-Obama Forum At Saddleback Church.
Tough for politician’s though. If they told you, “we are in bad shape and it’s going to get tougher, benefits need to decrease and taxes increase.” No one would vote for them.
Palin is being rumored to death, I see that’s working well with this crowd. There will be interviews, a debate, why all the hoopla. If she was everywhere, people would complain about that. You can’t win, here apparently if you don’t know or like you insinuate or pass on falsehoods. Her acceptance speech was partially a response to all the negativity heaped on her. It humorously poked fun at Obama and hit the right notes.
Fact check, read about the wild accusations and then when you find them untrue, distrust that politician and news agency the next time.
Neither is perfect, they are politicians. But I am voting character and proven willingness to compromise and get bipartisan agreement. Are you?
209. Dee | 09.23.08
You can’t pick and choose stories when there are no stories! Jimmy’s right…I think we can expect to see Palin dive directly into a bunker immediately after taking the oath of office (goddess forbid that day ever comes).
210. Bill | 09.24.08
Because the majority of the Press is a bunch of Libs. She’s also the #2. Why won’t the #1 B.H. Obama go on the #1 rated FNC and face Hannity. He never will because he scared.
212. andy | 09.24.08
After watching Glenn Beck gush over Sara Palin, one would think he is cheering for the right wing. But I’ve noticed that the stripes on his ties quite often lean to the left. C’mon, Glenn, I know you want to support Obama. Go ahead, it’s ok.
213. Hmmm | 09.24.08
In response to multiple comments on liberal or conservative bias in the media:
It is lazy to characterize “The Press” or “Main Stream Media” as a single entity promoting, denigrating, going easy on or being unfair to any of the presidential and vice-presidential candidates. All people, reporters and editors included, will carry some bias - an unbiased mind is an empty one, eh? That Fox covers the issues from a different perspective than MSNBC should be expected. Compare WSJ to NYT.
I think the primary sin of many media organizations, is that of reporting only on the horse race, on campaign tactics, on what one campaign is saying about the other, or, worst of all, on the campaign reporting itself. I doubt we will see a comprehensive review of expert opinion in any major paper or network on the candidates position on any major issue, from combating terrorism to providing health care, before the election. At best, we will see “Obama states McCain Health Plan Too Expensive for most Americans”, or “McCain claims Obama Economic Plan Unworkable”.
This failing of truly providing factual news and analysis is a direct result of reporting to maximize viewership/readership and reduce newsroom costs. Unfortunately, like many public institutions, the profit motive serves neither the Fourth Estate nor the public well. There is a race to the bottom, to cater to the worst instincts in the media consumers - that is, us. The best gotcha question, gaffe or one-liner response is going to drive ratings so there is a incentive to *make* news instead of reporting the facts. What we need are articles and segments, without the reporter in the frame, which offer true insights into where and how the candidate is going to lead this country.
On lack of access to Palin:
Gov. Palin and the McCain/Palin campaign are in many ways justified in being wary of the press corps. There is a good chance something she says will be taken out of context, or she will just make a mistake and that will be taken as a sign of outright stupidity. But she needs to allow people to evaluate her as a possible leader of the free world, either she allows herself to answer questions of the reporters, or finds some other way that she herself can communicate specifically about her qualifications in some spontaneous way. Vice President to a 72 year old President is just too important a position for the people of the United States to be informed only through soundbites from either camp.
(Full disclosure: my bias is center-left - I don’t agree with her on social issues, but I think Gov. Palin is a natural leader and more intelligent than she is being allowed to demonstrate. The McCain camp is making a mistake keeping her under wraps.)
214. VMA211Tweet | 09.24.08
To William Roberts:
“How about McCain’s responsbility for 132 deaths on the USS
Forrestal when he tried to do a “wet start”, screwing around.
Google it. It will shock you. His karmic debt was 5 years in a
Hanoi prison.”
When a blog entry starts with “isn’t he the guy that…..”, you
might want to check the facts. If you simply Google the Wikipedia
article, you would see a very detailed account of the incident with
footnotes. Better yet, view the archival footage of the incident
and you will see the rocket zoom across the flight deck and hit
the A4 sitting next to McCain. McCain barely escaped through the
huge fire and explosion that ensued. Since the HOT part(rear) of
his A4 was facing the sea, any “wet start” or “screwing around” would have been harmful only to passing seabirds. The guy may be a “tool” as a politician for some, but distorting his military record or his discrediting sacrifice is offensive and bad karma.
215. Charlie Chan | 09.24.08
1. WHYNOT | 09.23.08
I am not an Obama fan but now you say he is spreading lies about you. Everything here is a lie? You tell us.
Possibly charged rape kits to victims, does not believe in evolution, religion is questionable, encourages shooting bears and wolves from lowing flying planes, troopergate, no abortions for rape or incest, supported the bridge to no where before she opposed it. Has a pregnant teenager, her only experiences with Foreign Relations is the fact she can see Russia from AL, Questioned a librarian about book banning and later the librarian was fired. Does not believe in Global Warming, and left her city in debt as Mayor.
HAS NOT RELEASED TAX RETURNS
Cannot stand the heat - better get out of the kitchen.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
No WAIT!! She is Never in the Kitchen - The Chef she said she fired! She never Fired her - she just eliminated the Chef Position, changed her title and she STILL Cooks for HER and the Family! Plus she rips off the State for over $48,000 when she stays at her own house!! She bills it back to the Alaska Government - A REAL REFORMER!!!
PS. Calls to the Governors Office are now all forwarded to the McCain Campaign HQ and they respond for the Governor!!!
But I guess these are ALL LIES!!!
NEXT!
216. Stella | 09.24.08
If Barack Obama is elected president and follows through on his plan to raise taxes on businesses and the wealthy, what do you think “businesses” will most likely do?
1.Pay the increase in taxes out of their profits
2.Increase prices of goods
3.Lay off employees
4.Reduce employee pay
5. Absorb the extra cost
You are a fool if you think that the answer is “pay the increase in taxes out of their profits”. The answer would be “Increase prices of goods” when that doesn’t help, the next solution would be reduce employee pay, and last, when the other solutions fail, lay off employees! More job loss! He also promises to raise our income taxes and increase the death tax. We can’t afford him in our weakened economy…too much big government and idealistic ideas. We need someone in the white house that can work with congress and senate, expose the ugliness and corruption within our lawmakers, and work to unite the parties, and the country, so that they would be ABLE to deal with this economical mess that we are in! Who can go bi partisan the best? WHO will be able to cross party lines. These are the things we need to look at!
217. sally little | 09.24.08
Sarah Palin has the same qualifications as Shirley Temple did in Bright Eyes: she’s witty, charming, well-spoken, talented… and she really can act as long as the script is in front of her! The difference is that Shirley Temple was 6 years old at the time.
218. Edwin | 09.24.08
If you’re not fit to take on the American media, you are unfit to lead the free world. This betrays why she was chosen, to energize the Republican base in a way that McCain never did. What is pathetic is all the pseudo patriots who blindly buy into a McCain campaign that touts “Country First” and then throws someone completely unprepared into the Vice Presidency. I’m not sure if it’s worse that they have not shame about it or that they don’t even realize that they should.
219. frustrated | 09.24.08
Two things strike me about this situation. The first is that Palin is not exactly a stranger to the concept of media–wasn’t media what she chose to study in college? Maybe she just knows enough about how the media works to play a game with them and come out looking better than she should. I have no doubt that she is shrewd. Which leads me to my second observation. It seems to me that the Republican party has been quite shrewd in manipulating and using Christians. Ever see that kid’s movie ‘Cats and Dogs’ where the fat cat gets all the mice to do his bidding and the mice are exicted by this prospect? Seems like the Republicans have figured out this concept as well. I constantly wonder how many Republican politicians are truly Christian, and how many join for political reasons. If I judge off of actions, I would have to say that Democratic Christians lead by example more often than the RNP.
220. Pb | 09.24.08
Gee - what about “accountability” “transparency”.
Seems to me, a transparent person is open to communication with the public and press.
Same for an “accountable” person.
Sarah Palin has morphed away from everything she supposedly stood for when she accepted this VP nomination.
She’s turned into just another regular politician. Nothing more.
221. Alec | 09.24.08
McCain says that we can’t gamble on obama. That he is a risky choice.
But he chooses Palin who has very little experience and we know nothing about.
222. mark | 09.24.08
McCain is trying to get America to buy a blank slate in Palin, she has no experience, no thoughts she ever uttered on any world events, she is just NOTHING.
If the press allows McCain to perpetrate this fraud until the election, shame on them, and shame on any voter who would support someone they don’t know.
223. Isabeau | 09.24.08
If the McCain campaign believes the media is being unfair, wait until the media continues to have access cut off and be treated as a child that should be “seen, but not heard” . . . the media is being much more careful because they don’t want access to be completely cut-off . . . afterall, the media has more than 40 days and 40 nights prior to the election.
The gloves will really come off in the next several weeks when access opportunities have been exhausted and pandering to the McCain campaign becomes completely pointless.
The media hasn’t come up completely empty-handed . . . afterall, through their coverage we know what Gov. Palin is wearing that day and how she styled her hair. Isn’t knowing that enough to encourage “we the people” to vote for a McCain/Palin ticket? I don’t think so.
If Palin doesn’t come through pretty soon and contribute to the image of the McCain campaign, I predict we’ll see her involved in an accident or getting shot . . . it would muster up sympathy for McCain.
224. Crys | 09.24.08
I didn’t start out being a staunch Obama supporter. Sarah Palin has made me one. I love how all these comments cover two basic ideas. Supporters for McCain/Palin blame the media for making Palin look bad. Supporters for Obama/Biden address issues; ie: Palins lies, Troopergate, Bridge to No Where, believing nothing man does has an effect on Global Warming. This isn’t about her daughter being pregnant. This isn’t about her religion. This isn’t about the fact that she is a woman (other than the McCain camp tries to get her specialized treatment). This isn’t about the media tearing her apart. This is about the fact that she speaks without saying anything. She repeats key phrases that she apparently hopes will be looked upon as “catchy”. She has ZERO substance. Alaska elected her…let Alaska deal with her and hope that the rest of the United States can see the truth and not make the same mistakes that the citizens of Alaksa did. The scariest fact of all in this entire race….if McCain/Palin are elected, it would be highly likely that she would at some point in the term be the President of the United States. VERY SCAREY INDEED!
225. Ginger Snap | 09.24.08
Take the time to quickly scan the blogs on this article so far. People who oppose Governor Palin as our next VP, generally, list reasons and facts for that opposition, although a few are reduced to mere sputters. People who support Governor Palin as our next VP, generally, rage at the “elite media” (aka not FOX) and the “liberals” (aka not GOP) for the sin of not loving Sarah, although a few rise to defend ideology.
The two sides do find common ground, however, in the absolute certainty that one-half of their fellow Americas are idiots or brainwashed or both. This would be amusing if our country were in better shape, but she isn’t and it’s not.
226. TA Blair | 09.24.08
I believe Sarah Palin is playing it all pretty cool. All the news pundits have to find something newsworthy or they lose their jobs. Starve them and they become hungry and hungrier still when their boss demands a news story on Mrs. Palin and they can’t find one of interest to their readers or watchers.
It so happens I know quite a few soccer moms…be warned, Liberals, be afraid, very, very afraid…difference between a rottweiler and a soccer mom? Lipstick is only the most obvious at first look, but God help anybody that even tries to hurt her kids or family. Behind that lipstick is one bright, energetic and thoughtful person, and a set of politically-savvy and sharpened teeth ready to tear the flesh from a Liberal know-nothing’s throat.
Actually I suspect Sarah Palin is “gearing up” with ammunition against Obama-Biden that will explode only on her terms and only when she is ready to deal the “death blow” to Liberal appeasement offers to our nations’ mortal enemies: foreign oil cartels, terrorists and morons that tell the American people to deny themselves food, transportation, jobs, national security and a future worthy of their American children and grand-children. Liberals, be very very afraid…Sarah Palin will deal with your candidates all in her own good time…just before the November vote. Trust me, I know quite a bit about “soccer moms” and you can ask any coach of a kid soccer team exactly what I mean…pit bull or rottweiler…smile or lipstick…soccer moms have teeth and they leave very very deep wounds on any and all perceieved enemies.
If Obama did win I would make considerably more money myself as an Enrolled Agent while helping taxpayers file tax compliant tax returns and representing taxpayers before the IRS; but I suspect the McCain-Palin Administration will “shock and awe” Washington into doing, just once in a very long time, what is right and good for the American people, even those stupid enough to vote for Obama and Biden. When McCain-Palin have the reigns of power, I expect to make less money but I will at the very least feel better about the future of my children and grand children, and about America.
Respectfully submitted,
Thomas Avery Blair, EA
228. Rolanda | 09.24.08
I had thought that Election is a fair game, especially it’s the country’s future concerned.
If every candidate is to be thoroughly examined for his/her qualification, why Palin shall be exempted from it? You people really think you are wise since the beginning to trust her without any solid material to support it. I admire you American people.
You are talking about the bias of media? Ops, I had thought you American love the word of ”free media”. It’s you who feel so proud of your transparent system, isn’t it?
Are the media has really destroying bias which will is to be so thrilling that your presidential candidate shall avoid it? By the way, to whom the media doesn’t have bias? Hasn’t Obama gottern any bias in some media before? Did John McCain succeed in stepping around it all the time? You see positive and negative headlines all the time, on anyone. Why shall Palin be sheltered from it? She’s baby to be protected from any harmful thing of the media? She is the candidate of your future vice president!
Giving power to someone without full comprehension of someone’s views about the country. You eat what you make, American!
230. Bunny | 09.24.08
Education, education, education!
McCain graduated at the bottom of his class.
Palin graduated with a degree in journalism after trying how many times?
Compare that with Obma and Biden’s education.
231. Angellight | 09.24.08
A Vice Presidential Candidate who cannot answer question from the Press, Priceless!
Please send this to your friends and family!
RFK, Jr.: “Let me tell you about one other of these scams people should know about. If you’re a newly registered voter - and of course the Democrats have done these gigantic registration drives - 12 million people on registration - if you’re a new voter you MUST include your license or some other state I.D. when you come to vote. What that means is that if you’re a college kid (and college kids now - they’re sending in absentee ballots - they’re not going to the voting place, they do everything online or they do everything remotely - they don’t dream of going to the precinct house voting on election day and waiting in a long line) so if they send in the absentee ballot and they don’t include a color copy of their license their vote is going to be thrown into a trash can. And none of these people know this because you have had to read the law in order to know it. So there is no notification for when you fill out your registration form, so all of those 12 million people that the Democrats have registered: those ballots are going to be just thrown out.
http://www.truthout.org/article/rfk-jr-and-mike-papantonio-is-your-vote-safe
232. Max | 09.24.08
I don’t blame them one bit, the press is getting exactly what they deserve. I agree with the poster who said they have went after her with more viciousness and negativity then any other Candidate and the reason for that is because she stole the thunder away from their Golden Messiah. With the exception of one maybe two news sources, the media has been in the tank for Obama from day one. Look at how they went after Hillary Clinton on a Daily Basis while completely ignoring anything negative about Obama. It wasn’t until after that SNL episode aired where they made fun of the media’s treatment of Obama that they finally managed to start squeezing out an occasional comment or two. I bet they wept when Rev.Wright came on the scene because there was no way they could get around covering that one, they probably prayed to some little Obama statue somewhere for forgiveness each evening before they had to report on it. Look at some of the comments here by the Obamabots, most of them are nothing but the same old twisted talking points, they don’t even know how to do their own research which is apparent from their lack of actual knowledge, instead they like being spoon fed this stuff.
233. Big Pete | 09.24.08
If you supporters of Palin think she’s being mistreated by the big bad “liberal media” you are fooling yourselves. If she’s so swell why can’t she stand up and take the heat? Taking heat is what the Presidency is all about. All the other candidates have stood in the pocket and have taken the hits - why not her?
The press mistreats Palin like no other candidate in history - Horse manure. The press needs to get tough like never before. This person says - as do her supporters - that she’s ready for the hardest job in the world. Prove it.
The photo op with Karzai, etc. shows Palin getting foreign policy experience - Horse manure. It’s a staged photo op. It’s so transparently false I can’t believe the press is even covering it.
Palin has more experience than Obama - Horse manure.
Palin will be great because she has kids, kills moose, dips Skoal…whatever. All Horse manure. Or moose manure. Take your pick. Either way it’s a big pile of stinking stuff.
Speaking to the press is part of the job. Performing under pressure is part of the job. The McCain camp won’t let her speak because they don’t trust her to perform well. Yet they think we should trust her to be President, because that’s what the Vice President does - stands by to become President if necessary.
The McCain camp won’t let her take questions or be in an unscripted moment with the press. They just want us to take their word for it - she’s ready, by golly.
Stupid, stupid, stupid. I want to see her respond under pressure, because that’s what the job is all about. I want to see if she keeps her cool when being asked a multitude of questions - even the stupid ones. We’ve seen Obama, Biden and McCain do it for months. It’s part of the evaluation process.
McCain and Palin, you are utter cowards, and shameless in your attempt to delude the American people. Sarah, dive into the shark infested waters like everyone else and let’s see if you can swim. It’s part of the job application.
234. hoodlum | 09.24.08
Sarah rocks. Biden has to “Buy” an audience..usually by sending love letters to the pinko press.
235. lynnette | 09.24.08
to NUMBER 44 Comment
Yes you are right in the first ammendment, but it goes both ways. There is no tough questions for Barrack, you only want it against the Sarah. NO one dared to drill and ask about his chicago connections, and he being the most liberal senator around. The press want to smeer Sarah, and I do not blame the McCain camp for keeping them at bay. Until they can represent both sides fairly and report honestly to the people, why do I care what the inthe tank for Obama media say and ask.
236. lynnette | 09.24.08
to comment 233
talk about unscripted, barrack can only make a speach with a prompter that his handlers wrote for him. Look at the prompter speach at the rodeo.
please list all the times the press was tough and asked barrack tough questions. I do not think you can count beyond one.
Stop kidding yourself if you think barrack is ready to lead. where and when did he get his experience? Who is he friends with ? (terroists, Ayres, Flanagan, Wright, and others_) all who HATE AMERICANS. yes that is the kind of leader we are looking for,one who’s friends hate americans.
237. Audrey | 09.24.08
Note to reporters: stop whining! As an informed voter and Obama supporter we all know the only reason you want to “ask her questions” and that’s to fish for a gaffe. Please stop talking and writing about her, that will help Democrats the most.
238. Mandi | 09.24.08
Americans, Americans, this is your right as Americans to hear all about the person who is going to be second in command in your country for the the next four years. I’m righting from Canada and we would not, believe me not put up with a Canidate not being out there showing how they will help move our country forward. I can’t understand how they have people knocking Biden/Obama who have been dragged thought the mud Internationally, but we here nothing of Sarah Palin. I don’t care if you are Republican or Democrat that is your right to see if she is prepared to represent your Country. With the way your economy is looking on a global level you should be demanding Sarah Palin to show you how she and McCain can get you out of this horrible, and embarrassing mess!!!! Stop with the excuses!! Please it is sad.
239. Chris | 09.24.08
“Would you? You can’t blame Palin or her campaign considering the constant demeaning hate monger bashing by the media 24/7. The media picks and chooses its stories. The news media blacked out Palin’s 60,000 + rally in Florida but felt it was important to make the SNL incest skit a national story. You will never see the media attack Obama in this way under any circumstances.”
Waaaah. Blaming people is fun, you seem like a pro.
241. Chris | 09.24.08
Although myself and others feel Sarah Palin is unqualified, I do hope the handling of this woman by the McCain campaign doesn’t destroy her. It’s clear they are calling ALL the shots, and quite frankly they were doing a piss-poor job with McCain before her arrival, which is why she should be very vigilant. I think the Trooper-gate story may have been a non-issue had the McCain people let nature take its course. Because of their over-caressing of the situation, they’ve made a mountain out of a mole-hill. At times I wonder if Sarah Palin, in her quiet time wishes she had a different running-mate; wishes her PR was much better; wishes she were allowed to speak freely; most importantly, wonders if McCain will involve her in the governing of the country if they win. I think Sarah Palin has just as many questions as we do. It would be a shame if they cast her aside once they’re done with her, win or lose. By the way, it’s no longer the liberal media that wants answers, it’s the Republicans also (George Will, David Brooks, etc.). Keep that in mind. But then again, you may just dismiss them as sexist too.
What we have before us is a VP candidate who is packaged like a product. Watching her at events, and her interactions with the press remind me of my sports memorabilia buddies, only taking out their priceless wares for short durations before it goes back into the protective glass case.
By the way, can McCain take the time to either speak freely or memorize the damn talking points. What’s sad is he’s looking down at words and phrases he has repeated at multiple campaign stumps. If you look closely you can see the crowd mouthing along with him.
242. simik | 09.24.08
This is very simple.
The American people are being marginalized. We have a right to know who we are voting for. We can’t know that about Palin if all we ever hear are speeches written by someone else.
At the moment, random americans aren’t allowed to ask Palin questions, so the media (screwy as they can be) are really all we have to ask questions for us.
If the media is barred from asking questions, so are the American people.
This makes the choice of voting for palin a complete joke. Get whatever puppet you want and make it read a speech. Instant candidate. We deserve better from someone who is supposed to be “the best VP pick in the history of the United States” according to McCain. If she’s so amazing, can’t she handle a few questions? The resounding obvious answer is “NO.”
If this is how the McCain/Palin ticket behaves before they are in office. Imagine how they will behave if they do get in. More government from behind closed doors. Lies without answers and stonewall politics.
We as Americans lose if we allow this to happen to ourselves.
244. Jeff | 09.24.08
To PoorLibs, one proud basher of the media — (Rebutal to Comment 202 addressing Comment 164)
Your response proves my point. Obviously, no one in the media confused you. You saw through their “bias” and see Palin as a qualified candidate. I see her as unqualified and extreme in her views. I think the only thing that some of the Republican see in her is their own ignorance; some other Republican see a cynical way to help the electorate take their eyes off the irascible, terribly confused John McCain, Mr. Know-Nothing About the Economy.
As to the your comments on civil right and the role of media, and the request that I explain “the roles of Albert Gore, George Wallace, William Fulbright, Orval Faubus and so on,” I don’t see your point. Without media coverage of the attacked by Southern policemen and thugs on innocent protesters trying to ride in the front of a bus and trying eat at a lunch counter, then Lyndon Johnson would not have been able to get the votes needed to pass the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act in the US Senate. These are the facts, like them or not.
On your comments, that “Libs love Nixon these days.” I can’t find a point in your comment. No Washington Post investigative reporting, and Nixon gets off running the biggest “gangster government” in US history until the George W. Bush’s administration topped him. You know “George W. Pardon-my-Libby Bush.”
On your comment or question, “how exactly were we torturing these subhumans pieces of garbage anyway.” Those are words that Nazi Germany used to justify killing disabled people, Jews, gays, minorities and non-Germans. Water boarding is torture and no person should be tortured. Maybe these are the worst people in the world, but if they can torture these people, then they can torture you and me, once they deem us “subhuman.” You do know that the administration mistakenly water boarded innocent people right? Extremism in the so called defense of Liberty IS a VICE, an immoral VICE.
Finally, par for the course, you attack me. Well, I’m an attorney who comes from a poor family from Tennessee. I worked my way through college and law school with merit scholarships and part-time jobs. I don’t work for the media. I merely understand the important role media has played in our democracy and the role fear and hatred has played in the development of Republican ideology—from the “red-baiting” days through the Bush’s Administrations’ “color terror alerts” and everything in between.
Unfortunately, you have more to fear than fear itself; you have the truth to fear. For the rest of us, “PoorLibs” Comment 202 reminds us that fascist ideas are alive and well in our country and in the belly of the Republican party.
245. blumag | 09.24.08
Come on people she’s hiding from her own lack of knowledge and the McBUSH puppeteers know it! This is not American Idol, this hood ornament may actually be elected according to all of the people with their heads in the sand. Read the article Accidental President it pretty much sums up the whole story. The accusation that the media is biased against her is ridiculous.Karl Rove, Chuck Hagel have both stated that she is unqualified. So all of you Palin fans should question their honesty. Oh my god now there are 2 words you don’t see together Rove/ honesty? Stop blaming the media and get your girl out there what ya afraid of?
246. gaypastor | 09.24.08
Why on earth should McCain trust the mainline press with anything or anyone? They were blantantly biased - and sexist - against Hillary and now they COMPLETLY IGNORE certain stories ALREADY related to Palin. Why aren’t the following stories headlined as “Top News” by the mainline press today?:
*All signs point to state Dem. rep’s son as Palin ‘hacker’ - State Rep. Mike Kernell confirmed Thursday that his son, a University of Tennessee-Knoxville student, is at the center of heated Internet discussion into the hacking of the personal e-mail of vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin
*Tenn. Dem. Steve Cohen: Jesus was a community organizer and Palin is Pontinus Pilate: the governor who killed Jesus!!
*Greta Interviews the “First Dude” (Todd Palin)
Have you even heard of any of these stories????? Why should McCain - or any of us - trust such selective, biased, pro-Obama reporting?????
247. DB | 09.24.08
Many of you would really trust the country to someone you’ve only just now heard about and haven’t heard from save a few scripted hours? You have got to be kidding. You would give a potential baby sitter more scrutiny!
248. David | 09.24.08
Well, it is fairly simple why McCain will keep Palin away from the media, he wants the media to define: her stand on issues, her political weaknesses, her terrible use of power, and her mistakes with the bridge to no where. The media now has the chance to define her VP nomination.
249. Markour | 09.24.08
Unqualified? Unprepared? Sarah Palin has more executive experience than Obama and Biden combined. Why is the egregiously biased media so afraid of her that they will stop at nothing to destroy her? It is because she represents a true threat to their sickeningly secular values. She is a true American success story: hard worker, corruption fighter, has a moral compass, and unlike Obama, truly does have a record as a reformer. But all this flies in the face of liberal-agenda media, and for that reason alone, you character assassinate her. Shame on the drive-by media for their irresponsibilty to their responsibility! Your credibility is zero. No wonder Governor Palin wants nothing to do with you!
250. josh | 09.24.08
During the taping of tonight’s show, Letterman told the audience that McCain had called him personally to apologize for standing him up and said he was rushing to the airport to get back to Washington. The late-night host called McCain “an honest-to-God hero,” and questioned why he needed to halt his campaign. Couldn’t his running mate, Sarah Palin, take over while he was in Washington? Letterman asked.
“I’m more than a little disappointed by John’s behavior,” he said. “Is he suspending the campaign. because there’s an economic crisis or his poll numbers are sliding?” “You don’t suspend your campaign,” Letterman added. “Do you suspend your campaign? No, because that makes me think, well, you know, maybe there will be other things down the road if he’s in the White House, he could just suspend being president. I mean, we’ve got a guy like that now!” And guess who would replace him?
Things got worse for McCain when Letterman, in the midst of interviewing substitute guest Keith Olbermann, learned that the GOP candidate was actually still in New York, about five blocks away at the CBS News headquarters, sitting down for a last-minute exclusive interview with Katie Couric.
Incredulous, Letterman interrupted his chat with Olbermann to show the audience a live shot on the internal CBS news feed of McCain getting touched up by a makeup artist as he waited to talk to Couric. “He doesn’t seem to be racing to the airport, does he?” Letterman said, shouting at the television monitor: “Hey John, Do you need a ride to the airport?”
251. brian | 09.24.08
first of all, if she isn’t talking to the media, we know she isn’t lying to them… which seperates her from 90% of the other politicians out there. secondly, she is a career politician, not someone who just fell out of the back of a van. I think she understands the media and how it works. Rest assured, you’ll either learn about her or refuse to learn about her. I just find myself amazed that so many of the criticisms hurled towards her, justified or not, could easily be launched at Obama as well. It’s a strange time to be seeing things objectively. Everyone else seems so…crazy.
252. epicurious | 09.24.08
Know who else didn’t do press conferences and stuck only to scripted photo ops and softball interviews? Hitler.
253. Nick | 09.25.08
It’s called acting! It’s a lot easier to focus on your delivery when you don’t have to focus on what you are saying. Palin’s campaign has done quite a job of concealing her past. How about you let her talk? OR why hasn’t she insisted on speaking to the media? If she’s so bright, then why won’t you let her shine? Just like the GOP to me. You hide the truth. You’d rather make money and deny people civil rights than admit that you are off.
254. Chris | 09.25.08
If you’re being bullied in school, do you stop going to school? Why stop talking to the press - that doesn’t help you? How long do you continue with that mantra? Do you ride that line of thinking until the wheels fall off? Once you go down that road and destroy long standing relationships, it’s difficult to rebuild them. If they try and black out the press, the press will define them. The blogs will define them whether it’s accurate or not. Which media outlet do you go to to get your message out?
At this point, whats done is done. What is the McCain/Palin plan going forward? Is she real or is she like a hyped-up Wall street IPO? I constantly hear, “When she came out the media was mean to her.” OK, now what? Whether anyone is Liberal, Republican, Democrat, Independent yada, yada, yada - they all want answers, they all deserve answers. Unfortunately us normal folk can’t walk up to Mrs. Palin and get answers to our questions, so we must rely on the media as our surrogates. And how long does McCain/Palin think America is going to be left on hold before the train leaves the station? The “media is mean to her ” excuse has lost traction already. It’s time to either present your case or go the **** home. Let’s see if she is the real deal or risk being sent packing by successfully blacking out the press and the American people.
Can the McCain/Palin campaign be operating along the following premise:
“Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.” -Abraham Lincoln-
255. S. Sandlin | 09.25.08
I can’t believe the obesity of ignorance that has engulfed our country: McCain and Palin? You might as well unleash nuclear war and have done with it.
256. mark | 09.26.08
One thing the stock market HATES is indecision
It reacts BADLY to not knowing, and in the current atmosphere and mood swings of 500 points, what if Boehner/McCain’s STUNT for a photo op, causes a 600-700 pts. drop tomorrow. If McCain wanted to parachute in to DC to act a PLAYER…OK lets play.
FIX the mess you made of a difficult negotiations which took SERIOUS SMART folks to craft in 7 non stop days.
Dazzle America with your 884th in a class of 890 shmarts, and don’t fail to bring in the BIG BRAIN TRUST that is Sarah, she who needed 5 colleges in 6 yrs for a BA.
You should have that all knocked out by noon tomorrow, so you can make the debate.
257. Diogenes | 09.30.08
I think the Christian Science Monitor is just another example of why Sarah Palin won’t talk to the press. A far better question (which you would never ask) would be, why won’t Barak Obama talk to FOX even though he wants us to believe he’ll talk tough with the leaders of countriesw who want to destroy us and our way of life, without preconditions. Those guys at FOX must be extremely terrifying. I wouldn’t blame Sara Palin for not talking with you guys in the mainstream media because all you’re looking for is a “gotcha moment,” even if you have to take what she says out of context. Good luck Sarah! You go girl!
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Jimmy Orr has worked in politics for the majority of his professional career working for two U.S. Senators, two Governors and one President. Most recently, Orr served as White House Spokesman and Internet Director for President George W. Bush and Special Advisor to Governor Schwarzenegger for Internet Communications.
David Cook is Washington bureau chief of The Christian Science Monitor and host of the Monitor's newsmaker breakfasts. He was the Monitor's editor from 1994 to 2001. Cook is a graduate of Principia College, served in the U.S. Army, was a Bagehot Fellow at Columbia University, and is a member of the Gridiron Club, Washington's oldest journalistic organization.
1. WHYNOT | 09.23.08
I am not an Obama fan but now you say he is spreading lies about you. Everything here is a lie? You tell us.
Possibly charged rape kits to victims, does not believe in evolution, religion is questionable, encourages shooting bears and wolves from lowing flying planes, troopergate, no abortions for rape or incest, supported the bridge to no where before she opposed it. Has a pregnant teenager, her only experiences with Foreign Relations is the fact she can see Russia from AL, Questioned a librarian about book banning and later the librarian was fired. Does not believe in Global Warming, and left her city in debt as Mayor.
HAS NOT RELEASED TAX RETURNS
Cannot stand the heat - better get out of the kitchen.