(Jake Turcotte)
Obama: You don’t endorse me? You’re off the plane!
By Jimmy Orr | 10.31.08
A lot of talk this morning about Barack Obama’s plane and a decision to boot reporters from the New York Post, Dallas Morning News and the Washington Times from traveling on O-Force One.
The campaign says it’s due to lack of space. But many others see something else. Something more - in the spirit of this Halloween weekend - dastardly. These news outlets all endorsed John McCain.
Leave it to Drudge
In typical Drudge-like form, the headline announcing the expulsion screamed controversy:
“The Big Purge: Skeptical Reporters Tossed Off Obama Plane”
“Despite pleas from top editors of the three newspapers that have covered the campaign for months at extraordinary cost, the Obama campaign says their reporters — and possibly others — will have to vacate their coveted seats so more power players can document the final days of Sen. Barack Obama’s historic campaign to become the first black American president,” writes Drudge.
Option B
To be fair, space on campaign planes can become limited. Especially when you are up in the polls.
It’s not like the Obama campaign isn’t trying to be helpful to these newspapers. Their suggestion? Get on the campaign bus or even worse — travel with Joe Biden.
Normally traveling with Biden could be entertaining. The guy would talk your ears off and say something wonderfully quotable.
But since he’s been placed in the equivalent of Al Gore’s lockbox, he’s no news all-the-time.
Reactions
Reactions from the newspapers?
The Dallas Morning News recognizes that polls are good and Team Obama doesn’t want to upset anything.
“Sen. Obama is sitting on a lead and doesn’t want to risk aggressive questions by unbiased political reporters,” writes Ryan Rusak.
He notes Obama hasn’t held a press conference in more than a month and the interviews he has done are with pretty friendly people: Jon Stewart, Rachel Maddow and Pulitzer prize winning journalist Mario Lopez.
But they don’t necessarily think they’re being punished for checking the McCain box.
“But we don’t have evidence that the newspaper’s endorsement of Sen. McCain had any bearing on the campaign’s decision to boot us from the plane,” writes Rusak.
Washington Times
As for the Washington Times, they aren’t happy with the news. In fact, they feel like they are a pre-election victim of John McCain’s main campaign theme.
“This feels like the journalistic equivalent of redistributing the wealth, we spent hundreds of thousands of dollars covering Senator Obama’s campaign, traveling on his plane, and taking our turn in the reporter’s pool, only to have our seat given away to someone else in the last days of the campaign,” said Washington Times Executive Editor John Solomon.
“I hope the candidate that promises to unite America isn’t using a litmus test to determine who gets to cover his campaign,” Solomon adds.
Official word
Not so, says the campaign.
“Unfortunately, demand for seats on the plane during this final weekend has far exceeded supply, and because of logistical issues we made the decision not to add a second plane. This means we’ve had to make hard and unpleasant for all concerned decisions about limiting some news organizations and in some cases not being in a position to offer space to news organizations altogether,” Obama senior adviser Anita Dunn said in a written statement.
More friendly media
The Washington Post’s Howard Kurtz notes, however, that “room was suddenly made for two magazines that have not been traveling with the Democratic nominee, Essence and Ebony.”
No sale
Ed Morrissey over at Hot Air isn’t buying the official line from Obama. He wonders why they didn’t do this a month ago. After all did anyone really think the New York Post or the Washington Times was going to endorse the Democratic nominee?
Had they acted a few weeks ago, they could have made it look like Team Obama wanted to give secondary media outlets a chance. Now it just looks like vindictiveness, and perhaps even worse. Obama and his supporters have gotten vicious with reporters who ask questions and do research that put Obama in a bad light, and this adds to the general pattern we’ve seen since the primaries.
McCain
The reaction from the McCain camp isn’t surprising. But it should be noted that they’ve booted people too. Maureen Dowd from the New York Times and Time magazine’s Joe Klein were booted earlier this year.
“The least transparent and the least vetted candidate in history is now the least accessible - not surprising,” said McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds.
Punishment
Calling Obama a “sore winner,” the Wonkette neatly sums up the predicament these newspapers face in the last few days.
<< Obama’s prime time address — 33.5 million people like commercials | MainNow they will all have to fly commercial in order to get to various events in the last stretch of the campaign. This is the journalistic equivalent of having to walk through the town square in a pom-pom hat and a thong.
Comments
2. mglory | 10.31.08
You are right they should have booted from the beginning…but it is never too late…these newspaper are a piece of junk and no one wants to read them anyway, but the people that like satired and garbage. They don’t have any morals and they slam at who ever to have a first page even if the timing is poor.
3. Speaktruth | 10.31.08
This is a non-issue. Plenty of news organizations that have been critical of Obama and whose publications have endorsed McCain are still on the plane - Wall Street Journal etc. The plane needed space, this happens all the time and the Campign already promised to put these guys on the Biden plane.
Why is this an issue with Obama,but not when McCain bumped reporters from the NYT and Time? The Washington Times has a bit of a “self-importance” problem.
4. dejah | 10.31.08
As usual, the right wing misinterprets what Obama’s doing and doesn’t say squat when their pet candidates on the right are doing the exact same thing to “librul” reporters. Hypocrisy anyone? Oh, yeah, I forgot, screeching about how unfaaaiiirrreee it all is is okay if you’re a republican…
Why you people take Drudge seriously is beyond me… even on a good day he’s still journalism’s equivalent of an impostor.
5. chris | 10.31.08
I would kick them off my plane too if they were openly supporting my opponent. Is there a law that says sen. Obama owes them a free plane ride on his jet, or is it a courtesey he extended them that he is perfectly in his rights to take away for whatever reason he wants?
Listen how can people complain on the one hand about being forced to share the wealth, yet complain when someone they write negative articles about tells them to pay for their own airfare?
6. Nate | 10.31.08
Normally I like the Christian Science Monitor articles, but this is a joke. Come on. You even said it yourself, no one expected those newspapers to endorse Obama, so how can that possibly be related to why they were taken off the plane?
Yes, they’re unfriendly to Obama. Is that why they were the first ones to go? Sure. So what? As you said, McCain did the same thing.
Oh damn, they’ll have to fly commercial like the rest of us peons. Pom-poms and a thong? Talk about elitist. Most of us are trying to figure out how we’re going to afford Thanksgiving dinner, so sorry you lost your free seat on the campaign’s plane.
7. Avishai | 10.31.08
Wow, so this is how the free press is more effectively eliminated. Mao is rolling in his grave with glee.
8. madayil nair | 10.31.08
Obama should explain why he kicked out the reporters of the newsmedia opposing his views. It is not uniting. Probably true color is started to opening up. This is before the election. What happened after the election and if he wins, he will start “litmus leat” on everything. Finally we will become a country with a “Obama-approved press, probably religion and uniform economic structure”.
10. bret | 10.31.08
delicious…reap what you sow gentlemen. the editorial in the dallas morning news that endorsed mc cain was simply a litany of talking points lifted straight from the campaign. as usual that paper is vapid, shallow, and destined for closure. i live in dallas and nobody reads it…readership is down year over year.
11. Rogers | 10.31.08
So let’s see… these reporters were getting a free ride on Obama’s plane and their backing companies (the newspapers) were basically anti-Obama. Ummm, you’re right, they should have been booted before and left to travel and cover Obama on their own dime. They should be greatful they got a free ride for as long as they did. The man is trying to win the presidency. I think it’s completely normal that you’d want those who support you around you, so as to increase your overall chances at winning.
12. John | 10.31.08
Sure there is such a thing as media ethics, but why should a candidate, no matter who they are, be forced to carry reporters who don’t support them? I’m sorry, but being on a candidates personal plane is a privilege, not a right. If you want to cover him, it looks like you’re going to have to do it the old fashioned way. Those who have shown loyalty to the campaign earned the privilege.
Its not like John Stewart can go to McCain and say “I demand to be on your plane so that I can cover your campaign.” Sorry, ain’t gonna happen.
14. Jim G. | 10.31.08
This a sincere question, because I really don’t know. Who owns campaign planes? Do they qualify as public places, or are journalists permitted to travel with the candidate as a convenience and as a “guest” of the campaign? If its that latter, and if the campaign really does need the seats for somebody else, of strategic significance, what are they supposed to do…boot somebody who is likely to help them, or boot somebody who is unlikely to help them? No first amendment implications here. So, there it it.
15. Jon | 10.31.08
No evidence but that didn’t stop you from making up a story. What part of Christian is that?
16. The Rodentman | 10.31.08
All the reporters should fly commercial anyway. No one owes them anything.
17. bob | 10.31.08
Journalists complaining about how journalists are getting ripped off. Typical. I wish they would write stories about how they are among the least respected professions in the world. No one cares about your alleged crises. They are nothing compared to our real world - foreclosures, bankruptcy, lack of health care, the list goes on.
18. Hilary Smith | 10.31.08
This is sort of like Bush refusing to take questions from White House press corps reporters he didn’t like. Waaaaaahhh.
19. DL13 | 10.31.08
Interesting, but the airplane in the picture was called an Albatross, which was used by the Germans during the first World War. The word albatross is sometimes used to mean an encumbrance, or a wearisome burden, which may be appropriate if Obama gets in and implements his plan to tax the rich and swell the ranks of the unemployed. If this happens the results would be to send us deeper into a depression, which would be a “wearisome burden.”
20. Angelou | 10.31.08
IF MCCAIN HAD $150,000 EXTRA HE COULD HAVE HIRED ANOTHER PLANE FOR THESE POOR SOULS.
McCain doesn’t transport people who don’t support him, he doesn’t even answer questions to them. HE IS AN ANGRY ABUSER WITH HIS ABUSER OF POWER VP.
21. MIke | 10.31.08
There is a tradition in that has been with us since Biblical times. It is called drawing lots. If Obama wanted to be fair in this matter he could have had them draw lots. Clearly this decision was not about “fairness”.
22. MT | 10.31.08
I can’t believe the stuff that ends up in the news. I hate this media driven society we live in today. “Believe none of what you hear and only half of what you see.” Why do we all fall into this garbage? We’re smarter than this. America is smarter than this. Come on people. Stop letting the media tell you what’s true and what’s not. Do the research yourselves and you will find that it’s all B.S.
23. EddienTexas | 10.31.08
Seems to me those organizations that want the news should go in partners and lease their OWN plane period! Why should anyone have to haul around the media especially since they make the cash for reporting the news!
24. Soflajohn | 10.31.08
Can’t afford a second plane, he with a record 600 million in campaign stash? All of a sudden additional space is so unavailable. This is a warning for those who don’t play according to Barack’s rules. Very telling of what kind of presidency he intends to run.
25. GP | 10.31.08
Discredit and attack anyone that does not support the chosen one! Infidels must be silenced. Haha
26. DCX2 | 10.31.08
This, from the campaign who picked Sarah Palin for Vice President. The word “irony” comes to mind.
“The least transparent and the least vetted candidate in history is now the least accessible - not surprising,” said McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds.
27. Odious | 10.31.08
I just waisted 4 minutes of my life reading this article. Jimmy Orr (the author) would do better canvasing the swing states and getting interview from the common folks. You wont become a “Pulitzer prize winning journalist” this way. 
28. Mark | 10.31.08
McCain threw them off last week, but got a second plane for the end so everyone gets a ride.
29. Dave | 10.31.08
“The least transparent and the least vetted candidate in history is now the least accessible - not surprising,” said McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds.
Tucker Bounds strikes again. Has he forgotten about Sarah Palin? When was the last time SHE had a press conference?
30. Christian | 10.31.08
Boo-hoo…all this whining about conservatives having such a hard time. Could ya’ll cry a little more?
32. Robert E | 10.31.08
No wonder the media can shovel any kind of nonsense down the throats of the public and they swallow it. You’re all obviously pretty much ignorant. No debate, newspaper editorial, newspaper article, or tv news (of the few tv moments I’ve viewed) have addressed any of the issues facing this nation in any kind of depth or with any appropriate analysis. They’re afraid of putting you to sleep, and maybe rightly so. Here’s the only suggestion. If you want the US to be more liberal and try to be friends with everyone in the world, vote Democrat. If you want less government, less taxes, and security through strength, vote Republican. With the kind of manure which serves as your information, using any of it to make a decision about Obama, McCain, or Bush, for that matter, is a search in the dark.
33. Ian | 10.31.08
And yet they left Fox news on - obviously they are shamelessly pandering to strong supporters…
34. HelpThemSeetheLight | 10.31.08
I laud the campaign for making room for these two Black American publications: Ebony and Essence magazines. I’m glad they were able to get “front row seats” to cover the end of this election — regardless of the outcome. I’m glad Obama is making himself more accessible to them.
35. john | 10.31.08
This isn’t any different than Cheney booting the New York Times off of Airforce One when he campaigned with Bush because he didn’t like the way he was covered by them. But Drudge is grasping at straws.
36. rikk | 10.31.08
I can’t believe the Obama campaign didn’t call the Mccain campaign and ask for the white horse to step in JOE THE PLUMBER he learned all about foreign
policy in 24hrs.I am sure he could of figured away to make the Obama plane bigger in 24hrs.
37. David | 10.31.08
Yes, Obama is not as inclusive as the Republicans….
Please stop acting like little bully school yard children. You need to realize if you choose to lie, cheat, inciting people to the point of foamation of the mouth and riots. It will, one day, come back at you and then there will be no one to stop it from coming after you. I would vote for McCain, but he is pandering to the small extreme right of our party, like the chose of S. Palin. She is probably a great lady, but we need the best driver at this point, she is far from that, or we will hit the wall and I do not think this car called the USA has seatbelts or airbags!
38. Asad | 10.31.08
Way to go Obama. I would have done exactly the same. This is a non-issue. There are more serious challenges facing the economy and our nation then worry about a few conservative reporters off-loaded rather, appropriately.
39. of course | 10.31.08
more of obama’s true colors are shown. claiming that the plane is full and then making room for two black publications. think about when a man with that type of character has the nuclear codes. not to mention the ability to tax americans as much as he wants, so he can re-distribute the wealth to the readers of essence and ebony.
40. Tess | 10.31.08
Both Obama and McCain have the right to give seats to those who want to understand their positions better. I wouldn’t let a bunch of opponents get free rides, either. Anybody dumb enough to vote for McCain/Palin after all the hate-mongering and lies they tell-daily- deserve to be booted from the plane for sheer stupidity. Anyone with a reasonable IQ has seen the ugliest side of politics from McPalin and their beloved “Joe the ‘fake, lying, dangerously ignorant Plumber”.
To vote for McCain and (ugh) Palin is irresponsibly narrow-minded and pathetic. Good for the Obama!
41. Ben From Iowa | 10.31.08
8. madayil nair | 10.31.08
Obama should explain why he kicked out the reporters of the newsmedia opposing his views. It is not uniting. Probably true color is started to opening up. This is before the election. What happened after the election and if he wins, he will start “litmus leat” on everything. Finally we will become a country with a “Obama-approved press, probably religion and uniform economic structure”.
Vote for “comment of the year” When Mccain explains why he did the same thing you can challenge Obama. Again, I keep hearing how Obama is avoiding issues,only answering the easy questions. Not true, but even that would be the non-stop smears and attacks that’s all a desperate Mccain Campaign has left!
42. SeenuSubbu | 10.31.08
“We spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to cover the election campaing”.. Ummm, did you do that to sell Washington Post or were you trying to favor Senator Obama, I mean, Senator McCain? Still want freebies? Come join the line. Oops, I forgot, you are against “socialism” and welfare.
43. Eric | 10.31.08
I find this absolutely astounding: Ed Morrisey, quoted from Hot Air, says “Obama and his supporters have gotten vicious with reporters who ask questions and do research that put Obama in a bad light…”
I’ve skimmed my memory, Googled, and read lots of reports and blogs looking for a time when Obama and his supporters or surrogates have become so viciously unhinged as Mr. Morrisey suggests, and quite frankly, I can’t find anything legitimate. Obama himself has always been reported to have a calm, analytical demeanor (some reporters have even claimed he bordered dull), and his campaign, running like a smooth machine, has been called the no-drama-Obama campaign. If there’s infighting and stress, it’s all behind the scenes and has, as far as I can find, not spilled out into the public. The same cannot be said for McCain’s own campaign.
Does that mean Obama rolls over like a possum and plays dead when the right wing pundits, character assassins and name callers jump all over him? No. Which leads me to suspect that Mr. Morrisey is complaining because he’s not used to a Democratic candidate who will push back and he just doesn’t know how to deal with it.
44. Already voted | 10.31.08
I really dislike these house-of-mirrors stories where the press is reporting on the “problems” faced by… the press. Does anyone (other than the press) care about who lost their seat?
45. sharma | 10.31.08
it’s not about having to pay for a commercial flight. why would it be suddenly, when these newspapers have spent huge amounts of money to cover Obama all along? do you really think a couple of tickets are going to break the piggy bank? you people don’t see the start of squelching of the press, or do you see it, but not care, because those being squelched don’t agree with you? also in the Dem sights: talk radio, via the so-called “Fairness Doctrine”.
didn’t take Obama long to refuse to give interviews to WFTV that used the word “socialist” in an interview with Biden. seems like it was Obama himself who brought the topic up, in a previous interview on his views of socialistm, oops, redistribution of wealth, when he was a law professor.
46. Johnny | 10.31.08
Is this Hugo Chavez or Barack Obama? I guess we better not cross him once he is president or he will have some other type of executive order. Kicking the New York Post and the Washington Times off, I guess these are insignificant little papers that nobody reads. Will this continue when he is elected so the papers that dare to oppose him go under?
48. Brian S. Wilson | 10.31.08
Let’s see, Bush II banned anyone who wasn’t a rabid supporter from even attending one of his “public” rallies; and the lap dog press rolled over and wagged its collective tail. McCain revokes the free air fare for news outlets that don’t agree with him; and again the press rolls over. Obama allows these right wingers to stay with the campain longer than his opponent then offers them alternatives to stay with the campain; and the press acts like you’d asked them to donate a major organ (preferably their unused brain). I’m sure when McCain looses the election, we’ll hear another chorus of the “left wing liberal press persecution” sung by the media. Truth is that “fair and balanced” are just marketing jingles and have no real meaning in today’s press coverage.
49. Judy Johncox | 10.31.08
God Bless Barack, at last a human and a person with compassion has a chance to win……………Thank goodness
51. Bill Biden | 10.31.08
They are lucky,If I was the one to decide, I would make them practice bungie jumping from the plane !!
52. Jerome | 10.31.08
Obama did an interview with Brian Williams in the last 2 weeks that appeared on NBC Nightly News.
53. Chuck Glisson | 10.31.08
Come-on Christian Sience Monitor,
As Joe Biden said to A STUPID question poised to him by Barbara West; “Are you serious?, Is this some kind of joke?”
Airplanes are LIMITED as to how much LUGGAGE, PEOPLE and IDIOTS that can be carried at ANY ONE GIVEN TIME.
Then the hard decisions have to be made, and some POMPOUS EGOTIST gets his/her tail feathers ruffled, cause HIS overinflated posterior isn’t honored.
Sorry, but the ONLY story here, is somebody decided TO DO a story on a situation that wasn’t a story at all!
54. Sam | 10.31.08
7. Avishai | 10.31.08 “Wow, so this is how the free press is more effectively eliminated. Mao is rolling in his grave with glee.”
More like freeLOADING press, perhaps?
Actually, I don’t think ANY of the press should be accepting free invites to ride along with either candidate. It creates a perception of indebtedness. Not good.
55. kfhoz | 10.31.08
This is a poor headline from CSM, I had come to expect better. There are still anti-Obama reporters on the jet from Rupert Murdoch’s kennel of hounds, such as FOX and WSJ. If Obama had asked them all to now take other options in their travel that would seem fair enough and would justify your headline, but Obama only cleared a bit of space for somebody else.
57. TLE | 10.31.08
Rogers: The news organizations pay for this privilege; they are NOT freeloaders on the plane.
Speaktruth: You can’t seriously be implying that Maureen Dowd is a “reporter?”
I’m at the point where I really don’t care anymore. The corporate media has decided who the next Preznit will be, as they did the last. They got what they wanted in 2000, and were REALLY excited about banging the drums for the Iraq invasion, ’cause they just love covering a war. They have been too scared of Cheney to kick Dubs around, but they got their juices flowing during the Dem primary — slap the broad around (Bubba’s wife: BONUS!), drool over the American-Idol-Second-Coming-New-Century-JFK (oh, those thigh tingles), and you can feel the glee as they anticipate ganging up and beating the heck out of the superhero they have elevated. Democrats don’t fight back, right? Oops. Some of them just haven’t spent enough time in Chicago to understand that this fella and his BFF’s aren’t going to roll over like Al and John. In the end, however, the TV buffoons call the shots on the information dispersed (like, did you know that there are actually SIX candidates seeking the office of Preznit?), so unless Mr. O is planning on using the powers invested in him by Bush/Cheney and nationalizing the media, he really won’t have any better chance at pleading his case to the public than Al Gore did.
It would almost be fun to watch, if it weren’t so predictable.
58. Mike | 10.31.08
This whole obama election reads like a John Grisham novel. The bought and paid for media attention, I am talking about ABC,NBC, CBS, CNN and the like. 100 million dollars donated in one month, all pre-paid (none trackable) Credit Cards, and this does not raise a red flag. No this, kicking off reporters from his plain to make room for Ebony and Essense Rag-Mags…
Come on people, besides his past and present affilations, radical friends, and none existant experience….. WAKE UP PEOPLE!
59. MichaelNYC | 10.31.08
With all the money these media corporations make?? I am surprised they have the nerve to complain about getting a free ride at all. I am hoping that Obama becomes a champion for media reform in this country.. we had a “fair and balanced” media before Reagan’s de-regulation of the industry led to a mere 5 corporations owning ALL the tv stations, newspapers, radio stations and magazines. De-regulation under Republican administrations is a call for to dinner for all major corporations and we see where this leads. The FCC was established to provide diversity in the media, de-regulation has led to division and the rise of dangerous fanatics.
Most of these so called journalist are confused about the difference between the news reporting and the op-ed sections. More power to Obama.. the country is in some dire need of a roll-back.
60. Joe W | 10.31.08
You should be ashamed of yourself, Jimmy. You’re cooking the books, and you know it.
61. Joan | 10.31.08
Let’s see: If you don’t openly support him (MSNBC, BET, CBS, etc) you get booted off the plane.
If you run against him, your effigy gets hung in front of people’s homes (Morrisette).
If he approaches you and asks you a question where his voluntary answer will create negative press for him, then his stooges who work in public office will use their power to dig into your private records. (Joe the Plumber/ Helen Jones Kelley)
When you interview him or his wife, a list of allowed and unallowed questions are forced on you. If you go public with it, his people demand you to be taken off the show (The View, Michelle Obama)
All this BEFORE the man becomes the most powerful official in our country.
What’s going to happen AFTER he gets the position?
The moment you are skeptical or question his policies, a witchhunt will be launched against you…or will you be silenced permanently?
This sounds very far from democracy as I once knew it.
62. Tony | 10.31.08
Ah the mere fact that Fox Noise is still on the plane shoots any notion of political biases
63. Bill Biden | 10.31.08
I have benn a coach most of my life, and it sounds like the parents of the kids that are not in the game this minute. If there are more people wanting to ride/play than there are seats/positions then someone is going to be on the bench. If your kid is in someone elses is out.
Sometimes you’re the windshield, some times you’er the bug!
64. Howard | 10.31.08
Well maybe they can hitch a ride on McCains plane, I’m sure there are plenty of seats available for them. Why didn’t your paper make a big deal when McCain booted reporters from his plane, maybe because your trying to make this non-issue into another story like Joe the Fraud?
65. Curly | 10.31.08
The things has happened in Obama’s campaign bodes badly for the US. Removing reporters of newspapers that don’t support him, cutting off interviews with a TV station that ask hard questions that he could not answer without revealing his true colours, using state officials to investigate Joe the Plumber. What will happen when He has access to the federal investigative forces? If anyone opposes Him then He can crush them with the full weight of the federal government.
66. LilMouse57 | 10.31.08
It’s Obama’s plane, he can say who flies and who doesn’t. As these other newspapers have endorsed McCain, I wouldn’t want them on my plane either. Don’t tell me about unbiased reporters either. If they were unbiased, then the newspapers wouldn’t endorse ANYONE. They’ve made their bed, quit whining.
67. Jim Dandy | 10.31.08
I guess that is a bit different than the McCain approach: “Try to ask Palin a question and you are not only off the plane but you are an elite commie.”
68. Steffi | 10.31.08
I usually get the New York Times via home delivery. The day after the O infomercial I picked up a copy of the New York Post not realizing that they were not on the OWagon. Their article on the lack of strength of the infomercial seemed to be written professionally and with a lot of referenced authorative strength. The NYTimes had nothing written that day. I don’t see how adding two ethnic magazines is necessarily journalistic and providing data to the voting public. I think Obama was wrong to boot them off the plane.
69. Cody | 10.31.08
They need to offer them seats on the wings. The fresh air would probably put more O2 to the brains and thus allow some more rational decision making ability.
70. NoBama | 10.31.08
Too bad Barry can’t take the heat Heck its not like he voted ‘present’ over 50 times in the state sen Oh wait he did do this cowardly vote
71. Beltway Greg | 10.31.08
McCain booted Mike Allen and Maureen Dowd from the New York TImes a long time and ago and limited access to Palin to the Fox News nitwits for the greater portion of her 15 minutes of political fame.
Just sayin”
Beltway Greg
72. Scott Evan | 10.31.08
This is an example of the type of “change” that we would see under an Obama presidency.
73. Deane | 10.31.08
Do you honestly believe that the Senator makes these sorts of decisions? Could it possibly be the work of someone who works for the campaign organizaton? Do you think he had something to do with Ted Kennedy’s medical problems? Boy, some people are so-o-o gullible.
74. Celeste Blue Dawn | 10.31.08
With all the other non-sense going on this is ALL Jimy Orr could come up with?
75. what’s next… | 10.31.08
… no one will be allowed to draw images or caricatures of “him” ?!?!?!?
obama akhbar!!!!!
76. College Education | 10.31.08
McCain is a hypocrite; didn’t he boycott Larry King because CNN asked hard questions of Palin.
77. life is unfair | 10.31.08
Better to boot them off before the flight starts rather than mid-air, umm with only one parachute for all three?!
78. max, | 10.31.08
Big deal. McCain will now have a few more right-wing lacky yellow journalists helping to fill seats at his outings.
79. Jennifer | 10.31.08
This is so ridiculous. Of COURSE they made room for Ebony and Jet, magazines with primarily Black audiences that very likely be covering the first-ever election of an African-American President of the United States of America. It was dumb to keep Glamour on the plane rather than the Washington Times, given the WT’s heavy Virginia readership; other than that, this is an unassailable decision. It’s also NOT, I repeat NOT, any kind of breach of freedom of the press, any more than the McCain camp’s decision early on to boot Joe Klein and Maureen Dowd from their campaign plane. It’s a breach of convenience of certain members of the press, who will now have to fly commercial first class instead of on the campaign plane. Cry me a river.
80. Jeffrey | 10.31.08
So a free ticket on Barack Obama’s plane is suddenly an entitlement for back-stabbing reporters?
If he wanted to invite only high-school newspaper editors, it’s his plane.
81. Michael | 10.31.08
McCain’s campaign thinks white male reporters from New York, Dallas and Washington have more claim to a plane seat than Essence and Ebony?
Sounds racist.
82. Omar | 10.31.08
Finally Obama put his foot down, wooohooo!!! Why would you give pririties to reporters who’s sole task is to find the slightest gaff you make and make a mountain out of it? He should have kicked these idiots in mid air. Tell those reporters to ask John McCain to fly them, huh! He crashed seven planes, that would be exciting.
83. Ricky | 10.31.08
Just more unbiased and fair reporting.
and I have a bridge you’ll be interested in.
84. HD Thoreau | 10.31.08
This reportage addresses what’s essentially a non-issue, and some of the shrill comments would be laughable–if not frightening, due to lack of insight fueled by anger and vitriol.
“But we don’t have evidence that the newspaper’s endorsement of Sen. McCain had ANY bearing on the campaign’s decision to boot us from the plane.” (emphasis added).
This quote is from the following piece, as referenced above.
http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2008/10/the-dallas-morning-news-and-th.html
85. Harold Reimann | 10.31.08
And when he commands the ship of state? Do we jump ship before we get booted off?
87. Lou | 10.31.08
“For Obama, you’re either on his bandwagon or off his plane « Freak Creek Reader”
So you’re saying that EVERY other media outlet represented on Obama’s plane has endorsed him?
Sounds unlikely. Can you back it up?
88. tub | 10.31.08
Ho hum……kind of a non-issue, since both parties have booted or excluded reporters in the past. But that never stops the Right Wing Media elite waterheads from making it an issue. Which makes it “issue de jour #345″ of their inept “campaign to nowhere”.
90. The Fierce Attacker | 10.31.08
I love that the campaign dumped the right-wing papers for Ebony and Essence for what I hope will be the victory lap for the first African-American president. That’s showing ‘em. In particular, the Moonie-owned Washington Times is such a fringe-inhabiting, unrespected, piece of nothing in the first place that it’s hard to believe their reporter was ever on the plane at all. Anyway, there’s less than a week to go, it’s not like any newspaper is going to report anything else of importance at this stage.
91. Jay | 10.31.08
Wouldn’t it be something if celebrity reporters from the New York Post, Dallas Morning News and Washington Times were hassled with unwanted attention on commercial jets even half as much as they clamor over any figure remotely connected to Obama?
In their dreams…
92. Obags | 10.31.08
And McCain threw two reporters off his plane earlier. So what? Worse, the Palin rallies has press refused entry or abused, some with racial slurs if they did get in.
GOPs, do not fret about these small matters. With racism, fraud and xenophobia in full force, you still have more than a fighting chance.
93. Freddy Yee | 10.31.08
In this day and age, you don’t need all those reporters on the plane. The Washington Times, Dallas Morning Star, and the NY Post merely needs a webcam on the plane. They can get one from Habibs Computer Hamlet in NY (and now serving Queens)for under 15 bucks. Ask Obama the question via cell phone and publish photos from the plane via webcam. You get the same result as being on the plane w/o the high cost. So go to Habib Computer Hamlet for brand new webcams for under 15 bucks. This is not an endorsement (of McCain or Obama).
94. Ted | 10.31.08
Washington Times’ John Solomon: “We spent hundreds of thousands of dollars covering Senator Obama’s campaign, traveling on his plane, and taking our turn in the reporter’s pool, only to have our seat given away to someone else in the last days of the campaign.”
John, how much is having your news organization “on the plane” with the leading candidate worth in advertising revenue?
95. David K | 10.31.08
Wait…Wall St. Journal and FOX News are still on the plane? Oh. 
What are we even talking about, then?
97. TruAmerican | 10.31.08
The funniest thing is that the Republican party (who has absolutely NO business to poke their ugly nose in this matter) is the one who is shouting at the top of thier voice and crying fowl.
WHY? How does it concern THEM?
And furthermore, it is not like that THEY have never done the same. They HAVE.
(I AM generalizing since I believe it is True) ALL Republicans are Disgusting and Hypocrites. SHAME on y’all.
98. L. Tachner | 10.31.08
Get used to it. Those who believe his promise to reach across the aisle, I’ve got a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you. If the annointed one get’s elected, anyone who doesn’t share his ultra-left wing liberal ideology will also be “kicked off the plane”. For at least the next four years, those who do not share his views on redistribution of wealth, government-contolled universal health care and a fairness doctrine for the Palestinian point of view, better get a parachute.
99. Tony | 10.31.08
Enough of Obama - no valid American birth certificate, no executive experience, his leftist voting record, his leftist friends, ACORN, Democrats’ actions against WFTV in Orlando, the mind set of his mentors Alinsky and Gramsci, plus his supporters mis-treatment of Clinton’s Caucas voters (Threats, Votes Dumping, More votes than voters, 2,000 complaints in Texas alone, Fraudulent Busing, Dumping of a wheel bound Caucus voter and not letting anyone help her.) - America - Dump this leftist before its to late. I have seen socialism at work, it is a CHANGE for our heavenly country, with our freedoms and free speech, which this gentleman in sheeps clothing wants to change for the far worse!
100. Sam Wong | 10.31.08
Freddy Yee’s post is ridiculous! How can the CSM post something a wrong as that. If you go to Craigslist, you can get a webcam for under 6 USD! Plus, Freddy Yee is wrong in regards to webcams in general. Being close enough to Obama to smell him and see the sweat coming out his pore is the value of having a reporter on the plane. This is what is important, how his breath smells and if he sweat when asked a question about Palin. Just like in 60 Minutes.
101. lucy2008 | 10.31.08
What a non-issue. These reporters should grow up. They have been highly privilaged with their close proximity and can now pass it to others especially black journals. That does seem fitting for the home stretch. They are not barred from the events but only have their “A” seats switched to “C” seats. Give me a break for these babymen and babywomen. They are only worried about their individual careers and not their companies at all.
102. Joel | 10.31.08
Even though I am an Obama supporter, this has got to be the stupidest and pettiest action possible - especially now. Some communications staffer is getting their butt toasted about now.
103. Vinny | 10.31.08
It is like this. If you don’t like something, make it an issue, slant it the wrong way and it is headlines.
Hundreds of thousands of people are losing jobs and they are expected to be worried about a couple of reporters being kicked off a private jet?
Gimme a break!
104. captainkona | 10.31.08
New York Post, Dallas Morning News and the Washington Times….
Are not “conservative News Papers”. They are Right-Wing Neocon Tabloids and do not deserve the respect that would be afforded to real journalists. Or C-Team bloggers for that matter.
Let’s face it, I wouldn’t fly with a Moonie on the same plane either.
105. VT | 10.31.08
hey I am all for it- guess all the winers forgot about the republican litmus test with bush- you could not even get into a speech if they thought you were not voting for george w. communism?
106. andy | 10.31.08
not exactly legitimate newspapers…and why does anyone care about the moonies newspaper since it is just a propaganda rag for the cult
107. GaryB | 10.31.08
Ho hum, slow news day and Obama is running away with the election, no cliff hanger there … got to make something up to beat filing deadline, what to do, what to do?
108. Molly | 10.31.08
Let’s see…the McCain campaign hires thugs to rough up protesters in St Paul, but that’s ok. Obama stops giving a free ride to a few reporters and its a problem?! I feel no pity for these corporate journalists, no matter WHAT rag they lie for..I mean report for. They can afford to buy an airline ticket, just like the rest of us. Is every single journalist supposed to fit on one plane? Sounds like some of that fuzzy Republican math is getting in the way of common sense and logic again. If the concern is really about granting everyone access to the candidate then Obama/Biden certainly have been far more accommodating that the McCain/Palin. Or does SNL now count as an in depth interview?
109. Fritz | 10.31.08
It is perfectly ok be critical of Obama. In Berlin after 5 minutes he sounded like Bush II. Well, McCain is off limits, there is no alternative to Obama, shure, but the weakness of his opponents does not maker him better.
110. Cowboy the Cat | 10.31.08
You fail to mention that FOX NEWS still has a seat on the plane. This decision obviously has nothing to do with the endorsements or FOX would have been gone LOOOOONG ago.
111. Kent | 10.31.08
Hmmm…guess the CSM endorsed Kim-Il Obama…since they took my post down.
This is precisely why the guy will win– the MSM is hijacking the election, and by god, KIO will be proclaimed the winner– or else…or else…or else the GOP stole the election!
To the CSM: Thanks for proving my point!!!!
112. Vinny | 10.31.08
By the vitriol of some of the right wing comments, Nov 4 seems to be the last day their noisy blather will be heard for a long time!
I am not sure if that is not such a good idea!
113. Thomas Tallis | 10.31.08
Obama also refused to pay for my plane tickets to his rallies. He’s just like Stalin!!!1!
114. Jeff D | 10.31.08
So there is “limited space,” however, the reporters booted just happened to all be from conservative newspapers. I think we are getting a good glimpse of exactly what an Obama presidency will look like. Censorship and favoritism will abound.
While we are on the subject of the media and how they participate in elections, I think everyone who has a subscription to the Los Angeles Times needs to cancel their subscription ASAP. By their own admission they are withholding a video tape that has information of material nature regarding the true character of Barack Obama. This is outrageous!
In my profession I can be fined and even go to jail for withholding information that is material to my clients’ decisions on what products and services to purchase. In just a matter of days, this nation will make the most important decision it could ever make, and we have one newspaper withholding information that could have serious ramifications and speak volumes as to the judgment and character of a candidate.
Is this why the media exists? They have the role and responsibility to act as a watchdog for the public, not hijack elections and withhold information, thus themselves participating in the news instead of reporting it. They have violated the public trust, and have engaged in partisan politics. This could result in a serious mistake for this nation, and yet they sit on this evidence quietly. If it is of no consequence, then clear the air and release the tape. However, a major news outlet choosing to suppress material information is very nefarious, and speaks volumes as to the nature of the content.
A decision to “protect a source” as they state in this instance is outweighed by the seriousness and scope of the choice at hand. Call the Los Angeles Times and cancel your subscription, and be sure to tell everyone you know to do the same. They can no longer be trusted to report news fairly and objectively!!!
Jeff
115. Matt | 10.31.08
This is a brilliant move by the Obama campaign to shift focus to a non-issue; especially since McCain has done the same thing in the past.
116. andy | 10.31.08
This is irresponsible journalism. Obama has kept members from FOX and other conservative news organizations on his plane.
117. Jim in North Atlanta | 10.31.08
What did you expect from a guy that had Bill Ayers as his mentor for years? By the way Bill Ayres book was dedicated to 100 political prisoners including “Sirhan Sirhan” who assassinated Robert Kennedy! They do not want anyone to know the truth!
118. Kent | 10.31.08
Wallet collections will begin on 5 November in the wake of the Obama victory as ambitious, hardworking Americans will be penalized and required to hand over their money in order to support the lazy oxygen thieves that make up much of the libby base.
And of course, the “Big Three” (Obama, Pelosi and Reid) will enact many “entitlement” programs that take from working Americans to begin the care and feeding of their supply of “electoral crack babies” who, if all works out well, will be hooked on the giveaway money by 2012.
Great plan– the only people who will get screwed will be the productive ones. Why, it’ll be like living in Sweden– except we won’t even get a sexy volleyball team out of it.
K.
119. joseph marcucilli | 10.31.08
Are you kidding me? These papers can cover a story without being on his plane.Wake up and stop whinning
120. Nancy | 10.31.08
So these cry baby reporters are complaining because they couldn’t hitch a free ride on Obama’s plane- so they could publish their conservative BS about him when the free ride is over. Give me a break! I suppose McCain gives free rides to all reporters from papers that have endorsed Obama. He’d probably give them the boot at 30,000 feet!
121. Wohlfahrt | 10.31.08
Obama’s plane is paid for by contributions to his campaign. Out of respect for his contributors he should never have been giving a free ride to anyone who is not a supporter. Demanding that he do so is rather like demanding that he pay for some of John McCain’s TV ads.
122. Steve Ward | 10.31.08
Conservative journalism is an oxymoron. “Dogma Writers” or “Biased Deadweight” are more accurate names for the old, wrinkled people who still that the Beatles were part of Communist subversion of American youth.
The people who have lost their seats on the Obama plane EARNED THEIR EVICTIONS, just as any good Republik party landlord will tell you that tenants who don’t pay deserve eviction.
To put this in Republik Party language “Why should the ObamAmericans pay for the free air travel; and free food; and free access to the only genuine newsmaker when they do nothing to deserve such free luxuries?”
Let these whining Conservatives pay their own way, or drive themselves to the next convention of tens of thousands of Americans who have made enormous personal sacrifices to show their support of BARACK OBAMA???? If the common people can do it, why can’t the elitist conservatives????
McCain still praises the strong fundamentals of the American economy, but the Republik party under Bush has sold, bartered, or given most of our advantages to our enemies. Bush-McCain have done more lasting damage to America than Germany did in two world wars, and Japan did in the last world war.
123. Edward Virtually | 10.31.08
The key distortion to the issue’s coverage in the msm headlines is the omission of the word “some”. Obama removed *some* newpapers that did not endorse him to make room for two magazines. As the WSJ and *FOX* remain on the plane, it’s dishonest in the extreme to imply as the headlines do that he purged all critical coverage from his plane. A bit of racism can be seen in the whining about Ebony being given a seat as it represents the black perspective, which was lacking, at the expense of redundant red coverage. Frankly, since Cheney quite freely booted reporters for critical media sources off his plane, it’s also hypocritical for the reds to bring the issue up now. As always, I guess they assume the blue team is as stupid as their red supporters. Some of us remember the past, as the reds will discover in less than four days.
126. Morton Redner | 10.31.08
Why are Republican sympathizers throwing a temper tantrum?
This is a non-issue.
If you want to live like a Republican, vote Democratic.
— Harry S. Truman
Not even powerful armies can stop an idea whose time has come.
127. arbutus1440 | 10.31.08
Nonpartisan blog. Right. At least call it what it is if you’re going to cite Drudge and Hot Air in a post. Monitor, I love your centrist stuff, but this guy is about as centrist as your Green Blog writer (ie: Not very).
128. Tone Loc | 10.31.08
Arbutus –
Are you kidding me? This guy is a leftist. Did you see what he wrote about Obama’s infomercial the other day?
This guy is obviously a disaffected Republican — obviously hoping to catch some favor with the Obama people. He’s in the tank for Obama — open your eyes.
129. Joe | 10.31.08
> “The least transparent and the least vetted candidate in history is now the least accessible - not surprising,” said McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds.
Wow! Tucker Bounds is attacking Palin now? They really have gone off the deep end! [/sarcasm]
130. Ron Sampson | 10.31.08
Conservative media is shameless- why should Obama shuttle them around just so they can spy on what he’s doing to feed back to the mccainites & the hate mongers at fox “news” & limbaugh?? The heck with them, let them walk.
131. J Rose | 10.31.08
Some of you have a short memory! McCain did the same thing only several weeks ago to a reporter who he felt had dissed him.
133. Marconi | 10.31.08
A free press does not mean that you get a free ride on someone’s private charter plane.
What’s with these ignoramuses? First Palin gets it backwards that the free press is critical of her, and therefore abridging her right to free speech, and now the whiners here complain that Obama is abridging the unknown right to free transport of the free press.
It’s like guys who endorse Pepsi over Coke complaining that Coke is not giving them free samples.
134. David Ostroske | 10.31.08
Hey, does anyone remember Ronald Reagan taking questions from Sam Donaldson?
I don’t think anything like that’s gonna happen under President Obama. At least, that’s the impression he’s sending out.
It could just be because it’s a political campaign that he’s acting like he’s beyond criticism. But isn’t that what people want to get away from, in light of the last eight years?
135. Pablo | 10.31.08
It’s my party
and I’ll cry if i want to
Cry if I want to
Cry if i want to
You would cry too
If it happened to you!
136. Nancy.C | 10.31.08
Obama’s actions are proof that you still get what you pay for. But If we support him (Obama) to the point that we actually believe he is incapable of making a mistake like booting these idiot papers off the plane, then we are no better than those who supported Bush in the same way and that was a nightmare.
137. Huh? | 10.31.08
The thing that troubles me the most is their holier-than-thou attitude. Bob Mong of the Dallas Morning News supposedly said, “We’re not in a swing state, but given our history of outstanding political reporting, we’re upset, particularly when you see guys like Glamour on board.” So, they (e.g., Dallas Morning News) are better and more qualified than “Glamour” so that they deserve a seat but not magazines like Glamour or Essence because those are not reputable among their peers. It sounds like jealousy based on eliticism. But then again, maybe Mr. Mong is stuck with his fine publication because of his mind set.
138. Fred Moolten | 10.31.08
This is probably a non-story. I can understand why any campaign, in making choices among a limited number of airplane seats, would wish to retain news sources that had been supportive, and there is nothing unusual about the Obama campaign decision - it’s been a choice made by Republican and Democratic candidates in the past, and it has been a choice made by the current McCain campaign. The fact that two sources strongly supportive of McCain, Fox News and the Wall Street Journal, remain aboard, should reassure anyone concerned that different views will be excluded. Undoubtedly, many thousands of news sources would have wished to be included, but the laws of physics preclude their presence on any aircraft that hopes to fly anywhere. What’s striking is the extraordinary interest among the media in the Obama campaign as a unique phenomenon aside from policy issues - a testament to the candidate’’s appeal to a broad swath of the electorate as well as his personal story. In a sense, it’s more the personal than the political news that becomes unavailable when a reporter loses access to a candidate.
Fred Moolten
139. Thereisnospoon | 10.31.08
The Washington Times has it’s own airline service (Washington Times Aviation, Inc.). I’m sure there will be no need for the catle car service.
“When the people find they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic.” - Benjamin Franklin -
140. Steve | 10.31.08
The New York Post? The Washington Times? Ed Morrisey? Pretending any of these things are “news sources” is a joke in itself.
141. Dnick | 11.01.08
It has never happened before but the way Christian groups have acted during this election campaign has made me feel ashamed to call myself a Christian.
Brothers and sisters, please note that you are the beacon of God’s testimony and your actions and words carry weight on how the public view Christianity.
God gave us choice so why must we insist religion on politics unless we are being persecuted? I hope all the false prophets/ pastors/ self proclaim Christan would hold their peace before they destroy what took centuries of goodwill to build.
142. Sara | 11.01.08
For the record, the media outlets that travel with the campaigns do not get a ‘free ride’. They do pay for their seats on the campaign planes. The issue is that when you have to fly commercial, you are bound to commercial flight times, which makes it harder to cover campaign events in the same way that you can if you are actually with the campaign. You also generally have better access to the candidate and the campaign if you are on the plane rather than if you are with the ground press pool.
I think the main issue is not with the actions, but like the article aid, what the timing does for perception. McCain may have kicked some reporters off, but he did it weeks ago, often before the official endorsements came out. That all the endorsements are out now, and now Obama’s campaign made this decision — right before the election — leaves a bad taste in a lot of people’s mouths, regardless of political affiliation. The basis of the first amendment is that the press can say whatever they want and should still be respected. I don’t like nor read any of the newspapers that were kicked off, but if it was because of their political leaning and criticism, then that is wrong. Oppression of critical voices in the media is a classic move of dictators, and does not belong in the US. However the concerns with space are real and that may be the genuine reason for the move. But if that is the case, then the campaign is not doing a very good job of coming off as sincere in that move. Again, it’s about perception.
143. Steve Ward | 11.01.08
Conservative journalism is an oxymoron. “Dogma Writers” or “Biased Deadweight” are more accurate names for the old, wrinkled people who still that the Beatles were part of Communist subversion of American youth.
The people who have lost their seats on the Obama plane EARNED THEIR EVICTIONS, just as any good Republik party landlord will tell you that tenants who don’t pay deserve eviction.
To put this in Republik Party language “Why should the ObamAmericans pay for the free air travel; and free food; and free access to the only genuine newsmaker when they do nothing to deserve such free luxuries?”
144. TheManFromMaine | 11.01.08
“Is this Hugo Chavez or Barack Obama? I guess we better not cross him once he is president or he will have some other type of executive order. Kicking the New York Post and the Washington Times off, I guess these are insignificant little papers that nobody reads. Will this continue when he is elected so the papers that dare to oppose him go under?”
In relationships that aren’t functioning well, the partners often accuse the other of owning the bad traits they have, tossing on them, the fault.
Given the Bush administrations tendency to throw people under the train to shut them up and or ruin their lives, I find the above statement hypocritical. A bit of the pot calling the kettle black? (no pun intended)
To even begin to suggest that Obama would do as suggested in the above post is amazingly laughable, given the manipulation of the media, and the out right lies and intentional misinformation campaigns over the last 8 years foisted on the America public by the bush administration.
We the people have had quite enough of this whole concept of failed leadership. Myopia ruled this country with its partners apathy and ignorance. Worse yet the ignorance is supported by racism, how else can 23% of Texans polled believe that Obama is a Muslim. They want to believe it to justify their opposition. When the facts are so clear, that he is not a Muslim, how else can you explain it??
145. NLPortalian | 11.01.08
Good practice for Baracks future role as commander in chief. The report was unclear as to weather or not the reporters were given parachutes prior to being thrown off the plane.
146. dom | 11.01.08
We are the Obama, non-compliant press will be assimilated under the dissent-stifling Fairness Doctrine — or kicked off the plane.
I wondered how such a fluff candidate like Obama could possibly achieve such cult acceptance until I Googled David Axelrod and read the following:
http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/publications/id.1631/pub_detail.asp
Political advertising guru David Axelrod went Goebbels — by-passed reason and critical thinking to access the sub-/unconscious directly, establish cause-supporting beliefs there which then back-adjust conclusions supposedly reached by reason and critical thinking alone.
Scary stuff down a slippery road, like using a psychological software back door to hack someone’s reptilian brain center. Only things missing were the too-blatant swinging pocket watch, and the words, “You are getting sleepy, sleeee-peeee…”
It takes a lot more campaign money to try and pull that off, A LOT MORE — 3, 4, 5, even 6 times as much — and a compliant press. But no problem, inciting the urge to donate to Obama Nation is included in the Axelrod you-will-comply advertising package. And you can always kick non-compliant press out from your inner circle.
Fortunately, it didn’t work on enough of us. McCain/Palin in ‘08!
147. Gary | 11.02.08
It would be nice if someday the media would just report the news and not their bias. Let educated Americans make up their own mind. These days one could GUESS the media’s “endorsement” 6 months before the election with 90% certainty! Just report the news.
148. dottydo | 11.03.08
What do you expect from a guy who really believes he had been in 57 states?
He clearly hasn’t read the Constitution, and doesn’t know they are there to vet candidates, and that they have been given that right by the Constitution.
He thought you buy everything you want ….including our votes.
You can take the hog to market, but you can’t make it butcher itself is a good phrase describing 4 years of Obama and a democrat congress.
149. GOP = Ignorance | 11.03.08
GOP = Gimmicks On Parade
The repubs are out trying to twist this story into equating what Barack would do in the WH.
You republicans are more of the same, fear, ignorance, and sore losers…..wah wah wahhhhhhhhhhhh
Trackbacks/Pingbacks
2. ALERT: Obama’s “Aunti Zeituni” Is An Illegal Alien, A Deportation FUGITIVE, Lives In Public Housing, And Donated To His Campaign | Right Voices | 11.01.08
3. Discover Texarkana » Ticket Replay: 3 papers endorse McCain; coincidentally, they’re kicked off Obama’s plane | 01.06.09
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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. Braden | 10.31.08
Are you kidding me? I don’t know about the rest of America, but I have a hard enough time buying an airline ticket across the country to visit my family for Christmas, and these reporters are complaining about having to fly commercial…!? I’m really broken up about you having to move from the private jet provided to fly you about to a seat in first class when I’m jammed back in the cattle-car.