Why is Palin so 'sheltered'?
Find a Conversation
| Tue, 09-23-2008 - 8:26pm |
I read this article a little while ago on USA Today:
After standoff, media gets some access to Palin's meetings with world leaders
Buzz up!
Like this story? Share it with Yahoo! Buzz
A combined protest from ABC News, CBS News, NBC News, CNN and Fox News Channel succeeded a short time ago in getting the Republican ticket of presidential nominee John McCain and running mate Sarah Palin to partially back down from an attempt to severely limit the media's access to her meetings today and tomorrow with world leaders in New York City.
As ABC News' Political Radar blog reports, the campaign had said only one TV video journalist -- a photographer -- would be allowed at Palin's meetings. No reporter or producers were going to be let in. That flies in the face of standard procedure. Usually, one "print" reporter, one radio reporter and one TV producer are also present at such meetings.
In protest, the networks agreed not to broadcast any of the video footage from Palin's sessions. That got the campaign's attention.
The compromise: A producer is also going to be in the room. In the past, TV producers have also sent their "print" and radio brethren notes about what went on at such events.
Still, as The Politico reports, "print reporters" remain "on the outs."
Update at 12:48 p.m. ET: The AP now reports that the campaign has agreed to let some reporters into Palin's upcoming meeting with leaders. Earlier today, she talked with Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
Update at 2:20 p.m. ET. A pool report.
Elizabeth Holmes of The Wall Street Journal was the "print" reporter who was supposed to be allowed into the Karzai-Palin meeting, but was not. She sent a report to other journalists who cover the GOP vice presidential nominee. Among the things she wrote about the scene at the New York hotel where the meeting took place:
Gov. Sarah Palin emerged from ... a beige SUV. ... Senior policy advisers Randy Scheunemann and Steve Biegun were outside the hotel waiting for her. ...
Your pooler then ran into the hotel lobby and was restrained from boarding the crowded gold elevator, despite her shouting on behalf of the pool. The group of cameras returned via another elevator just a few moments later. ...
From CNN's Peter Hamby, who was the only editorial representative allowed in:
The press pool (still and TV cameras only, plus this producer) entered into Karzai's sizable suite ... shortly after noon. One handler, who did not appear to be with the campaign but rather with Karzai's entourage, repeatedly said "No writers," and he tried to keep this pooler from entering the room when he saw my notebook. However, Chris Edwards, Palin's deputy chief of staff, allowed me to pass.
Palin was seated in a large chair a few feet from Karzai, with a table in between them. From the view of the pool cameras, Palin sat on the left, and Karzai to the right.
Seated slightly behind Palin were foreign policy advisers Steve Biegun and Randy Scheunemann, who are accompanying the governor in her motorcade today.
As the pool entered, the Afghan president appeared to be telling Palin about his young son, who was born in January 2007.
Palin, her legs crossed and at one point patting her heart, was leaning in eagerly and smiling. Karzai, wearing his traditional clothes but without his trademark karakul hat, was also grinning while discussing the child. His remarks were unintelligible as the noise from the clicking cameras drowned them out.
This was the only exchange that was heard:
"What is his name?," Palin asked.
"Mirwais," Karzai responded. "Mirwais, which means, 'The Light of the House.' "
"Oh nice," Palin responded.
"He is the only one we have," remarked Karzai.
At this point, the pool was hustled out the room and down to the hotel lobby. Pool was in the room for a grand total of 29 seconds.
Posted by Mark Memmott at 12:43 PM/ET, September 23, 2008 in Media, Presidential race, 2008, Republicans | Permalink
So it this is her change to 'meet world powers' why is she being so sheltered? Why aren't the press allowed to cover it? Could it be that they are afraid of a major screw up? I really don't get it.

Pages
<<I was arguing the point that was made that she isn't open to the press as she hasn't learned the McCain mantra yet.>>
So now what the person running for the White House says is mantra?
They don't want to admit that she is probably snubbing them because they are incapable of doing their job these days.
Oh yes - I'm SURE that's what it is!!!!!!
<It is really simple.
Sopal
<?xml:namespace prefix = v ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" />
Pages