Washington Times to fly commercial for Obama finale The Washington Times Friday, October 31, 2008
The Washington Times plans to fly commercial to cover the Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama in the final days of his campaign, and will be in Chicago for Election Day coverage.
The Washington Times, which has covered the Barack Obama campaign from the start, was kicked off the Democrat's campaign plane for the final 72 hours of the race.
The Obama campaign informed the newspaper Thursday evening of its decision, which came two days after The Times editorial page endorsed Senator John McCain over Mr. Obama. The Times editorial page runs completely independent of the news department.
"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."
Obama spokeswoman Linda Douglass told reporters on the plan Friday morning that adding a second plane to accommodate more traveling press would cause the campaign to lose one city per day due to logistical considerations.
She added that Michelle Obama is joining the plane, which will require more Secret Service agents to be on board as well.
These were "very hard decisions," she said, and have "absolutely nothing" to do with the news organizations' coverage of the race.
The Times formally protested the decision, noting that it has one of the top 20 largest newspaper Web sites in the country, distributes its print edition in the key battleground state of Virginia, and has had its stories repeatedly cited by Mr. Obama and other Democrats throughout the campaign.
"Sen. Obama himself demonstrated he appreciates the importance of The Washington Times and its news coverage. In June, he wrote a letter citing a Times' investigative project that highlighted government mistreatment of our veterans. Sen. Obama requested an investigation by Congress and the administration, both of which confirmed the problems and led to corrective action at the VA. In his August acceptance speech, Sen. Obama also prominently mentioned our interview with Sen. Phil Gramm and the now infamous comments about a 'mental recession' and a 'nation of whiners'," wrote Mr. Solomon in an e-mail to Obama campaign manager David Plouffe.
Times reporter Christina Bellantoni, who has covered the Democratic campaign since 2007, is being asked to leave the campaign plane starting Sunday. In defending its decision, the Obama campaign said it respected Ms. Bellantoni's reporting and simply ran out of seats on the campaign plane for the finale because of high demand. It also noted that the Obama campaign is allowing some news media critical of the Democrat to travel, including Fox News.
"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," wrote Obama campaign Senior Advisor and Chief Communications Officer Anita Dunn in an e-mail.
"There are simply no more seats on Senator Obama's plane," Ms. Dunn added.
"There are press seats available on Senator Biden's plane for travel this final weekend and The Washington Times is encouraged to include our vice presidential nominee in your coverage plans for this final stretch," she said.
Meanwhile, John McCain's presidential campaign responded to the Times being kicked off the plane as "... not surprising."
"The least transparent and the least vetted candidate in history is now the least accessible - not surprising," said McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds.
speaking of reporters on the planes and on the trail ......
how can those 'unnamed aid' stories be true about tension with McCain and Palin ... wouldn't reporters, you know ... uh ... see it w/o having to be told by 'unnamed aids' about it?
If Obama let McCain endorsers on his plane it would be plain stupid. ITA, let them ride with McCain if they're endorsing him. Talk about trying to get a free ride!
Is the same Drudge report that jumped to report the Ashley Todd HOAX ?
Is the NY Post mentioned in the article the same NY Post that fell for the Lobster Hoax ?
Does Barack Obama have an obligation to provide free air fare and a free ride to EVERY reporter ?
Really, considering how the McCain Campaign shielded Palin from the press (refused to let the press talk to her until they agreed to show her "deference", this is a non-story.
Is this some sort of test ? Are you just researching something to see if we will "fall for it ?"
Is this a sign of things to come *IF* O wins??
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/oct/31/washington-times-kicked-obama-plane-finale/
Washington Times to fly commercial for Obama finale
The Washington Times
Friday, October 31, 2008
The Washington Times plans to fly commercial to cover the Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama in the final days of his campaign, and will be in Chicago for Election Day coverage.
The Washington Times, which has covered the Barack Obama campaign from the start, was kicked off the Democrat's campaign plane for the final 72 hours of the race.
The Obama campaign informed the newspaper Thursday evening of its decision, which came two days after The Times editorial page endorsed Senator John McCain over Mr. Obama. The Times editorial page runs completely independent of the news department.
"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."
Obama spokeswoman Linda Douglass told reporters on the plan Friday morning that adding a second plane to accommodate more traveling press would cause the campaign to lose one city per day due to logistical considerations.
She added that Michelle Obama is joining the plane, which will require more Secret Service agents to be on board as well.
These were "very hard decisions," she said, and have "absolutely nothing" to do with the news organizations' coverage of the race.
The Times formally protested the decision, noting that it has one of the top 20 largest newspaper Web sites in the country, distributes its print edition in the key battleground state of Virginia, and has had its stories repeatedly cited by Mr. Obama and other Democrats throughout the campaign.
"Sen. Obama himself demonstrated he appreciates the importance of The Washington Times and its news coverage. In June, he wrote a letter citing a Times' investigative project that highlighted government mistreatment of our veterans. Sen. Obama requested an investigation by Congress and the administration, both of which confirmed the problems and led to corrective action at the VA. In his August acceptance speech, Sen. Obama also prominently mentioned our interview with Sen. Phil Gramm and the now infamous comments about a 'mental recession' and a 'nation of whiners'," wrote Mr. Solomon in an e-mail to Obama campaign manager David Plouffe.
Times reporter Christina Bellantoni, who has covered the Democratic campaign since 2007, is being asked to leave the campaign plane starting Sunday. In defending its decision, the Obama campaign said it respected Ms. Bellantoni's reporting and simply ran out of seats on the campaign plane for the finale because of high demand. It also noted that the Obama campaign is allowing some news media critical of the Democrat to travel, including Fox News.
"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," wrote Obama campaign Senior Advisor and Chief Communications Officer Anita Dunn in an e-mail.
"There are simply no more seats on Senator Obama's plane," Ms. Dunn added.
"There are press seats available on Senator Biden's plane for travel this final weekend and The Washington Times is encouraged to include our vice presidential nominee in your coverage plans for this final stretch," she said.
Meanwhile, John McCain's presidential campaign responded to the Times being kicked off the plane as "... not surprising."
"The least transparent and the least vetted candidate in history is now the least accessible - not surprising," said McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds.
LOL.
speaking of reporters on the planes and on the trail ......
how can those 'unnamed aid' stories be true about tension with McCain and Palin ... wouldn't reporters, you know ... uh ... see it w/o having to be told by 'unnamed aids' about it?
Is the same Drudge report that jumped to report the Ashley Todd HOAX ?
Is the NY Post mentioned in the article the same NY Post that fell for the Lobster Hoax ?
Does Barack Obama have an obligation to provide free air fare and a free ride to EVERY reporter ?
Really, considering how the McCain Campaign shielded Palin from the press (refused to let the press talk to her until they agreed to show her "deference", this is a non-story.
Is this some sort of test ? Are you just researching something to see if we will "fall for it ?"