Sarah Palin is in the UN today trying to score brownie points for having brief chit-chats with world leaders. Apparently, being able to see Russia from a little island in Alaska doesn't quite give you the foreign policy chops you need.
Palin, in all of her neo-Cheney goodness, decided to ban reporters from the event. Unfortunately, reporters weren't too happy about that:
Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, who has not held a press conference in nearly four weeks of campaigning, on Tuesday banned reporters from her first meetings with world leaders, allowing access only to photographers and a television crew.
CNN, which was providing the television coverage for news organizations, decided to pull its TV crew, effectively denying Palin the high visibility she had sought...
Those sessions and meetings scheduled for Wednesday are part of the Republican campaign's effort to give Palin experience in foreign affairs. She has never met a foreign head of state and first traveled outside North America just last year.
The campaign told the TV producer, print and wire reporters in the press pool that follows the Alaska governor that they would not be admitted with the photographers and camera crew taken in to photograph the meetings. At least two news organizations, including The Associated Press, objected and were told that the decision was not subject to discussion.
http://news.yahoo.com/...
Let me be blunt. Sarah Palin disgusts me. There is a chance she might be this country's next Vice-President, and she has yet to do a press conference. At every turn, she limits press access and therefore the ability of the public to make an informed decision.
This time, it looks like her little stunt cost her the visibility and legitimacy she craves. Perhaps the McCain campaign's hissy fit yesterday regarding the media isn't helping.
UPDATE: They already flipflop:
TVNewser has learned all the networks were prepared to ban the use of pictures and video from Gov. Sarah Palin's meetings at the UN today. The ban was in protest of the McCain campaign's restriction on editorial presence.
We hear the networks had arranged for a pool camera to cover all the meetings, and at least three journalists were to be present as well (one print, one radio, one TV). Earlier today, the McCain campaign said it would allow just one editorial person inside. Later, the campaign limited it to a camera only.
Within the last few minutes, the campaign reversed course
http://www.mediabistro.com/...
Politico has more here: http://www.politico.com/...
The campaign’s reasoning was that there were not going to be questions or statements at the sprays, so they were only appropriate for photographers and cameramen.
The campaign also at first moved to bar CNN, the television network designated for pool duty, from sending its editorial producer – basically a hybrid print/video journalist – though the campaign budged when the network threatened to withhold its cameras as well.
With Palin’s first meeting set to begin at noon, that leaves the print reporters on the outs.
EDIT: WOW! First time on the rec list, thanks guys! While you're here, please check out my interactive media project!
http://www.pilseninteractivemediapro...
http://www.pilseninteractivemediapro...
http://www.youtube.com/...
UPDATE THREE: Would you look at that, Palin hurts McCain in more ways than one:
Colorado Poll
Barack Obama 51
John McCain 44
Sarah Palin's popularity with Colorado voters over the last couple weeks has plummeted, and as it has Barack Obama has opened up his biggest lead yet in a PPP survey of the state.
http://publicpolicypolling.blogspot....
UPDATE 4: Wow, the CNN producer's meeting with Palin and Karzai lasted for.. 29 seconds:
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.
http://www.politico.com/...
Incredible.
The full press pool later gets... 15-20 seconds:
Later, McCain-Palin press representatives chalked up the restrictions to a "mix-up, a miscommunication among staff." The full pool — a print and wires reporter, along with a television producer — was then allowed in to observe Palin’s meeting with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe for 15-20 seconds.
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/