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A close friend just emailed me a photo of Obama shinning Palin's high heels - how come I haven't seen this picture in the N&R?

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« One more note on the Obsession DVD | Main

The Palin blackout
The news media is pushing back on the McCain-Palin efforts to shelter Gov. Palin's from questions from the press. (In case this post paints me as a left-wing nut, I will note that Fox News is reporting it, too.)

JR, from what I'm hearing your printing only negative letters to the editor about Palin, now that's not fair and balanced (FOX). As a matter of fact I bet your getting many many more positive letters your just not printing. Beau

I haven't seen much of Biden either. Are Dems keeping him under wraps too?

JR,
Perhaps the media coverage of DNC and its dominance in comparison to RNC has alot to do with Palin's few visits with the press. I agree with Beau-how about posting the positive letters of McCain/Palin? I know you have them because one of them is mine! maggie

John, if I were making the decisions within the McCain campaign, I would probably also shield her from reporters' questions.

Remember that Hillary Clinton was able to do this for the longest time with nary a peep of protest.

The fact is that McCain has ample reason to believe that Palin would face gotcha/stick-it-in-your-face questions if unfettered access was granted. The Charlie Gibson interview is a very recent memory.

We also need to remember that Palin is not the presidential candidate, although the MSM wants to treat her as if she is.

John, if I were making the decisions within the McCain campaign, I would probably also shield her from reporters' questions.

Remember that Hillary Clinton was able to do this for the longest time with nary a peep of protest.

The fact is that McCain has ample reason to believe that Palin would face gotcha/stick-it-in-your-face questions if unfettered access was granted. The Charlie Gibson interview is a very recent memory.

We also need to remember that Palin is not the presidential candidate, although the MSM wants to treat her as if she is.

Oh, I know why they're doing it, Joe. I think it underestimates the candidate and insults the public.

I don't recall that Hillary refused to answer questions from the media for such a long period of time. I also don't know why Palin should be afraid of questions anymore than any other politician.

As to the issue of her not running for president...she is running to be a heartbeat away from the presidency. That seems to me to be ample reason for wanting to know her views on all topics.

Beau and Maggie, we run the letters we get.

There is a feverish level of attention being paid to Palin, and some appear determined to try to trip her up. Indeed, there has almost been a media frenzy since she was selected. She is giving MSM interviews, including Katie Couric tonight; and she is participating in a televised debate. There has been much less of a voracious appetite for anything related to Joe Biden, even though he offers a past that is fertile for exploration.

Her views are not really the issue. As the vice-presidential candidate, she is expected to adopt and reflect the views of the party nominee. She is supposed to subjugate her own views when they vary from those held by McCain.

Well, of course, there is a media frenzy. She was a national unknown until a month ago and now she could be vice president. She's given twotwo interviews, both one-on-one. She is giving a third one-on-one to Couric. Hardly access to the media or the public.

Biden's past is well-documented and he's been a national figure for years. He also has met the press many, many times.

I'm surprised that you think her views are not the issue. If McCain wins, won't she have his ear? Isn't it important to know how she stands?

It really depends on the administration precisely how influential the VP will be. Palin will apparently be given duties in some circumscribed, specific policy areas. We have a fairly good idea of what her views are, and are learning more through the interviews and the debate.

Biden may have been a national figure for years, but the average citizen probably knows little about various aspects of his past-- and those that did know may have forgotten.

Palin matters most if McCain dies or becomes incapacitated over the next four years-- a relatively small possibility, not necessarily a likelihood. She would likely have time to gain more breadth of knowledge on national issues in the meantime.

When Gerry Ferraro-- who had no executive or foreign policy experience-- was nominated, the NY Times editorialized in 1984 that we have such a wonderful system that allowed people like Ferraro to learn more on the job. Clinton, GWBush, Reagan and Carter all were former governors who ascended directly to the presidency without national experience or direct foreign policy experience. They ascended to the presidency, not the vice presidency. We need some perspective.

I'm not arguing her qualifications, Joe, just her unwillingness to talk about them.

Ideas and beliefs without the ability to communicate and defend them when called upon are just personal feelings. The true mark of intelligence is making people understand what and why you believe something. They do not need to agree, but they do need to understand.
If you cannot address the media and make a proper showing, you have no business being the potential vice president.
I am a McCain supporter and think choosing a woman as his Vice Presidential nominee was genius. However, if you have to hold her hand and coddle her, I may have to change my opinion from genius to foolish.

I think the issue at this point is one of trust. If McCain's people felt they could trust the media not to abuse the opportunity to ask questions, they would not have taken this position.

The question right now is what factors have led to those feelings of distrust, and whether those feelings are legitimate. Yes, in an ideal world in which the national media is objective and behaves in an unbiased fashion, she should-- and would-- probably be made available for questions regularly. But we do not live in that world. So McCain's people have taken a position that admittedly appears defensive. But I think it is the right decision under the circumstances.

The media did not turn bias overnight. If she was not polished enough to answer loaded questions, or at least turn them into an opportunity to dictate her stance on a totally unrelated issue, she should not have been offered the job.

Just imagine if Palin has talked about President Roosevelt going on TV in 1929. It would have been the end of the world.

Stuart Taylor is right.

http://www.nationaljournal.com/njmagazine/openingargument.php

When the mainstream media loses Stuart, it's not a good thing.

Your double standard at play again , John..

Reporters banned from Biden's meeting with foreign leaders

Thanks, guys. I assume your pointing out a time when another candidate didn't speak with the press means that you support Gov. Palin's decision.

The difference in my mind is that Palin has now answered questions about her candidacy three times. On the other hand, it's hard to get Biden to shut up.

What is unclear to me, Fred and Brian, is why you are content not to hear from her more often.