When Gov. Palin met with Henry Kissinger and the presidents of Afghanistan and Colombia yesterday, only still cameras were allowed. No reporters, no video recorders, no microphones - nothing was to be brought in that could provide a record of what Palin said. In fact, the McCain campaign is consistently going to great lengths to keep Palin and the press separated. The press, it seems, is starting to take notice - and to cry foul. Campell Brown of CNN has even found a word for the campaign's close control of Palin's appearances - sexist. I think Brown makes a good point:
(h/t Feminsting)
Perhaps McCain doesn't want a running mate so much as he wants a poster veep for the 'small town values' crowd. What's needed is to let her speak to friendly crowds about the beliefs she shares with the demographic McCain seeks to woo, and then to keep her far away from anyone who will ask the sort of questions that might make voters consider whether or not someone's beliefs alone make them qualified to lead.
UPDATE: Even worse, it looks like Palin won't even be speaking for herself during the debates. According to the New York Times:
At the insistence of the McCain campaign, the Oct. 2 debate between the Republican nominee for vice president, Gov. Sarah Palin, and her Democratic rival, Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr., will have shorter question-and-answer segments than those for the presidential nominees, the advisers said. There will also be much less opportunity for free-wheeling, direct exchanges between the running mates.
McCain advisers said they had been concerned that a loose format could leave Ms. Palin, a relatively inexperienced debater, at a disadvantage and largely on the defensive....
McCain advisers said... they wanted Ms. Palin to have opportunities to present Mr. McCain’s positions, rather than spending time talking about her experience or playing defense.
Tip of the Hat to Jump off the Bridge for pointing this out, Wag of the Finger to the McCain campaign.
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8 comments:
I loved that video. It was perfect. It really is very insulting that the McCain camp keeps restricting Palin. My assumption is that it has much to do with the fact that, SURPRISE!, she's not actually as experienced and ready for the VP position as they've been trying to convince everybody of. But part of it, I'm sure, really is about the fact that she's a woman.
I just can't take much more of the McCain camp. They disappoint me more and more every day.
And just when I thought the McCain camp had annoyed me to my limit, we've got this: McCain is suspending his campaign b/c of the economic crisis
The theatrics really are amazing. Does this mean that if the economic crisis isn't over by Friday, McCain is skipping the debate? Hey - if it isn't over by November, is he suspending his candidacy? Come on McCain - forfeit!
OMG Habladora, I certainly hope so! I must say that when the news first broke and everyone just had "McCain Suspends Campaign" with no link or details, I was very hopeful. Damn...
I think we can do with a little Less help from McCain on economic issues.
I too think McCain should forfeit, you know.. "Country First".
Have you heard that now he wants to have the debate in place of the VP debate, and then have the VP debate "later" -- as in who knows when? Talk about giving no voice to Palin. This is starting to disgust me.
It's only starting to disgust you?! ;)
Isn't it obvious that's this is just ploy after ploy after ploy? What I don't understand is how we (people in general and the media/government specifically) are letting them get away with this? And how is it possible to ban press from important, politically-relevant interviews/discussions. What's the point of Sarah Palin having these meetings with national/international leaders if the public isn't allowed to know anything about them. Talk about back door politics.
And...I was still all worked up over the VP debate announcement and now this [McCain wanting to postpone his debate].
I'm glad Obama stated he'd be doing the debate anyway and, very smartly and subtly, hinted that McCain might not be ready to be president if he can't multitask.
That's a shame, i was really looking forward to seeing Palin "hold her own" at the VP debates (aka freeze as Biden dances verbal circles around her...) I thought for sure at least THEN everyone who doesn't yet will see her inexperience.
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