Sarah Palin’s Press Shyness Continues
By Justin Gardner | Related entries in 2008 Election, McCain, Media, Palin
“It is now 24 days since she was announced as a potential president of the United States next January and she still hasn’t given a news conference or has any plans to hold one. This black-out of all serious press access has never happened in modern American political history before.”
- Andrew Sullivan writing today in a post about Palin’s religious views on the End-Times.
For a campaign talking about reform and transparency, I’m continually amazed that they’re treating access to Palin like this. It’s completely counterintuitive because the more they do it they more folks are coming to the conclusion that McCain is scared that she won’t be able to stand up to the scrutiny.
And really…Sean Hannity? Do they not see how laughably unserious that made them look? And then Katie Couric as a followup?
I’m telling you all, they do this at their own peril. They may think they can hide her and run out the clock, but every day she hasn’t been in front of the press gauntlet is yet another day her credibility takes a body blow.
Oh well…
This entry was posted on Monday, September 22nd, 2008 and is filed under 2008 Election, McCain, Media, Palin. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
September 22nd, 2008 at 10:21 am
Justin… you may have stumbled upon the perfect picture to go along with this story… !!
Agnostick
[email protected]
September 22nd, 2008 at 10:43 am
I think she needs to speak with the media.
For someone running to be a heartbeat away from President of the United States
I do not feel comfortable with her refusal. It makes me question her more and more because I feel like she is undoubtedly unqualified or she has much in her past she is trying to hide.
September 22nd, 2008 at 11:01 am
I ran a google search looking for “news conferences” that were held by “potential president” Biden since Sen. Obama chose him as his VP running mate.
Could not find any reference to any news conference that Biden has held…..
Selective outrage, perhaps??
September 22nd, 2008 at 11:07 am
Far be it from me to redirect anyone’s selectiveness, but…
Biden Is No Stranger To The Media.
Opening paragraph:
As of today, Barack Obama’s running mate, Joe Biden, has done over 80 interviews with local and national media since the Democrats held their national convention late last month.
September 22nd, 2008 at 11:10 am
its funny how you heard more about Palin than McCain who is running for president here? all i hear from Obama is he wants my change but im not going to give it to him its my change
September 22nd, 2008 at 2:03 pm
When I read this post, all I could think of what what it would have been like 2008 years ago if there were blogs:
My impression continues to be that the most wishful of the liberal criticisms of Palin just aren’t sticking. At all. I hadn’t realized that one could hone tone deafness to such a fine point, but there it is. It’s pretty comical given how favorable the media coverage of Obama has been, by and large.
September 22nd, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Andrew Sullivan. Right. The man is rapidly anti-Palin to the point of absurdity. And I say that as someone who doesn’t like Palin.
Also, I don’t think McCain’s “blackout” strategy is going to be a significant issue.
September 22nd, 2008 at 3:34 pm
Rich, Kranky,
Just so I am clear here, are you saying you are OK with Palin not talking to anyone and we will just take whatever we get for VP if we elect McCain?
If you think the media is over doing it, I can stretch a little and get that, but if you are saying, “Well, she talked with Gibson, Kouric, and Hannity and that is all I need to know” then I’m stunned.
While I often disagree with you, I at least respect your positions as conservative thinkers, but if you are happy with the way McCain has been hiding Palin, your being foolish.
September 22nd, 2008 at 4:17 pm
This is true, but I share his complete and absolute befuddlement as to why they’re doing it and why people aren’t furious about this. How do you hide somebody from the press who could be the leader of the free world? It’s insane.
September 22nd, 2008 at 4:26 pm
Anyone catch Sullivan on the latest Bill Maher program? Yowza!
September 22nd, 2008 at 7:02 pm
it’s only insane to a sane world–the right has gone completely nuts if they expect anyone to take them seriously with the campaign they are running
September 23rd, 2008 at 7:30 am
I’m sure Biden would hold daily news conferences if someone would just give him a podium.
As for Palin, I imagine they’re holding her back because she’s not prepared to answer a barage of questions — kinda like spending a high draft pick on a talented player but then not playing them for the first part of the season. You don’t want early mistakes to make later success more difficult. You want to make sure they’re prepared.
She’ll have to get out there more before the election but I think the only people seriously disturbed by how she’s being held back are people who wouldn’t like what she said even if she gave daily news conferences.