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Demand A Palin Press Conference!
Recommend this if you think that Talking Points Memo should join Andrew Sullivan and Christopher Hitchens in calling upon the major news and cable news networks to stop broadcasting Palin speeches until she holds a real press conference.
Two weeks ago, Sullivan wrote:
Today he points to Hitchens echoing the notion:
The MSM has completely rolled over when it comes to Palin. She has essentially waged a war of words with them, going so far as to flat out say in the debate that she wouldn't answer their questions. Given her complete ineptitude at handling unscripted media moments, it's almost understandable why Palin would want to stick it to the press like that. But what's unacceptable and inexcusable is the extent to which the networks are just bending over and taking it. Their feet should be held to the fire. And while this sort of pressure may not ultimately result in that elusive press conference actually taking place, it could at least help to direct attention to the issue and expose Palin to the public for the fraud that she is.
Two weeks ago, Sullivan wrote:
It seems to me that in the absence of a real press conference, the networks and cable news networks should simply cease broadcasting her speeches live and demand of every Republican guest that they explain this descent into anti-democratic territory. Bush and Cheney despise the press and despise the constitutional balances that restrict their dictatorial impulses. They don't recognize the rule of law as an impediment to the exercise of their power and they don't acknowledge any democratic input, apart from a single "accountability moment" every four years. And now they want to prevent the public's ability through the press to ask the toughest questions and toughest follow-ups even during that one "accountability moment".
This is how Putin behaves. It is anti-American. It has never been tried in modern times before. It is a chilling attack on an open society and the accountability of its leaders to the people they serve. The press has a duty to stand up against it - and to care more about the process than its own precious reputation in the mouths of Hannity, Steyn, Palin and the rest of them.
Today he points to Hitchens echoing the notion:
There seems no way of putting her in a forum where these points could be raised. So, continued media coverage of her appearances is no better than lending a megaphone to a demagogue, the better to amplify her propaganda.
The MSM has completely rolled over when it comes to Palin. She has essentially waged a war of words with them, going so far as to flat out say in the debate that she wouldn't answer their questions. Given her complete ineptitude at handling unscripted media moments, it's almost understandable why Palin would want to stick it to the press like that. But what's unacceptable and inexcusable is the extent to which the networks are just bending over and taking it. Their feet should be held to the fire. And while this sort of pressure may not ultimately result in that elusive press conference actually taking place, it could at least help to direct attention to the issue and expose Palin to the public for the fraud that she is.
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But I just saw a Palin presser the other day. Can't remember where, though. But the press asked her what she thought of McCain's debate performance, and whether she thought some parts of the country were more "pro-American" than others. Looked like a legit press conference to me - though I can't remember where....
October 20, 2008 10:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
The surest sign that the McCain camp has no confidence in Governor Palin's competence to run this country is that they are protecting her from the press and from being fully vetted.
They are using 'liberal, elite, media' and 'gotcha politics' phrases as completely unbelievable excuses for protecting her from being fully vetted merely a distraction because they know she is not ready to be president.
They are conceding that she is not qualified to run this country by doing this. This is all the proof we need. Clearly the McCain camp believes that she is not qualified to lead our country nationally or internationally. They do not believe that can even handle the american press. What more do you need to know america?
"If she can't handle the press, how can possible handle running this country, especially with all of the challenges we are currently facing." (I seriousy don't understand why no one ever says this!)
Are we going to pretend that foreign leaders won't be 'elite' (code for not towing the line with the McCain camp and their ideologies) or have anything 'gotcha' to say to her as president.
Don't give us that 'she just running for VP' argument.
We all know that based on McCain's age and health she will be more likely than any other VP in our history to have to serve as president.
I feel that we should definitely be calling the republicans bluff on Palin. We have let this slide for no reason whatsoever. Senator Obama mayb not feel it is appropriate for he or Biden to go after her but we absolutely can!!! This is our country and it does not belong in such imcompetent hands!
October 20, 2008 11:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
". . . they know she is not ready to be president."
_____
Huh!? Not ready to be PRESIDENT!?
This is about her not being ready to do PRESS CONFERENCES!
October 21, 2008 12:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's much better to constantly point out to people she can't handle/doesn't want to give a press conference than demand she give one.
Assuming, McCain/Palin lose in a couple of weeks, I wonder if she will follow through on her god-rhetoric and recognize that God didn't want her anywhere near the White House.
October 21, 2008 12:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
I actually think because we know that they will not grant a press conference... pressing the issue is a good way to bring 'attention' whereas 'pointing out'... is more passive and tends to be passed over most of the time.
Demanding or insisting on this issue is really just a way to bring attention to it as some have done regarding McCain's medical records.
October 21, 2008 1:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
"clearthinker" always lecture that we all sit on our ass and be passive, rather than risk offening anyone.
If one merely "points out" that Palin doesn't give press confrences, the response is essentially to say, "We don't do press conferences because liberal gotcha media, blah, blah, blah."
If one WANTS press conferences, even if only to PROVE she isn't ready to do press conferences, then one DEMANDS them. This bitch is not the EMPLOYER; she is in no position to legitimately DICTATE ANYTHING -- and it is INSULTING for to act as if we are to simply take it and kiss her ass.
She is an EMPLOYEE-WANNABE, APPLYING FOR THE JOB, and she is REQUIRED to answer OUR/THE EMPLOYER'S questions, or we'll find someone else WORTHY of the job.
October 21, 2008 12:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
It is amazing that the McP campaign has been able to get away with this without a general commentary from the MSM. The reality is , (from the networks position), that Palin is good theater. You are almost guaranteed an embarassing crowd scene or the candidate making a major gaff, (see: 'pro-American areas of the country'). It is the sad state of affairs in our current paradigm, where politics is just theater to garner ratings, (see: ad revenues). Meanwhile those of us who care about such things are left to blog on.
As an aside, regarding blogging, I find it really cool and interesting that Michelle Bachmann's opponent realized a windfall of $700K following her debacle with Chris Matthews on Hardball. I think this is an indicator of the importance of what transpires here at TPM and other blogs across the internet regardless of the coverage by the MSM.
October 21, 2008 2:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'd really like to see some high profile surrogates call her out on this, and specifically express it in terms of her being "afraid". Do it with an edge of humor, perhaps. "Is she kidding with this nonsense or what? I mean, seriously. If she can't stand up to the so-called "liberal elite east coast press corps", how are we supposed to believe she can stand up to Putin?"
October 21, 2008 5:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
Ain't gonna happen.
They only send her where she's popular. Pretty soon it's gonna hard for her to even return to Alaska.
October 21, 2008 10:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
We know it's not going to happen. The point is just to make the point in the media that it's ridiculous to pretend that she is ready to be president when she can't even handle the media...
October 21, 2008 10:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
Fine by me. Undermine her all you can, so she bites the dust and never reappears!
October 21, 2008 10:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
The point is to make the LEGITIMATE deamnd that she ANSWER QUESTIONS. How she responds is HER debacle to handle.
What matters is exposing her, one way or the other, as the incompetent fraud she is.
"clearthinking"s timorous whining against being other than inept notwithstanding.
October 21, 2008 12:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Does McCain do press conferences? During the primaries Obama had some pretty tough questions pitched to him. McCain got coffee and chocolate covered donuts with sprinkles from his fawning admirers in the press. Palin could take the challenge knowing that Hugh Heffner's current girl friend could answer the questions they would ask. Or to our astonishment, she might just play it safe and decline the press conference.
But I totally agree with the concept.
October 21, 2008 10:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
Demanding a Palin press conference is wasting time better spent talking about the economy, the war in Iraq and a dozen other issues far more important. Palin is already in the process of self destructing. It would be poor form to interrupt her.
October 21, 2008 11:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
Exposing Palin as the incompetent fraud job-applicant she is is no more a waste of time than is exposing McSlimer's robocalls as being lies, and in some states illegal.
October 21, 2008 12:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
She's already been exposed. Her negatives are approaching 60%. Demanding a press conference now will not do anything to increase those negatives. In fact, demanding a press conference only serves to give the Palin folks a chance to attack the media and further appeal to the GOP base.
Furthermore, what would happen if Palin were to give a press conference and the result of said presser was judged (rightly or wrongly) to be a net positive for Palin? That's not a chance we need to take, which is why you won't see the Obama campaign wasting their time on this idea.
October 21, 2008 1:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
It is often said that the voter has a short memory. Just in case, in the event that is true, I want to keep her in front of the national media -- above the below-the-radar-incitements-of-the-racist-base -- as the best reminder that she is incompetent.
Wihin days she was apparently giving an interview and was handed a question from a third grader, "What does the Vice President do?"
Palin got it dead wrong.
I would rather that video clip be seen nationally than it be confined to a local TV station.
October 21, 2008 3:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
She will only answer questions or appear on Fox and CBN. Pathetic.
October 21, 2008 1:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes we need a press conference, daily. NOT. I think CNN is going to have an interview.
I saw the amount of campaign money going for BO/JB and thought what happened with that pastor's prayer. I guess the all mighty is upset for being used like that. Anyhow, I would prefer not to listen to SP as I think she doesn't make sense and her use of words are peculiar.
October 21, 2008 1:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Nothing requires that WE listen to Palin. What is necessary is for all those who don't yet get it -- which includes all of her supporters -- to see how stupid she is. That will make her all the more the last nail in McLame's coffin.
By contrast, her SNL appearance is likely to make her appear sympathetic, perhaps even intelligent if it doesn't allow her to open her mouth.
October 21, 2008 3:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sullivan and Hitchens are calling for a media boycott of Palin until she holds a press conference. Both are fairly conservative commentators. They are absolutely correct in saying that "continued media coverage of her appearances is no better than lending a megaphone to a demagogue, the better to amplify her propaganda."
The MSM has become little more than the stenographer for the Republican party. They usually repeat Repug talking points word for word with no analysis or criticism whatsoever. McCain has been hiding from the press too and he bans reporters from his or her plane that have the nerve to tell the truth about Crash McCain's lies.
I contacted Moveon.org about starting a petition to the MSM to cease coverage of Palin until she has a real press conference in which she actually responds to questions. Any other ideas?
I don't care if she has a press conference but she should not have her speeches broadcast live or even reported on if she cannot answer questions in a press conference.
October 21, 2008 2:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
For what it's worth, the people on the right feel the same way -- only it's about stenographing for the Dems.
Therefore: the truth must lie in between. (I will admit to throwing out FNC of this argument.)
October 21, 2008 2:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
The truth isn't "in between". The fact is that the mainstream media by-and-large reports what the powerful say, with little or no commentary or comparison of it with the facts. They do that almost exclusively for Republicans. It was the media, after all, that on its own made up smears about Gore, and despite repeated refutations of them, continued to repeat them anyway.
"Scandals" involving the Clintons -- "Whitewater," especially -- were proven to be phony, groundless -- and yet the media continued to report them as if true.
Nothing equivalent has happened with the Bush criminal enterprise. Torture is a war crime. Bush does it? Media "debates" "whether" it is "effective" -- not whether it should be used.
Clinton gets a blowjob? The media is up in arms wanting blood.
You're effort to interject a false equivalency is what FOX does. Is it because you're "fight phobic"? Or because you're a right-wing troll?
October 21, 2008 3:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Were watching television and reading newspapers 1998? Because your statement is patently not true. Yes, FNC and Drudge wanted blood, but the news media was trying to wade through the issue and not offend the FCC at the same time.
October 21, 2008 5:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
The right has been in power and they control the corporate media. So, you are wrong. The MSM has "vetted" every BS claim made about Obama and they parrot McCain's lies about Ayers constantly. The MSM doesn't report Palin's affiliation with a seccessionist party and they don't report McCain's close friendship with domestic terrorist G. GordonLiddy.
http://www.oliverwillis.com/2008/10/05/mccains-terror-connection-g-gordon-liddy/
They won't put Palin in front of reporters who just might ask her about leaving Wasilla millions of dollars in debt or about how she hired a Washington lobbyist to obtain millions in pork for Wasilla or about how she was for the bridge to nowhere until after Congress called it off but she still kept the money for Alaska. Palin's no reformer; she's just a far right wingnut. Maverick, my ass.
Palin and McCain are the worst pres/vp candidates since Bush/Cheney.
October 21, 2008 3:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks for the link to the Hitchens piece. He's actually making sense again. It's a freakin' outrage that McCain-Palin has gotten away with this; another reason why I was so glad that Colin Powell called her out as unqualified on Meet the Press.
October 21, 2008 4:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
To be fair, Palin did hold an impromptu 7 minute press conference with the reporters that hadn't been thrown off the plane for accurate reporting the other day.
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/10/17/politics/fromtheroad/entry4530307.shtml
But Palin wouldn’t even answer questions at the SNL press conference that ridiculed her continued refusal to hold a real press conference. Seven minutes of impromptu questions is not a real press conference. What a joke! All softball questions.
For a real press conference, you announce ahead of time that you’re going to stand at a podium and answer all questions. By scheduling it ahead of time, members of the media who may actually ask some tough questions have an opportunity to be there.
Sarah, why were you palling around with seccessionists at the Alaskan Independence Party convention this year? Don't you think advocacy of seccession is un-American, by definition?
October 21, 2008 4:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
FREE SARAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! When mean mccain lets her answer questions, she'll totally prove how she's the SMARTEST KEWLEST VP EVRRRRRRRRR! AND THEN SHE'LL TOTALLY WIN THE WHOLE ELECTION!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 21, 2008 4:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Way to spam a perfectly decent thread, Genghis!
October 21, 2008 5:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
FREE PALIN!
PLEASE, LET US DO ANYTHING WE CAN SO THAT SHE FINALLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE EXISTENCE OF THE PRESS BEFORE ELECTION NIGHT. I WOULD BE READY TO SIGN JUST ANY PETITION ON LINE. TO GIVE A PRESS CONFERENCE IS NOT A DEBATABLE OPTION, OR A SUPREME FAVOR, IT IS A DEMOCRATIC OBLIGATION. BUT THEN AGAIN, CONSIDERING HER RECORD IN ALASKA, IT SEEMS SHE DOES NOT GIVE A DAMN ABOUT DEMOCRACY.
October 21, 2008 4:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
There appears to be a gap between Sarah Palin and the news media. Palin was slow to grant interview and has still only done a few. She has also not really held press conferences, something that seems a bit unusual for a politician. She has evaded journalists’ questions and has complained about “gotcha journalism.” One of the few interviews Palin has done was with Katie Couric and she even complained about it then (http://www.observer.com/2008/media/interview-couric-palin-and-mccain-complain-gotcha-journalism).
Palin’s attitude toward the press seems to have angered some. This blog and its references express the idea that the media should boycott Palin until she grants a press conference. Some people seem to agree that Palin should be boycotted so that the media is not “lending a microphone to a demagogue” as Hitchens says, but do not necessarily think a boycott will be effective.
One of these people is Chip Scanlan, a senior faculty member of the Poynter Institute. Scanlan had this to say: “I agree with Hitchens. [Palin’s] She's a candidate for vice-president. She owes it to the American public, through their surrogates in the news media, to answer questions about her views, how she would handle the presidency, why she can't accurately describe the role of the vice-president, why she sought earmarks and now condemns them, among other things. We can't elect a stealth candidate. As for the media, there's no room for lap dogs, or sleeping dogs. These are serious times and if campaigns won't answer important questions by managing the press, then I believe the press should take action. McCain has kicked critics off his press plane. I'd say it's time for a boycott of press coverage, and I would include the Obama campaign in taking that step.”
But he does not think a boycott would really work. “Frankly, I don't think it would help,” he said. “She would just keep on slamming the media at staged events.”
It is hard to say whether a boycott would actually work. The only way to see may be to actually try it. It seems obvious that something must be done though.
October 24, 2008 8:02 PM | Reply | Permalink