McCain Restricts Medical Records: Limited Access To Reporters, NYT Not Allowed

John McCain is scheduled to release 400 pages of medical records this Friday, after having promised to release the records for more than a year. Doing so on the Friday before Memorial Day makes this look like a classic document dump. To make matters even more controlled, McCain will only allow a limited number of media outlets to view the records. Notably absent from the list is the New York Times. Could this have anything to do with wrote the paper's controversial article about McCain's ties to lobbyist Vicki Iseman? The Washington Times reports on who will get to see McCain's medical records:

The McCain campaign has selected a handful of news organizations to review the records today in a conference room at the Copper Wynd Resort in Fountain Hills, Ariz., near the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale.

Reporters from all five major news networks -- CBS, ABC, NBC, CNN and Fox -- will be allowed to take notes from the records, as will wire reporters from the Associated Press, Reuters and Bloomberg news agencies. Just two print newspapers will be among the pool: The Washington Post and the Arizona Republic.

McCain campaign officials said yesterday that the high level of interest in the records meant they had to limit access by reporters

Update: Politico's Michael Calderone reports that the New York Times requested, but was denied, access to McCain's medical records:

"When we learned of the arrangements for the release this week, we made a number of very specific requests to be included and they turned us down," said Times political editor Richard Stevenson.

Asked about whether the aforementioned incidents have strained relations, and could be a factor, Stevenson said, "We've gone about doing our jobs the way we always do."

Stevenson added that the Times has requested medical records "for a very long time, predating the arrangements of this particular release."

Comments

[ramblingjohnny]

Somebody among those journalist would send it to NYT just to shove it up McBush @ss. You just don't frack with the press that way John or they gonna get you sooner or later!

[BillKen]

John seems to be a little childish, a quality that can be endearing in a child but only serves to remind me of that oversize kid in the WH. We don't need another immature adult to take the reins right now. He needs to give us all the full scoop and cut the game playing. We need to know he has what it takes to do the job and thus far the only quality he has that sticks out, is his ability to BS, something we've already had enough of for now. Will the real John McCain please standup and show us your warts and all. This guy is a potential employee and he needs to realize we're not bumkins but possibly his future employers.
He also needs to realize W IS THE LAST KING IN AMERICA, THERE WILL BE NO KING JOHNS. CLEAR,
CONCISE AND PROMPT ANSWERS ARE WHAT YOUR EMPLOYERS WANT TO HEAR, GET WITH IT
JOHN. Semper Fi

[mamacat]

After November, the NYT won't care if they get snubbed by this candidate.

[Sylmason]

He's his consistent arrogant, angry, mean, mentally deranged self. Who cares if the NYT gets a look at his doctored up medical records. If the records don't show his mental state..............some paid off doctor cooked the books. The man is certified crazy.................and is not mentally capable to be president. Can't wait for the first debate between that wacko and the cool Mr. Obama.

[kinnycut]

McCain isn't helping himself doing this with the New York Times. This just means the rest of America gets to see a mean spiteful old butt hole in action.

[zbig]

It's ironic: McCain had skin cancer so he can't go out under the sun. Obama is dark and ain't afraid to be out under the sun. So who'll people vote for: Mr. Vampire or tall, dark & handsome.

I'm going with the skinny guy with the funny name.

[americanwomaninpa]

I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

[Colmore]

McCain has the best health care taxpayer money can provide. These multi millionaires should be shopping around for their OWN healthcare, and stop leeching from the taxpayers. It costs us a bundle just for Cheney. Some people have no health care, yet their taxes pay for these rich people to have the very best. I wonder how many senior citizens could get the care that McCain gets? Some cannot afford the supplement insurance to Medicare. If politicians had to pay their own medical insurance, then maybe they would realise what the rest of us are complaining about. His pension from the navy should be paying for his health care. He is nothing but a welfare recipient when you get right down to it. Getting free health care when he could well afford to pay for it himself. We would have universal health care in no time if the politicians had the same raw deal as everyone else.

[Teritt]

Didn't the NY Times give McCain & Hillary their endorsements this year? So that's how you treat your 'friends'?

[zbig]

Only comic book buffs will understand this: the reason why McSame is hiding his med records: McCain = Ras Al Ghul

[JeanPaulSatire]

The McCain't campaign HAD to limit both the number of reporters and duration of access to those documents. After all, on many of them either the hand-scriven ink is faded to near nothingness, or the parchment is very brittle and easily damaged.

[BeyondGoodAndEvil]

LOL The carbon dating took it's toll.

[escapee]

We don't need no stinkin' medical records.... we need new blood! He's old and it has been the elders who have driven us into this ditch!! Time to pry their bony fingers off the controls and let the new generation take over!

Step aside McCain, we have a country that needs saving!!

[research]

Has McCain had a stroke? What is is mental aptitude?

[LeftLeanWing]

Why not just post them on the Web; we need to know if McCain has has hemorrhoids or erectile dysfunction.

[MsLiz]

Just electile dysfunction.

[jhoughton1]

McCain is a joke. He's not going to be president. Let's pray he's healthy so they don't have to go looking for someone else who can control his/her temper, keep his/her stories straight and live up to his/her own stated ethics.

[PioneerKing]

400 sanitized pages that no one is allowed to copy and, those who view the records are only allowed 3 hours and no access to their cell phones, lap tops or the internet while reviewing the records and only hand written notes - so fat chance of verifying data.
NYT's is better off not being a part of this farce.

[finally]

McCain had cancer surgery THIS YEAR, in February!!!! http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/5/23/143820/786

[thegreatgiginthesky]

Well McCain is proving to be just as vindictive as Bush. How refreshing.

[nellie]

Don't tell me his romance with the press is waning.

[mamacat]

The NYT is America's newspaper. Another unfortuneate example of petulant behaviour by Sen. McCain.

[Melissa]

America's newspaper? You could fool me.