McCain Freezing Out Press On Campaign Trail

John McCain has historically courted and cultivated relationships with reporters of the traveling press corps, so much so that BBC's Katty Kay once referred to the press as McCain's "base." That may be changing, according to a report from Michael Shear of the Washington Post, who observes that McCain's "new press strategy" is to "avoid them":

McCain today held a 10-minute press conference, complete with podium, microphones for the questioners, network-quality audio and a camera for a local television station, which allowed CNN to carry it live.

And where was the national press corps?

Sitting on the runway 27 miles away, having been ferried to McCain's charter plane, totally unaware that a press availability was about to take place until one of the handful of "pool reporters" sent an e-mail alert.

Shear speculates that McCain's shift in his stance toward the press may have something to do with his campaign's recent acquisition: "The new approach may reflect the growing influence of the newly-powerful Steve Schmidt, a top adviser and protege of Bush political guru Karl Rove, who was famous for his desire to control the press's access to his candidate."

But! If you are willing to be a dedicated flack for the McCain campaign, it's a different story entirely. David Corn explains:

During a July 1 McCain campaign call featuring Senator Lindsey Graham and Orson Swindle (who was a Vietnam POW with McCain), only two questions were taken--both from conservative bloggers. The first came from Ed Morrissey, who asked Graham and Swindle, "Can you explain the significance of John McCain's command experience in the Navy...as well as whatever leadership he has shown in the Senate....and can you address...that Barack Obama doesn't have any executive experience at all?" The next query came from Matt Lewis. Referencing retired General Wesley Clark's recent comment that McCain's military service and POW experience did not qualify him to be president, Lewis asked Graham and Swindle if Clark's remark was part of "a concerted effort by the Obama campaign, or can liberals simply not keep themselves from attacking the military?" Then the call was over.

Corn asks: "Had it been merely a coincidence that the only questioners had been rightwing bloggers who had served up soft balls?" Naturally, we have no idea! But that trademarked "straight talk" is becoming a notably scarce commodity.

Comments

[sytgrl]

Will the press corp write a mean letter to McCain demanding complete access to the candidate like they did to Obama? I guess I won't hold my breath...

[Zhonni]

A press conference is different from a PRIVATE MEETING!!!

That meeting NEEDED to be PRIVATE!

[realtalk]

McCain's mental health is deteriorating (yes that is possible, even with his limited mental capacity), and McCain's campaign staff is trying to hide that McCain he is losing it, so they are doing everything they can to keep McCain from the press.

People need to realize that it is very dangerous that we may elect John McCain, who is on the verge of being senile. A John McCain is a warmongering, senile man. John McCain is a disaster waiting to happen!!!

[ThermoChemist]

"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt". -- Abraham Lincoln

McCain is probably borrowing a page from Bush's play book. Bush has the record for the least number of press conferences of any modern President. The reason is most probably because his handlers don't want his ignorance and arrogance to constantly be on display (and be put up to potential scrutiny).

With McCain's recent botched Iran "joke", lame economic policy explanations, and policies eerily reminiscent of the unfavorable current President, he is probably avoiding the press to:

- avoid continually putting his foot in his mouth
- give him time to think about how best to "flip flop" on any previous issue he's mentioned
- adhere to "Absence makes the heart grow fonder". IF he lays low, the public will adore him when he shows to make comments
- give the public time to forget all his current speaking mishaps (which shouldn't be too long; given the attention span of most Americans)

[Actionmac]

Stop whining mcsame said they are going to have to EARN their way... translation: write favorable stories about mcsame elevating him above O"s position or no access.

[Clarabell]

Maybe that's a good thing -- the best thing that could happen is if the media would butt out altogether and let the truth come out without their filters and pundits giving a free ride to the swiftboaters for the candidate of their choice. Thinking that they merely have to "wake up" misses their agenda completely. The problem is they are awake and they are feeding crap to whomever will listen.

[bogues]

I watch of lot of news and I have noticed an undeniable change in the way the media are reporting the campaigns. Matthews on MSNBC seems to be going out of his way to mis-interpret pretty much everything Obama says. He also seems hell-bent on making the american people think Obama is arrogant and cocky. I watch Obama as much as I can and I see nothing that would bear that out. Matthews treats the McCain stories as blips on the screen and makes light of things that he would nail Obama for.

[Actionmac]

tweety still mad about the "guns and religion" remark. He would like nothing more than for PA to go red in November so he can say Obama's "guns and religion" remark lost PA for the Dems.

Yes it's that simple...

[SMP]

along with CNN and others....­..Not one person on CNN said a word about McCain and his ..Lets kill Iranians with cigaretts.­.........b­ut..Jesse Jacksons blip has aired on cnn every hour since 330 today. and as far as Hillary voting opposite Barack....­so what...she isnt the nominee...­and not a word about McCain not even showing up to vote today.....­......lets get real people....­OUR COUNTRY NEEDS HELP

[calijon]

hopefully the media wakes up but i doubt it. looks like the people are going to have to go this election alone.

[InfinteShibumi]

Yep. The media never gave McCain :what-for" when he repeatedly confused Sunni with Shia and terrorists for insurgents. One of the biggest gaffes, ever.

[IowaKid]

Maybe I'm being paranoid but doesn't it seem rather strange Monday the Iraq Prime Minister comes out and ask to a timeline for the troops to come home, this morning we learn that the US Embassy was attacked in Turkey but no americans were killed, Iran shoots off it test missles and then low and behold this after on MSNBC now has an article titled "US reopens $35 billion aerial tanker bidding. Is it my imagination or are these fear tactics of the right wing. Why doesn't the media and corporate american just come out and say McSame is going to be your president rather you like it or not.

[bayside]

I would like to know who those 27 reporters are working for.. If they are going to foxify the news I will avoid those TV and newspapers­..

[IowaKid]

Watch out McSame that temper is going to show and people will really see who you are.

[noamjunior]

this is good strategy for the GOP
Fewer members of the press around means fewer people to hear when McCain jokingly threatens to kill Iranians, mixes up sunni and shia, or is telling another whopper about the ecconomy and his self- admitted lack of knowledge.

[smags72]

Why would it make any difference, they don't report that sh*t anyway!

[surfcitysteven]

Yesterday, they harrassed a little old lady with a sign that said McCain=Bush. Had her charged with trespassing. McCain appears to be a coward in his old age if he can't even defend himself from little old ladies.

[Mojane]

Pray this is true. Maybe the press who has been in bed with him for years will start feeling the hurt of being tossed out of the room and begin some truth telling on the little jerk.

[smags72]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! That is the biggest joke I've heard lately.... they'll still kiss his a** I bet.

[ObserverinVancouver]

Maybe not. The media are more fickle than teen-aged girls. One of the reasons they are so in bed with him is that they like the way he treats them (access, invites to barbecue, etc.). If he stops being nice, they may too.

[ObserverinVancouver]

Re my comment below, the "they" I was referring to as being in bed with Sen. McCain are the media, not teen-aged girls. Sorry for the lack of clarity.

[TXOBAMAGIRL73]

The press is not his problem. He has been a media darling and they have willingly been spoon fed all of this "straight talk express" and never calling him out when the straight talk became not so straight, but very much in line with the Presidents failed policy.So now they are his enemy and should be kept away, because even they can't fudge over all of his short comming as candidate. The reality is that J. McCain allowed himself to become the person we see before us and so the call "maverick" has sold his status as a maverick for his own ambition.

[luckyoldson]

Just a few minutes ago McCain said he voted to label Iran a terrorist organization when in fact the vote was to label those who supplied Iran with arms, etc. as terrorists. He also said Obama didn't even vote, but neglected to say why: Obama didn't vote because he saw it as nothing more than saber rattling with no teeth, and voted instead for another bill that would label actual organizations such as the Iranian Guard as terrorists.

The man is a flat out liar.