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

[AnotherMike]

I guess we know who won't be seated in the special section of the Stutter Talk Express campaign jet...

[JoeBlough]

What better way to hide the truth. How many other "heroes" hide from the press?

[mlaiuppa]

So....we now have Bush III and Rove II.

Is there a Cheney II waiting in the wings?

[pfc1369]

ALWAYS!

[Hatchibakku99]

Be afraid. Be VERY afraid.
Oh, wait -- never mind. I don't want to sound like a Republican fear-monger!

[independentNproud]

Maybe this is in response to his embarassing performance on CNN's American Morning; continually dodging questions from John Roberts who refused to back down on the questioning. McCain's candidacy is nothing but an unadulterated insult to the American people!

[nirek]

nothing new here.

[dadw5boys]

HE SURE IS A POSER!!!!!!!!

GOT THAT HARDMAN LOOK DOWN TO POSE FOR THE PRESS.

[cunninghamr]

Take a look at this EXCELLENT new web ad from the DNC. McCain is flip-flopping all over the place about Iraq. Too bad the DNC won't be airing it on television. It really needs to see the light of day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eejYoz3Nl0

[Forester]

He's B A T S H I T with flashbacks. Be afraid of this loco motherf#####.

[elevando]

Forget this spin about the McCain flip-flop. Are you kidding me?

What are we going to do about holding Obama to his 16 month Iraq withdrawl commitment? If he moves on this, he will have completely undercut his base. This coming after his support of FISA is unbelievable.

Again, Americans don't want to vote for a celebrity, they want a public servent with integurity, something that Obama is lacking the last couple weeks. I can't believe how Obama completely used the far left, claiming he was about "change" and a new way of politics. He completely, unapologetically used us.

And I don't want to hear that Obama would be way better than McCain, especially when John Kerry was thinking about making McCain is VP choice in 04.

What are you even about, Obama?

Don't insult Americans by claiming they haven't been listening to what you've been saying. That is complete BS, so dont ram it down our throats.

[notthistime]

elevando - google all of Obama's comments on IRAQ withdrawals. It is consistent in every comment. Don't feel like reading his comments? YouTube it or go to barackobama.com and find all his statements there. You really have not been listening.

[Chazz27]

And you came here to plant this message for whom??? We are just a little too indignant.

[JC1c1]

First of all Obama has not changed his position on Iraq, I love how it still works, you know if you repeat something over and over, people still fall for it.

He stated back in the fall all of the issues that many dems are so upset about, by the way it is one of the reasons so many Independents liked Obama.

Oh and the McCain from four years ago, and the McCain now, well they are not alike at all. McCain sold out to the Bush machine. He used to be the one that stood up for what he believed in, then he kinda gave in. If the McCain from 2004 could see his current self, he wouldnt like him. I liked him four years ago. He had the guts to tell his party when they were wrong, he had the guts to stand up to Bush, now he just says how much lower do you want me to bend over.

I love how you take an article about how McCain is hiding it from the press, and try to turn into Obama. HMMM according to you he changed his view on Iraq, he hasnt. Look it up, dont look at sound bites, oh he is a celebrity, hmmm good enough for the great govenor of California.

You say Obama used the dems, how? Either you are a republican pretending to be a dem, or you are still ticked bc your candidate lost in the primaries.

[Hatchibakku99]

For those of you whining about Senator Obama's "shift to the right" -- PLEASE go back and research what he said about a withdrawal within 16 months after assuming the Presidency. HE HAS NOT SHIFTED. He said all along that it would be a CAREFUL withdrawal. At the time he said it, 16 months seemed like a reasonable time frame, but if that changes and there are increasing risks to withdrawing safely, do you want him to put our troops at risk just for the sake of keeping you happy? I want my President to use logic and common sense in his decisions -- not cave in to fairweather voters who threaten to throw a tantrum if they don't get their way.

[TchoupitoulasCanal]

I think what will end up happening now is McCain will just let the swiftboating begin in earnest and step back to allow them to do their thing without interruption. Then, he can stand aside looking doe-eyed and say "I can't control what they say......t­hey're not part of my campaign and the RNC would NEVER condone that......­"

[TrevorAlan]

This is getting good. One of his few real big assets was his relations with the press. Now he's chucking that overboard. Hee-hee.

He's going to get more nervous and punchy and really loose it soon.

[greginwva]

trevers's right I think.The only reason he's within 2 in todays gallop is his press pals.Regar­ding the bloggers question what where the words Johnny used to dismiss Kerrys combat record as a trump to george Bush.He more or less said Kerry is a war hero but Bush would be the better President.­Now his record is somehow more relevant to the job than Kerrys 4 years ago?

[ohiodem250]

I heard yesterday on Countdown that if a reporter writes bad stories about McCain they don't get to ride on the campaign plane or their access gets severely limited.

[barackobama4prez]

he can't deal with the press or criticism from supporters or opponents. Gramps is WEAK.

[mccabe49]

Does this sound familiar? Sounds just like GW Bush. And remember the 61 Year old librarian who got ticketed because she was outside with a sign that said Mccain=Bush. McCain does not want us to know the truth. He is just like Bush or maybe even worse.

[CosmicPolicy]

I believe McKain is suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. I also believe a lot of others are aftaid to say, they believe the same thing.

[GemNY]

This is awesome! Perhaps the Rhapsody with McCain will give way to a reflection of what each candidate brings to the table and the smoke and mirrors will finally drop.

Let's see if the dynamic changes at all. It would be interesting to see a summer of McCain actually being held to the erroneous statements and misjudgments that he makes.