Reporters Spar With McCain Press Aides Nicolle Wallace, Brooke Buchanan (VIDEO)

Clearly not all reporters are enamored with John McCain's press operation.

Early Wednesday, the Fox affiliate in St. Louis posted video of an awkward, testy exchange between several reporters and McCain's senior press aides -- Brooke Buchanan, the national press secretary, and Nicolle Wallace, the former White House communications director.

"I think there was an attempt by somebody in your staff to take a look at the shot, and I have never, ever had anybody at any organization..." a peeved station staffer told Wallace before being interrupted.

"Really? You've never done anything at the White House?" she replied. "I was at the White House for seven years and we looked at every shot." The staffer pushed back, "Not at our shots," while his colleague asked Wallace, "Which White House?" She refused to answer, saying it didn't matter. He replied, "Oh yes it does!" Wallace told him he looked "agitated."

Later, another reporter asked the McCain aides for their names. Buchanan responded, "Why does that matter?" and asked sharply, "Do we have a problem here, because if -- we may want to reschedule for another day..."

A compelling look at the sausage-making behind presidential candidate interviews.

Update: Some more details on the reporters in the video, from a reader: "The Fox (KTVI) reporter in the blue shirt with his back to the camera is Charles Jaco. The NBC (KSDK) reporter sitting next to him is Mike Owens. The last person standing up asking for names is Mike O'Connell from CBS (KMOV)."

Comments

[Gma11]

This is the attitude we can expect if McCain should get into the White House. The "aw shucks" routine is just that - a routine.

[ICanHasDemocracy]

this s nothing new- anybody who's ever done an interview with a ceo gets the same runaround- flies buzzing around bs trying to make themselves look important. Pure posturing.

[JadedAggie]

The best part is this happened in Missouri. It's not a good idea to be making enemies with local stations in a swing state.

[BBackSoon]

Can anyone find out if these ‘Ladies’ graduated from Christian Colleges within the last 5 years? They seem to be fairly young.

[lynnn]

I was thinking that.

[bigbenny]

dudes . . . try the Google. I did and neither Brooke Buchanan or Nicolle Wallace graduated from religious colleges.

[rich3324]

He works for FOX. I thought they all got the memo, softball questions for McBush.

[JadedAggie]

He's local news affiliate. This is the reason why people generally trust local news more than national news.

[Marlyn]

"people generally trust local news more than national news."

But not me. Here in San Diego the local news is TOTALLY in the tank for the GOP.

[normathumb]

Jaco and Owens are prickly pro's. Pretty much Owens whole carreer is in St Louis. Jaco, of course, was an international reporter whose rep grew out of Gulf War One. He was in Bagdad when the bombs started raining.

[bigfro]

Sausage

[poppyseed]

Those FOX affiliate staff showed more professionalism and integrity and a willingness to stand up to the bullying tactics of McCain campaign (threatening to pull access, cheap shot) than ALL of the current celebrity MSM McCain flacks Mark Halperin and Andrea Mitchell have shown in years.

Frankly, I think it would do a world of good if the FOX affiliate had called the bluff of the doublemint twins and scratched the intervew. And if in each little station in every county across the country did the same thing because HELLO! folks, they're giving McCain free publicity and the McCain folks threaten to pull their candidate from a free shot at media to punish the reporters?

[camipco]

I don't get this. What is "looking at the shot" and why would the McCain campaign want to do it, and why would the station not want them to do it, and who's correct, is it standard practice or not?

[normathumb]

The McCain clerk wants to approve the picture, (camera shot ), and is claiming that the White House approves all pictures This is preposterous. It is absolutely ridiculous to claim such a thing, even with the current junta. Were it true, it would indicate much more collusion then is currently imaginable.

[BADEN]

Buchanan..­.Buchanan.­..that name rings a bell...is she related to PAT "TAKE NO PRISONERS" BUCHANAN?

Nasty little nit, isn't she?

[trollsbwild]

Bingo! So when you watch Pat on MSNBC, remember where his bread is buttered.
Nice couple, huh?

[ceu]

She might be a relation, but she's not his daughter, as Pat Buchanan and his wife, Shelley, have no children.

[liberaldemdave]

my very wise parents always told me that, right or wrong, i would be judged by the people with whom i associate. this clip speaks volumes, imho.

[LittleSanityLeft]

Absolute control of the message is the goal and paramount especially for a MSM that consistently interjects opinion and bias into 'balanced' reporting in order to bolster news stand sales. While McCain's assistants have gone overboard in terms of wanting to look at the shot, I really can't say that their edginess isn't justified. Same goes for Obama. The press simply can't be trusted to get it right. There's no money in getting it right all the time.

[Ramirez]

What liberal media?

[Grunty1]

Are you finally realizing that has been a sham for decades?

[Speakchic]

Wow! If that's any look into what the press has to deal with from McCain's people I'm sure they're not pleased.

Just testy and rude!

[Muzikal203]

Uhh, why is this relevant to anything? Other than showing the bad attitudes of McCain staffers?

[GhostNyc]

Typical Bush influenced G.O.P press operation. Where rules of fair journalism are thrown out and the propaganda machine takes over.