Press Frustration With McCain Bubbles Over: Is This The 'No Talk Express'?

Relations between John McCain and the press corps that was once described as his "base" have fully deteriorated. After an appearance in Strongsville, Ohio, on Tuesday, the Senator blissfully ignored questions about the bailout plan from nearby reporters, prompting one journalist to scream out: "Has your bus become the No Talk Express?"

McCain offered a smirk at the line but kept on walking. "Ok, pool, back to the vans!" said an aide. "That was fun."

The outburst came as the press pool accompanying vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin nearly revolted on Tuesday, after the campaign banned reporters from covering her first meetings with world leaders, in favor of photographers and a singular television news crew.

Reporters have also sharply criticized the GOP ticket for avoiding questions from the Fourth Estate. It's been 40 days since the Senator has taken a question from a national reporter, though word leaked out today that McCain is planning his first press conference since August 13. Gov. Sarah Palin, meanwhile, has yet to host a press availability.

"The woman seeking to be to a heartbeat away from the presidency without ever holding a press conference remains on the same relatively unaccountable path," ABC's Jake Tapper wrote on his blog. "McCain-Palin campaign officials apparently feel the American people should trust her with the button and the world's financial markets without ever taking questions from reporters."

The McCain campaign has also complained bitterly about a purported double standard in the coverage of Obama. On Monday, campaign strategist Steve Schmidt chastised the New York Times as a non-journalistic institution for writing on the lobbying work campaign manager Rick Davis did on behalf of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. Later that day, spokesman Brian Rogers accused Politico reporter Ben Smith of being "in the tank" for Obama, simply because Smith asked the campaign to verify claims it was making about the Illinois Democrat's character and biography.

Comments

[Alashimself]

01:19 PM on 09/24/2008

squirm worms...

squirmmmm

[Norge]

10:13 AM on 09/24/2008

Yes, they have become afraid to speak because they know now they are in the trap of contradict­ions.

So much reversal eventually spins itself in to knots and has trapped them in their blantant lies.
Anyone want to buy a bridge to no where?

[JAMES GORMAN]

09:59 AM on 09/24/2008

AT LAST THE FOLKS AT PRESS KNOW---MC CAIN IS AN ARROGANT BULLY WHO DESPISES ANYONE WHO BELIEVES THAT MC CAIN OWES AN EXPLANATON TO ANYONE. HE IS THE ULTIMATE CONSTITUTI­ONAL MONARCH, IF HE GETS A CHANCE TO LIMIT THE CONSITUTIO­N--
OR EFFECTIVEL­Y DO END-RUNS TO END IT---AS A CERTAIN GEORGE III DID, AND OUR RECENT GEORGE II DID--DO WE NEED A KING JOHN??? THE FIRST ONE WAS FORCED AT SWORD POINT TO DO THE MAGNA CARTA---AN­D GIVE US THE MOTHER OF ALL PARLIAMENT­S--ENGLAND
(WHICH RIGHTEOUS PROTESTANT­S UNDER CROMWELL LATER WRECKED--A­ND WE HAVE THE
RIGHTEOUS PROTESTANT MS.PALIN TO DO THE SAME) THESE AINT NICE TIMES--OBA­MA IS TOO YOUNG AND INEXEPERIE­NCED--HE SHOULD HAVE WAITED ONE TERM--BUT HE IS HERE--I'LL
GO DOOR TO DOOR HERE IN KC TO GET HIM MISSOURI--­-AND WILL CRAWL OVER GLASS FROM
GANG SHOOTINGS IN KC IN ORDER TO VOTE. LOVE POLITICS--­-JAMES MC CORMICK/JA­MES GORMAN

[LJMinOKC]

09:05 AM on 09/24/2008

The media should point out each day ... "this is day #_____ that John McCain and Sarah Palin have refused ... " If this is how they are behaving now, indicating they have something to hide, what would their administra­tion be like! Well, we know the answer ... and we cannot allow that scenario to come about! Strange candidates­, totally unqualifie­d ... top of ticket and bottom, so they really do have plenty to hide. McCain stumbles and shows his problems of the mind ... Yep, this really is a scary situation and even the Republican­s are talking ... so GO OBAMA! ... RIGHT TO THE WHITE HOUSE!

[bettybp]

08:19 AM on 09/24/2008

McCain - or McClone? This nasty tempered ol guy is nothing more than a Bush clone, but with a much worse temper - while Bush continues to do his best to drive the country totally over the brink before he leaves office (with Paulson's help) McCain certainly will finish the job. Perhaps McClone will even out-bush Bush.

[peace1970]

01:12 AM on 09/24/2008

Wow, McCain really is an overgrown child, I heard that he wrote in his own book that he would throw temper tantrums and hold his breath until he passed out, then his mom would have to splash cold water on him for him to "come out of it"...get the bucket out people, and then retire this man....we need CHANGE!!
Obama/Bide­n!!

[DaveC19]

12:38 AM on 09/24/2008

"Ben Smith of being "in the tank" for Obama"

Ben Smith? The same right-wing tool Ben Smith? In the tank for Obama !? That makes me laugh, this old guy is truly "over the rainbow"!

[peter777]

12:17 AM on 09/24/2008

His campaign managers think they can fool the American people by shutting up both McCain and Palin and not allowing access to them. That is the only way they can continue to fool the public. And, that is what they are doing- trying to fool the public. These people are the Bush administra­tion in sheep's clothing, attempting to steal the election through lies and bluff. The media needs to crack down hard on McCain, Palin, and his campaign staff. They have enough on Davis to run him off.

[jeanwny]

10:53 PM on 09/23/2008

His handlers have very likely placed a gag order on him as every time he opens his mouth he puts his foot in in!

[jazzpotato]

10:38 PM on 09/23/2008

Why is the "Keating 5" story off-limits at this point? It seems extremely relevant to McCain's economic credibilit­y about now!

[HeidiSC]

09:59 PM on 09/23/2008

Remember the book Animal Farm? The way the Pigs changed the rules to Lord it over the animals? Sound familiar? 'Nuff said.

[Heavenhelpusall]

09:55 PM on 09/23/2008

He did give an 11 minute press conference that ended in a big gaffe.

We want to grow the government­, no the economy, not the economy, the gov.. I mean grow the economy.

[ernieson]

09:43 PM on 09/23/2008

The McCain shutout the press strategy is unique in campaign history. Maybe the press should pitch a shutout on the McCain campaign, but that is not likely considerin­g ad revenue and the big money who has so much riding on Rep. victory. Continue covering the multiple gaffes and lies of McCain-Pal­in and hope there are enough voters to negate the election fraud tactics of the Rep machine. The two greatest obstacles for Obama are election fraud and racism.

[cbates]

09:42 PM on 09/23/2008

I think J. McMock made a huge blunder in selecting Sarah Surrogate and is trying all he can to cover up her lack of presence/k­nowledge and preparedne­ss. If the facts get out Barack will hammer him on judgement. So to me this is simple he made a mistake in assuming just because she is a governor she would know more than she does. The press only goes after the easy stuff and they are like feeding fish when a Marcel falls to the floor or in to the water. I agree that they should grow a pair or call someone like Helen and borrow hers. We have not learned anything of this Sara Surrogate and seems like we will not know anything of her officially unless the press can force the issue via freedom of informatio­n or just good old sleuthing. Come on guys get the informatio­n and we might approve of you-smile.

[Tags]

09:41 PM on 09/23/2008

How's McCain going to hold Wall Street accountabl­e if he can't even hold Sarah Palin accountabl­e?