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

[cbates]

If this man is elected President this country will really be in the dark about how things get done. He is refusing to inform folks about anything let alone his protection of the debitant are Barbie doll.

[twiggy2]

the issues are:

palin is being investigated for abuse of power .

she and her husband have violated court ordered subpoena's

mccain is obstructing justice, by interfering in the investigation.

isn't this illegal? i am 100% certain if barak obama's vp had done the same, he would not be the nominee, would he?

they are not allowing reporters to ask unscripted questions.

they are denying reporters access to her foreign policy improv's.

is the mccain palin ticket above the law?

have they rewritten the rules as we watch?

are they setting in motion the new standard for the press in the mccain /palin regime?

how far will they go?

what is next ?

[jrango]

Trickledown has hit the wall. The shining city on the hill (built on the broken bodies of the working classes) is now playing its end game. They have taken all the CASH and now they want all the tax revenue for the next couple of decades (kiss social security and medicare good-bye). How can the repub ticket speak to the press? They can't.

[Mihailo]

It's about time that the news media got angry at the outragous behavior of the McCain/Palin campaign, which essentially throws the kitchen sink at any reporter who attempts objective analysis, or creates the "culture of silence" to inquiries. They want you to report on what helps them, but will not submit to examination. Bottom line is this, if the media give a damn about the First Amendment and the reason it exists, they won't let McCain/Palin get away with this...bec­ause the public suffers. Their campaign is without credibility.

[mijoda]

The press would be justified in refusing to cover any McCain-Palin event that is not preceded by an opportunity to ask questions. In case anyone has forgot en, a "question" is "an interrogative expression often used to test knowledge.­"

[doctordoubt]

Key word, knowledge. Not sexist, just infirmation. Apparently either no knowledge, or no knowledge.

[deadsinktohell]

Palin: "a hybernating cave barracuda.­"

[deadsinktohell]

Anybody in the Republican party give a crap about freedom of the press, or anything like that? McSame should just carry around a portable stone wall (like the ones in Israel) and just place it on the side of the No Talk Express, kinda like a side car. I'm sure he could rig it up using one of his 13 cars. I really HOPE Obama kicks his face in during the debate, but I worry about McSame's Jedi mind tricks (repeating things that are not true, distorting and revising his past record, hearing his opponent's answers first, etc.) I also HOPE that Obama lets him have it for his record on deregulation, his stupid reaction to the Georgia thing, the fact that the right calls him an elitist because he's smart, and they're all about an election of personality.

[mesmerize]

John McCain came into this race with name recognition and the media, i feel, let him slide for to long without him having to answer any questions. McCain now feels like he don't owe them anything. They should have been pressuring him to put meat on the bones sooner rather than waiting until now.

[RtheK]

After 8 years of George Bush, voting for John McCain is like changing seats on the Titanic...

[patianneb]

In the New World Order, there will be no journalist­s.....or teachers or writers or thinkers. McC has obviously come to that conclusion and is in rehearsal mode. The future will only require FundaMENIALS who will know their place and do their jobs and keep their mouths shut.

[kellygrrrl]

it's gonna be a tad awkward at McCain's nest PRESS B-B-Q

[PhDcommonsense]

I wish the Mainstream Media and the Press Corp on whole would grow a pair. They should refuse to cover Palin and McCain, period. Why is the press being held hostage by these people. It is totally ridiculous.

This Gov Palin will literally be a heartbeat from the Presidency and she can't be asked any questions to find out what her credentials really are. Is this America or a Third World Dictatorship?

What is the McCain Campaign afraid of? Do they think Gov. Palin will implode with her own lack of experience to be on the national stage? I hope the women out there who think she is the best thing since sliced bread take a good look at a woman who is literally being sheltered by the men. I though she was tough and experienced?

[lynettema]

Just where is the "Barracuda?"

[kellygrrrl]

lunching with Carla Bruni Sarkozy

[Candyland]

Why don't they just ditch McCain? If he's uncooperative, he's a non-story. Why waste time on him? With so much going on in the world, there are bigger and better stories out there than a childish, addle minded, grumpy old man looking for an entitlement.

[lycurgus]

What is missed in this discussion is that Palin may know absolutely nothing about world affairs. She may be a corrupt mayor and governor. She may embezzle, steal, even kill. All these will not matter a bit. The religious right wingers will still adore her, and she will remain to be a priceless asset to the Republican ticket. One thing alone can change their devotion: if she is caught on camera having sex with three men, and then only if at least one of the men is black...th­en she will be abandoned.

[RequiredReading]

When the press went ga-ga over Palin, not asking her questions or reporting on her obvious lack of education, training and experience, they gave away their power. They submitted and then got ditched. Now they are trying to impose some authority, but, having given it away, they are no longer part of the dialogue. They got played, just like the press has been playing us. Citizens to press: do your job if you want some respect.

[alady]

You hit the nail on the head! The media was ga-ga, not Lipstick is treating them like doo-doo.

[doctordoubt]

Actually she's treating themjust one of her'johns'.