Secret Service Blocking Reporters At Palin Rallies: Milbank

Via Romenesko, the Washington Post's Dana Milbank reveals in an online chat that the Secret Service is stopping people reporters from interviewing people at Palin rallies:

Arlington, Va.: The Secret Service has now labeled the "kill him" report as unfounded. Why isn't The Post giving this report as much coverage as the original false report received?

Dana Milbank:

Glad you asked, because I saw this earlier. This is actually about the incident in Scranton, not the one in Clearwater, Fla, that I wrote about here.

I wasn't at the Scranton event, but I have to say the Secret Service is in dangerous territory here. In cooperation with the Palin campaign, they've started preventing reporters from leaving the press section to interview people in the crowd. This is a serious violation of their duty -- protecting the protectee -- and gets into assisting with the political aspirations of the candidate. It also often makes it impossible for reporters to get into the crowd to question the people who say vulgar things. So they prevent reporters from getting near the people doing the shouting, then claim it's unfounded because the reporters can't get close enough to identify the person.

Comments

[sansone]

Why is it that Palin can exercise her freedom of speach to spit out racially tinged and hate-filled rhetoric, but the freedom of the press is suppressed?

[GianniSaint]

perhaps someone has asked this, but can anyone explain why reporters feel they MUST follow the Gov of Alaska around? if the GOP puts restrictions on the reporters, they should just leave the campaign. no coverage. then, the rallies would be seen by just the few thousand people who show up.

Reporters! Leave the Palin campaign to fend for themselves. Don't let them tell you how to do your job!!

[trambusto]

Good point!!! In the month that Sarah has been on front of the national stage, we've been begging the question, "Why won't she talk to us?"

I questioned whether or not the SS (not to be confused with the Germans) was even within the scope of their duties to provide services to these candidates. But they are. According to the protective mission of the Secret Service, they protect, "major presidential and vice presidential candidates, and their spouses within 120 days of a general presidential election." Note that it says "Major." So if you're Bob Barr, you'll have to hire Kevin Costner circa 1992.

But back to the point. The SS is charged with protecting the candidates -- not the crowd. In fact, if someone in the crowd is inciting violence against another major candiate (i.e., Barack Obama), then why isn't the SS investigating?

Hence, that may be why reporters were blocked that day from interviewing people in the crowd. Or -- as it appears on the service -- the SS is inhibiting the 4th estate from putting a "major vice presidential candidate" in an embarassing situtation.

Either way, the Secret Service, as a taxpayer-funded agency, owes it to the media to explain through a press release the nature of their actions, and the disparent and apparently partisan treatment (an apparent violation of the Hatch Act by whomever gave direction) of one presidential ticket over the other.

[proudloudlib]

I'm wondering if they think the press needs protecting from these vicious crowds....­just a thought.

[AnthonyVolpe]

I trust Dana Milbank about as far as I can throw him under a bus.

[truthyguy]

What is the difference between a sow and the Governor of Alaska?

ANS: Lipstick

What do a sow and the Governor of Alaska in common?

ANS: Both can be trained to do simple tricks.

[supportobama]

Check out this cover story from Rolling Stone, very interesting, actually shocking in many ways:

http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstorymake_believe_maverick_the_real_john_mccain?action=rate#rate

[BinBaldwin]

Rolling Stone ? Why not quote Screw Magazine?

[rwt1138]

Stephen? Is that you?

Probably because Screw doesn't have an article about McCain.

[SouthernBlueBelle]

Just don't cover her, you know, like they're not covering Biden.

[AnthonyVolpe]

It's Matt Drudge's job to cover Joe Biden. You're on the wrong website.

[Bluedog12]

The only thing Drudge wants to cover is a boy.

[Shashi0224]

That's such a smart suggestion! Don't let her get the press if she won't let them speak to the crowds!
Obama supporters are so smart!!

[madeline2]

Primary rememeber Nobody even voted for Biden... so all the cheering on of Biden at the rallies is a Bold Lie... Nobody but what 1000 peope maybe voted for him in the Primary ... If Biden or Clinton were the Nominee then The Obama folks would vote for Mccain.

[ClevelandTom]

In about ten years, Sarah Palin will be the answer to a question in Trivial Pursuit: Political Oddities Edition.

[klandish]

Boy, the blogs are getting juggled all over the place. I give up.

[Liberalforsure]

Joe the plumber is Charles Keatings soninlaw, a plant by mccain and not even a registered plumber.

[Wiserone]

This whole Joe the Plumber incident(s) alone should tell anyone that it will be "politics as usual" with McCain, ala GW Bush, another 8 years of the same.

[donttasemebro]

There's only one word for this kind of behavior: Fascism.

[madeline2]

And Obama - SpocialismMarxism

[ez14livin]

too funny - considering that 20 years of trickle down economics has forced the government to become socialist and nationalize banks

what folks like you do not get (possibly because you were indoctrinated in the american school system is simply that communism and socialism are 'EVIL'), is that america should be a hybrid and constantly taking whatever elements work and incorporating them into our system.

Medicare works (and it's socialistic). Social Security works (although it was misrepresented from the start - it should never have come to mean to so many that it would be a retirement plan in and of itself), and it is socialistic. When the economy is strong and the stock market growing, Social Security does well too. That is a fact; and its a good thing that enough people did not let the Bush bunglers privatize it.

Healthcare under Obama is not socialism; he is only offering the same plan that covers federal employees.

I don't expect to change your vote; but your children and their children will benefit greatly from an Obama presidency.

[D Right One]

The MSM needs to stop covering Palin's rallys. Why go somewhere where you're not going to get an interview with Palin and now no coverage of people at the event.

[DCinFrance]

With all her hate mongering of the press as well, it's not out of the question that the crowd might turn into an uncontrollable mob with the press in their midsts, threatening the security of those they are there to protect--namely the candidate and her family?

[MsLiz]

At the last debate McCain said the mobs, er, supporters at their gatherings were all fine Americans.

[klandish]

2+2 = yes they were.

[klandish]

Who did the person say he was directing at? Something smells.

[klandish]

You're nice.

[madeline2]

Did you see that 20 something guy arrested at a Palin rally... He was an Obama supporter screaming nothing but hate!!! It was On Tape & Up-close - Cops and all....

[Adebukola]

Joe the plumber has had more press conferences than Sarah Palin. Perhaps Senator McCain should have chosen Joe for his running mate.

[1differentdrummer]

That's "Joe the plumber." There's no indication his name is really Joe and there is indication he's not a plumber. At least it's reported he isn't licensed.

What is the job of the Secret Service in this administration? Are they now henchmen of the regime?

[whizkid]

Since further tax dollars aren't wasted to confirm no crowd members yelled what scribes reported.

[DCinFrance]

lol...I would have thought you'd be cryin' in your beer, Whiz. It's on tape.

[whizkid]

The Secret Services confirms the press has falsely reported
crowd comments - which makes their job difficult.

[NPA]

Are you going to complete that sentence?! Palin supporter no doubt? Huh...

[markusmarkus]

Nah, there's no "yabetcha" at the end of the "sentence.­"

John McIIIrd's PTSD: "Palin Totally Scuttled my Destiny." Yabetcha!

[klandish]

We all heard them yell t@rrorist on television. Or is that some liberal media audio trick against McCain? Or is yelling t@ rro rist at the next president of the United States ok with you?

[kadene]

Palin doesn't need to be headlined right now.

[DCinFrance]

I just wish she'd go away as well. Not to fret over this person any more. The only thing she's capable of at this point is feeding the bigots and fundamentalists which where never, ever going to vote for "that one" whether she is in the headlines or not.

[MsLiz]

McCain and Unable.