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

[serena1313]

According to a friend of mine in Indiana the SS did not check people or what they were carrying into a Michelle Obama rally the other day. Considering the hate-filled atmosphere permeating the McCain/Palin rallies, who knows what could happen under these circumstances.

Equally disturbing is the fact McCain/Palin and the RNC are running ads, making robocalls and sending emails that basically accuse Obama of being a terrorist and a traitor. What kind of implications will this have after the elections and will they be lasting? This must be addressed now.

All decent American citizens including both Obama's and McCain's supporters need to speak out against this and the Secret Service for not doing their jobs. Those agents should be put on notice or fired.

I suggest writing to your local newspapers and representatives. This kind of behaviour is unacceptable. It is wrong. It is dangerous. It is unhealthy for the country. Someone could get hurt.

While impugning Obama's integrity and character, likewise Obama's supporters, too, McCain, Palin and the RNC are betraying the democratic process. This election is a referendum on the Republican party's shameful tactics and whether voters will reward them this time. If so what does that say about the American people!

I believe Americans will reject the politics of hate this time.

[One Two Three]

Why haven't they realized its over. Its now all about the Senate.

Senate Polling Regression:
http://voteforamerica.net/polls.aspx?Race=Minnesota&Election=Senate#Results

[hmmmmmer]

This is old news, this was happening last week. I tried to bring this up here when I first heard about it from him a week ago, but was censored here many times. What gives?

[pb28]

This has Bush like tatics written all over it

[Ish11]

Can we trust this service with THAT ONE? I will trust in God.

[TheIndependenceParty]

Yes. That is our promise. What? Your oath or promise is supposed to end when you don't get the election result you want?

[StillIRise]

They need to block Palin from her rallies.

[ronnierayjenkins]

This is what we've become:

http://www.ronnierayjenkins.com/topics/deathinappalachia/Empty_Chairs/

[TheIndependenceParty]

The Secret Service has been charged to protect candidates, Presidents, and their Families for over 140 years. Their Presidents have changed as our politics have changed. They may very well change again. Their sworn duty is clear and unequivocal, and must never waver. If there is ever any instance where that duty appears to have been subverted, there should be ever-loving hell to pay. Questions still surround John F Kennedy's protection from the airport in Dallas in November of 1963.

The Secret Service should, in every instance, err on the side of caution in their safeguards of their protectees. How they do so is, or might be, part of their procedures to assure the safety of our leaders. Real and imagined threats differ. Hooligans and Hotheads who shout stuff at a rally could be simply that, ... or a diversion from a more substantial threat. These will be the men and women who safeguard President Obama and his family, when they are entrusted to us as a people to safeguard to an even greater extent.

There have been a number of concerns with the management of the Secret Service, including Cheney's attempts at securing the roster of visitors who came to the White House. Next year will be a good time to review some of those issues. Sometimes public servants can confuse whom they serve.

[midbikecrisis]

Pardon me...I can't seem to find the swastika on my PC's keyboard!

[fflores]

Joe the Plumber has done more interview then Palin aka the real life Peggy Hill

[whatsthatsound]

And Joe is just as likely a VP choice.

[MSgt]

No not VP, Sec of Labor.

[snapper310]

they know Sarah....check it out....


http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/10/alaskans-get-it.html

[MathFuzzy]

"Alaskans have very low standards for their politicians"

[kellygrrrl]

anyone else read this or have any info about it?
it's all over the wingnut sites

http://www.zombietime.com/lefts_big_blunder/

[jlarue]

Couldnt read it. It burned my retinas.

[loria]

They are preaching to the choir.

[bluesman49]

Well then reporters need to go into these events undercover, as Palin supporters to get the true story. Kind of like they do when they want to get a story on what is really happening in a repressive country like Myanmar.

[LynndaMaree]

Where in the heii did these backwoods yahoo's come from? They all need to be herded down to Texas and put on a compound right next to McBooshies house. And take McMoose and McSame with them. How pathetic they are.

[liminy]

If this is true, it's even scarier than violent outcries from the audience.

[kcam44]

as someone already pointed out today...Joe the Plumber has done more interviews than Palin herself. On the Today show this morning Meredith stated that Palin has declined an interview once again. How can women be so excited a woman who's supposedly "so inspring" but continues to reject the media who want to know "what's so exciting about this woman"..If she's such a powerful woman as the campaign declares, why not let her show that to the American people and put her on all media outlets, not just right-winged ones. Her behavior should be appalling to voters, since she's always saying "Who is the real Barack Obama", well "Who is the real Sarah Palin", we've only known her for a few months and she's not willing to let the American people know who she really is. (we all know why).She also said Obama is all about speeches. NEW FLASH SARAH: you're all about speeches dear. Why won't the conservative women come together and demand more unscripted press coverage, afterall she is their inspiration. What if this woman really becomes PRESIDENT?