Is Palin Afraid to Talk to the Press?
How can Sarah Palin stand up to terrorism if she can't stand up to Brokaw or Blitzer? Despite his name, I don't think Wolf bites.
It doesn't work to proclaim your fortitude in a speech; you have to prove it. So far, when it comes to the press, it seems the Barracuda's bark is bigger than her bite.
For a group that wraps itself in patriotism, the extreme Right is certainly being unpatriotic about one of the cornerstones of democracy--the free press. And their cries of bias are starting to sound more like wails of fear--fear of being found out.
Just like any societal institution, the press isn't perfect. At times, objectivity skews to the Left, to the Right, or to some other point or position. I for one, thought that press coverage was skewed toward the war in Iraq at the time of 9/11. I couldn't help thinking that the media had more passion for the Clinton Whitewater and Lewinsky scandals than uncovering the truths about going to war with Iraq in the beginning.
However, the great thing about the free press is that it's self-correcting. A reporter's lust for a new angle, the real story, or a story not yet told counters the bias. All the voices that are free to speak and blog counter the bias.
When you look at the political coverage on all the major and cable networks as a whole, what do you see? Usually, you see debate--two sides going at it, being asked tough questions and guests not afraid to give an answer. Overall, a click of the remote here and there gives you a relatively accurate picture of what's going on.
Not allowing access to Palin is a dangerous precedent. Either the Republicans are punishing the media for perceived bias, which is a 6th grade attitude or they think Palin can't stand up to the questioning.
If she can't stand up to Campbell Brown or Chris Matthews how is she going to stand up to Russia's Vladimir Putin, the former head of the KGB and a man set on rebuilding an empire? How is she going to sit one-on-one with the President of Iran, if she can't sit one-on-one with Katie Couric?
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I would like someone to ask Sarah Palin about her stance on universal child care. For a long time, the Christian right has railed against child care because it would mean "the state is raising our children." It would be interesting to hear her response to such a question.
It is not that Palin won't sit down or that the Republicans are holding her back or they fear the press being "meanies!" Palin is afraid to sit down to ANY OPEN questions from ANYONE in the press or media because they are going to call her on her views, skills, political abilities, knowledge or lack of knowledge in foreign policies, her anti-abortion views, her refusal of sex education in Alaska schools, her pro NRA stance (she loves guns), her interfering with a trooper's right to his job, probing her background and history, because didn't we slam Barack over Reverend Wright? I know Palin FEARS the truth about HER coming out, and, avoiding interviews will reveal the truth and, geez, you think America (as gullible and simpleton as we are) we might say, "wait a minute."
When it comes to politics, everything is fair game.Throw everything you got at her. If she can't take the heat, go back to Alaska.Politics aint pretty.
Better yet, stand up to Keith Olbermann.
Obama was interviewed by O'Reilly; the repubs are too scared for anything that isn't a batting practice interview.
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Yes! It's important that she make the rounds on different networks with different reporters. One or two well- publicized interviews won't do the trick.
Palin was a brilliant choice. I can't imagine that bloggers at the HuffPo would still be talking about Mitt Romney if he was the selection.
Yes, because when it comes to serving America and moving us forward into the 21st century, the primary consideration for a Veep pick is wheether or not HuffPo posters would be talking about her. Brilliant, indeed!
What I don't understand is wh ythe press, especially broadcast media isn't hitting the McCain camp harder. It's almost as if they want to continue to give John McCain free passes all the way to the White House!
I guess this is what happens when all the media is owned by a select few.
Forget about Putin and Ahmadi-nejad! Just you wait until she comes face to face with Joe Biden. And, let me assure you that there is NO ONE in the media or blogosphere - mainstream or otherwise - who will come close to providing insight into what makes Sarah tick than will the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
You can go ahead and bet the farm on that - even if it is in Iowa!
Great and true article. I hope most Americans agree with your views.
Vote for Obama/Biden in 2008
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