Media Must Not Cover Palin Until She Holds a Press Conference

I know I'm supposed to talk about the debate today, but I could not help but notice that the McCain campaign is still embarrassed by Sarah Palin. That's why she's campaigning in Texas, not a contested state, and California, a huge loser for the Republicans. Do you see Sarah Palin in a battleground area, say, Ohio or Pennsylvania?

Of course not, because the McCain campaign still lives in fear of Palin saying the wrong thing in a place where it may matter. So Palin continues to regurgitate what's handed to her by the campaign, and the fanatics she attracts eat it up; they eat it up and they are still hungry for more. For the zealots, it's not enough to say Obama pals around with a terrorist. They shout that Obama is a terrorist! There's no place to go that's too far when you're talking to the fringes of society. Obama's a lesbian! is right around the corner.

But Palin gets media coverage, and this baffles me. Why cover Palin if the media cannot speak to her? Why cover her if, as is now the case, the media are not allowed to talk to her supporters?

This is ridiculous. It's out of hand. And the media that continue to cover Palin's repetition of talking points are the enablers of a McCain-Palin regime that embraces the tactics used in China.

No talking to the VP candidate. No asking her views. We'll let you in the press know what you can say about Palin.

Jeez, I did a three minute segment on Fox News last week that was more of a back and forth than Palin has done since she became the nominee!

Andrew Sullivan was the first to talk about Palin's failure to hold a press conference, but I thought the McCain campaign would allow Palin to do a press conference at some point. They have not.

The press needs to stand up, not just for itself, not just for the right of a free press, but for the people. This isn't about the McCain campaigns' need to hide Palin. This is about the possibility of a future president who refuses to hold a press conference.

This is about a possible future President who hides in plain sight.

This is about democracy and our right to know and to hear from a candidate, unfiltered.

The press needs to grow up, and say, "We're not going to take it anymore." You know what, some conservatives may get pissed. Too bad. Stand up for what's right.

Follow the lead of Campbell Brown on CNN - there's a person who, regardless of her views (she's married to Dan Senor, who was Coalition spokesperson in Iraq), is outraged by the McCain camp's treatment of Palin. Why is she the only non-partisan media person speaking out?

No more Palin until Palin stands in front of a podium and gives a press conference.

Comments

[sloppyJoe]

Every time I turn on cable news they have her out on the trail or whatever ditzy thing she blabbed scrolling across their ticker tape and it really makes me mad. Those are all made up words for her. Until she says something real that comes from her own brain, I don't want to listen to what she has been programmed to say. They aren't giving Biden all this free coverage.

[HeyMatt]

The media must absolutely cover Sarah Palin, whether or not she gives a press conference. She needs to learn if we don't hear it from her, we will go find someone else to talk, and we'll go digging for the info elsewhere. I think eventually she'll learn she'd rather we had her version to counterbalance whatever else is being written and said in the news.

[kayatarms]

The media has reduced themselves to less than credible idiots!! Waiting for a handout or crumbs? I wouldn't cover what they allow you to cover, if this is their job they suck at it! I'd lose them and have them beg to be covered! The campaign needs them,,, not the other way around!

[Caeleste]

It's about time the press realized that they in the relationship between politicians and the media, it is the media that has the leverage. Until Palin holds an open news conference during which she actually answers questions, and does not only discuss those things she wants to discuss, press coverage of Palin should be limited to investigative reporting that supports or refutes Palin's claims with respect to her records and experience.

Should we boycott the media until the media boycotts Palin? Just an idea....

[Cloball]

Please contact Brokaw and have him ask McCain tonight at the debate. It's a fair question.

[meede]

It's town hall tonight. Undecided voters & email questions. Brokaw will have very little chance for questions himself. The agenda has been set for days for Brokaw.

[4real]

Right on!!

Why would the American people allow her to be elected when we don't know one single world view she holds. Now that's scary. How can they declare they will have a transparent government and not have a transparent campaign. This is very insulting.

And another thing SNL shouldn't allow her on their show so she can do damage control. We want answers to serious questions not jokes.

[meede]

Just saw McCain campaign peon with Wolfe on CNN saying Palin answers media questions everyday. I guess her definition of media is the four legged one pissing up a tree.

[usapike]

Here, Here! When are the media going to wake up and start to report on what the public needs to hear about Sarah Palin and not just show her spewing forth the lies and rhetoric that she is very happy to deliver! This is the biggest election in decades and people need to know who they are voting for. It's going to be a big step backward for women and society in this country if MCPalin get elected.

[Fluent08]

I completely agree. Frankly, I think they should have stopped covering her weeks ago.

So, what can be done?

[nerakami]

Dear Mr. Littman,

There is one small error in your assessment which is, although the MSM still talks about her, your assumption is that most of America cares or even watches...­. I for one, and I know there are millions of others who simply change the channel or go about doing our other stuff...

we simply don't care... interview or not.

[KahneO]

Yeah let FOX News cover them --- they have any way

[Kindheart]

Totally agree, but I will go one further. Stop covering both Johnny and Sarah because they have done nothing to stop the hate filled remarks being made. It is up to them to stop them and have some integrity.

[Jaykgirl]

I agree 100%!

I could just imagine me coming to work and not picking up a call because I didn't think I know the answer? That is why she wants us to hire her right? Because she is READY on Day 1?

Come on MEDIA!!! WAKE THE HELL UP! You have been all over Obama for months now! My GOD Faux Noise had a Ticker for Barack?

Come on Sarah -YOU can DO IT!

[goutgrec]

Why didn't that reporter insist? Why didn't that reporter force the guards to arrest her? Negative things have been written! Imagine that! What an awful thing for a Vice Presidential candidate to endure!!! Sarah Palin needs to put on her big girl pants and either play in the big leagues or go home. So far, she's all lipstick all the time. And lipstick smears.

[Dzairi09]

I absolutely agree! the only people who like her are the hardcore republicans, independents do not like her at all!!! plus she knows nothing about anything!!!!! it seems as though he picked her to solidify the repub base and he thought maybe those Hilary supporters would like a woman on the ticket, but i am glad that most of them are smart enough to see that Palin is the anti-Hilary. McCain-Pal­in=McFaili­n'!!!!!