September 15, 2008
Posted: 09:49 AM ET

ALT TEXT

Sarah Palin and her husband Todd — along with senior staffers — sit in the front of her campaign plane, separated from the press by these curtains. Sarah Palin has yet to speak to the reporters traveling with her campaign. (Photo credit: Peter Hamby/CNN)

Filed under: Sarah Palin


Dumb Hick   September 16th, 2008 1:13 am ET

I'm so glad to have at my disposal such a paragon of moral and intellectual superiority as presented in these comments. I wish I had as much prescience as this fine group does so that I can know exactly what other peoples’ intentions are.

Pape, Delaware, OH   September 15th, 2008 10:00 pm ET

I still cannot believe that we are still having the debate over which direction to take this country. Truth is I am worried for this country. I am scared for the level ignorance that millions of Americans are victims of. If history teaches us anything, it is that no country is safe from a downfall. This election is probably the most important in the history of this nation. While Europe, Russia, Japan, China, and India's economies are growing at sometimes remarkable rates, millions of Americans still buy into the arrogance that the republican propaganda is running. The fact is that this country is headed for a failure of epic proportions if McCain and Palin are elected. They will continue the Bush/Cheney trends and drag this country further in debt and deeper in mishandled foreign policy catastrophes. Palin not talking to the press should clearly sound the alarm for all voters that this person is not ready for national executive power. It used to be that only the smartest and the ones who have shown proof of good judgment, were taken seriously for the presidency; However, the last 8 years have shown that the American people have deviated from that principal. Well, I think it is time to go back to electing intelligent minds such as Obama and Biden. AND … REGINA, please stop the lies.

Skyeyesds   September 15th, 2008 9:52 pm ET

ok I don't think they are going to show my thoughts, so I will try again.
Palin is restricted to behind closed curtains so we the people won't know what she is being told to say. Can't speak on her own., can't talk to the press. What is super "Drama Queen'. She can't get out and pitch her ideas like the rest of them?
We are in serious trouble America. If we don't Stop and look at the situation we are in today and stand up and Voice our rights then we have no right to open our mouth and say anything about what could lay ahead for this country.
What is going to happen to our children, our grandchildren and even our great grandchildren?
What is going to happen to our planet? Whats going to bring health care to millions of men, women and children? What about Jobs? Economy? Education? What will it be like in 4 yrs?

Snuffy Smiff   September 15th, 2008 9:29 pm ET

Sheesh, give me a break! The woman is travelling on an airplane for crying out loud. Maybe she doesn't like to get out of her seat. I know I don't when I'm flying. She has been busy preparing for speaches and interviews and meeting people during events. She has a family to care for and events to keep up with. She still is the Governor of Alaska, you know. Just because the press reporters want her to talk to them so they can report disrespectful things about her it's suddenly necessary for her to follow the press's adgenda instead of her own. I suppose Obama has been leaving the cocoon of opulence in his new jet to meet with them when ever they demand it, too!

Curtains for America   September 15th, 2008 9:29 pm ET

I can see behind that curtain. Sarah is strapped to a chair like the guy in a Clockwork Orange. She's being shown Republican propaganda over and over again, with some McCain staffer putting eyedrops into her braced-open eyeballs. She keeps repeating the phrase "You can't ever blink. You can't ever blink. Don't think. Don't blink."

sam   September 15th, 2008 9:17 pm ET

she is kind of dim – reminds me of Bush but with the charm replaced by a cunning

8toolong   September 15th, 2008 9:16 pm ET

of course they can't interview her, that would be "sexist." It's been verified that she's a liar, what else do we need to know anyway.

GEEZER/GIDGET '08   September 15th, 2008 9:16 pm ET

Sarah and Todd are getting their versions of Troopergate to coincide.

HE SAID SHE SAID: Especially, now that she has refused to cooperate with the investigation because it is "TAINTED WITH POLITICS".

FACT: The committee investigating is composed of 3 REPUBLICANS and 2 DEMOCRATS. So, now have republican joined the conspiracy to bring this woman down??

Daryl from Seattle   September 15th, 2008 9:15 pm ET

She is so unqualified for this! If it's not a 'canned' speech handwritten by somebody else with somebody else's views, she's just a Governor in over her head. How can she possibly meet with other world leaders as a representative of our nation if she can't even field reporter questions!?? What does she think other world leaders are going to do? Let her pull out a speech on paper and read it to them???

DaveD   September 15th, 2008 9:15 pm ET

I presume she uses this time to spend with her family. You know balancing her political obligations with family obligations, like the libs are afraid she's incapable of doing. Seems like a good time to do that.

KAY   September 15th, 2008 9:09 pm ET

She refuses to speak and the media is still okay with this behavior. I am disturbed by her overall and the actions of the media. Come on…media!

Christina   September 15th, 2008 9:09 pm ET

reminds me of the wizard of oz….pay not attention to the woman behind the curtain…she is trying to figure out how to consolidate 5 colleges for a four year degree.

What is she going to do with all those hidden emails..and does the first dude actually speak of is he just the puppet master.

Mike   September 15th, 2008 9:09 pm ET

I don't ever remember any political candidate that the press was excluded from talking to. What is she afraid of? That the voters might find out where she stands on the issues? The Republican campaign with this woman is just ridiculous. You can run, Sarah Palin, but you can't hide forever. You will be exposed.

News   September 15th, 2008 9:09 pm ET

*********Sarah Palin says she's just like regular people, but she still will not let regular people talk to her. Hmm, I wonder if that just makes her another shady politician!*******
The press is 'regular people'. Who would have guessed?

Dennis   September 15th, 2008 9:09 pm ET

Nothing like a manufactured story to slam Sara Palin yet again. And leave it to the crybabies in the press to make it so.

If only we could have more press clips of Obama making crotch shots at the camera in his jeans while on his cellphone and while he press ogled him outwardly — these people aren't fit to shine Sara Palin's shoes.

Barack Obama, if elected, will be the most ineffectual President in modern history. But hey, he loves to talk to the press — of course he does — and when he does speak to the press, he says nothing of any substance. No experience. No accomplishments. No new ideas… NO KIDDING!

President Bush has kicked the crap out of Al Qaeda and managed to keep our economy growing despite weakness in some sec tors. I don't know what the hell "Sandra" is referring to about what "Bush has done to this proud nation." You should be thanking him that some devout follower of Mohammed hasn't detonated a suitcase nuke in your backyard you whiner…"

Truth be Told   September 15th, 2008 9:08 pm ET

Palin – Our tutorial has a crash course to Vice Presidency for dummies. It will install confidence in you to talk to people and not hide from them.

SusanM   September 15th, 2008 9:08 pm ET

So is anyone really surprised about this? She is not capable of any intelligent discussion on any issue except taking down the caribou with a high powered rifle. It's worse than a bad imitation of the Wizard of OZ. Palin is the scarecrow…looking for her brain.

David   September 15th, 2008 9:08 pm ET

who cares?

Liz AZ   September 15th, 2008 9:08 pm ET

What is more frightening: That she knows so little they are afraid to let her speak? Or that they are filling her vacant mind with information from the Bush/Cheney advisors?

Enough   September 15th, 2008 9:08 pm ET

Well sure! If her response is not on an index card…she's toast.

Reginald A. Williams   September 15th, 2008 9:05 pm ET

Maybe she's afraid of being confronted with the "Bush Doctrine" questions again.

Sam   September 15th, 2008 9:05 pm ET

she can't even talk to the press and she is ready to possibly run a sole super power of the world how?
How can she handle Kim Jong Il or Akhmadinejad if she can't even handle the press?

Patty, Big Bear, CA   September 15th, 2008 9:05 pm ET

I'm surprised they are aware of the fact that they can't take the chance of letting her actually speak her own words…..McCain should take a lesson

Suzy   September 15th, 2008 9:04 pm ET

After the garbage they "reported" a few weeks back, why should she talk to them? They will only try to distort what she says anyway. These are the same people digging through her garbage cans and combing through her expense reports and interviewing her children's friends on the schoolyard. Disgusting bunch of liberals!

Palin needs to keep talking directly to the American people and ignore the filter that's in the tank for Obama!

Franko   September 15th, 2008 9:04 pm ET

I think you will see more of Sarah after the debates! Smart move to keep everyone breathless.

Mutnodjmet   September 15th, 2008 9:03 pm ET

The insulting comments from the Obamabots on this site are trite and uninformed. Palin has no reason to pander to an unfair press that is clearly supporting her opponent, and she doesn;t particularly care for the good opinion of the journalists in this menagerie, either. Frankly, her attitude is refreshing, and I am looking forward to seeing her make both the legacy media and the extremists on the left squirm for the next 12 years.

PALIN'S DOMESTIC POLICY   September 15th, 2008 9:03 pm ET

She does not want the press to know she is studying the states below so she will know where they are located!

MoxieGurl   September 15th, 2008 9:03 pm ET

Why would the Wizard of the Northernlights come from behind the curtains?

What could she possibly have to say to the press? Foreign policy issues, Economic issues? Not, she got NOTHING to talk about because she knows NOTHING!

Carabo Barbie is a wash!!!

sandee in Portland   September 15th, 2008 9:02 pm ET

Regina, guess you haven't seen clips of Obama talking off the cuff to the reporters on his plane. I have, so everything you said is a lie…typical Republican. Get your facts straight before you open your mouth. If the Republican's would do this, they could probably win!

mark   September 15th, 2008 9:01 pm ET

Palin is too important to talk to the American people. She is too high up, so American is being asked to sit in the back of the plane and no question ask.
WOW is this what Americans deserve?

Babsla   September 15th, 2008 9:01 pm ET

"Better to keep your mouth closed and be thought a fool than to open it and remove all doubt" –famous American quote.

Justin in CA   September 15th, 2008 9:01 pm ET

The reporters on the trail with her should be ripping her apart for this. Have you ever heard of a VP candidate that was allowed to hide from the press. That is a change, I will give them that.

Jay   September 15th, 2008 9:01 pm ET

Maybe she's studying up on the BUSH DOCTRINE again.
Hahahahaha!!!!

shadowgovt   September 15th, 2008 9:01 pm ET

Referring back to the fact that McCain's has lost his "bounce" in the polls; I hope you enjoyed your view of the top for all of a week or so, Senator, because that was it. The bloom has fallen off the love affair with McPalin now that the American people have had an opportunity to see the opportunists for what they are — self-serving sycophants for that 5% of society that would love nothing better than to see the remaining 95% pay the tab for the rest of the country.

Laura from Northern California   September 15th, 2008 9:01 pm ET

Clock is still ticking..Transparency is everything right now.

yarrrrr   September 15th, 2008 9:00 pm ET

Um, how often does Obama talk to the press?

standard   September 15th, 2008 9:00 pm ET

This is standard operating procedure for campaign planes.

Ben   September 15th, 2008 9:00 pm ET

Why should she talk to the press? They worship Obama. Good for her for giving the press the finger.

LS in Virginia   September 15th, 2008 8:55 pm ET

If she can't be trusted by her own party to speak without a script, how can anyone believe she is ready to lead the country? Her staged events and canned speeches don't do much for her so-called image as an independent woman or maverick.

The Bush administration has been very guarded in allowing the press access. That formula worked well enough to help him get re-elected. No wonder the Republican strategists are trying the same tactic here.

I applaud the members of the press who are stepping up to the challenge of reporting the truth in this campaign in spite of being attacked by the Republicans for their work.

Sandra   September 15th, 2008 8:54 pm ET

Why can't comments be printed as typed..why do they have to await moderation?Who does the moderating?Is this freedom of speech?

Deb, Allentown,PA   September 15th, 2008 8:54 pm ET

This is incredible. And yet people say Obama is an empty suit? We've been hearing policy positions for almost 2 years from Obama, and he's been vetted for at least that long. She's been on the scene for 2 weeks and we're supposed to take her at face value? What is wrong with the people who are doing just that?

The Point Man   September 15th, 2008 8:54 pm ET

This woman is being protected from making a fool out of her self. The McCain people are keeping her from being asked unscripted and tough questions. No one can say anything about the woman without being called sexist. The Republicans are real sensitive when it comes to this woman. It's as simple as that! There is no mystery here.

Brian   September 15th, 2008 8:53 pm ET

Unless it is Rush, Beck, O'Reilly and gang doing the questioning it is ALL BIASED. You Libs and your science and logic won't influence anyone!

McCain/Palin '08 "Because god said so"

Christopher   September 15th, 2008 8:53 pm ET

Nothing plus nothing equals nothing.

James   September 15th, 2008 8:53 pm ET

Who's surprised at this?

I mean really. Who's surprised?

Only a partisan would think at this time that there is nothing wrong or odd about her not having any interaction with the press. You can't go back into your shell after the Gibson interview and go on Hannity and think people won't notice.

You can only cry victim and point at others for so long before people realize you have three fingers pointed at yourself.

She has everything to loose and nothing to gain by talking to the press.

Is she going to explain the claims about visiting the troops in Ireland and Iraq?

I don't think so. The McCain campaign will ignore the question and try to point at something Obama said 8 months ago.

Sandra   September 15th, 2008 8:52 pm ET

Why would she want to speak to reporters?She is not well versed in domestic or foreign affairs and knows nothing except oil revenues and Alaska politics.Why would she want to advertise her ignorance in these matters?She seems to think that because she can see Russia from her town,she can hold her own with Putin.I used to think that Bush was the worse politician I've seen in my 68 years but she is one step up from him.We can't tolerate another fool…the country needs smart,tolerant people in positions of power that know the problems we are facing and have solutionsto solve them.
No to Mc Cain,No to Palin,No to the intolerant right wing of the Republican Party..Our country can't afford any more of your ideas…look what you have done to this proud nation.

TS   September 15th, 2008 8:52 pm ET

How telling

Regina   September 15th, 2008 8:51 pm ET

Obama is known for not talking with the press. When McCain was chatting up the traveling press and Obama kept them at bay, I didn't see any complaints from the mainstream media. Funny how it's a problem if a Republican doesn't talk, but no problem at all if a Democrat keeps the curtain closed.

Puffy   September 15th, 2008 8:51 pm ET

She's not ready for the job!!!!!! She got to hide till wen????? The media need to talk abaut this on TVVVVVVVVV please.

Anonymous   September 15th, 2008 8:50 pm ET

Sarah and her husband are on the plane? Where are the kids?

Its fine to let a nanny, or relative take care of the kids throughout the day. Maybe even over night every once an awhile. I have no problem with that. But for her little girl and her newborn to not have consistent contact with either parent is pretty bad parenting. Am I too judgmental? Maybe. But talk about putting yourself first.

Lisa   September 15th, 2008 8:50 pm ET

What is she hiding? Or rather, why is she hiding? She can't hide forever. The press should just bail on her and not report on her campaign events until she decides to quit hiding.

Susan   September 15th, 2008 8:50 pm ET

And this lady said she is ready to step in and be president??? Palin, just go back to being governor in alaska…

Gary in OK   September 15th, 2008 8:50 pm ET

The press should stop all coverage of her until such time that she answers questions from the press and without her advisors pulling her strings.

Gary from Madison, WI   September 15th, 2008 8:50 pm ET

One word: cowardice.

Alissa   September 15th, 2008 8:49 pm ET

Does this remind anyone of The Wizard of Oz??? Pay no attention to the woman behind the curtain… (which would be hilarious if it wasn't so frightening…) Why doesn't Palin come out from behind the curtain and show the reporters who she REALLY is?? And why isn't the press screaming bloody murder that she won't talk to them? If Obama or Biden wouldn't talk to the press, it would be the only thing the MSM would report!

Shawn Leonard   September 15th, 2008 8:48 pm ET

Wow….why isn't this getting play on the news?!? Tha visual is indicative of what the McCain/Palin adminstiration would look like…

marci   September 15th, 2008 8:47 pm ET

She can only hide for so long. All the cramming won't erase the truth. She can only fool a fool. I hope the fools in this country finally open their eyes.

Patrick, Fairfield, CA   September 15th, 2008 8:47 pm ET

Yeah, she's behind the iron curtain prepping for her examinations. Here's some news for you, Palin, it's too late in the game to cram – the country knows that you know little about world views and what is going on right here in the U.S. Let the good American people ask some substantive questions that a person vying for the position you are should know. Oh, wait, you have not studied for that examination yet.
Sarah Palin says she's just like regular people, but she still will not let regular people talk to her. Hmm, I wonder if that just makes her another shady politician!

Roger   September 15th, 2008 8:44 pm ET

Pay no attention to the "farce" behind the green curtain.

Irony   September 15th, 2008 8:38 pm ET

Pay no attention to the woman behind the curtain! I am the great and powerful wizard of OZ!

When art imitates life…

Click your heels together three times and say, "I'm ready to be vice president, I'm ready to be vice president I'm ready to be vice president"

bmore4real   September 15th, 2008 8:37 pm ET

absolutly rediculous

Clark Shaffer   September 15th, 2008 8:34 pm ET

This is too funny…this scene typifies her political experience it simply "isn't there". At least McCain is smart enough to keep her chained to her chair during all flights. I can't imagine anything that would derail him faster than an "uncensored Palin". What ashame it's exactly what this country appears to want in terms of leadership!

Bill Tampa   September 15th, 2008 8:27 pm ET

You're kidding me????????..On the same plane with the press and no contact..I'd ask to be let off the plane…what's the purpose if she's hiding behind a curtain????????????

Comments have been closed for this article

subscribe RSS Icon
About The Ticker

The latest political news from CNN's Best Political Team, with campaign coverage, 24-7. Sign up for our twice daily Ticker emails. Got a news tip or feedback? For complete political coverage, bookmark CNNPolitics.com.

CNN=Politics Screensaver

CNN=Politics ScreensaverTap into the power of The Situation Room. Download this powerful new tool that keeps you posted on the latest political news from the campaign trail.
Download (4.1 MB, PC only)

Follow us on Twitter

CNN on TwitterGet Ticker updates the moment they appear online via the Web, SMS, or instant messages.
Follow politicalticker

Categories
CNN Comment Policy: CNN encourages you to add a comment to this discussion. You may not post any unlawful, threatening, defamatory, obscene, pornographic or other material that would violate the law. All comments should be relevant to the topic and remain respectful of other authors and commenters. You are solely responsible for your own comments, the consequences of posting those comments, and the consequences of any reliance by you on the comments of others. By submitting your comment, you hereby give CNN the right, but not the obligation, to post, air, edit, exhibit, telecast, cablecast, webcast, re-use, publish, reproduce, use, license, print, distribute or otherwise use your comment(s) and accompanying personal identifying and other information you provide via all forms of media now known or hereafter devised, worldwide, in perpetuity. CNN Privacy Statement.
Home  |  World  |  U.S.  |  Politics  |  Entertainment  |  Health  |  Tech  |  Travel  |  Living  |  Business  |  Sports  |  Time.com
Podcasts  |  Blogs  |  CNN Mobile  |  Preferences |  Email Alerts  |  CNN Radio  |  CNN Shop  |  Site Map
© 2008 Cable News Network LP, LLLP. A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by WordPress.com VIP