McCain camp tries to keep reporters out of Palin meetings
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/09/23/art.palinkarzai1.ap.jpg caption="The media was allowed to observe Palin and Karzai for less than 30 seconds."](CNN) - McCain-Palin campaign officials shifted course Tuesday after being informed by television news organizations that they would not broadcast footage of Sarah Palin’s meeting with Afghan leader Hamid Karzai Tuesday in New York - the Republican VP nominee’s first with a foreign leader - if a reporter was not allowed in to observe the pair.
CNN, which was the pool network for the event, informed the campaign of its decision. The network was then told a CNN producer would be allowed in the room to act as a media representative, just minutes before the photo op was scheduled to take place. However, print reporters and wire services were not allowed to observe the meeting, as they have been able to do at similar McCain events in the past.
The press only caught a brief glimpse of the vice presidential nominee. Palin was seated in a large chair a few feet from Karzai, with a table in between them. Seated slightly behind Palin were campaign foreign policy advisers Steve Biegun and Randy Scheunemann, who are accompanying the governor in her motorcade today.
As the pool entered, the Afghan president appeared to be telling Palin about his young son, who was born in January 2007.
Palin, her legs crossed and at one point patting her heart, was leaning in eagerly and smiling. Karzai, wearing his traditional clothes but without his trademark karakul hat, was also grinning while discussing the child. His remarks were mostly unintelligible as the noise from the clicking cameras drowned them out.
“What is his name?,” Palin asked.
“Mirwais,” Karzai responded. “Mirwais, which means, ‘The Light of the House.’”
“Oh nice,” Palin responded.
“He is the only one we have,” remarked Karzai.
After 29 seconds observing the meeting, CNN and other photographers covering the meeting were escorted out of the room.
Later, McCain-Palin press representatives chalked up the restrictions to a “mix-up, a miscommunication among staff.” The full pool — a print and wires reporter, along with a television producer — was then allowed in to observe Palin’s meeting with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe for 15-20 seconds.
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Oh puh-leeze
THIS IS SUCH A JOKE...MCSHAME THINKS THAT PEOPLE ARE STUPID AND WILL FALL FOR ANYTHING... STOP INSULTING PEOPLE'S INTELLIGENCE.
No questions? The repubs are running their campaign like facists, just like the Bush Adminstration has run the country over the past eight years. What right does the press have to question them?
why give your enemies another chance to destroy you with lies, mis-quotes. these media suckers will get their chance to interview you as VP after Nov 4. remember the average person doesn't like the media, so forget their whining.
Hmm, I find it interesting that Palin is speaking so warmly to someone who said she would not sit down and talk with our enemies' leaders... wonder who's lying now?
Obama in '08!
The American people should should be pressing the media to press for more access to the woman who wants to be VP. Are we really only going to get one non-scripted view of Palin (the VP debate) before the election?
I want to know what the McCain campaign knows about Palin but wont reveal !
Oh my gosh!! Give me a friggin break. This is what you want for a President if it is necessary??
I guess the "open book" is closed and locked away for safe-keeping. This whole Republican campaign is a joke and for those who are dumb enough to fall for it, you shouldn't be allowed the right to vote.
To the Republican Party, couldn't you find a better candidate for President? You had enough of them who were more qualified than McCain.
Like putting Alan Keyes on the ticket for Senate in 2004. In my own words, "What are they thinking?"
Only negative, negative, negative comments from Dems apparently on welfare so they can sit home and criticize. While the Repubs are at work, so can't keep up on here, except a few retirees.
It is amazing how many Dems are on here, complared to repubs. Must be at least 10 to 1, if not more.
Let's give Palin a chance, why don't we? Most of the comments on here are so uneducated it is pathetic.
This is a very important time for Palin and the world leaders she is talking to. They certainly don't need all the leering reporters in there ready to pounce at a moments notice if there is a slip of the tongue from either side. Let them talk and get acquainted.....
Did she have to run out of the meeting to go use her breast pump? Oh wait, #5 really isn't her kid. Baby is at home with Bristol...Mama.
The media should boycott this airhead's in all cases, until she comes out and has a unfettered press conference.
This is an obvious attempt to cover her lies and stupidity, and the MSM is most definitely allowing it to happen.
Stop all coverage of her, or at least give a 5 second warning so I can hit the mute button, her voice is making my eardrums bleed!
Nice, so we would have a VP that could be Pres., I ask you who would be running the country, the advisors and the GOP. Too scary for me and how emberssing, the world is laughing.
Man, can anybody chill?? Geez, no wonder he unfavorable opinion has been up 8 points. But in some sense, you have to put the blame on the McCain campaign.
She can be fine but if the campaign pretends that she's so special that no one needs her, they better check themselves in the mirror. Like I said, we(Conserves) can be taken over but since they don't wanna listen, let it be...
Hey McCain~~~~ I can see a Taco Bell from my kitchen window, can I be your Foreign Policy Advisor?
Pffft, I'm so sick of this broad, Clinton should just add her to his trophy collection.
Obama/Biden '08
29 seconds??!?!? that's a waste of time! what is the purpose in going there for 30 seconds? smh
If you are a republican. How can you in good concience support a ticket where the vice president won't let you know where they stand on the economy, healthcare, Iraq, Afganistan, education, ect. Obama is right. They think you're stupid.
Can you smell a fix?
KEEP HER IN ISOLATION, JOHN.......SO THE PEOPLE DON'T DISCOVER JUST HOW CLUELESS SHE IS....WHAT A JOKE. PRESIDENT PALIN.....A DISASTER WAITING TO HAPPEN!!!
considering many voted for obama over Clinton, it seems that stupidity is not exclusive to the republican party
Sounds like Palin's afraid of the media. Wow, I wonder if she's trying to hide something, like she is w/ her baby, with her governing practices, with her husband's subpoena, and God knows what else. Dirtiest politician I've EVER seen. She's worse than McLiar!
She is not yet the VP of the country and she is having secret meetings...What if she mistakenly become the VP...The press wont be allowed anywhere near her....
Where is TRANSPARENCY AND PRESS FREEDOM IN AMERICA!!!
I am crying in silence for this country. Really really crying. A public servant running away from the people she is suppose to be serving...?
Oh my – so this is the type of access we will be allowed McCain and Palin? Pathetic
With all that is going wrong in the world: war, terrorism, the economy, climate change, I don't need my potential VP to be cordially chatting about family. I need to see some substance, because right now I'm terrified of this woman with a only a journalism degree who has admitted that she hasn't thought much about foreign policy being a heartbeat away from the presidency.
McCain continues to think that if you deny the media access to Palin, Americans will forget how unqualified she is to be V.P.
PALIN IS A GIMMICK PEOPLE!!!
If she is "SO" qualified like the McCain camp keeps telling America, let her do more than TWO interviews. They don't allow access because they no she will be exposed as unqualified to lead. That's why she can't even go on the campaign trail by herself.
I'm not sexist for voicing concern over this GIMMICK POLITICIAN!! I wouldn't be saying this if McCain had picked Kay Bailey Hutchison as VP.