Palin Becomes Increasingly Accessible To The National Media

(CBS)
(COLORADO SPRINGS) It was less than two weeks ago when Sarah Palin astonished her traveling press corps by lifting the curtain (literally) and journeying to the back of her campaign plane to answer reporters’ questions for the first time after 40 days on the campaign trail. But the candidate who has been criticized for having a bunker mentality when it came to the national media can now lay legitimate claim to being more accessible than either Joe Biden or Barack Obama.
In the past two days alone, Palin has answered questions from her national press corps on three separate occasions. On Saturday, she held another plane availability, and on Sunday, she offered an impromptu press conference on the tarmac upon landing in Colorado Springs. A few minutes later, she answered even more questions from reporters during an off-the-record stop at a local ice cream shop.
By contrast, Biden hasn’t held a press conference in more than a month, and Obama hasn’t taken questions from his full traveling press corps since the end of September. John McCain—who spent most of the primary season holding what seemed like one, never-ending media availability—hasn’t done one since Sept. 23.
Though she often turns the “mainstream media” into a punching bag on the stump, Palin clearly enjoys interacting with reporters. She seems to relish the opportunity to demonstrate that her breadth of knowledge far exceeds what she offered to CBS News’ Katie Couric in a series of interviews that were marked by vague, often convoluted answers to straightforward questions.
After her plane in Colorado Springs, Palin answered no less than 14 questions from the media. It took traveling press secretary Tracey Schmitt three attempts finally to get the governor to move along.
After reaffirming her belief that some parts of Obama’s tax plan carry “socialist principles,” Palin was asked whether she thought the government’s move to pump money into U.S. banks was also socialist. It isn’t difficult to imagine the Sarah Palin of a month ago getting tripped up by this question, but her answer this time was clear and concise.
"No, I do not,” she said. “And I believe that there are those measures that had to be taken by Congress to shore up not only the housing market but the credit markets also to make sure that that’s not frozen, so that our small businesses have opportunities to borrow.”
When she brought three of her young children to a Coldstone Creamery a few minutes later, Palin took even more questions from reporters, confidently approaching the cameras, rather than trying to avoid them.
Asked for her reaction to Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann’s recent suggestion that the media should investigate members of Congress who may hold “un-American” views, Palin didn’t hesitate.
"Well, that's quite subjective," she said. "I would think that anyone running and wanting to serve in Congress is quite pro-America. You know, that is the mission, to better this country. So I would question what the intent of that would be."
Transitioning to the rising violence in Afghanistan, Palin meandered through her answer a bit more but succeeded in getting several points across.
"And we do need more troops in Afghanistan and we need that same surge strategy that's worked in Iraq and we need to make sure that we have that counter-insurgency strategy, too, in place,” she said. “We need to grow our military. We need to incentivize our young Americans to realize what it is in terms of benefits and service our military can offer. We need to grow our military and get more troops in there. Work closer with the leaders in Afghanistan and make sure that with our NATO allies also that we are all working together there to fight that War on Terror there. Also, we can't afford though to lose in Iraq and think we are going to be any better in Afghanistan. That's why we are still opposed to an early or premature withdrawal from Iraq. We've got to win both the wars on both those fronts Afghanistan and Iraq."
- 1
- 2
- 3
- next
See all 138 CommentsObama to amend report on $800,000 in spending
By David M. Brown
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Friday, August 22, 2008
U.S. Sen. Barack Obama''s presidential campaign paid more than $800,000 to an offshoot of the liberal Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now for services the Democrat''s campaign says it mistakenly misrepresented in federal reports.
An Obama spokesman said Federal Election Commission reports would be amended to show Citizens Services Inc. -- a subsidiary of ACORN -- worked in "get-out-the-vote" projects, instead of activities such as polling, advance work and staging major events as stated in FEC finance reports filed during the primary.
She is still without a clue.
They never allow her to be questioned alone.
All she''s doing is repeating talking points they taught her.
When Brian Williams of NBC nightly news interviews her it will be, with preconditions, or advance questions, or with John McCain by he side. The lady is cute and sweet but we cannot put her in th white house or give her the nuclear codes, we just can''t.
It means you are a donor.
Otherwise, I am connected to PBS, Save the seals, Jane Goodall Institute, Wildlife Foundation, etc.
When she does a real news program it will be with pre-conditions, advanced questions so they can prep her, or it will be with John McCain by her side.
Palin''s new mantra is, seduce baby seduce, and the press with overlook that airspace in your head.
She and Joe the Plumber are destined to be questions on Jeopardy in the future.
(How many people know off the bat who Gerald Ford''s running mate was in 1976 ?)
The Republican handlers are good at this, they''ve trained Sarah well, now if they could just do the same for the guy who hired her.
I guess we''ll all have to judge for ourselves the authenticity of Palin''s remarks.
The press has a hard time connecting the dots or remembering through the weekend. But let''s trace back the pro-America comments, started by Palin, carried on by Phoftenhaur, added to by Bachmann. All the Sunday afternoon quarterbacking, doesn''t change the small town, pro-America timeline.
Sarah has been remarkably consistent. I am surprised this is lost on someone covering her so closely.
In Ohio, there are now reports of effigies of Obama hanging from trees.
Governor Palin instilled this hate we have not seen since the 60''s.
The questions she was asked were not trick questions, nor were they "tough" questions. You have to also recall that she "misspoke" numerous times, and that the questions posed her were not all from the media. Several times she tripped herself up - such as when she said Congress had put strict bans on the amount of oil and gas that America could export. Her supposed "strong suit" is her energy knowledge.
Regardless of who asked her questions, NO ONE has their hand up her arse moving her mouth. Her responses are her own, based on her knowledge and experience or lack thereof.
The trouble is, if she comes clean she is guilty as sin and a liar. If she does not come clean, she is guilty as sin and a liar but only one could net her even nastier publicity and end up with her standing trial ala Scooter style, for perjury.
Posted by ABMan827 at 10:47 AM : Oct 20, 2008
Palin cannot string a coherent, unrehearsed sentence together. She did not know:
What nation building, direct diplomacy or the recovery bailout was. She had no clue that there is no foreign policy experience in living near a border of any country. She lied about the bridge to no where and the troopergate report even though the evidence that contradicted her was on display (that takes idiocy and ballzzz) Sarah appears not to be able to answer any questions that are not scripted remarks prepared for by handlers--she makes ridiculous statements like distilling the situation of the world into "good guys and bad guys" and she has a very simplistic view of the world, and government even thinking the VP has any say or power over the Legislative branch constitutionally. Of course to realize all of this--you would have to know what the above all meant and if Joe the Plumber, that AAAA-rab women in MN and other Republicans are to go by--you think Palin is intelligent because she is as smart or smarter than yourself--but how close to zero is that and why should that be the barmeter for the rest of us who are a bit higher up on the intellectual food chain?
Yeah "what horsesh*t": is right....that is why Obama himself is talking smack on foxnews because that is the only media outlet that is not biased in his favor. You people only like to believe and hear what you want.
And Palin''s mistakes (actual or edited) are mistakes and they are what they are...but I could of swore Obama and Biden made mistakes too, but that is not getting the press that Palin''s mistakes are getting. Why is that because the media is biased.
Yeah "what horsesh*t": is right....that is why Obama himself is talking smack on foxnews because that is the only media outlet that is not biased in his favor. You people only like to believe and hear what you want.
And Palin''s mistakes (actual or edited) are mistakes and they are what they are...but I could of swore Obama and Biden made mistakes too, but that is not getting the press that Palin''s mistakes are getting. Why is that because the media is biased.
Posted by harbinger09 at 11:08 AM : Oct 20, 2008
You know nothing about me nor my intelligence...and if you are judging my intelligence because I support her shows to me that you have no idea on what American Politics is all about. My support of Sarah Palin has more to do with the republican policies and about what I think America should stand for....obviously your views differ, which is ok. But I would not dare question your intelligence because of it. But that is what you people do when people don''t agree with you. Another reason why I vote Republican.
As to lying about stuff when contrary evidence is easily found, both Biden and Obama have done a lot of that.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by MLR_08 at 11:13 AM : Oct 20, 2008
Gotta love it...I make a simple grammar mistake and you judge me on it. If I could recall judging people is God''s job. But I guess you liberals think you are God.
As to lying about stuff when contrary evidence is easily found, both Biden and Obama have done a lot of that.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by mdooleyva at 11:17 AM : Oct 20, 2008
But they only see fault in people that are Republicans.
http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/briefing/Vice_President.htm
Note the title.
....obviously your views differ, which is ok. But I would not dare question your intelligence because of it. But that is what you people do when people don''''t agree with you. Another reason why I vote Republican.
Posted by ABMan827 at 11:16 AM : Oct 20, 2008
Speaking of questionable intelligence, how many times did you vote for Bush?
Obama to amend report on $800,000 in spending
By David M. Brown
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Friday, August 22, 2008
U.S. Sen. Barack Obama''''s presidential campaign paid more than $800,000 to an offshoot of the liberal Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now for services the Democrat''''s campaign says it mistakenly misrepresented in federal reports.
An Obama spokesman said Federal Election Commission reports would be amended to show Citizens Services Inc. -- a subsidiary of ACORN -- worked in "get-out-the-vote" projects, instead of activities such as polling, advance work and staging major events as stated in FEC finance reports filed during the primary.
Posted by greenfun at 01:03 AM : Oct 20, 2008
Key word here is "primary".
Tim Pawlenty sign into law a bill partially drafted by ACORN.
Senator Mel Martinez even awarded a grant to ACORN.
Florida Governor Charlie Crist? He wasn''t "bothered" by ACORN FL registration efforts and even signed a voting rights bill promoted by ACORN.
Texas Governor Rick Perry worked closely with ACORN.
Governor Mitt Romney signed into law a bill supported by ACORN.
And Sen. McCain was a key speaker at the "immigration reform town hall rally" organized by "the Archdiocese of Miami, the Florida Immigrant Coalition, ACORN, People for the American Way, and the Service Employees International."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by CaribouBarbi at 11:33 AM : Oct 20, 2008
I voted for Bush once, because the first time I was not old enough. But why did I vote for Bush, because Kerry was a flip-flopper and said what ever he needed to to get the votes.
And again, another liberal questioning my intelligence when they have no clue who I am. And by the way, I am college educated (payed my way through college) have about $100K in college tuition to pay back because I wanted to better myself and I did not get any assistance from the govt.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by bonddouble07 at 11:52 AM : Oct 20, 2008
Not at all...the big joke in this election is all the liberals reaction to Sarah Palin. She is exactly what you people disagree with and you don''t know how to handle. So you resort back to your childhood days and just make fun of her like you would do on the playground. But the supporters of Sarah Palin, we are the dumb ones...give me a break. Gotta love the maturity in the Democratic party and the Democratic supporters.
Actually expecting our politicians to be available to answer questions, and let us know where they stand on the issues BEFORE we vote, is a problem and makes us "bad people"?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by grouchyjohn at 12:07 PM : Oct 20, 2008
Agreed, but what can you tell me about Obama. Cause I am voting for McCain for presidency not Palin. And I know what McCain''s policies are and I agree with majority of them. But you people focus most of your negative efforts on disrepecting Palin.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by Charlie1000 at 12:07 PM : Oct 20, 2008
But Democrats only look out for themselves and don''t see the big picture. If you know someone is going to hand you money and benefits why would you get a job, go to college to better yourself, etc. I mean I put myself in $100K debt to better myself, and then I have to share my success with others who don''t have the drive I had. Obama is going to turn our country into a bunch of lazy people.
let me clarify this statement that I made, its the people supporting Obama because of his 95% tax cuts joke of a tax plan. They are thinking that tax plan is going to put more money in their pocket, but its a lie. All its going to do is cause all your expenses to go up and in the end you will have less money in your pocket. Its simple economics, but I guess I am not intelligent enough to understand based on the Democratics definition of intelligence.
Posted by ABMan827 at 12:09 PM : Oct 20, 2008
Then you should pay attention.
Were not "picking on" Sarah Palin - we''re just showing that picking her is just ONE MORE in a long string of poor decisions.
He "continues to argue that large tax cuts for the wealthiest households are the most reliable way to stimulate growth. You know what does happen when you cut rich people''s taxes? They get richer.
Last week, John McCain released his economic plan to "help" folks battered by the recession. The plan included a cut in the capital gains tax by half (from an already too low 15% to 7.5%).
Th type of income, such as the profits from selling appreciated assets like stocks, is SO CONCENTRATED among the wealthiest families, that only 0.2 percent, or $4, of the gains from this cut will reach middle-income folks. Yet smack in the middle of the worst financial crisis since the Depression, this is what a presidential candidate comes up with."
Posted by bonddouble07 at 11:52 AM : Oct 20, 2008
bonddouble07, to correct you, She will be remembered as the First Female VP of the USA! It is your comment that will be remembered as stupid for the next hundred years!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by MLR_08 at 12:23 PM : Oct 20, 2008
And Obama has all the CORRECT answers. Give me a break. Obama has one agenda...and that is "SPREAD THE WEALTH." And do you really think that is going to trickle down to the middle class, I think not. Hence why the Obama campaign is ripping apart "Joe the Plumber" because he opened up a can of worms with one simple question.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by grouchyjohn at 12:22 PM : Oct 20, 2008
But you people fail to point out Obama''s bad decisions....like Rev. Wright, Ayers, ACORN, his party, etc.
"Joe the Plumber" has admitted that in every instance (business or personal) he would be taxed less under Obama''s proposed plans. He prefers McCain-Palin as candidates.
You say that you know McCain''s policies and you agree with them, but you don''t provide any facts here. You just attack others'' statements.
What are McCain''s policies? Please list a few and what you agree with.
Because I think many people, including those in government and in the media attempting to follow his campaign, would really like to know. One of the main reasons that he is falling behind is that he has realy given no clear, concise plan for anything.
Honestly, though - what are his policies that you''re so familiar with and agree with as well?
You people can''t answer a question without discrediting the other side. I know that McCain has made bad decisions, like most if not all politicians. I just want you people to acknowledge Obama''s. But you people only see fault in the Republican Party.
I think our country has failed its people in a number of ways. I feel certain that if you had help and therapy available to you as a child, that you would be a bit more functional and coherant as an adult.
I will answer your question with a typical Democratic response...what about Obama''s policies? Why are you voting for Obama?
But you know what, I know why I am voting for McCain, and here are a few:
1 - I am pro-life - I believe abortion is another name for killing babies.
2- I belief in supporting yourself and doing what you can to improve your life....and not expecting handouts from the government.
3- I beleive that corporate taxes need to be decreased because jobs are being lost and going to other countries.
4 - I believe in making this country energy independent and that we need to use our resources effectively.
etc, etc, etc. I could go on but I did not want you to think I was not answering your question.
Posted by azure11 at 12:51 PM : Oct 20, 2008
Sorry I didn''t realize calling democrats "you people" would offend you. My bad, I shouldn''t of resorted to such bad name calling.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- next
See all 138 Comments