Palin avoids the press, but Obama’s running mate isn’t talking either

Today, the press finally had enough of Sarah Palin’s refusal to address them. While holding meetings with numerous foreign dignitaries, Palin’s staff refused to let editorial press into the meetings, though one “pool” camera was given permission. The campaign was hoping for the nice pictures of the meet-and-greet, without having to face any questioning. Unfortunately for Palin, virtually every news agency refuses to provide a camera without an editorial presence also being allowed in the door. After a brief standoff, the Palin team backed down and allowed a member of CNN’s editorial press into the meeting… for 30 seconds. The entire story from that lengthy stay is chronicled here.

McCain/Palin and the media

I will attempt to be brief, because I want you to read this. In an election that continues to focus on personality and gossip rather than issues, the Republican Party has poisoned the well and in doing so, has harmed every voter in this country.

Senator John McCain’s subtle jabs at the media have been gaining steam over the summer. At the Republican National Convention last week, they were no longer subtle, rather, an entire party lashing out against what they believe is a biased news media.

This was compounded upon the introduction of Governor Sarah Palin as McCain’s running mate. Palin has the country in a tizzy, but she is not being made available to the press, we are told because of their favoring of Barack Obama. All the media would do is trick her and make her look bad, because they are “in the tank” for Obama, they tell us.

They criticize the media for traveling to Alaska to try to find out more about one of America’s biggest newsmakers, saying that they are trying to dig up dirt on a poor innocent woman. What exactly should journalists do? They are denied access to a woman running for vice president of our nation; they have to be able to find some information about her to inform the public other than controlled speeches and campaign events.

Thursday is the seventh anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks, something the Republicans have oft been accused of using to scare people into voting for them, suggesting that only the GOP can keep America safe. Over the past few months, the Republicans have found their new campaign of fear… fear of the media.

Why the New Yorker cover is just what Obama needed to ‘Fight the Smears’

Barack and Michelle Obama, standing in the middle of the Oval Office, fulfilling every far-fetched rumor circulating the Internet. There is an American flag burning in the fireplace, above which sits a portrait of Osama Bin Laden. Barack is dressed in Muslim attire. Michelle has an AK-47 strapped on her back. The two exchange what Fox News’ E.D. Hill calls a “terrorist fist jab.” This is the cover of the latest New Yorker magazine.

Both the Obama and McCain campaigns have shown their strong displeasure with the cover. But there is a significant silver lining for Obama. In fact, this cover could earn Obama more independent and conservative voters than his recent “move to the middle” speeches.

Living in the Deep South, I can assure you all of the ridiculous Obama e-mail rumors are alive and well. Otherwise intelligent people tell me all the time about how Obama is a Muslim who was sworn in on the Quran (that was actually Minnesota Representative Keith Ellison). They tell me Obama does not pledge alligance to the flag, he even turns away and lowers in head in defiance. He does the same during prayer, so I heard. He doesn’t wear a flag lapel because he is a closet terrorist who hates our country (his middle name is Hussein, you know). He and his wife even use a secret terrorist signal, seen used by other prominent terrorists here:

Tony Snow 1955-2008

Here we are again. Another face in political media has passed away far too soon. Former White House Press Secretary, television and radio host Tony Snow died Saturday from colon cancer. Just weeks earlier, Meet the Press moderator Tim Russert died of a heart attack. Both journalists were only in their fifties.

Snow was an anchor for Fox News, hosted a conservative radio show, and served as a conservative analyst for CNN. I knew him only as a White House Press Secretary for President George W. Bush, and talking about that role in subsequent interviews after stepping down from the post.

You could tell by watching Snow field questions that he enjoyed playing the game with fellow reporters. He knew the tactics that would be used against him; he came from that world. He was a master of ducking and dodging questions, finding holes in questions… he drove reporters nuts, and scolded them when they weren’t giving him enough of a challenge. He was unique in his role: Snow often took the liberty bred in him as an opinion journalist to move beyond his briefing and put his own angle on the talking points of the Bush administration. This sometimes got him into trouble, but made C-SPAN worth watching (well, how about “tolerable?”)

Point is, Snow was quick on his feet, moreso than anyone else I can think of. He was intelligent, and one of the few personalities firmly entrenched on one end of the ideological scale that I enjoyed listening to.

Tony Snow, Tim Russert, Jim McKay – we have lost enough journalists for one summer.

Tim Russert, 1950-2008

I was preparing a story about the latest ridiculous “Barack Obama’s a terrorist” rumor or perhaps another reason I don’t understand soccer. Those two will go on the backburner.

One of the greatest journalists of our time has passed away. Tim Russert, the Washington bureau chief for NBC News and moderator of Meet the Press, died of a heart attack while recording clips for the upcoming weekend’s program. He was just 58 years old.

Russert was never held back by the speed and brevity of television. He was methodical and complete in his analyses and his interviews. He did not believe in “quote digging” or taking something out of context. Guests on Meet the Press who had something to hide were in big trouble – because Russert’s examination would uncover the truth, and not in a slanted, roundabout, yelling over each other kind of way.

I remember watching The O’Reilly Factor last week, while Bill was on a tirade about NBC News’s liberal biases. He had a panel of conservative cronies on to echo his loud points. O’Reilly, for a brief moment, included Russert in his criticisms. Immediately, even the bellowing O’Reilly was silenced by the people who were supposed to be agreeing with him. Even the most conservative in the media recognized Russert as one of the few journalists who could not be labeled as a liberal or conservative, but rather an investigator, a seeker of truth. As O’Reilly sputtered a semi-defense, you could see a rare instance when he knew he was indeed wrong.

Tim Russert is one of my role models in the journalistic world. I would love to one day be relied on for unbiased news, agenda-free thoughts, and a more complete look at a story – not out-of-context soundclips and yelling. Such a journalist is rare. Today, we have one fewer.