Palin Runs From The Media

Ever since McCain picked Palin as his VP, he has hidden her from the media, only letting her out in public to give canned speeches written by his campaign (like her convention speech). McCain has been clear that he won't let her do a press conference with the media, he won't let anyone have access to her unless it is on his terms, in a controlled environment, with no tough questions. All questions must be cleared and rehearsed. This is unheard of in politics, having someone who would be a heartbeat away from being president completely cut off from the media and public scrutiny. But it isn't surprising, and the rationale behind this is simple, she isn't ready for primetime. She isn't a national candidate, she is all local, she has no experience or knowledge of issues at the national level, much less the international level. If she had to face a press corps that wanted to test her knowledge of even basic issues, she'd fall apart, it would be like facing a firing squad. She'd be ripped apart, just trying to answer the basic questions that any candidate could, and should, have to answer. She isn't ready to face questions from the press, and we are supposed to believe she is ready to fully understand and fix the big issues? If something were to happen to McCain, would she be able to go toe to toe with Putin or some other dictator? Give me a break!

So here is what McCain's campaign said when asked today when, if ever, Palin would have to face the press and answer questions, any questions:

Rick Davis, campaign manager for Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., just told Fox News Channel's Chris Wallace that McCain running mate Gov. Sarah Palin won't subject herself to any tough questions from reporters "until the point in time when she'll be treated with respect and deference."

"Until the point in time when she'll be treated with respect and deference", yes, in other words, "until the point in time when the media promises to not ask any real questions, not challenge her complete lack of knowledge or experience, and will basically just ask her "How do you pull of being such a perfect governor and perfect mom and still have time to look so beautiful??!" in 20 different ways. It is a clear message to the media, if you do your job, we will cut you off, so best just fall in line. This is essentially the same dance the Republicans always play. With McCain it was I won't talk to you if you ask any tough questions because I was a POW. With Bush it was if you question him you aren't really American and you want the terrorists to win. It is all the same, they can't handle tough questions, they can't stand up to real scrutiny of any kind, so they hide behind shields like POW and patriotism and sexism and blaming the media. Don't expect this game to change anytime soon, it is all that is keeping America from confirming what most already suspect: Sarah Palin is nothing but a veneer, an empty candidate with no experience, almost no record, almost no identifiable positions on national and international issues (we don't even know if she knows what the big issues are), and certainly no qualifications.

So expect more stonewalling, expect McCain's campaign to clam up and refuse to give Americans a clear look at the unqualified right-wing liar he cynically picked to be a heartbeat away from the presidency. Expect more of this:

"When we think it's time and when she feels comfortable doing it," Davis said, praising a Fox News Channel profile of Palin that ran last night.

Why is she scared of answering questions? Wallace asked.

"She's not scared to answer questions," Davis said, "but you know what? We run our campaign not the news media."

Wallace said inappropriate intrusions into Palin's family and personal life aside, there are legitimate questions about whether she is prepared to be vice president.

"Sarah Palin will have the opportinity to speak to the American people," Davis said. "She will do interviews, but she'll do them on the terms and conditions" the campaign decides.