Jay Allen's Blog

I think she is simply tired of the media craziness and just wants to get in and do her meetings and the job she is sent to do. I think I would be tired of it as well.

So how is Paducah? I've been there twice and thought it was an awesome town.

I'd much prefer she speak at townhall meetings and to 60,000 retired residents of Florida, than talk to reporters truthfully.  Since when did reporters have "rights"?  I don't recall the Lincoln - Douglas dabates being staged so reporters could get long interviews, or ask attacking questions.  The issues were debated.

My first guess why she would rather speak than be asked questions, is the stupidity of the questions. The media is obsessed with her 'heart beat away' from the presidency and forget that she is a VICE PRESIDENT NOMINEE.  I for one am sick of all the speculation of what would happen if John McCain dies the day after the inauguration. 

Curious though, what questions do you think a VP candidate should be asked that she has not been asked? 

After the way she's been treated, I don't blame her a bit - I would tell them all to kiss it, too. Besides, the media thinks we are so stupid that we can't make an informed decision without their biased help - who needs them?  There are many ways to find out what you need to know without them.

After that hatchet job by Gibson who could blame her

Frankly the media has been so vicious in the attacks on her I'd be shocked if she ever agreed to sit down with them again. The bottom line here is what do the people want to know? And she is making herself avaialble for those questions.

When the media quits soft balling Obama they have some room to talk. He has basically boycotted Fox News, which has the largest audience, how can you expect him to negotiate with hostiile governments when he (and other democrats) won't deal with FOX. I will admit, though, that he did agree to meet with O'Reilly. A bit of double talk, but, he let O'Reilly interview him.

Many people are angry because she turns her nose up to questions. This is the USA, not North Korea. The idea that she shouldn't feel the need to answer questions, because reporters might be mean or disrespectful is bizarre. Is it really that hard to accept that she is avoiding questions, because she is in over her head and doesn't have the answers?

It doesn't take too much critical thinking as to why one wouldn't want to talk to reporters.  If you have confidence in what you're saying and have a story to tell, let them have at it especially when your story is fresh and not thoroughly known by the masses.

With that being said, in regards to media outlets such as FOX.  Let's get real.  If you're not a Republican, you will not win over any viewers who are ardent followers of their media outlet.  When you have people such as Oliver North and Karl Rove telling us how it is ... well, enough said.

Hi Jay ... I would like to see her answer more questions.  Frankly, most of what she speaks about whether being questioned or just speaking is how she supports issues that are like her own and Americans who are like her.  I just don't get it!  Maybe additional interviews would dig deeper and tell me something about what she is going to do for all Americans.  And I would like to know what she is saying to heads of foreign countries. 

And why would anyone insult the press the first time she speaks even if they were not nice to her ... didn't she think she would have to deal with them again.  Will she ban them in the future.  Diplomacy is a critical pre-requisite for her hoped for new job.  Again, I don't get it. 

Marie, Ditto. McCain says she is tough as nails and can take it and that she is a brilliant politician. Poor Lady, Gibson was Soooooo Mean. He asked her what the Bush Doctrine was. How repulsive of him to ask such a question!!! No wonder she won't give interviews the commentators are just tooooooooo mean to her.

But she sure had a nice photo op today. And President of Georgia Fell in Love with her. What man wouldn't. She is so beautiful all she has to do is show up. Who cares what she has to say????

The Republicans certainly don't.  Most of them are voting for her ONLY because she is a Christian, Pro-Life, against gun control and.......oh you know.......there must be some other reason.

This is my OPINION.

Most of us who are voting for her know everything we need to know - her record as governor reflects her views and conservatives agree with her.  Those who cry for more interviews have no intention of voting for her anyways.

I think she is as competent to run the country as Bush is, and she probalbly is a lot smarter to boot.

Lets wait for the debates to see how it works out...

Actually, Susan, I am sitting on the fence this election, and I know others that are also.  His choice of running mate is important given his possible appeal to more conservative Dems.  It can also be said that perhaps, those who do not need to know more were going to vote for her anyway.  I also know Republicans who do not agree with her views.  When a politician veers too far from center, it causes people to wonder about his or her ability to represent the public at large.  Just my opinion.

Jay ~ Why should she talk to the media. Clearly, they are setting her up to fail. The View embarrassed themselves ith the McCains. They show how far left leaning they are. It is not the free press anymore. Surely, even you can admit that. The media is shooting themselves in the foot becuase of the biased coverage. When they become journalist again, perhaps Palin should give an interview, until then, she should speak to the people directly, without the liberal head hunters.

Even if someone does like McCain/Pailin, does anyone REALLY think the other choice is better? OBama surrounds himself with crooks and it isn't just one or two. There is a long list of really bad associates that OBama has called friends. That scares me to death.

Nicholas:  It seems that EVERY news organization in your opinion is "liberal" or is it just those who disagree with you?  Is FOX the only media that you suggest we can trust?  In fact, you have a featured post where your title states that "Palin Packs Stadiums With 60,000 When She Visits The Villages In Florida" when in fact an article from the source you site (Orlando Sentinel) states a range of "25,000 - 60,000":

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/politics/orl-palin2208sep22,0,5823576.story

The POINT, are we to take your word that all of the coverage we are getting is "biased coverage"?  As biased as your coverage?  More biased than you coverage?  Less biased than your coverage?

Palin isn't talking to the media for obvious reasons and it's not because she is a reformer who is presenting herself as "too good" for the media.  It's because she is not abreast of the issues.

If you were abreast of the issues you would have no reason not to make yourself available.  In fact, you would enjoy the opportunity to set the record straight.

Obama, (right or wrong) was destroyed by the media because of his ties to Jeremiah Wright.  What was his response?  Again, (regardless of what you think of him and what he said) he came out, faced the media, and gave amongst others, a major speech regarding the situation.

LaNita ... To me, it's like being stuck between a rock and a hard place :)

Roger ~ You think that is a reliable estimate for the orlando newspaper, you can double the number and you can get a clear number? 25,000-60,000 really?

Roger, you saw all the questions Obama recevied from the media, soft ball questions and no follow up. Sarah Palin couldn't get one answer out without Charlie Gibson trying to get another one in. If you can't see the bias, then you are less of  truthful person I though you were.

I know you are an honest person, now prove it.

Nicholas, you must be confusing O'Reilly's Obama interview with Gibson's Palin interview.

Jay ~ No, I am not confused. I believe you can understand what I am talking about. I don't have to explain any further.

When Obama can go on "The View" and get treated like the messiah, and then John McCain goes on the same show and gets called a liar, something is wrong with that picture, don't you think. But I am starting to think liberals are not thinking with their heads.

I thought you were just speaking of the evil Charlie Gibson's interview/attack on Sarah Palin. 

Jay ~ I love you, you are truly a gem, but I said all liberal media. The Spin Stops Here...lol

Nicholas, this has been a good, spirited debate!

One other thought is that it is sexist for the McCain campaign to hold Palin away from reporters - here is a ~90 second clip of Campbell Brown speaking on the matter... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLlXxMY2LHI.

Jay -

Why should Palin be required to speak with a onesided group of idiots such as the mass media?  This is McCain's platform.  He calls the shots on his time not the Democratic and mass media time.

Once again a maverick!  McCain gave the MSM full access to him for months then they stuck a knife in his back.  Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.

As a Democrat...I had to do some soul searching on this.  There are soooo many questions about his background that haven't been answered and the questions he does answer are flip like we shouldn't be concerned.  Sorry buddy...how many people out there has the kind of friends he does?  I don't.  If I knew someone with the background of his friends, Ayers, Dohrn, Rev Wright, Emil Jones, Frank Davis (dead but his mentor), Rezko, Farrakan and the many other yokels he has hung out with...I wouldn't want to associate with him much less have him lead my county!

Jays quit drinking the koolaide!

Jay ~ Sexist? That is really weird coming from you when it is sexist for Obama not to pick Hillary because she is a woman and clearly 18,000,000 voters said would be the best choice.

Roger - The Orlando Sentinal has a nickname that is telling: The Slantinal.  It's not particularly known for its unbiased journalism.

Nicholas - It appears that you're confusing The View with journalism.  That show is most definitely NOT journalism.  It's not a newscast.  And it doesn't pretend to be balanced.  (Although, I understand they do try to keep a token Conservative on.)

Also, just because someone can't see bias, that doesn't mean they're dishonest, untruthful, liars, or anything of the kind.  They could just be blinded by their own bias.  It's just where they are.  (And each of us has our own particular biases - so it's not limited to Liberals or Conservatives.)

David ~ Thank you, but it is the show "The View"  that called McCain a liar and his ads a lie. I am not calling them journalists, but they are the very ones saying Palin is not talking to the media, and for what? To be attacked and preyed upon by the liberal watchdogs.

Thanks for clarifying that you don't view The View as a group of journalists.

I can fully understand Palin not wanting to go on a hostile talk show.  Good for her!  But Jay's post is about Palin not wanting to talk with journalists/reporters. 

I could be wrong, but I don't think Jay or anyone else here expects Palin to go on every talk show that's out there, nor would they criticize her for not going on every show.

If one opinionated talk show calls her running mate a liar, does it make sense for her to not talk with journalists?  There's a bit of a disconnect in that logic.

David - Why is it so important to you that Palin needs to be interviewed by the media?  I personally see now value.  I'd rather see her in the debates and in town home meetings.  I'd like Biden and Palin to hold these together.  That's where there is value. 

Susan - Interviews or at least press conferences with reporters helps with getting out the message.  Avoiding the press also communicates, but probably not the message that McCain/Palin would like to get out.

That said, I agree with you - I'd rather see debates and town hall meetings, where "regular folks" have an opportunity to ask questions.  (I also understand that those are usually very controlled.  Sometimes, even to the point of planting fake opposition questioners to lob weak pre-planned questions that have the slight appearance of being tough.)

I would think, particularly when you're coming to the race as a relative unknown, that you'd want to do everything possible to get your message out.  And that would mean using every opportunity: debates, town hall meetings, stump speeches, AND INTERVIEWS!

David ~ Yes, my friend you are correct. But, she did go on Charlie Gibson and he played the gotcha game, and that sir, was unethical and unprofessional for a journalist. He did not do that with Obama, nor did Katie Couric do that to Biden when he made the gaffe about Franklin Delano Roosevelt going on television and explaining his vision for the country during the Great Depression which was in 1929 not 1939 when Roosevelt was president. Herbert Hoover was President.

Also, when Obama said he was a Muslim and had Musli faith, the reporter corrected him and satid, "Don't you mean your Christian Faith?'

If Palin made these mistakes these reporters would be all over her. It really doesn't make any sense for her to talk to journalists like these who have a bias to attack her.

There is no disconnect to this logic, perhaps you have a disconnect to the real media that is out there.

Are you getting the whole story from the liberal media, do you trust them with your life? I don't, maybe I am illogical. Go Figure.

David - I don't trust the media with ANYTHING.  They spin their reporting to their own agenda.  If they really wanted interviews with her then they should have taken a lesson from kindergarten "be nice".  They attacked her right off the bat.  She didn't even have time to speak with anyone.  Not smart on the MSM. 

It's abvious...the only reason those yammering for her to be interviewed isn't to make a voting decision, but to plop yourselves in front of the TV set with a bowl of popcorn to cheer on the nasty comments such as her children, husband, religious belief and I just won't go on it's not worth it.  For those of us with a brain we get what you're trying to do.  It always should have been about the issues of ability on a professional level.  The media once again blew it and they shouldn't get another chance.

The voters are pretty smart. They can watch the debates and figure out who they want to vote for not who the media wants them to vote for!

I think she will. She came in cold as a governor and I am sure she will study up.

The fresh new face is what I like and that she is a Mom.

Richard

SHE LOOKS SCARED TO ME...RIGHT.

Not scared tough!  I was impressed by Piper.  Over 60,000 and she still thanked them for having them...

Nicholas - You're right about her interview with Gibson... his questioning was less-than-forthright.  (Although those on the left will undoubtedly disagree, her request for him to clarify what he meant by "Bush Doctrine" was legitimate in that there have been several policies that have been termed "the Bush Doctrine."  I believe the count is currently up to 4.)  Some saw his questioning as good.  Others saw it as mean, unethical, and/or unprofessional.  I'm somewhere in the middle.  He was antagonistic and, as you say, trying to play "gotcha."  Problem for ABC is, she stayed pretty much toe to toe with him, and by doing so, she showed that she was not going to be intimidated, and allowed others to see Gibson's double-standard in interviewing for what it was.  (It also gave good cause for questioning the integrity of the editing - which proved to be selective.  I know they edited at least one answer and the following clarifying question out completely - leaving the viewer to believe the clarifying answer was her direct response to the general question.  Those who learned of this deception more than likely have a much lower view of ABC as a result.)

Susan - I partially agree with this statement: "If they really wanted interviews with her then they should have taken a lesson from kindergarten "be nice"."

When we are "nice" we do indeed tend to help others to open up more.  But I'm not so concerned with them "being nice" as with them getting to real issues, and being balanced in their efforts to report on the real issues with ALL candidates.

Since the reporters/journalists started by being relatively soft on Obama, being almost apologists for his relationships, and asking "probing" questions to get to the bottom of the personal interest stories about his family history, they should have been as least as friendly to Palin.

I would have preferred to have seen the reporters/journalists dig into the issues with Obama - probing into his connections to shady characters, and into the things he seems to be trying to hide.  That would have earned them the "right" to dig into those same kinds of issues with Palin.

Some of the best, most informative interviews result from an antagonistic questioner.  But the media needs to be willing to release the entire interview - not just edited sound bites.  Then the interview becomes most valuable; we, the audience, get to see what the candidate really thinks and how s/he responds under pressure.

You know she and her family ARE just like you and me! That's why the media is so scared because the anointed one now looks to be in trouble. Do you know what Todd Palin was doing yesterday while Sarah was at the UN? He took the kids to the FAO Schwarz toy store!!!!!!

 Hey there all!!  This has been an awesome discussion.  If there is one thing that we can all agree on, it is that the press no longer reports the news, they create the news and twist the facts to suit their purposes.  It is ALL about the ratings. 

We need to take responsibility this election season and truly educate ourselves.  Get to know the candidates from the local school board and county commissioners right on up to the president of these United States ~  find out what they stand for ( if they stand for anything at all)!! 

WE have to find out the FACTS for ourselves, because the media is not going to give them to us!!   And we need to base our votes on those facts not on race, sex, or political party. Respectfully, Janet

Katie Couric with more hardball questions ???  This is exactly why you will see very little of Palin in front of the media. 

Enjoy the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xpb7z_PjbAs

I wish all the candidates would stop taling to the reporters and talk wiht the people.  The reporters always put their twist to the story and soon, the story isn't even close to what the candidate said!

Simon - Do you know what Todd Palin was doing yesterday while Sarah was at the UN? He took the kids to the FAO Schwarz toy store!!!!!!

I thought he was dodging a subpeona to appear in court to testify in the abuse of power probe for his wife.

Roger, if that video were from a movie, it would be funny.  Unfortunately, it's not.  I hope that video gets around to enough people to see that Palin is clueless - and it was definitely not a "gotcha" question.

Jay:  As you've stated, it was anything but a "gotcha" question.  The problem is people (as Simon stated in a previous comment - "she and her family ARE just like you and me!") seem to want people like you and me.  We couldn't wait to have a beer with President Bush.

I want a president smarter than me.  I want a president to know more than me.  I want a president who has the ability to be a leader.

We don't need anymore ordinary people learning how to be the president of the United States!

Exactly Roger - beer buddy Jane Doe or beer buddy John Doe are not the caliber people that appear on Mount Rushmore.