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Kurtz: Journalists privately admit they’re ‘censoring’ their coverage of Palin.

Sen. John McCain’s (R-AZ) campaign has undertaken an aggressive effort to accuse journalists of being overly hard on Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK). Campaign aides have attacked the media for being sexist, lacking “deference,” and trying to “smear” Palin. In today’s Washington Post, Howard Kurtz writes that in response, “some journalists say privately they are censoring their comments about Palin to avoid looking like they’re piling on.”



58 Responses to “Kurtz: Journalists privately admit they’re ‘censoring’ their coverage of Palin.”

  1. Exit Stage Left says:

    Poor little Sarah….Can’t hurt her precious little feelings, can we?


  2. Bobwurst says:

    howie admits he and his ilk aren’t doing their jobs. Did they censor any of their rev wright coverage? I guess it’s ok to be racist but not sexist…


  3. DieNowForPeace says:

    Must keep eye on target:

    McIIIrd


  4. stateofthedivision says:

    Sarah’s gaffes keep her hidden. That keeps her from leeching the Obama campaign.

    No longer does the Alaskan lake sucker draw blood over Obama’s executive experience, reformer status, and length of government service.

    While the media may not write about her writhing, at least she’s not attached to Obama’s neck.


  5. Zooey says:

    Censoring coverage of Palin to avoid “piling on” is sexist, you stupid f ucks.


  6. Jamit says:

    They have been covering for McSame all of these years. So whats new??


  7. Annie B. says:

    Our so-called journalists are not brave enough to report the truth. Since when is reporting the truth called “piling on”.

    Governor Palin, simply said, is not qualified to be vice president, period. Nor is Senator McCain really qualified to be president.


  8. larkohio says:

    Sarah is just not ready to be next in line to the presidency. She is scary. I have full confidence in Biden, but Sarah, not so much. The debate on Thursday should be interesting.

    What slays me is they went after Senator Clinton with a vengence, so why, oh why is Gov. Palin off limits? I’d like the answer to that question.


  9. DieNowForPeace says:

    IOKIYAR larkohio.

    Hypocrisy, it’s what flows through right wingers veins.


  10. McWars says:

    larkohio: What slays me is they went after Senator Clinton with a vengence, so why, oh why is Gov. Palin off limits? I’d like the answer to that question.

    Hi larkohio. Senator Clinton gave it as hard as she took it, she never requested special treatment.

    When SNL more accurately portrays Sarah Palin than the MSM, you know journalism is in trouble.


  11. unbelievable says:

    So, what happened to her harsh criticism of Hillary Clinton for not being able to take the heat, lik a man? Hmmm?


  12. paleolib says:

    Being cowards at heart the MSM pulled back when the Snowbilly inexplicably created a small bounce at the convention. Now that Palin has fried herself so thoroughly with her breathtaking stupidity that even diehard wingers like Kathleen Parker are calling for her to withdraw let’s see if the media goes with the flow again and starts reporting on McCain’s unfathomably poor choice.


  13. DvlsAdvocat says:

    What the hell does CBS think they’re doing by withholding the two more “embarrassing answers” they left out of the broadcast of Couric’s interview with Palin? Are the flaking for the McCain campaign? Put it out there for god’s sake. if they won’t do more than a handful of selected media interviews, then at least put everything they say out there for the world to see.

    I’m disgusted with the pathetic performance of the MSM in the Palin candidacy. McCain set the ground rules right up front, and they are all dancing to his tune. Sickening.


  14. Lungman424 says:

    Time for McLame to throw another Hail Mary..lets see, Palin off the ticket for “personal reasons” and either Ridge or Liarman VP choice by the debate on Thursday…the rightwings nuts are alreading jumping ship


  15. RantingTommy says:

    I wouldnt want to see a pile on palin, even in a porno!


  16. fletc3her says:

    Of course they’re censoring. We saw the same thing happen with the reporters covering the George W Bush candidacy in 2000. The reporters who are assigned to the candidate are in line for a cushy job should their “guy” get elected. The winning side become White House correspondents. The others get reassigned to whatever bureau needs people. This creates an incentive for the reporters to create positive stories about the candidate they are covering and to paper over embarrassing gaffes. Until the major media outlets stop this absurd reward for slanted coverage the American people will have a harder time learning the truth about any candidate.


  17. MCMetal says:

    Lungman424 Says:
    ——————————————————————————–

    Time for McLame to throw another Hail Mary..lets see, Palin off the ticket for “personal reasons” and either Ridge or Liarman VP choice by the debate on Thursday…the rightwings nuts are alreading jumping ship

    September 29th, 2008 at 10:26 am

    No way ……….Will not happen ; McDepends cannot afford any negative connotation(s) after the spectacle he made of himself and the Wall Street bail-out.

    Watch for Caribou Barbie to announce the wedding of her daughter to her daughter’s baby’s daddy in October , which also happens to be Bristol’s birth month………….


  18. spencers mom says:

    Since Couric/CBS was nice enough to edit McStain’s answers, putting the “correct” statement with the “right” question, you have to wonder how much Palin’s interview was edited.

    And what aired was the best they could come up with.

    Princess Wasilla is a joke, but McStain is at fault here. And if the media complies, they are co-conspirators.

    Idiot. Dangerous idiot.

    PEACE


  19. RUCerious says:

    They’re not just workin the refs, they’re threatening to throw them out of the helicopter at 1800 feet.


  20. spencers mom says:

    MCMetal Says:

    Watch for Caribou Barbie to announce the wedding of her daughter to her daughter’s baby’s daddy in October , which also happens to be Bristol’s birth month………….

    Which Cindy will pay for. Have you noticed just how drugged Cindy has appeared lately? I think she’s watching her millions flow into the hands of the Palin family and their sperm donor, and McStain needs to keep her sedated, and her outrage private.

    Camp McStain seems to believe that this shotgun wedding will be America’s Diana/Prince Charles moment. Maybe in the trailer parks…

    PEACE


  21. spencers mom says:

    Seems that CBS is holding on to the most damaging Palin interview footage:

    http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/9/29/12221/4907/302/613984

    Can’t wait to see it! Wonder if they have the balls to actually air it?

    PEACE


  22. MCMetal says:

    spencers mom Says:
    ——————————————————————————–

    MCMetal Says:

    Watch for Caribou Barbie to announce the wedding of her daughter to her daughter’s baby’s daddy in October , which also happens to be Bristol’s birth month………….

    Which Cindy will pay for. Have you noticed just how drugged Cindy has appeared lately? I think she’s watching her millions flow into the hands of the Palin family and their sperm donor, and McStain needs to keep her sedated, and her outrage private.

    Camp McStain seems to believe that this shotgun wedding will be America’s Diana/Prince Charles moment. Maybe in the trailer parks…

    PEACE

    September 29th, 2008 at 10:42 am

    And if and when this wedding takes place in October , if it is announced publicly in an effort to help along the lagging GOP presidential ticket , the GOP should never even think of claiming the Dems use any group or individual for political purposes/gain(s); but of course , the hypocrites who abound throughout the GOP landscape , can always be counted upon to do that……..


  23. tom says:

    In WaPo today, Howard Kurtz says that CBS has yet to air two responses from the Couric-Palin interview that are embarrassing to the Princess. So much for “piling on”.

    I do have to laugh at all the advice being given by Little Billy Krystol, Mittens Romney and others today — “free Sarah Palin!” so the cry goes.

    What’s that all about? Do they want her to go bra-less Thursday night? If she did, I couldn’t care less. I am much more interested to see if she will be wearing a boa or turtle-neck to camouflage her shock-collar.


  24. Zooey says:

    MCMetal Says:

    Watch for Caribou Barbie to announce the wedding of her daughter to her daughter’s baby’s daddy in October , which also happens to be Bristol’s birth month………….
    September 29th, 2008 at 10:34 am

    Actually, the wedding date is November 4, 2008. :-D


  25. unbelievable says:

    tom Says: In WaPo today, Howard Kurtz says that CBS has yet to air two responses from the Couric-Palin interview that are embarrassing to the Princess. So much for “piling on”.

    That needs to be shoved down the throats of all the Cons that are crying ‘the liberal media is biased toward Obama’.

    A journalist actually defended the journalists who are doing tehir jobs yesterday saying that the Conservatives only cry bias when the news doesn’t go their way, and that the MSM needed to get over it.


  26. MCMetal says:

    Ahhh , what’s a little shotgun wedding and loveless marriage to further along an empty headed mom’s political career ……?


  27. VerbalKint says:

    Kurtz has mostly been a reliable shill for the Republicans, but his recent writings about Palin and her treatment by the press have actually been pretty good. In any case, those interview answers by Palin that were broadcast have provided plenty of fodder for her critics. Newsweek editor Fareed Zakaria has a blistering piece at the WaPo in which he flat out says Palin is unqualified and should step down:

    http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/postglobal/fareed_zakaria/2008/09/palin_is_ready_please.html?hpid=opinionsbox1


  28. unbelievable says:

    MCMetal Says: Ahhh , what’s a little shotgun wedding and loveless marriage to further along an empty headed mom’s political career ……?

    Lovely how she has, since the first week, thrown her own daughter under the bus for her own political gain.


  29. Zooey says:

    MCMetal Says:

    Ahhh , what’s a little shotgun wedding and loveless marriage to further along an empty headed mom’s political career ……?
    September 29th, 2008 at 10:53 am

    Poor little Bristol ought to run away, as far as she can, while she still can.


  30. Badmoodman says:

    And THIS nugget at the end of Kurtz’s column today:

    “And the worst may be yet to come for Palin; sources say CBS has two more responses on tape that will likely prove embarrassing.”

    Whoo-boy.


  31. The Republic of Stupidity says:

    spencers mom Says:

    Camp McStain seems to believe that this shotgun wedding will be America’s Diana/Prince Charles moment. Maybe in the trailer parks…
    ______________

    Ye gods… where has this country slid to? Not only are the righties “claiming” the marriage of the very pregnant teenage Bristol to her equally teenage boyfriend is somehow proof of conservative family values in action, they’re now hoping this ludicrous spectacle will help them take the WH…

    Gee… if Bristol’s water breaks during the ceremony, will she put off going to the hospital for 12 hrs, like her Mom? Kinda a Palin Family Tradition?


  32. Badmoodman says:

    Zooey Says:
    Poor little Bristol ought to run away, as far as she can, while she still can.

    – - Eloping was good enough for Bristol’s Mom.


  33. MCMetal says:

    How’s that “abstinence only” upbringing working out for your kids there , Alaska’s Mother Mary ?


  34. And the beat goes on says:

    So, the press is doing for Caribou Barbie what they did for most of the McInsane campaign? Is this because they want to give the appearances of a “fair fight?” Funny how now that the press is no longer being invited in to McInsane’s “inner sanctum” and is finally covering some of the truth about this idiot, the polls are finally showing Obama clearly in the lead? I don’t think this is a coincidence.


  35. RUCerious says:

    Yet another conservative admits they’re coverin her tracks before she steps in it again.

    How many mulligans does a veep candidate get?


  36. RUCerious says:

    Beat, wouldn’t that be better labeled, McIIIrd’s inner skanktum?


  37. unbelievable says:

    VerbalKint Says: http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/ postglobal/ fareed_zakaria/ 2008/ 09/ palin_is_ready_please.html?hpid=opinionsbox1

    From the comments section of that article:

    As a former accountant–the US’s tax code (as Warren Buffet) pointed out, is set up for the middle/lower class to pay the majority of the tax burden(in reality a higher rate) However, the wealthy (symbolized by the old school republicans) have been able to spin this to— only the wealthy pay taxes–passive income is treated with kid gloves–W2 income is the highest taxed–rich people live on dividends and passive income which is not subject to social security taxes–which is 15.23 percent (your employer pays half but do not be so stupid to think companies do not add that fee into the employee expense—but if the “right” wants to support this cause let them take ownership of this–Sarah Palin symbolizes to this country that we are a third world country–she is not a lawyer/phd,nor does she have extensive tried political experience–if we are to believe the Alaskan newspapers–doesn’t show in Juneo and their legislative body has to read the paper to see if she veto’s their bills–we should start singing EVITA–let’s stop “dressing the elephant”–the educated young people from the “small towns/country” are no longer going to US cities–they are going abroad–can we save this country?? I hope so–


  38. bigeugene says:

    That’s what we need, more journalistic self-censorship! Who needs book burning when these idiots are doing this.


  39. GOP86 says:

    Last year, the state of Alaska gave the Special Olympics $250,000. This year, the Alaska legislature requested $550,000 for Special Olympics, which would have constituted a 120 percent increase. It is typical, of course, for advocates to submit impossibly high budget requests, even during budget crunches, in the hopes of getting whatever they can. This is understood by anyone who has ever run an organization or prepared a budget that requires legislative or executive approval.

    Gov. Palin denied the request, but not completely: She reduced it to a 10-percent raise, approving a gift of $275,000. A 10 percent raise during tough times is very good, as any employee in America would quickly attest. For most employees, a raise of 3 to 4 percent is a good raise.

    -National Review Online


  40. Uosdwis says:

    These “journalists” need to turn in their journalist badge and be walked out of their cubicles with boxes of their personal stuff.


  41. unbelievable says:

    9/29 Daily Kos R2K Tracking Poll:

    Obama 51, McCain 42


  42. unbelievable says:

    GOP86 Says: -National Review Online

    Speaking of zero integrity “journalism”


  43. ralph the wonder llama says:

    GOP86 Says:

    So the trolls aren’t even required to pretend to make sense anymore?

    They can get McSame Points™ just for posting random shit?


  44. galmud says:

    The two most embarrassing answers in the Couric interview were left out?? Why?

    And how can they possibly be any more embarrassing than what CBS have showed already? Did she refer to Gordon Brown as the king of England?


  45. RUCerious says:

    Gotta wonder if Ms Palin is going to limit her ‘gifts’ to her ‘grandchild’ to a ten percent increase.


  46. ralph the wonder llama says:

    galmud Says:
    The two most embarrassing answers in the Couric interview were left out?? Why?

    And how can they possibly be any more embarrassing than what CBS have showed already? Did she refer to Gordon Brown as the king of England?

    Wow. You must think highly of Gov. Palin if you believe she even knows that Gordon Brown is English.


  47. ralph the wonder llama says:

    My mistake — Gordon Brown is British, but not English. He’s a Scot, isn’t he?

    Ah, well, I’m still qualified to be vice-president, right? After all, I live in California, and we can see Mexico from the border.


  48. kasinca says:

    I wonder if they privately hold back on Obama? The answer is no. They are all in the tank for the reichwingnut extremists.


  49. Doc Rock says:

    Damned liberal press!


  50. Leftside Annie says:

    Freedom of the press, huh?

    Not so much.


  51. Bilbo Hussein Baggins says:

    In today’s Washington Post, Howard Kurtz writes that in response, “some journalists say privately they are censoring their comments about Palin to avoid looking like they’re piling on.”

    So, in other words, the Press is doing exactly what the right wingers intended by criticizing them.

    I find it hard to believe that the people who own the corporations who own our MSM really think it’s a good idea to have John McCain as our president. I know they are Republicans but can’t they see what’s best for this country?


  52. Bilbo Hussein Baggins says:

    MCMetal Says:
    Ahhh , what’s a little shotgun wedding and loveless marriage to further along an empty headed mom’s political career ……?

    When did a shot-gun wedding stop being embarrassing and start being something wonderful to look forward to.

    I think if they push the wedding, it too will backfire on them. Right now most people are not paying attention to the fact that Palin has a very pregnant teenage daughter. Pushing the wedding will put it front and center.


  53. Max-1 says:

    .

    So,
    A National MEDIA that self censors is supposed to be believable?

    .


  54. SKdeA says:

    I anticipate that the day Bristol reaches legal majority, she will be doing a LOT of interviews telling the world that she was forced to have this child and get married. We have not hear much out of her mouth yet.
    Then again, she could be another right-wing Stepford wife type. But I hope not. I would like to know if it was her idea to keep the kid. Doubtful.


  55. markfrommanhattan says:

    Come on now you bunch of whiners.
    If journalist admit to Howie that they are censoring they’re coverage of Palin, I’m just saying what’s the worse that can happen? They just don’t want to loose out on more of that BarBQue in Sedona.
    Pass the beans Wolffe.


  56. Chocolate Jesus says:

    >Gov. Palin denied the request, but not completely

    Meanwhile, the Police chief Palin hand picked, after she fired his predesessor, was making rape victims pay for their own rape examinations. Later, she claimed the REAL reason she fire the states budget director because he was seeking federal money for victims of rape.

    See a pattern here? “Rape Tax” Sarah fits in perfectly with you misogynist “blame women first” crowd..


  57. Game of Life says:

    Oh please. Any woman who can kill for fun and profit and then use this tool isn’t no shrinking violet.

    Also this woman gave a speech after her water broke then traveled 10+ hours while in labor isn’t no frilly broad.

    Oh give the white woman more privileges and passes, this is not fair!

    GMAFB


  58. Game of Life says:

    The repug msm can lie all they want. We all know they are working for the repugs. This is why the repug msm is going down the tubes and rightfully so.

    Thank God for the internet.



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