‘In cooperation with the Palin campaign,’ Secret Service now blocking reporters.
‘In cooperation with the Palin campaign,’ Secret Service now blocking reporters.
Today in a Washington Post chat, Dana Milbank revealed that — in “a serious violation of their duty” — the Secret Service is now preventing the press from interviewing attendees at McCain-Palin rallies:
I have to say the Secret Service is in dangerous territory here. In cooperation with the Palin campaign, they’ve started preventing reporters from leaving the press section to interview people in the crowd. This is a serious violation of their duty — protecting the protectee — and gets into assisting with the political aspirations of the candidate. It also often makes it impossible for reporters to get into the crowd to question the people who say vulgar things. So they prevent reporters from getting near the people doing the shouting, then claim it’s unfounded because the reporters can’t get close enough to identify the person.
Campaign staffers have also been locking journalists into a restricted press area in order to prevent them from writing “negative things.” (HT: Romenesko)
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So now, the Secret Service is now hiding behind Barbie’s skirt?
snark
October 16th, 2008 at 4:30 pmSuch desperate measures to hide unbearable stupidity.
October 16th, 2008 at 4:31 pmDon’t we pay the SS’s salaries?
October 16th, 2008 at 4:32 pmThey have no right to trample on the free press.
I believe they call them brownshirts.
October 16th, 2008 at 4:32 pmAnyone checkthem for Swastika armbands lately?
October 16th, 2008 at 4:32 pmSTOP REPORTING ON HER….SHE HAS NOTHING TO SAY. IF NO NEWS ORGINIZATION SHOWS UP AT THE RALLIES THEY WILL SEE FIRST HAND WHO HAS THE POWER…WHAT A BUNCH OF WIMPS THE MEDIA ARE…GROW A SPINE DANNA.
October 16th, 2008 at 4:32 pm….wouldn’t want the press finding the plumber’s crack…
October 16th, 2008 at 4:33 pmWelcome to the Fascist States of Amerikkka, you betcha! *wink*
October 16th, 2008 at 4:34 pmWTF?!
Seriously — W. T. F. ????!!!
October 16th, 2008 at 4:34 pmThings are horribly wrong with ‘our’ government. I wonder if 4 years will be enough time for President Obama to undo all the wrongs the right wingers have done to corrupt ‘our’ government.
October 16th, 2008 at 4:34 pmThe McNumbNuts should be paying at least half of the Secret Service detail costs, then. What’s fair is fair.
October 16th, 2008 at 4:35 pmIf the Secret Service will shield the candidates from the press, how long before they extend their “protection” to freelance writers and protesters with cameras?
October 16th, 2008 at 4:38 pmOh yea,,,,no plumbing lic…hehe….lien on home for not paying taxes. Yep he must be a McCain supporter. Oh yea I forgot to mention he makes under $80k….And he still wouldn’t vote for Obama and take advantage of the tax cuts. This is what we call STUPID WHITE TRASH! Thats the Repug base.
October 16th, 2008 at 4:38 pmSo now reporters have to infiltrate the rallies to ask questions? This is beyond ridiculous. They should just pack their cameras and leave. Cut off her access to free media coverage until she decides to cooperate
October 16th, 2008 at 4:39 pmDoes America really need anymore reasons why not to vote for McCorpse and Vampyra Of The North?
October 16th, 2008 at 4:39 pmThe question is: are they shielding the nuts who scream “kill him” or the ones who will say “now that I’ve seen her, I realize she’s dumb as a stump”?
October 16th, 2008 at 4:40 pmLeftside Annie Says:
Welcome to the Fascist States of Amerikkka, you betcha! *wink*
“““““““““““““““““““““““`
Imagine the uproar from the reich if Obama did such a thing!
Indeed the Fascist States Of Amerikkka! Lets pray that Obama will change this.
October 16th, 2008 at 4:41 pmMcCain/Palin: Team Viagra.
October 16th, 2008 at 4:41 pmI’ve said it before, stop covering her. No coverage period. Don’t write anything about her, don’t record her stump speeches, don’t take any pictures. Do nothing until she decides to cooperate. Do nothing. Period.
October 16th, 2008 at 4:44 pm‘In cooperation with the Palin campaign,’ Secret Service now blocking reporters.
– - I read this last week. Apparently the MSM hasn’t made much of a stink about it.
October 16th, 2008 at 4:44 pmLiberalVoter:
I’m afraid it will take closer to 4 decades to undo the damage that’s been done, if it can be undone at all. However, the first step is a repudiation of the GOP. If we don’t take that step? We are screwed.
October 16th, 2008 at 4:45 pmobama didnt mention her by name 1 single time last night that i heard (i could be wrong). this is the national joke she has become. obama didnt even giver her name recognition.
thats a slap in the face!
October 16th, 2008 at 4:46 pmRepublicans are FASCIST PIGS, with lipstick.
Didn’t old Russia do the same sort of thing?
Hey Shara, where are the recipes for the building materials for your House?
October 16th, 2008 at 4:48 pmThis is a direct violation of the first amendment. The freedom of the press is being attacked directly by the federal government.
October 16th, 2008 at 4:49 pmI have to disagree with the sentiment that the press should stop covering Palin rallies. I want as many cameras out there to record her idiocy and as many microphones to register the death threats and psychotic raving of her crowds as possible so neither Palin nor the Republicans can ever blot out the racist, fear mongering, riot inciting tone of this campaign. Every one of these insane rallies is a piece of history the Republicans cannot erase. Let the record destroy the Republicans and their chosen one.
October 16th, 2008 at 4:51 pmMcWorse claims to both value and wish to serve America. Somebody should remind McWorse of this pertinent quotation by Thomas Jefferson:
October 16th, 2008 at 4:52 pmOur liberty cannot be guarded but by the freedom of the press, nor that be limited without danger of losing it.
Impeach Pelosi, Cheney and Bush and Save the Constitution!
OMG what is becoming of the country that I love? Suppressing the rights of the press, terroristic slogans and bigotry chanting from campaign rallies, ideological suppression of the rights of others…
When did they start modeling themselves after the Nazis?
I WANT MY COUNTRY BACK!!
October 16th, 2008 at 4:52 pmWell, hopefully the SS teams at the McKlan rallies are communicating with Obama’s detail…
Maybe they really are just protecting her though… actual media coverage does appear to be her kryptonite.
October 16th, 2008 at 4:53 pmThere is one thing they should do: Explain to the American people WHY they will no longer be covering Palin. Report what is happening and say there will be a coverage embargo until it stops.
October 16th, 2008 at 4:53 pmI think it is time for journalists to just simply ignore Palin. Why they are still following her around like puppy dogs is beyond me. The only thing I can think of is that they all want to be the one to make breaking news about her newest gaffe. Pitiful.
October 16th, 2008 at 4:53 pmSeriously, as some others here have pointed out the solution for this is simple – STOP COVERING HER APPEARANCES. If she does not want the press coverage, oblige her and stop covering her speeches. It’s really that simple. As Ronnie use to say – Just Say No.
October 16th, 2008 at 4:53 pmFourteen Defining Characteristics of Fascism
#6. A controlled mass media. Under some of the regimes, the mass media were under strict direct control and could be relied upon never to stray from the party line. Other regimes exercised more subtle power to ensure media orthodoxy. Methods included the control of licensing and access to resources, economic pressure, appeals to patriotism, and implied threats. The leaders of the mass media were often politically compatible with the power elite. The result was usually success in keeping the general public unaware of the regimes’ excesses.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVVa1IvHdKc
October 16th, 2008 at 4:55 pmplease David Letterman, bring it up and take Blinky to task and embarrass the heck out of the old fart
October 16th, 2008 at 4:56 pmI guess this is what Palin doesnt want anyone to see:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRqcfqiXCX0
Some supporters you got there mavericks. I bet youre really proud of them
October 16th, 2008 at 4:57 pmI seem to recall hearing about a similar incident a while ago.
That’s in addition to the barring of some folks from a Bush event [partially] because of a bumper sticker?
I hope the incident is on video so it can be widely exposed.
What’s next jailing reporters who don’t lap up what the GOP *feeds* them? Secret prisons/assassinations? Absolutely NOTHING would surprise me at this point.
October 16th, 2008 at 4:58 pmstateofthedivision Says:
I believe they call them brownshirts.
Or as the case may be, a brownskirt…
October 16th, 2008 at 4:58 pm(see photo)
Each day it’s something new and appalling. Racism in the open, now more of this.
What does the right think America is supposed to look like? Nazi germany?
October 16th, 2008 at 5:01 pmThese people are afraid of Obama? Seriously, they should be afraid of the GOP’s systematic stripping away of their civil liberties a heckuva lot more.
Only racists and KKK could be so supportive of these ignoramuses
October 16th, 2008 at 5:01 pmHey guys, please go to this website. Pretty good videos coming out of Alaska regarding Palin.
October 16th, 2008 at 5:05 pmI was always under the impression that the Secret Service being there to protect the candidate meant protection from physical harm. Now it seems that protecting the candidate means protection from embarrassment as well.
It’s sad that it’s come to this.
October 16th, 2008 at 5:05 pmLet me ask. Do these restricted press areas have tall poles in the ground surrounded by kindling and wood ?
October 16th, 2008 at 5:06 pmSo, in addition to “Free Speech Zones”, we now have “Free Press Zones”.
Welcome to the USSA.
October 16th, 2008 at 5:13 pmPlus, if the press can’t cover the threats, they’re not happening, right? You betcha!
October 16th, 2008 at 5:14 pmSo……McCain would appoint “strict constructionist” judges to the Supreme Court who would restrict the freedom of the press?
What hypocrites.
Seriously, is it even legal to stop the press from talking to anyone at a public event for someone running for public office?
October 16th, 2008 at 5:14 pmNews of this by the SS only reinforces my abject fear that the Bush regime is not done yet.
Not by a long shot.
I suspect some brave journalist or someone close to the situation will discover or leak the fact that Bush or Cheney signed some kind of Executive Order causing this action to insulate Palin from the press.
Bush and his water carriers want to stay in power partly to stay out of prison. They will do ANYTHING
Fascism never goes away. If history proves anything its that every time fascism seems to come to a bloody end one place, it finds new loyalists and operatives with evil intent and rebuilds again.
Vigilance!
October 16th, 2008 at 5:18 pm“The illusion of freedom will continue as long as it’s profitable to continue the illusion. At the point where the illusion becomes too expensive to maintain, they will just take down the scenery, they will pull back the curtains, they will move the tables and chairs out of the way, and you will see the brick wall at the back of the theatre.”
-Frank Zappa, circa 1977
you people are just now waking up to the police state?
did you snooze through the RNC?
where are my fellow americans?
this must be the same naive democrat crowd that believes the agenda will change with a new president… wake up people.
October 16th, 2008 at 5:21 pmMore rumors on “Joe the Plumber”:
http://www.courtclerk.org/case_summary.asp?casenumber=DV0301377
Just for giggles, do a complete search on his name. If this is the same guy, he sure gets sued a lot.
October 16th, 2008 at 5:23 pmRemember our librarian friend who was escorted away from a McCain event?
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/07/07/librarian-with-mccainbush-sign-kicked-out-of-public-campaign-event/
Heh, he’s been doing this since before Sarah even appeared on the scene. Why, you could say that controlling the press is John McCain’s modus operandi.
October 16th, 2008 at 5:30 pmthis is the perfect encapsulation of the twisted orwellian logic that has dominated our political discourse the last 8 years:
“So they prevent reporters from getting near the people doing the shouting, then claim it’s unfounded because the reporters can’t get close enough to identify the person.”
and that santorum thing above is outstandingly stupid, what a total crazy. western pennsylvania isn’t racist? obama doesn’t wear a flag pin? are you completely mad rick?
October 16th, 2008 at 5:31 pmRE: Joe the Plumber, from the CBS website:
“On Thursday, he revealed to the media assembled outside his home that he wasn’t a licensed plumber. He said he works for a small plumbing company that does residential work. Because he works for someone else, he doesn’t need a license, he said.
But the county Wurzelbacher and his employer live in, Lucas County, requires plumbers to have licenses. Neither Wurzelbacher nor his employer are licensed there, said Cheryl Schimming of Lucas County Building Regulations, which handles plumber licenses in parts of the county outside Toledo.
Wurzelbacher, 34, also said he doesn’t have a good plan put together on how he would buy Newell Plumbing and Heating in nearby Toledo.
He said the business consists of owner Al Newell and him. Wurzelbacher said he’s worked there for six years and that the two have talked about his taking it over at some point.
“There’s a lot I’ve got to learn,” he said.
Yeah, like don’t bullshit presidential candidates when the cameras are rolling….
October 16th, 2008 at 5:32 pmWhen is the press gonna get the courage to report news ?
Hint to the press: There is a thing called a lawyer. I’m sure they would be happy to represent you, perhaps even Pro bono. I’m sure there are some advocacy groups, such as the ACLU who would be happy to help you out also.
October 16th, 2008 at 5:51 pmdid you hear about this?:
Video: Clashes in New York outside Obama-Mccain debate RussiaToday
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97Th0e0z61A&eurl=http://news.google.com/
October 16th, 2008 at 5:53 pmI attended a rally yesterday in NH, as a protester, in which Palin was the candidate of the day! I didn’t see any brownshirts but I sure did see blackshirted, blackbooted guys along with regular police and the sheriff’s dept., and the state troopers. Also, police boats and helicopters were prevalent! Geez, it was the most awful feeling place to be, and this is in my own area. I was also manually scanned after passing through the scanner due I am sure due to the fact that I was proudly sporting my Obama pin! I noticed the press tables along the rear of the area, and also noticed they were not among the crown inside the gates or talking with any of us outside the gates.
We behaved very well as we protested and smiled at all of those who looked our way! We were protesting many things, but the focus was on the lack of health care in our country.
Anyway, it was an experience, one that I would hate to see repeated for any reason, and I’m sure it would be more the norm if McCain gets elected. Just a few of my thoughts……
October 16th, 2008 at 6:09 pmThanks for the post and link katy. I hope you don’t mind if I send a tip to TP.
October 16th, 2008 at 6:10 pmRight, the people who brought you civil rights, social security, etc. will now be republicans…..sure thing there weare. What else ya sellin, that dems are racist too.
October 16th, 2008 at 6:21 pmThe Secret Services’ job is to ensure someone’s, in this case Palin’s, physical safety.
Since when does non-violent, non-physical communication between third parties constitute “protection?” Except protecting Palin, or rather, us, from the truth?
October 16th, 2008 at 6:23 pm“the truth, it hurts us too much, it does.”
October 16th, 2008 at 6:32 pmSounds like kidnapping and/or illegal imprisonment!
October 16th, 2008 at 6:34 pmThe Secret Service shoud protect Palin from others, not from herself.
October 16th, 2008 at 7:32 pmWell, the reporters deserve what they get for being there in the first place. Idjits.
October 16th, 2008 at 8:21 pmHere’s an interesting hypothetical question: if Palin tried to shoot Obama, would their respective Secret Service details have to throw down on each other?
Of course, it sounds hypothetical NOW…
October 16th, 2008 at 8:25 pmWTF?! Whatever happened to the First Amendment and Freedom of the Press?
This ABSOLUTELY must stop now. McCain-Palin have completely crossed the line and have become the Authoritarian candidates.
No local, state or federal law can prevent the press from doing their job.
October 16th, 2008 at 9:18 pm“In the absence of governmental checks and balances present in other areas of our national life, the only effective restraint upon executive policy and power in the area of national defense and international affairs may lie in an enlightened citizenry…. Without an informed and free press, there cannot be an enlightened people.”
October 16th, 2008 at 9:50 pm– Justice Potter Stewart
Here’s the new department under a McCain-Palin Administration:
Reichsministerium für Volksaufklärung und Propaganda
Be afraid.
October 16th, 2008 at 10:17 pmAnd what is it that prevents these brave men and women from disguising themselves as members of the rally and I understand not wanting to get into it with Secret Service, but maybe you should in order to embarass them and shed som elight on them, but also, why would any adult allow other to lock them in a room? If it’s against your will, it’s called kidnapping. Whimper, whine, no action. The press continues to be a profile in cowardice.
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March 31st, 2009 at 10:23 am