Obama Camp Pares Down Press Corps
DES MOINES - Today it was learned that three reporters covering the Obama campaign will no longer be permitted to fly on Obama’s chartered 757 beginning Sunday, just two days before Election Day.
The reporters represent three papers whose editorial pages each endorsed McCain for president: The Dallas Morning News, The New York Post, and The Washington Times. Ebony and Essence - Obama-friendly publications - will take their seats on the plane.
All three news outlets have had reporters traveling to some capacity with the campaign during the course of the general election, but unlike outlets like The Washington Post and the New York Times, it has not been consistently. Ebony and Essence, who will be traveling throug the end of the road, have been on the road only occasionally.
“Unfortunately, demand for seats on the plane during this final weekend has far exceeded supply, and because of logistical issues we made the decision not to add a second plane. This means we’ve had to make hard and unpleasant for all concerned decisions about limiting some news organizations and in some cases not being in a position to offer space to news organizations altogether,” a spokesperson from the campaign explained.
The campaign points out that the ousted reporters are encouraged to cover the events, and they’ll provide assistance with hotel rooms, space at events, and the same information disseminated to the traveling press. “Which means the only thing they don’t get is a seat — they have access to everything else,” a staffer noted. But with multiple events spanning the United States in the coming days, reporters traveling outside of “the bubble” will not logistically be able to cover each event.
It’s easy to draw the conclusion that the reporters were slighted because of unfavorable or less than glowing coverage, but to be fair, it should be noted that just today on the flight to Iowa, FOX News - hardly an Obama campaign favorite - had four coveted seats on the cramped campaign plane.
Each news organization (yes, even the New York Times) has had their number of seats limited, meaning that if a big shot wants to swoop in to cover the end, in theory, someone will have to forego a seat.
Of course all of this might have been avoided if the campaign had reconfigured the plane differently. While staffers lounge in business class seats, press and Secret Service sit three-to-a-row in the two rear cabins of the same size.
Among the newspapers expected to travel regularly for the next four days: USA Today, The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune, The Chicago Sun-Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Daily News, The Boston Globe, The Los Angeles Times, and McClatchy. Politico and Slate also have slots.
But of course the statement coming out of the campaign is that we wanted to make room for others. Smaller less circulated publications. Seems strange well circulated and national publications for others of way lesser standing. Again questions but no relavant answeres.
“the only thing they don’t get is a seat [on the plane] — they have access to everything else”
That’s entirely differnt than banning SPECIFIC reporters altogether, as the McCain campaign has done: Joe Klien (Newsweek), Maureen Dowd (NYT).
Most people don’t care about this “inside baseball” stuff.
I’m glad to see a balanced report on the Blog page. Emphacizing that Fox is still permitted on the plane with 4 seats shows that it is not anti-Obama reporters being removed. Based on polling data, Obama is not going win Texas, so having a Dallas paper on board doesn’t help with anything. The New York Post has been downright nasty to all Democrats this year, and doesn’t deserve a place anyhow. As for the Washington Times… their coverage is normally fair, but not many people read that paper.
And that is being questioned because? Gee, do you think that maybe anyone in their right mind would rather have people reporting the positive things about the campaign in the last 4 days rather than any dirt they can find that might hurt their results. Good for Obama!
What a shocker.
Berg vs Obama sent to supreme court yesterday.
Where is the real birth certificate comrade?
I don’t blame Obama for booting the Press that is voting for McCain. Now the Press is stooping
to low. If you aren’t for someone don’t hitch a free ride for a story.
Is the Washington Times still even considered a “news source”? Not that Ebony or Essence are what I read to get my politcal coverage, but the Washington Times is only a baby step above the Weekly World News. I’m still waiting for them to endorse Bat Boy for president.
This is what is going to happens in the united states of obama. Reporters cast away , tv stations order to turn off, web pages remove. we might have only one tv channel the obama channel.? His past actions let me believe that this country is going to be turn to a socialist system against our will.
Obama tax plan ? From 250,000 to 200,000 Biden say 150,000 and now the New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson say 120,000? and obama is not in power yet . Wen he does don’t know how low will it go? Maybe under 42,000. Well at least the people that don’t pay taxes are going to be happy. I will do my best to keep my taxes low .I will vote for McCain.
“this might have been avoided if the campaign had reconfigured the plane differently”…indeed, the size of the press corp could have been trippled if the seats had been removed and everyone simply stood. Furthermore, two to three additional reporters could have been seated on the flight-crews’ laps.
Come-on FOX NEWS;
As Joe Biden said to A STUPID question posed to him by Barbara West; “Are you serious?, Is this some kind of joke?”
Airplanes are LIMITED as to how much LUGGAGE, PEOPLE and IDIOTS that can be carried at ANY ONE GIVEN TIME.
Then the hard decisions have to be made, and some POMPOUS EGOTIST gets his/her tail feathers ruffled, cause HIS overinflated posterior isn’t honored.
The REAL STORY HERE(if there is ANY AT ALL), is that three SELF ABSORBED SNOBS felt it beneath them to PAY FOR THEIR OWN transportation FOR ONCE! Then they decided to act like children and throw a tantrum about it!
Sorry, but the ONLY story here, is somebody decided TO DO a story on a situation that wasn’t a story at all!
i see you are over Obama for camp say no to 3 report. will Mccain did the same think. but it was tell as this is. i see ok Mccain to say no to report that can’t fly with us. you all are say Obama was wrong and Mccain was right you can have it both way.
I have yet to see or meet a democommie that can discuss anything. They have no point. They just control the so called by them free speech. NObama is a MARXIST.
Palins wardrobe was 150k,, Did anyone bring up Obama flying back to Hawaii on a private 757 to see his grandma,, The fuel for one way would be about 60thousand , not to mention secret service, local authorities etc. How come Bill ayers isnt on those flights sitting next too reverend wright, having champagne with p.l.o represenatives talking about what these jokers are going to do with all our tax dollars.
didn’t mcshame throw a reporter off his plane a month ago?
Its his plane but that decision demonstrates the elistist attitude that has prevailed throughout Obama’s campaign. Disagree with him and you will feel the wraith - just as Joe the plumber did. Is he afraid that their paper’s views will “rub off” on the other reporters and they will no longer be in his pocket?
The difference is that the paper’s EDITORIAL BOARDS made the endorsements - not the individual reporters. And they are professional enough to separate their personal views from their reporting, unlike much of the rest of the media whose love affair with him s too strong. Also, they DO pay for their seats.
Ebony and Essence - Get Real!
OB can throw out the Tx paper, because Tx has
never from the start wanted him as their president
and also , the American people should throw OB out
with the trash .
that should show the American people OB
can’t handle the truth much less someone
in the media are the public with a back bone.
I glade he does not want a TX’s media
on his plane, TX has always shown they
do not want OB for their president.
It’s bad karma, sheer bad luck to beon an airplane with someone working for a business (Washington Times) owned by Rev. Sun Moon. Nancy Reagan’s astrologer could tell you that. No, they did the prudent thing kicking that guy off the plane. Number of lines of print generated by dumping Washington Times, NY Post, Dallas Herald: thousands. Number of voters switching to McCain for it? Zero
The Democrats are now counting the number of fake accounts on websites like Facebook and Myspace claiming that they got more there and so more people would be supporting Obama than McCain.
What a silly statement, indeed. Anyone could create thousands of fake accounts in a few hours on those websites, they are absolutely anonymous. The Democrats claims are so silly and pathetic. They want to brainwash people into believing that Obama is loved by the majority of the population and so they claim that fake numbers on websites that anyone could create would mean that Obama already won the elections and so he will win for sure.
Well, prove them wrong! Go and vote for McCain! Don’t let these guys get in charge, do not let Obama become President. Do you want to be their slave?
Obama lied to the people of Illinois (he never lowered taxes like he promised to get him elected)!
Obama lied about his relationships with: Ayers, Rezco, Rev. Wright………………….
Obama has changed his stance (lied) on most major issues that won him the primary!
Obama knows he can’t raise anyone’s taxes Rich, or lower taxes on the Poor with our economy the way it is right now. But you think he is going to tell you the truth?
Heck no! He want’s to get elected! Then he will come up with reasons why he couldn’t keep his promises once he is in office (but only if asked), but most likely will
Just ignore you.
Obama never takes responsibility for any Gaffs or errors he makes on the campaign trail. He will either say to the people, “You Weren’t Listening!”, or blame his staff!
Obama voted present when in the Senate just to keep his hands clean, and not be responsible for any negative aftermath’s of his votes. All carefully planned to win the white
House.
Now, how can any of you Obama suporters think that Obama is going to keep one promise he told you? You are nobody to him. Your just another step stone to the
Presidency for him.
Just like Paris Hilton! If Paris thought one of her BFF’s were going to tell the public the truth about
her, Paris would throw them off of her plane as well. Obama, Paris, same difference! LOL
Just like Paris Hilton! If Paris thought one of her BFF’s were going to tell the public the truth about
her, Paris would throw them off of her plane as well. Obama, Paris, same difference! LOL
Well for thos people that have not read teh history on Cuba or can see what is happing in Venezuela, take a look now because that is what will happen to the USA.
In both of tehse countries it alls tarted with a charismatic speaker who promised change and he delivered. It is a change they never anticipated and one they rather get rid of but it is now TOO LATE. He promised them a better life. They must have been talking about the afterlife when they can leave their miserable lives behind.
IF AMERICANS VOTE FOR OBAMA, THEY ARE VOTING FOR WHAT VENEZUELANS AND CUBANS HAVE - NOTHING.
To Gina..of course Texas doesn’t want Obama. We Obama supporters understand that the truly pro-american parts of the country like west VA, Oklahoma, Mssissippi, Alabama, Louisiana, etc don’t want Obama. We understand that these “truly patriotic” parts of the country are comprised of a “highly educated”, “high income” electorate that understands what true Americanism is. Don’t blame ya’ll for not wanting Obama to spread your wealth. Boy, them 7.50/hr jobs in your states gotta be protected from a socialist like Barrack
This is just a sample of media restricktions that will be put out if Obama is elected, he will fill the waves with filtered Obama propaganda and not the truth. he must be stopped, we cant let America go maxist. tell your mother, father, brother, neighbor, your pastor, tell all you know to vote Macain, stop this fairy tale now.
[...] the Obama campaign announced it’s removing reporters from the Washington Times, New York Post, and Dallas Morning News from the campaign plane, [...]
he is pretty fair- I would have thrown out fox news first!!
Typical liberal.
[...] the Obama campaign announced it’s removing reporters from the Washington Times, New York Post, and Dallas Morning News from the campaign plane, [...]
Thanks, Bonnie, for telling the story and keeping it real. You go girl!
Let’s be fair.
In reality, there are many of us smaller pubs out here who have been told there is no more room on the plane for the last week. And, yes, we have been on the plane on-and-off during the campaign. So, it’s more about space and fair access to the outlets that have the greatest reach to readers/viewers, and being fair to specialty media as much as possible. Not about editing the coverage. You don’t have to be on the plane to write a negative story….
AND, it is absolutely true that it is virtually impossible to “follow” the campaign via commercial airlines. Seriously, it’s logistically a nightmare. I know, we tried after we were denied our spots due to lack of space….
You do the (MATH) if you have limited space on your plane. I think its a
smart idea to boot the newspapers that don’t endorse you and would not
hesitate to write negative things about your campaign. Did McCain invite Jet
and Essence to ride on his airplane?