Palin's Press Confined to 'Designated Press Area' and 'prevented from interviewing supporters' LINK

[Blackhatjack]

So now the so-called 'free speech zones' set up for individuals have been adapted for the press as well? I guess the next step is the McCain/Palin Campaign will start writing their own press accounts and emailing them to the 'designated press area' miles away.

What has happened to our country when the Press rolls over for this kind of treatment?

http://blogs.tampabay.com/breakingnews/2008/10/under-the-watch.html

October 06, 2008
Press kept under a watchful eye

CLEARWATER -- Constantly under the watchful eyes of security, the media wasn't permitted to wander around inside Coachman Park to talk to Sarah Palin supporters. When reporters tried to leave the designated press area and head toward the bleachers where the crowd was seated, an escort would dart out of nowhere and confront him or her and say, "Can I help you?'' and turn the person around.
When one reporter asked an escort, who would not give her name, why the press wasn't allowed to mingle, she said that in the past, negative things had been written. The campaign wanted to avoid that possibility Monday.
-- Times staff writer Eileen Schulte

[progressivebydesign]

1. the media needs to stop covering them. So, do you think that McKeating is PAYING people to come?

Just wondering WHY there is no access. What has been written that is so bad about her followers? I think I smell a rat. You can pay for crowds, ya know.

[spinbaby]

4. Maybe that's why they have no money n/t

[eShirl]

2. they should call it a Bill of Rights Zone

[Egnever]

3. hmm why does the press put up with this?

[doublethink]

5. Unreal ...... just unreal.

WTF Country does this republican party think they are a part of anyway? These next 29 or so days can't go by fast enough for me. Geesh ......

[Median Democrat]

6. McCain/Palin's Media Concentration Camp

That is one way to control the media, and for the most part the media continues to give free airplay to McCain/Palin's character assassination, so they should not complain about the treatment.

[Blackhatjack]

7. And remember Maureen Dowd was kicked off the McCain plane? So was FL State GOP Leader...

Well I guess in the perfect world of 'Press Management' by the McCain/Palin Campaign, everytime a member of the Press writes anything they disagree with the appropriate punishment of that member of the Press should be expected -- and the rest are expected to observe and fall into line.

What a bunch of wusses ... the reporters should tell that McCain Campaign Aid that the free press television and print coverage ends where they don't allow access.

[Blackhatjack]

8. There needs to be better visibility of this tactic by the McCain/Palin ticket...

I can still remember back when reporters decided who they would talk to and any candidate who tried to interfere with them would have woke up the next morning to a stinging rebuke for such unconstitutional behavior.

The freedom of the press and free speech in this country are at a low point.

[Supersedeas]

9. Schmidt doing his best imitation of Rove and McGoebbles

[rvablue]

10. This will not turn out for them well

I'm telling you this is going to backfire.

Yeah, there is the traveling press corps, but at every event they are dealing with local media, too. While local TV stations are notorious for being flimsy journalists, the local print reporters are not going to go for this and it will make it into many a LOCAL story.

People will be reading about this in every town and city they go to....hopefully.