Palin may loathe the press; not Charlie Crist

NBC reporter Matthew Berger, part of the national press corps traveling with Sarah Palin, had this report from Jacksonville:

Palin's Straight Talk Air II yesterday was a study of contrasts.

Twice in one day, Gov. Charlie Crist came back behind the gray curtains to say hello to the press. We actually think the first time he was just stopping by en route to the lavatory at the back of the plane. But he stopped and said hello, perused the selection of jelly beans we had sitting on one seat, and even gave his business card to one reporter, after she said she was a Floridian and her parents were his constituents.

No tough questions asked. Just a brief friendly chat.

What made the casual stroll to the back of the plane so striking was Crist has now done it more in one day than Palin has in the five weeks she has been traveling as a vice presidential candidate.

On her first solo flight, Palin and her husband, Todd, came back to say hello, but even the visit itself was deemed, "Off the record." Reporters were essentially sworn to secrecy -- until it was leaked out.

We haven't seen her on the plane since.

Speaking to NBC's Tampa affiliate Monday, Palin though said she wasn't scared of the media. "The hits that I take from the media, if I can't handle that now, you know I shouldn't be seeking office," she told WFLA.

But at rallies, she often gets some of her biggest applause when she bashes the "mainstream media," and suggests they aren't asking tough questions on Obama's tax and spending plans.

And she laughs off criticism of her performance in interviews with CBS News by saying she was frustrated with the questions Katie Couric was asking.

Palin is choosing a strategy with the media that has become familiar, especially on Republican campaigns. But Crist's presence Monday showed the reporters on Palin's plane that there are other options.

*

Comments

[Deepening depravity]

Are McCain/Palin trying to incite violence against Sen. Obama? If the sheet fits...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeffrey-feldman/is-palin-trying-to-incite_b_132534.html

"No tough questions asked. Just a brief friendly chat."

"But Crist's presence Monday showed the reporters on Palin's plane that there are other options."

Alex - Maybe if you and the Capitol press corps bothered to ask Crist some tough questions, he might not be so amenable.

TMI on the lavatory comment.

when is the last time Barrack Obama actually answered a question with something other than "that's a lie...that's untrue...blah blah blah"

that's one thing Biden will do is at least respond even if it is ill prepared.

I was in Jax today at the rally, No way there was 12000 people, 3000 at most. Mel is done in 1210 . The state GOP chair did a good job getting the crowd motivated but why does he always need to promote Crist when it was about Palin. Also too many people were left outside and could not get in.

The unwashed and uneducated masses are writhing and screaming once again.

Can't wait for another eight years of good ol' boys in the white house.

When the markets crash, I'll take my lead from Mr. Dillinger.

[kevin]

The Jacksonville Police and Fire pegged it at 15000 people with nearly one-third unable to get in. The Fundraiser was over 1000 people. Palin is drawing significantly more than McCain or even Obama for that matter. The real question is she making a difference with swing voters.

[Hate rallies for McCain]

Palin's mob turned on a black journalist, yelled "racial epithets" while telling him to "sit down, boy."

http://www.americablog.com/2008/10/sit-down-boy.html

[End the hate speech, RPOF]

The Republicans need to decide whether they want to be known as simply ideologically rigid and incompetent at governing, or also as incorrigibly racist.

The decisions McCain makes in the next few weeks will decide whether the Republicans lose this election, or lose the next 5.

[Gator(R)]

Amazing how many people are willing to believe that nonsense.

[Gator(D)]

Well, I guess I can understand Palin's supporters and their racist epithets. I mean, they're losing badly. I'd be mad too if I backed an angry old man and a ninny of a VP.

[Gator(Racist)]

Simply amazing!

[Gator(R)]

One idiot allegedly shouting out a racial epithet, does not a mob make.

I do regret the overly harsh tone of McCain and Palin recent speaches, obviously they are doing it because they are losing.

While it is my opinion the press has not pressed Senator Obama on some issues, still no excuse. If they have a point, make it out withut the histrionics.

Unfortunately, this is typical tactic used by many losing candidates - it has proven effective at times or they wouldn't do it. However, I don't believe it will work this time. Even though I will vote for McCain, this leaves a sour taste in my mouth.

This election is over with, I wish they could have at least lost with some dignity.

3:50 You're only one step away from making that leap to the DEM side, Gator. You can do it, buddy!

ps I was a GOP too, once upon a time. You'll feel like a new man, trust me! It's wonderful to regain your humanity.

[A young American]

Hi Gator (R), you're right, it's unfair that one wingnut can spoil the entire crowd.

But I think the poster's point is that while it's one thing to call your opponent unfit for the presidency, it's quite another to call them a foreign, terrorist sympathizing threat to the United States.

I fear that McCain/Palin might be flirting with some dangerous social forces that, once unleashed, can get out of control.

People are naturally very concerned with Sen. Obama's safety, and even though we're only seeing a few wingnuts spout racist rhetoric, it only takes one crazy wacko...

[Don't Make Palin Talk about Keating]

Keating, a prominent Arizona banker, organized fundraisers for McCain’s campaigns for the House and later the Senate, and donated $112,000 to McCain by 1987. He also hosted the McCain family at least nine times at his lavish vacation home in Cat Cay, Bahamas.

“I genuinely liked him and enjoyed being around him, especially on those occasions when Cindy and I and our oldest child, Meghan, were invited to his family’s vacation home in the Bahamas,” McCain wrote in his 2002 book Worth the Fighting For: A Memoir.

Keating complained frequently to McCain about regulations – and regulators – that he said threatened the success of the Lincoln Savings and Loan, a subsidiary of Keating’s American Continental Corp.

McCain was persuaded to act. On two occasions in 1987, he met with federal regulators at Keating’s request and asked them to back off Lincoln.

I agree with 4:01. I worry that McCain and Palin have not thought through the potential ramifications of attempting to tie Obama to terrorism. I don't buy the "kill him" and racist remarks right off as there is no video, but there is video of other instances of "terrorist" and the like being yelled out in reference to Obama.

It concerns me that they did not see the possibility that their inference that Obama supports terrorism could influence an unstable supporter.

I don't think it has to have much to do with dignity at this point to denounce those crying "terrorist" and "treason" - I'm looking more so at responsibility. Sadly I don't think that it will happen as it could be seen and twisted into McCain defending Obama. I think that the ship has sailed. While an unstable person can be set off by anything, would they be screaming out "terrorist" without the tactics used by McCain? I doubt it. I also doubt that this alone would be enough to discourage politicians from mudslinging.

[Concerned]

So, you're suggesting we shouldn't ask Obama the questions that need to be asked because the answers may put his safety at risk? These people (Rezco, Ayers, Frank Marshall Davis, etc.) seem to be more than a coincidence. Just because questions are tough does not mean they should be ignored. Does "Troopergate" need to be ignored? The backlash from that allegation and investigation is not painless but it may be a necessary part of the process. Who are these people and how are they associated with our candidates? We need to know fully.

Oh! Please make her talk about Keating, I'll bet she thinks it is a small business heating and plumbing company and she'll go on and on about how she feels for them and will fight for them, or more likely she will just have NO DARN answer. JOKE she is all the way.

she really sucks at this whole 'leadership' thing doesn't she

[Don't Blame Bush/McCain/Keating]

Despite McCain's longtime service on the national stage, the Republican presidential nominee seems clueless about how to lead the nation out of an economic morass.

There is a LARGE difference between implying that someone supports terrorism and asking hard questions. It has already been established that Obama's connection with Ayers - the terrorist - is weak. But it is THAT connection that is being played up now and is the probable cause of those people screaming terrorist. Wright and Rezko could be much more damning than Ayers, but that has largely been ignored. Why? I would assume it is less likely to inspire fear and anger.

These are not questions being asked. This is hope and pray it sticks mudslinging. The topic of it makes it dangerous in more than a political reputation way; it could inspire someone unbalanced to, in their mind, retaliate. Their slinging is bringing the topic of violence into the discussion.

2:52 you are nuts, the landing holds 10-12K thousand.

They turned at least 3000 maybe 5000 at the Landing in Jax. I was there.

Nice try though and the police officer that closed off entry was a Democrat
Minimum 10K present probably more like 12K.

North Florida is McCain-Palin Country.

[Concerned]

These are questions that need to be answered. No one else will ask these questions. How can a presidential candidate's connection to a terrorist be condidered weak? Is Ayers a "nice local terrorist?"

3:56 must be gay, that's why he made the switch. Everyone knows stright Gators are Republican!

["Concerned"]

I'll tell you what I'm "concerned" about:

• The economy
• Our national security
• The middle class
• Health care
• Sending my kid to college.

Not concerned about: Some distracting Republican character attacks.

you're just jealous because palin is hotter than all the democratic women leaders put together..... (ugh, that very thought made me throw up in my mouty)

[Gator(R)]

I agree questions should be asked, but I am also share the same concerns voiced by my more liberal friends on the blog regarding the tone - I'm just not sure how best to raise them without stirring up more nonsense.

3:56 - made me smile, not human yet, though:)

5:03 Concerned: They aren't asking questions though. They're throwing accusations of being a terrorist sympathizer.

McCain should have picked Charlie Crist as his VP. Palin has really turned me off from voting for him. Crist certainly has more experience and is a much more likable person.

Nominating Palin is even more insulting to qualified women than Bush picking Harriet Myers (sp?) for Supreme Court.

McCain consistently votes against women, children and veterans. He never met deregulation he didn't like.

The man is not stable or up to the job. His campaign is a disaster and his veep choice is a farce.

Please THINK and FACT CHECK before you vote.

I agree McCain should have picked Crist and I think GOP Chair Gier seems to have sent that message to the McCain Campaign.

Sarah Palin is a racist who is inciting violence against Obama. The sercret service is now stepping in. Nice campaign you're running John.

[Cynical Idealist]

Are these candidates the best America can do?

I think not.

[Concerned]

What Obama's connection is to known terrorists and Communist Party USA leaders are the questions we should all be asking.

I never thought I'd say this but even Charlie Crist would have been a better pick that sarah.