Comments on: McCain’s Pre-Debate Press Strategy

By: JSpencer

JSpencer — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 01:50:47 +0000

If I was McCain I might be a little concerned about the subject of Palin being kept in isolation popping up in the debate. Transparency is desirable in a democracy, and most citizens realize this, despite the poor examples set by Cheney, Bush, Gonzales, etc. in that regard. I expect this debate could have a record viewing audience – at least I hope it will.

By: Señor J. Sidney McCain Pulls The Ole’ “Bait And Switch” On Mainstream Media — Cheats CBS Into Taking Pictures Of Face-To-Face Discussion Between Sarah Palin And Afghan President Hamid Karzai | THE GUN TOTING LIBERAL™

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 23:50:26 +0000

[...] policy experience than “the real one”; Tony Campbell of The Moderate Voice believes this was a good idea; Doctor Steven Taylor of PoliBlog (a fellow Alabamian blogger) says the whole idea of hiding the [...]

By: DLS

DLS — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 23:38:28 +0000

Polimom — most of us know more already about Palin than about Obama.

And yes, payback and response to abuse are fully acceptable, given they have been so truly earned.

As to McCain and strategy, the big thing McCain is going casual, low-key — which is risky. No matter what some of his hard-core supporters say, if I were he I wouldn't be cocky any more than I should be timid. Hopefully some of what he is doing is deliberate low posturing. (Note that this simply shifts extra burden onto Palin later.)

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/09/23...

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008...

By: Polimom

Polimom — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 22:53:01 +0000

DLS — if the McCain campaign is shutting off access to Palin (such as it is) because she's a potential distraction right now, then strategically it makes sense.

However, simple “payback” and “response to abuse” is not acceptable.

We (as in, the public) were presented with a virtual unknown a mere few weeks ago. We have many questions, and platitudes in front of adoring worshippers don't ease my mind in the least. The more the McCain campaign keeps her wrapped up, the less viable she is — and ipso facto, so is he.

By: Ricorun

Ricorun — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 22:49:57 +0000

This blackout is not designed to distance Palin from the media; it is a calculated move to focus attention on McCain between now and the debate.

Huh? I suppose this comment would take a few steps towards being believable if McCain himself was making himself available to the media. But he isn't either. Therefore, this comment doesn't come anywhere close to passing the sniff test.

You would think that pulling this kind of malarkey those two would be tanking big time. But they're not. So either people aren't paying attention yet, don't trust anyone in the media more than the McCain campaign, or don't give a rat's ass. I almost hope it's the first option.

By: DLS

DLS — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 22:42:31 +0000

McCain's stronger supporters have said he's a good debater and will teach Obama a humiliating lesson, from what I remember several weeks ago on various sources on-line. Well, it's now time. This first debate won't settle everything, Tony. But it's obviously more important that McCain win this than Obama, whom I believe will be favored by many and who is obviously sharp and smooth. At the very least, Obama is all but guaranteed to put Obama fans' minds at ease and boost their confidence.

The economy puts McCain at a new, recent disadvantage. (He is not everything, as far as his campaign is concerned; Palin remains the subject of most interest of his campaign currently.)

Limiting media access to Palin is simply payback and proper response to abuse.