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Do not endorse Obama, do not keep your seat on the Obama Express

It's like Monopoly, but more monopolistic

The Obama campaign has bumped representatives from three major newspapers that endorsed John McCain for president over Obama off of its campaign plane for the final days of the race.

The Dallas Morning News, Washington Times, and New York Post “have all been told to move out by Sunday to make room for network bigwigs — and possibly for the inclusion of reporters from two black magazines, ESSENCE and JET,” according to Drudge.

The Times confirmed the move in a report filed today, which said in part:

The Obama campaign informed the newspaper Thursday evening of its decision, which came two days after The Times editorial page endorsed Senator John McCain over Mr. Obama. The Times editorial page runs completely independent of the news department.

“This feels like the journalistic equivalent of redistributing the wealth, we spent hundreds of thousands of dollars covering Senator Obama’s campaign, traveling on his plane, and taking our turn in the reporter’s pool, only to have our seat given away to someone else in the last days of the campaign,” said Washington Times Executive Editor John Solomon.

“I hope the candidate that promises to unite America isn’t using a litmus test to determine who gets to cover his campaign.”

Emphasis added. More below the fold.

According to Drudge:

[Sources] told the DRUDGE REPORT that the reporters are being ousted to bring on documentary film-makers to record the final days; others expect to see on board more sympathetic members of the media, including the NY TIMES’ Maureen Dowd, who once complained that she was barred from McCain’s Straight Talk Express airplane.

This speaks to two major issues with the Obama campaign. First is its continued obsession with its own grandeur and place in history. From faux presidential seals, to hybrid Greek temples/White Houses, to documentary filmmakers, this is a campaign that has been built entirely on marketing and inkblots, repeatedly chronicling and extolling its own grandeur while actually offering nothing to those it hopes to woo but formless and ephemeral words like “hope” and “change.”

The second, and far more serious, of these issues is the Obama campaign’s willingness to punish journalistic outlets who dare dissent by denying them access — a tactic which puts media in the position of deciding whether to simply report some of the news, and couch it in favorable terms, or lose their ability to report any news at all.

We have seen how some in the media respond to being forced into such a difficult position in the past. CNN’s Eason Jordan, for example, was required to spike almost all real news out of Saddam Hussein’s Iraq due to fear of losing his network’s access to the country.

Being forced to spin, spike, or fabricate reportage in exchange for access begs the question why that access matters in the first place, if it cannot be used to actually serve an honest journalistic purpose. While that question can (and perhaps will) be debated in journalistic ethics classes, the simple fact remains: this is a very disturbing move by the Obama campaign, and it appears to portend even more disturbing moves of this sort in the future.

COMMENTS

  • bobnivik

    I can’t see below the fold.

  • Han_Pritcher

    Oh, nevermind.

    • Jeff_Emanuel

      It’s there now.

  • Common_Cents

    A glimpse into Obama’s real bipartisanship intentions.

    • Moe_Lane

      Look, I’m really sorry that your guy is a massive hypocrite when it comes to accessibility, but do you think that you could maybe sometimes admit that he’s mortal?

      • Zigguratv

        Obama – If you are media and you oppose him, you are cut off.

        McCain never refused to appear on CNN for a debate (like Obama did with FOX), or boycotted TV stations when interviews with his VP candidate contained actual questions.

        • youthgrunt

          And also a glimpse into what will happen to the Fairness Doctrine in an Obama administration.

          • bobnivik

            nt

        • The_Gadfly

          But, I suppose that comparison isn’t really fair to Nixon.

          • reenactor

            He had to fit a couple more Chicago-area reporters on the plane.

            The people that lost their seats missed some events, and that’s why they lost their places. Fox News and the WSJ are still on the plane, and they’re not Obama supporters.

            McCain, on the other hand, threw off people like Joe Klein specifically because he didn’t like what they were reporting. He explicitly stated that.

          • aardpig

            …he will also establish ‘free speech’ zones, where protesters can exercise their first amendment rights away from the eyes of the politicians.

        • Jaded
      • MelZ

        I refuse to compare Obama to historically evil figures…you know evil dictators -that sort of thing.

        But this man does not in any way represent American values. If his campaign is any indication….we will have a President that only gives WH access to journalists who are “with him” he will sending talking points to news stations. Our freedom of speech, ie the “Fairness” doctrine will be lost. Only talk radio will have to comply…not lefties like MSNBC. Your taxes will go up to help those below you, jobs will be lost.

        If you care about American values-Get Out and VOTE!!!

        • Han_Pritcher

          He’s done quite a few things I did not approve of, and several that drove me nuts.

          I know “your guy” has done the same for you, as well. Politics isn’t about getting your perfect candidate. Your perfect candidate is YOU! Everybody else is simply a series of compromises, Moe.

          Yes, I am somewhat concerned by how Obama keeps the press at arms-length. It’s helpful in campaigning but worrisome in governing.

          • aaronbg

            Maybe you can help out GreenAce with the “moral equivalence” homework assignment* before posting anymore on this subject.

            *No I really don’t have the power to hand out assignments, but maybe Moe would agree with me…who knows….;^)

          • Moe_Lane

            Go take care of your sick fiancee.

        • pac_NY

          Change from throwing long-time pals and loved ones under the bus, he’s now throwing journalists off his plane whose newspapers do not favor him.

          I read this earlier this morning on Drudge, and though it should have not surprised me, my jaw nearly dropped nonetheless.

          It has to be obvious to everyone by now that Obama is getting rid of anyone not supportive of him, as he steamrolls his way to the White House.

          I know some of his mentors absolutely approve of his display of dictatorial behavior. He’s showing them and the rest of the world how ruthless he is – and will be – if God forbid – he becomes president.

          It is bad enough this man is a complete fraud; he is extremely dangerous to those who cherish our freedom in this country.

          His heavy-handedness has swiftly begun to appear he will want to rule with an iron fist.

          Be afraid – but pray diligently.

  • righthook

    I’ve heard it smells anyway.

    • wt259

      you don’t even see the hilarity in your post? Obama threw the Newspapers off his plane, he didn’t tell the papers to send a different reporter. McCain got rid of Klein because he didn’t like Klein.
      Further, a note to Charlie, Katie and Brian. Be afraid, be very afraid.

  • furious

    insect Obama overlords.”

  • JLenardDetroit

    Obama is a Nixon/Carter hybrid, certainly NOT JFK (who actually cut taxes, not just promised it), Reagan, or even Bill Clinton, like he’s been trying to bamboozle people into believing he would model himself after.

    Watergate era politics like actions of bringing on Jet/Essence Magazines (Monthly periodicals) aboard after NY Post, Washington Times, Dallas Morning News isn’t retaliatory for their endorsement of McCain. NO, course not!! Or is this just enacting Plane seats Affirmative Action!?!? like he’s promised to model Federal Courts to provide ‘Affirmative Action’ and “Redistributive Justice.”

    Perhaps it’s just coincidence (yeah, right, like anything they’ve done/said has been coincidence [or on accident]), or probably has to do with the fact that even more RADICAL “Michelle Obama’s entourage” (campaign spokesman’s words) joined the campaign plane

  • benjjneb

    The Dallas Morning News, Washington Times, and New York Post have all been told to move out by Sunday to make room for network bigwigs — and possibly for the inclusion of reporters from two black magazines