Your editorial in the Saturday paper was very much on target. So far, there have been more half truths, misinterpretations of statements, outright lies, distortions and innuendo than should be found in our elections.
Although I frequently have disagreed with John McCain, I have always liked him. I considered him straight talking and very accessible. Now it seems he is straight-from-a-script talking and about as accessible as President Bush has been during much of his administration. This must be part of McCain's change.
Bashing of the press has been added to his changed approach to communication. The rise of a left-leaning network (MSNBC) which counteracts the obvious right-wing FOX has something to do with this. However, if you are very conservative politically, than even a press which looks at both sides will seem liberal to you. Condemning the press as a liberal, elitist East Coast press helps McCain with his conservative base. McCain's handlers know this. It worked for Bush so why not for McCain?
But, apparently, not all supporters got the message. A reporter from the Washington Post was having fun making fun at the convention of the Republican press bashing. Romney had condemned the press of both coasts in his convention speech, but Romney said to the reporter, "You guys are the best. Keep it up." What? The video is on the Washington-Post Web site.
It amazes me to see how the Republicans have denied access to Governor Palin and did so by complaining that the press is unfairly asking her questions. The cartoon editorial in the Monday paper shows all the cameras turning from Obama to Palin. This looks like the right thing to happen. We now know a lot about Obama and little about Palin. I suspect that when we do hear from Palin, she will have been properly scripted.
When the press has asked about some personal questions about the Palin family, they were roundly scolded. Yet during the convention, it was fine for governor Palin to prominently display her family and talk about them. I read a statement made last week by Rick Davis of the McCain team who said this election is going to be about personalities, not issues. So playing up selected aspects of Palin's life would be consistent with this.
But I am concerned about what she thinks about issues facing our country. Personally, I am not interested in knowing she is a hunter who can dress a moose. But when the press questioned her about policy issues, the press was scolded again and told that they were being unfair to her. McCain has been quite harsh with the press.
I agree with what Jeanne Cummings of Politico said on Washington Week. We need to know much more about the governing philosophy of the second in line to a 72-year-old (also my age) president. We only have 60 days to the election and the press must continue to ask questions and not accept scripted ambiguous responses.
