In cooperation with the Palin campaign,’ Secret Service now blocking reporters.»

[blitzburgh55]

WTF?

Today in a Washington Post chat, Dana Milbank revealed that — in “a serious violation of their duty” — the Secret Service is now preventing the press from interviewing attendees at McCain-Palin rallies:

palinss.jpg I have to say the Secret Service is in dangerous territory here. In cooperation with the Palin campaign, they’ve started preventing reporters from leaving the press section to interview people in the crowd. This is a serious violation of their duty — protecting the protectee — and gets into assisting with the political aspirations of the candidate. It also often makes it impossible for reporters to get into the crowd to question the people who say vulgar things. So they prevent reporters from getting near the people doing the shouting, then claim it’s unfounded because the reporters can’t get close enough to identify the person.

Campaign staffers have also been locking journalists into a restricted press area in order to prevent them from writing “negative things.” (HT: Romenesko)

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/10/16/secret-service-milbank/

[renie408]

1. Ummm..THIS is a negative thing. I don't think this is going to work for them

like they thought it would.

[LSparkle]

4. The press has bailed on BombBomb ... they're going to raise hell over this

We may find the media useless, but they still think they're
performing a noble and vital function, and they don't take
kindly to being FORCED to be deferential to a candidate.
(If they CHOOSE to do so, that's fine with them but they
don't like to take orders.)

[ProSense]

2. "Palin campaign"?

Isn't it the McCain campaign?

[BattyDem]

3. "Campaign staffers have also been locking journalists into a restricted press area"

It sucks, doesn't it? Maybe if you nailed BushCo for their use of "free speech zones" when ordinary citizens were forced into them, you wouldn't be forced into "press areas" now.

[nichomachus]

10. Where the fuck are those veterans

who we're supposed to thank for defending our right to free speech? Huh? Where are they when we need them?

[Overseas]

5. Preventing reporters from talking to those who attend the rallies?

Just in case they do discover others who heard a hateful person snarling out a death threat?

[LonelyLRLiberal]

6. The press could fix this by not running ANY coverage of McCain-Failin events.

Easy.

[donco6]

11. That's the solution that seems to work best.

I mean, what's the point of having a press at all?

[nichomachus]

7. Oh yeah -- piss off the media -- ALWAYS a good campaign tactic n/t

[EFerrari]

8. This is what I meant about the SS being dirty. They're Bush's SS

not ours.

[damntexdem]

9. When will the MSM start boycotting events where their reporters are mistreated or isolated?

My guess -- when Satan has to thaw out the flames.

[Supersedeas]

19. there aren't interested in truth....just appearances

[NatBurner]

12. someone in the McCain camp must have seen this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x216765

[TomInTib]

14. Wow.

I just sent that to over 100 people.

[bettyellen]

13. perhaps they should just attned the rally + report from the floor- bet they are scared to

mix w/ "those ones" .

[rvablue]

15. I say let them continue to do it

........because, seriously, at this point CNN, MSNBC, FOX and the networks have a moral and professional responsibility to band together and tell the McCain campaign that if they are not free to do their jobs, the campaign will no longer be receiving any free air time for their rallies on their channels.

And, at minimum, all of the news channels have an obligation to their viewers to state the fact that they are being barred from interviewing attendess on their broadcasts.

Geesh, I thought the 1st ammendment was going down the tubes under Bushie.....this is just beyond my worst possible nightmare.

No one told me we'd gone back in time to the USSR circa 1977.

[Left Is Write]

16. So, the Secret Service is aiding in the suppression of a free press?

[KittyWampus]

17. Then why is the press covering Palin at all? She won't give real press conferences

and face real questions.

WHY ARE THEY COVERING HER?

[tanyev]

18. Goebbels would be so proud.

www.oldamericancentury.org

[Supersedeas]

21. our tax dollars at werk -- and propoganda is very hard werk

[BlueIdaho]

20. Palin "Note to self - be sure to cut off nose to spite face today." nm.

[TheKentuckian]

22. Maybe we should pass on the election and go

directly to Revolution.

I don't see how we as citizens can just suck up the Soviet style tactics that are so blatantly being used.

[FatDave]

23. OK, so let me get this straight...

Not only is the press not allowed to talk to Palin, they're now no longer allowed to talk to her supporters? And the Secret Service is enforcing that?

Fuck this noise. We're supposed to have a free press. We're supposed to have freedom to assemble. The press is not allowed to assemble where they choose?

[supernova]

24. Embarrass the Secret Service!

Is there some way to contact the Secret Serv and lodge a protest for these people who are minding Sara to do their fucking jobs, i.e. provide protection for her, but not get in the presses' way?

IOW, I don't think you can embarrass M/P but, I bet you can embarrass the SS into returning to their traditional role. I bet they wouldn't like it if voters starting calling HQ demanding that these SP detail folks aren't being professional.

[Usrename]

25. It gets scary when the SS doesn't stick to their job.

Makes you wonder what else they are up to.

I still haven't figured out why the agent driving Kennedy's limo took eight seconds to react to live rounds entering the vehicle.

These guys are all we got. It sucks when they cannot be trusted. It sucks really bad.

[TexasObserver]

26. The journalists should take photos of the Secret Service offenders for use in prosecutions.

When Obama becomes president, all of those in the Secret Service, FBI, CIA, and military who have repeatedly and knowingly violated the constitution should be charged and prosecuted. They have conspired to violate the constitution, a direct breach of their duty to the nation. They are traitors, and should be treated as traitors.

Same for all the Secret Service agents who misused their power to prevent anyone from having anti Bush signs along Bush's driving routes.

[Hekate]

27. She's clearly Bush-league already. The MSM, as has been its habit for 8 years, won't make too big...

... a fuss over this, will they?

Hekate

[K8-EEE]

28. Um, are these the rally people McCain's SO PROUD OF??

Like hell they're proud of them!!