It's disgusting to see media bosses squandering limited resources on free PR for John McCain

Says Lindsay Beyerstein of majikthise.com (and I couldn't agree more with her):


http://majikthise.typepad.com/majikthise_/2008/03/ana-marie-cox-t.html


Blogger-turned-TIME-commentator Ana Marie Cox attended that exclusive barbecue for the press at John McCain's vacation home in Sedona, Arizona.

McCain billed the party as a purely social occasion. The event was technically on the record, but campaign staffers discouraged reporters from asking political questions, taking pictures, or even making notes.

Caught eating out of the Senator's hand, Cox got snippy with those who criticized her for getting so close to her subject. She actually told her critics to mind their manners:

I didn't try asking about anything else "serious." Those of you who think the press fell down on the job in not using that time to query him, well... the guy holds about five hours of press conferences a day when he's on the trail. A lot of questions get asked. In fact, at the press conference he held the very next day, he was asked about the Boeing deal, Hagee, and his own "red-phone" moments. (He didn't respond any differently than he has in the past, except on the red-phone q, which -- tooting own horn -- was mine.) Maybe we missed the ones you want asked; in which case you should keep agitating the people who have the access and responsibility to ask questions on behalf of the public (though I -- we all, I think -- would appreciate if you agitate while also showing some humor and basic manners). You might also start a blog and then try to get the campaign to let you on the bus. They've done it before. (Though I'm sure it's harder now than it was last fall.) (Emphasis added)

Wow, that didn't take long. Ana Marie "Wonkette" Cox is complaining about uncivil bloggers.

It's not so much that the journalists were McCain's guests, although the optics are terrible, given the widespread public perception that McCain gets a free ride from the media because he's charming to reporters. A certain amount of informal socializing with politicians is acceptable, and possibly even productive for reporters on the campaign trail. I just don't want to read puff pieces about the party.

What really bothers me is that news organizations spent thousands of dollars to cover this dog and pony show. Cox disingenuously stressed that she put the trip on her personal credit card, adding that she might still expense or write off some of the costs.

At a time when real reporters and editors are getting laid off in droves, it's disgusting to see media bosses squandering limited resources on free PR for John McCain.

Let McCain pay for his own damned commercials.