Access denied: Keeping Palin away from the press

By Michael J.W. Stickings

It's pretty clear that a) Sarah Palin is way out of her element (if I may put it nicely); b) her handlers know this; and c) she is being kept away from the press because of a). The Gibson-ABC interview was the exception, but, even then, it was held in a controlled environment, in her comfort zone, with Palin able to regurgitate pre-programmed answers (when able to answer at all -- see "Bush Doctrine," seemingly unknown to her).

On that note, this matter-of-fact little nugget from a recent ABC News piece on whether Palin watched the SNL skit (and what her reaction was) says it all:

There were howls of laughter from the sizeable press corps covering Palin's first foray on the campaign trail without her running man as a chaperone.

But, from the front of the plane, silence. The flight attendants assured us Palin and her entourage were watching. What she thought, though, is anybody's guess.

Palin has yet to say so much as hello to the press corps.

The campaign is doing its best to keep Palin well away from inquisitive reporters, going so far as to book the press corps into a separate hotel from the candidate.

She hasn't even said hello to the press that's covering her, the press that's flying in the same plane?

Seriously, what an utter joke her candidacy is. She isn't just in a bubble, she's being kept behind a wall, public appearances restricted to hyper-partisan rallies, with no opportunity for the press to ask her about anything, lest the fact that she isn't even remotely qualified for the vice presidency, and that she's a liar, be exposed even more clearly than it has already.