But keeps those hard hitting magazines Jet and Ebony on. http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/1008/Off_the_plane.html?showall Off the plane Obama spokesman Bill Burton confirms Drudge's report that two right-leaning papers, the Washington Times and the New York Post, have lost their seats on the Obama plane, along with the Dallas Morning News. "We're trying to reach as many swing voters that we can and unfortunately had to make some tough choices. but we are accomodating these folks in everyway possible," he said. The Post and the Morning News are both read primarily in states that aren't in play, but the Washington Times is read in Northern Virginia. Burton said the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Sun-Times had returned to the plane, and confirmed that Ebony and Jet magazines have seats on the plane. He said the campaign was making space for the dropped outlets on the campaign bus where possible, and that they were encouraged to travel with Senator Joe Biden. McCain barred liberal columnists Maureen Dowd and Joe Klein from his campaign plane, space has grown very tight on Obama's in recent days. The Times took an ideologically-charged shot at Obama in response to its barring, a reminder of the politicla undercurrent to the choice.
Let the censorship begin!!! http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/oct/31/washington-times-kicked-obama-plane-finale/ Washington Times kicked off Obama plane for finale The Washington Times Friday, October 31, 2008 The Washington Times, which has covered the Barack Obama campaign from the start, was kicked off the Democrat's campaign plane for the final 72 hours of the race. 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." The Times formally protested the decision, noting that it has one of the top 20 largest newspaper Web sites in the country, distributes its print edition in the key battleground state of Virginia, and has had its stories repeatedly cited by Mr. Obama and other Democrats throughout the campaign. "Sen. Obama himself demonstrated he appreciates the importance of The Washington Times and its news coverage. In June, he wrote a letter citing a Times' investigative project that highlighted government mistreatment of our veterans. Sen. Obama requested an investigation by Congress and the administration, both of which confirmed the problems and led to corrective action at the VA. In his August acceptance speech, Sen. Obama also prominently mentioned our interview with Sen. Phil Gramm and the now infamous comments about a 'mental recession' and a 'nation of whiners'," wrote Mr. Solomon in an e-mail to Obama campaign manager David Plouffe. Times reporter Christina Bellantoni, who has covered the Democratic campaign since 2007, is being asked to leave the campaign plane starting Sunday. In defending its decision, the Obama campaign said it respected Ms. Bellantoni's reporting and simply ran out of seats on the campaign plane for the finale because of high demand. It also noted that the Obama campaign is allowing some news media critical of the Democrat to travel, including Fox News. "Unfortunately, demand for seats on the plane during this final weekend has far exceeded supply, and because of logistical issues we made the decision not to add a second plane. This means we've had to make hard and unpleasant for all concerned decisions about limiting some news organizations and in some cases not being in a position to offer space to news organizations altogether," wrote Obama campaign Senior Advisor and Chief Communications Officer Anita Dunn in an e-mail. "There are simply no more seats on Senator Obama's plane," she added. "There are press seats available on Senator Bidens plane for travel this final weekend and The Washington Times is encouraged to include our vice presidential nominee in your coverage plans for this final stretch."
I love that in the very article you posted that it mentions McCain kicking media off his plane that didn't agree with him.
Yes, if you're not getting free travel on the plane, despite the candidates not doing any press while on the plane, it's impossible to report on the campaign!
We need to hold Obama to a much higher standard. We already know McCain's campaign is scum. Obama can't do the same thing. If the terrorist's torture should America do the same? I think not.
