Unpleasant Media Questions:
Obama Campaign Cancels Interview with Florida TV Station

Paul Joseph Goebbels was a German politician and Reich Minister of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda in Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945. He was one of German dictator Adolf Hitler’s closest associates and most devout followers.
Joseph Goebbels

UPDATE to follow at end of story
UPDATE #1 – 1415 EDT
UPDATE #2 – 1449 EDT

Joseph Goebbels was famous for controlling the flow of information and news in Nazi Germany. To be clear: we are not saying the Obama campaign is a Nazi organization–though comparisons between Bush and Hitler have been a favorite staple of leftie blogs for most of the Bush administration.

We’re just saying: Herr Goebbels would recognize the Obama campaign’s cutting media access off to those who ask unpleasant questions.

[video hat tip to Jawa Report: (Update - Video Added)Obama/Biden vs Florida TV Reporter Barbara West]

Here’s a tip to the media, in case they didn’t already know it: if you ask any questions of Barack Obama or Joe Biden that aren’t of the “softball” variety, you can forget getting anymore access.

From Obama campaign cuts off WFTV after interview with Joe Biden:

Biden so disliked West’s line of questioning that the Obama campaign canceled a WFTV interview with Jill Biden, the candidate’s wife.

“This cancellation is non-negotiable, and further opportunities for your station to interview with this campaign are unlikely, at best for the duration of the remaining days until the election,” wrote Laura K. McGinnis, Central Florida communications director for the Obama campaign.

McGinnis said the Biden cancellation was “a result of her husband’s experience yesterday during the satellite interview with Barbara West.”

Here’s a link to the interview: http://www.wftv.com/video/17790025/index.html.

WFTV news director Bob Jordan said, “When you get a shot to ask these candidates, you want to make the most of it. They usually give you five minutes.”

Jordan said political campaigns in general pick and choose the stations they like. And stations often pose softball questions during the satellite interviews.

“Mr. Biden didn’t like the questions,” Jordan said. “We choose not to ask softball questions.”

Jordan added, “I’m crying foul on this one.”

Ours may be labeled a “partisan” view. The charge will likely come from many of the same people who delighted in posting “Bushitler” images on the Internet. Campaigns do try to control the flow of news and Obama’s is no different.

We just note the lack of ‘outrage’ from those same quarters that raised a fuss over all things George Bush.

Meanwhile, Big Media can heave a sigh of relief: there’s no chance of the Obama campaign canceling any interviews with ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, The New York Times, LA Times or MSNBC.

There’s also no chance of Americans learning anything from those “news” outlets–except perhaps, Barack Obama or Joe Biden’s favorite color.

Susan at Wake Up America, thinks the Obama campaign might have a point. Obama cuts off WFTV Because they didn’t throw ’softball’ questions at Biden:

Truly I cannot blame the Obama campaign here since almost everything Biden does say publicly has been able to be used against Obama in a spectacular manner.

For example, the Hillary Clinton remark, his clean coal comments last month and his most recent gaffe informing supporters and getting caught on audio, that electing Barack Obama will cause an “international crisis” within the first six months of his presidency as he is “tested”.

Perhaps they are right to keep Biden muzzled.

William Teach, Stop the ACLU, see the no-access pass given to WFTV as a harbinger, Meltdown In Biden Land Over Tough Questions

Barbara West with WFTV in Orlando decided that, unlike the majority of the Credentialed Media, she would, you know, be a journalist and ask the tough questions, and Joe Biden and the Obama campaign were not amused.

Meltdown ensued. God forbid the Obama camp allow tough questions. And God help Ms. West if Obama wins. $100 says she loses her job, and WFTV has lots of FCC issues.

The LA Times (!?!) Blogs Even Notice: VP candidate kept from media and no crowd questions. Not Palin. It’s Biden!

Is it possible we’ve been living in a bubble for the last several weeks, not noticing a complete role reversal between the Democratic vice presidential candidate, Sen. Joe Biden, and his Republican counterpart, Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska?

The always astute Jake Tapper over at ABC makes a shocking point:

Now, Palin, who was once so sequestered from the media it allowed her opponents to caricature her and helped create “Free Sarah Palin” buttons, is meeting with more and more national reporters and, unreported by them, numerous local media types at virtually every campaign stop.

Is it possible that the Media has been living in a bubble? Is that a rhetorical quesion?

Tapper ought to try asking the Obama campaign a tough question himself–just as a sort of media/political experiment.

And the aforementioned Jawa Report observes, “Hmm, she [reporter Barbara West] better be prepared to have her background checked as Joe the Plumber’s was.”

We’ll see.

UPDATE #2 – 1449 EDT

PJ Gladnick, of NewsBusters, Joe Biden Angered by Tough Questions : “So now the Obama campaign is upset over tough questions that are routinely asked of Republican candidates.”

Hillary Cllinton, during the Democrat primaries, found out to her shock and dismay what the Media treatment is like when you’re not the favored candidate. Clinton was repeatedly asked tough questions, ignored when she asked tough questions of Obama, and watched the press glaze over all manner of issues she raised.

In short, she was treated as if she was a Republican candidate.

Michelle Malkin calls the TV Moment the “Best interview of Joe Biden ever“.

“But remember: Anything less than total sycophancy from the Obamedia is considered “combative.”

Keep Barbara West in your thoughts and prayers. She can expect the Joe the Plumber treatment any minute now.”

Allah calls the Biden Interview “Comedy Gold”.

Each question is funnier than the last, culminating with, “Are you forewarning Americans that nothing will be done and that America’s days as the world’s leading power are over?” As if he might say, “Sure.” She probably figured she was in for the same old talking points everyone’s heard from both sides umpteen thousand times by now, so she might as well shoot for viral video immortality by making him squirm. Mission accomplished. On to the petty campaign revenge!

Oh, his claim that Team Barry hasn’t paid a penny to ACORN for GOTV efforts? Highly nuanced.

Gateway Pundit calls Barbara West an “honest reporter”:

Finally… At least one reporter in this country had the guts to ask Joe Biden about the campaign’s ties to ACORN, their plans to spread the wealth, socialism, and the looming international crisis if Obama wins the presidency.

She also dropped a Karl Marx quote into the conversation for good measure.

Pam Geller says the questions were ‘refreshing’ and has a few other questions about Biden’s answers–which WFTV won’t be asking in a followup…VIDEO: BOTOXED BIDEN’S BOLD FACED LIES

West hits the ground running and kicks off by asking Biden, aren’t you embarrassed by the blatant attempts to register phony voters by ACORN an organization that Barack Obama has been tied to.

BIDEN BOLD FACED LIE: First lie, we have not paid ACORN one single penny. I am not embarrassed by our ties to ACORN. There is no relatioonship. We have not paid one single penny to register one single voter.

When pressed on Obama’s relationship with ACORN Biden said, how has he been a benefactor ACORN? He was an organizer for ACORN.

BIDEN BOLD FACED LIE: C’MON let’s get real here!” (yes he actually said that )

FACT: Obama’s campaign paid ACORN $800,000 (more here)

Watch him try to tie McCain to ACORN, because he went to a dinner …….amazing.

Will any other stations not get the hint and try to ask follow-up questions of Biden?

Time will tell, but don’t bet the ranch on it.

by Mondo
image: dbkp file