Posted on 10/08/2008 7:05:37 PM PDT by My Favorite Headache
CBS News' :
(NASHVILLE, TENN.) - After most of the previous 12 months covering Barack Obama's campaign for the presidency, it was interesting, instructive and, well, relaxing to follow John McCain for the last few days. The differences between the two are striking.
Obama is the big time orator, McCain is the guy who struggles with a teleprompter or even note cards strategically placed nearby. Obama's crowds are larger, more enthusiastic. McCain's events are smaller, but to my eye, better choreographed. And now with the addition of Sarah Palin to some of his events, McCain can boast of crowds that match Obama's in energy.
There is an urgency to the McCain campaign now that I don't think was there before. Due to the fact that he is running second, no doubt, but it may also be because McCain has a finishing kick. Whatever the case, he is sharper on the stump than he was before. (Though I would suspect a candidate running behind would want to schedule two or three appearances per day, instead of the one McCain usually does.)
It is true that McCain enjoys taking questions from the audience in town hall-style settings. That doesn't mean he is the master of that kind of forum, it just means he's good at it. He likes to converse with voters. Obama does it well too, but seldom achieves that intangible bond with the people that all politicians crave -- or fake.
Behind the scenes, where the public is not allowed, there are other differences.
Obama's campaign schedule is fuller, more hectic and seemingly improvisational. The Obama aides who deal with the national reporters on the campaign plane are often overwhelmed, overworked and un-informed about where, when, why or how the candidate is moving about. Baggage calls are preposterously early with the explanation that it's all for security reasons.
If so, I would love to have someone from Obama's campaign explain why the entire press corps, the Secret Service, and the local police idled for two hours in a Miami hotel parking lot recently because there was nothing to do and nowhere to go. It was not an isolated case.
The national headquarters in Chicago airily dismisses complaints from journalists wondering why a schedule cannot be printed up or at least e-mailed in time to make coverage plans. Nor is there much sympathy for those of us who report for a newscast that airs in the early evening hours. Our shows place a premium on live reporting from the scene of campaign events. But this campaign can often be found in the air and flying around at the time the "CBS Evening News with Katie Couric" is broadcast. I suspect there is a feeling within the Obama campaign that the broadcast networks are less influential in the age of the internet and thus needn't be accomodated as in the days of yore. Even if it's true, they are only hurting themselves by dissing audiences that run in the tens of millions every night.
The McCain folks are more helpful and generally friendly. The schedules are printed on actual books you can hold in your hand, read, and then plan accordingly. The press aides are more knowledgeable and useful to us in the news media. The events are designed with a better eye, and for the simple needs of the press corps. When he is available, John McCain is friendly and loquacious. Obama holds news conferences, but seldom banters with the reporters who've been following him for thousands of miles around the country. Go figure.
The McCain campaign plane is better than Obama's, which is cramped, uncomfortable and smells terrible most of the time. Somehow the McCain folks manage to keep their charter clean, even where the press is seated.
The other day in Albuquerque, N.M., the reporters were given almost no time to file their reports after McCain spoke. It was an important, aggressive speech, lambasting Obama's past associations. When we asked for more time to write up his remarks and prepare our reports, the campaign readily agreed to it. They understood.
Similar requests are often denied or ignored by the Obama campaign aides, apparently terrified that the candidate may have to wait 20 minutes to allow reporters to chronicle what he's just said. It's made all the more maddening when we are rushed to our buses only to sit and wait for 30 minutes or more because nobody seems to know when Obama is actually on the move.
Maybe none of this means much. Maybe a front-running campaign like Obama's that is focused solely on victory doesn't have the time to do the mundane things like print up schedules or attend to the needs of reporters.
But in politics, everything that goes around comes around.
Poor, poor “Chosen one”, he really hates everyone and wants to use everyone to become dictator
or da Bull bro.
or better yet...St. Ives and Hennesey
When Obama lines you up for the trains, you won’t be able to take any personal effects.
“I bet this guy doesn’t work for CBS after this week”
Agreed
I won't comment about this guy's job security, but something funny is up. It could be CBS putting out a pro-McCain article, or it could be what you stated. If you practically live with a liar for several weeks, sooner or later you may realize that you are being used big time. I hope that is the case.
B,O. has BO?
The events are designed with a better eye, and for the needs of the simpleton press corps.
Fixed it.
Maybe they think they can be arrogant and not work too hard because the election outcome has already been arranged.
Obviously this racist reporter is saying that a black man can’t run things as well as a white man.
LOL!!!!!!!!!!!
If McCain and his crew are more likeable, why does the press treat him like he is diseased?
President George W. Bush has been placed upon the whipping post politically from both sides.
May God give him the the strength and determination in his final months in office.
It’s the kind of smell you’d expect, when you’re in the tank...
Even the 0's kids say that he stinks and won't go in his bedroom for the stench.
Well, that's our culture. Conservatives are nice people.
I thought about Mrs Hussein’s ‘Barack is smelly and stinky’ remark. No wonder the plane stinks.
_____________________
McCain is losing this campaign because he refuses to fight Obama and his lies, and dirty tactics such as ACORN voter fraud. He’s just been rolling over (or bending over, I should say) and accepting the abuse heaped upon him- and expecially Sarah Palin.
The anemic attempts by the McCain camp to fight back within the last few days just ain’t gonna get it.
He should have been hitting Obama back hard months ago.
He needs to get out there every day and FIGHT BACK.
Email Republican headquarters/McCain. FReep ‘EM OUT!
REMIND McCAIN THAT HE HAS AN OBLIGATION AS OUR CANDIDATE TO FIGHT BACK!
To h*ll with bipartisian BS!
To h*ll with PC!
To h*ll with ‘conducting a respectful campaign’as McCain has said, and vowed to do.
RESPECTFUL CAMPAIGNING WENT STRAIGHT OUT THE WINDOW WITH OBAMA’S NASTY, BRUTAL COMMENTS SUCH AS;
‘lipstick on a pig’ and ‘You can wrap AN OLD FISH in a piece of paper called change. It’s still going to stink after eight years.’
Take off the gloves, McCain!
Hit the Marxist/Muslim hard with Ayers, Acorn, Violation of Logan Act, abortion, 2nd admendment, Campaigning for Odinga!!
Get off the d*mned economy issue. State that Obama/Democrats/ACORN caused this meltdown. State McCain offered a proposal to avert the meltdown and GET OFF IT.
Obama is counting on keeping this going to take the spotlight off his sordid past and dirty dealings!
NOTHING is more important than waking America up to this Marxist/Muslim!! DO IT. EXPOSE HIM!
FReep ‘EM!!!!
MCCAIN/REPUBLICAN PARTY
Fax: 202-228-2862
Send a fax FREE: https://faxzero.com/
rickdavis@johnmccain.com, ameese@mccain08hq.com, anickel@mccain08hq.com,
johnmccain@gop.com, info@gop.com,
RNCommunications@gop.com, Chairman@gop.com, Political@gop.com
Meghan McCain http://mccainblogette.com/contact/
THE CONSERVATIVE ACTIVIST’S
(all the Republican movers and shakers)
GIANT E-MAIL LINKS PAGE!
http://www.conservativeusa.org/megalink.htm
FReep THE MSM!
SEND THEM DAMAGING INFO ON OBAMA. DEMAND THEY DO THEIR JOB AND INVESTIGATE.
ElRushbo@eibnet.com
me@glennbeck.com
Hannity@foxnews.com
FOX & Friends — Friends@foxnews.com
FOX News Live — Feedback@foxnews.com
FOX News Live w/ Jamie Colby — Jamie@foxnews.com
FOX News Live Weekend — Feedback@foxnews.com
FOX News Specials — Viewerservices@foxnews.com
FOX News Sunday — FNS@foxnews.com
FOX News Watch — Newswatch@foxnews.com
FOX Report w/ Shepard Smith — Foxreport@foxnews.com
Obama connection with ACORNhttp://article.nationalreview.com/?q=NDZiMjkwMDczZWI5ODdjOWYxZTIzZGIyNzEyMjE0ODI=
Obama goes to Kenya on the tax payer’s dollar to campaign for the murderous Islam-backed Odinga!
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=S8QcpdUtxNQ&feature=related
SHORT VERSION:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1P_P8lBCsE
Obama talks about Ayers giving him a job:
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=D-45A6I
Are there any documentary crews with the Obama campaign? And who will be the ‘Annonymous’ author to do a sequel to “Primary Colors”?
Not our job! FEMA supposed to clean it!
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