Monday, September 29, 2008

Forgetting Sarah Palin


I lost track of the number of times I saw Joe Biden on television Friday night, after the Obama/McCain debate. Sarah Palin appearances were easy to count. Zero.

Some may say the Republicans are trying to shield Palin from reporters because she is unable to handle the glare of the national spotlight. CNN's Campbell Brown, on Tuesday night, called on the McCain campaign to "stop treating Palin like she is a delicate flower who can wilt at any moment." Governor Palin has done only three major interviews since she became the Republican vice presidential nominee. She came across as good in one, mediocre in the second, and unsure of herself in the third. Access to the media is severely limited during campaign stops.

Former television news reporter and current talent coach Randy Tatano looks at it this way:
"If you're wondering why so many politicians might be giving you the cold shoulder these days, it's because of the perception of media bias. And let's be honest, it's not even a perception anymore. It's very real. You may be the most objective reporter in the world with a big "J" on your head, but politicians might not trust you. They think we're all playing the gotcha game, waiting in the bushes to spring out with obscure questions."


The quote came from Tatano's blog. I know a lot of newsies look at my blog. Check out Tatano's daily offering. It's always interesting. By the way, Randy Tatano co-authored a book about the television news business with Al Primo. I got it last week, and I'm loving every page.

Is Sarah Palin hiding, or is she just being smart?