Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, who has not held a press conference in nearly four weeks of campaigning, on Tuesday banned reporters from her first meetings with world leaders, allowing access only to photographers and a television crew.
CNN, which was providing the television coverage for news organizations, decided to pull its TV crew, effectively denying Palin the high visibility she had sought...
Those sessions and meetings scheduled for Wednesday are part of the Republican campaign's effort to give Palin experience in foreign affairs. She has never met a foreign head of state and first traveled outside North America just last year.
The campaign told the TV producer, print and wire reporters in the press pool that follows the Alaska governor that they would not be admitted with the photographers and camera crew taken in to photograph the meetings. At least two news organizations, including The Associated Press, objected and were told that the decision was not subject to discussion.
TVNewser has learned all the networks were prepared to ban the use of pictures and video from Gov. Sarah Palin's meetings at the UN today. The ban was in protest of the McCain campaign's restriction on editorial presence.
We hear the networks had arranged for a pool camera to cover all the meetings, and at least three journalists were to be present as well (one print, one radio, one TV). Earlier today, the McCain campaign said it would allow just one editorial person inside. Later, the campaign limited it to a camera only.
Within the last few minutes, the campaign reversed course
the CNN producer's meeting with Palin and Karzai lasted for.. 29 seconds:
This was the only exchange that was heard:
"What is his name?," Palin asked.
"Mirwais," Karzai responded. "Mirwais, which means, The Light of the House."
"Oh nice," Palin responded.
"He is the only one we have," remarked Karzai.
At this point, the pool was hustled out the room and down to the hotel lobby. Pool was in the room for a grand total of 29 seconds.
Later, McCain-Palin press representatives chalked up the restrictions to a "mix-up, a miscommunication among staff." The full pool a print and wires reporter, along with a television producer was then allowed in to observe Palins meeting with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe for 15-20 seconds.