Pressuring the Press - Andrew Halcro on Sarah Palin

[Blue_In_AK]

Former Republican Andrew Halcro ran against Sarah Palin for the office of governor in 2006 as an Independent. He was the first to raise questions about the termination of Walt Monegan.

http://www.andrewhalcro.com/pressuring_the_press

During the 2006 gubernatorial campaign, candidate Sarah Palin was interviewed by Jodi Sykes of KDLG radio in Dillingham. There were some hard but appropriate questions asked of a candidate that many considered unqualified to be governor.

After the interview aired, Todd Palin called Jodi and proceeded to curse her out. Later, Todd's mother, Blanche Kallstrom, called the manager of KDGL, Rob Carpenter, and insisted he fire Jodi which he refused. In response, Blanche and her husband withdrew their support for the radio station by pulling their adverstising as they own Ace hardware in Dillingham.

Two years later now as governor, Palin's tactics about manipulating and bullying the media haven't changed. In fact they've gotten worse.

Her staff is quick to call local media outlets when they feel the coverage is less than flattering. In addition, emails released through a public records request show former KTUU political reporter Bill McAllister negotiating for a job with the Palin administration months before he put in his notice at the station while still covering the governor.

Attached is an email exchange between now Palin Press Secretary Bill McAllister and KTUU News Director Steve MacDonald, where McAllister is complaining about KTUU's news coverage of the administration.

This past week the trend continued, this time with a KTUU News Anchor on the receiving end of a Palin complaint. After KTUU News Anchor Jason Moore correctly pointed out that Meg Stapleton, a former KTUU news reporter turned Palin press bully, had made a false accusation in the "Troopergate" investigation, Stapleton called Moore's wife at home as well as the station to complain about the unfair news coverage.

Nothing was unfair, except Stapleton's conduct after she got caught lying in defense of Palin.

This appears to be the Palin press plan; send your surrogates to attack the media, while Palin refuses to stand on her own two feet and answer questions on the campaign trail.

Last week during an interview with CNN's Randi Kaye, she told me that CNN reporters and others on the Palin campaign plane have been so shut out from asking Palin questions, they are forced to shout them to her from thirty feet away. Palin's response of course is to smile and wave.

Some things never change. A lack of being able to answer tough questions and a rabid press response team trained to attack anyone who dares questions her.

That's great for America at a time when we need answers from our candidates.



To read the email between Palin's press people and KTUU please click attachment below.

http://www.andrewhalcro.com/files/ktuucoveragecomplaint.pdf

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Comments at the link are pretty interesting.

[Blue_In_AK]

1. Kick for daytime exposure.

[Blue_In_AK]

2. Hiccup.