Unbelievably ugly whine by CBS reporter: Obama's plane smells bad and they're mean to reporters

[cali]

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.

<snip>

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.

<snip>

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.

<snip>

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.

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/10/07/politics/fromtheroad/entry4507703.shtml

[YOY]

1. "The McCain folks are more helpful and generally friendly."

Scripted press sessions...save those with the elusive Palin.

[ClarkUSA]

21. Shades of Ron Fournier! Let's ask Maureen Dowd about that... Dean Reynolds sounds bitter.

He's out to make trouble. I wonder how friendly Reynolds is with Steve Schmidt....

[Youphemism]

2. Hey Dean. Check again. Are you sure it was *the plane* that smelled? /nt

[phoenixriz]

19. Security Reasons

The Obama campaign is always on high alert with all the nuts out there. I am sure that is why they don't print out his itinerary. Any intelligent reporter should know that much.

[elkston]

22. Yes. Actually that makes a lot of sense.

There is a much higher sense of security due to Obama's unique circumstance.

[Ichingcarpenter]

27. Dean Reynolds Media Matters

CBS devoted 5 minutes to "lipstick," other McCain attacks before reporting that "lipstick" attack was bogus
Thursday, September 11, 2008

CBS Evening News aired portion of Floyd Brown's anti-Obama attack ad, failing to report Obama is not a Muslim
Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Broadcast networks falsely suggested that Clark criticized McCain's service
Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Numerous media outlets reported McCain's attack on Obama over public financing without noting McCain's loan
Friday, June 20, 2008

CBS' Reynolds left out key info undermining his assertions about Obama's response to Farrakhan, his church, and his patriotism
Friday, February 29, 2008

[AspenRose]

44. Didn't he used to be with ABC?

[stillcool]

45. that is rich...and I mean rich..

why wouldn't he rather be with the McCain campaign? Same money, less work. The hectic schedule must have damn near killed him. Imagine those working on a Presidential Campaign in the last month being over worked? That's awful! It sure does explain the state of televised media. Talk about elitists. I wonder if he talks like Thurston Howell III too?

[Starlight]

55. It seems obvious, doesn't it?

[BrklynLiberal]

3. I think it is time that "reporter" got a job that is more suited to his temperament...

I think it would involve saying things like "Would you like fries with that, sir?"

[anonymous171]

4. Wow. What an annoyingly whiney piece.

[TornadoTN]

5. Hilarious. I guess Obama and his staff are too busy winning an election to pamper them

This really is hilarious. This could easily be the best piece of satire I've ever read - except for the fact that it isn't.

[sc_gal]

57. This really is hilarious !

Well, I think this is a very funny story. Obama's plane is stinky and his staff unorganized ~ what a hoot ;-) Thanks for the laff of the day!

[Uzybone]

6. Wahhhh...Obama doesnt sit around and banter with us

No wonder McCain called the press his base.

[ErinBerin84]

7. wahhhh!!!!

The Obama campaign is not focused on buttering up the asshole reporters...how DISRESPECTFUL! Even Joe Scarborough has said that the Obama campaign people are MUCH more friendly than the McCain people, and frequently ask about his family, etc. John McCain, Friendly and loquacious? I call bullshit. The check must have cleared.

[wndycty]

8. Let me get this straight Palin literally whips the crowd into a frenzy against the media. . .

. . .and this guy whines about sitting on a tarmac too long?

[baldguy]

9. Reality check: Obama isn't there for you; you are there for Obama.

[ClarkUSA]

10. Gee, I wonder who's going to the next BBQ in Sedona??

:eyes:

[MrModerate]

11. What a weiner . . . on the other hand . . .

Looks like there are a few logistical issues Obama will want to sharpen up on for his reelection campaign in 2012.

[Cha]

12. I just wrote this on the other

thread..

zidzi (1000+ posts) Wed Oct-08-08 06:53 PM
Response to Original message
9. Fuck Dean Reynolds...biased lying piece of
SHIT. Everything that turd wrote in the OP's page is fucking false.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x7374645#7374957

[elkston]

13. This article is a disgrace. Some of the comments are vile as well.

Clearly a hit piece.

[1corona4u]

14. Walk next time fucker.

:mad:

[Skwmom]

15. I remember Bush sucking up to the press and then rudely dismissing them as soon

as he won.

[OwnedByFerrets]

16. You F*cking whiner....

I'm sure there are a lot of out of work citizens in Michigan who would LOVE to have your crummy job, you fuckhead.

[tpi10d]

17. Obama has larger aircraft

757 vs. McCains 737. If its cramped, perhaps it carries more people.

I've heard access to both candidates is limited, but this article seems counter to many recent stories re: McCain distant, behind a curtain in the aircraft, and not willing to speak much with the reporters.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

18. Maybe a better vehicle for this whiney ass would be a waaaahmbulance.

And maybe he should bring one of those pine tree shaped car deodorizers with him to hang up on that stinky plane.

What a douche.

[Infinite Hope]

20. Sounds like a lot of whining. "Poor me, Obama isn't doing what I want according to MY schedule!!!!!

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh!

[kestrel91316]

23. Does anybody else find the comment about the plane smelling bad

to be perhaps, um, racist in intent? You know, THOSE PEOPLE always smell funny, blah blah blah? Or am I just getting oversensitive?

[elkston]

31. No. I'm black and its definitely one of the more nasty inferences. Dog Whistle big time.

It immediately jumped out at me, but I decided not to mention for fear of seeming overly sensitive.

It feeds into the "they are animals, apes, etc..." line of racist attacks.

[kestrel91316]

38. "Dog whistle" is exactly the concept I was thinking of.

I interpreted it as a sort of "them dirty n-----s" reference.

Hateful, evil people.

[Raschel]

47. Nope, I get what you're saying. I thought the same thing.

Don't second guess yourself. When is the last time you heard about a presidential campaign area "smelling"?

[catnhatnh]

48. Nope....

"Them" people just SMELL different...always have and (to SOME people) always will.

[demgrrrll]

50. Jumped out at me too.. makes me want to walk my legs off this

weekend.

[Raine]

51. That's what I immediately thought

I'm not black but I know that "smell" is a buzz word that is used regarding blacks by white racists.

[yardwork]

53. That was my immediate reaction. I'm white. This is very ugly longtime racist slur.

I agree with the other posters - this is a dog whistle to racists.

[CitizenPatriot]

24. it isn't a charter, asshat. it's his own plane. maybe that's why it's so

roomy?

he has 11 houses, after all, not including the plane.

edited to add: Obama campaign update:

Plane no longer smells after you left. Go figure.

[democracy1st]

25. yea right a well disciplined campaign against a bs undisciplined campaign

[eShirl]

26. "the plane smells bad" - it smells like a bunch of reporters in close quarters

[regnaD kciN]

28. What, does Obama's plane smell like "po'k chops an' watermelon"...?

:eyes:

[anneboleyn]

29. What a poor baby whiner! If life is so hard for him, can't he be moved somewhere else?

he sounds exceptionally spoiled and snarky for a "serious" political journalist.

[stray cat]

30. In other words the reporter allows himself to be bought by a pretty schedule and pandering

[WinkyDink]

32. "....or attend to the needs of reporters." Must've run out of booze.

[Shakespeare]

33. Nice not-so-subtle threat there, Dean-O. "What goes around comes around."

Oh? You don't like the way he runs the press schedule, so you're going to do what, exactly? Take out your frustrations by being less than fair?

Fuck off, you past-your-prime prick.

[wishlist]

34. Easier to be neat and organized when McCain does only 1 even per day nt

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

35. the Obama plane smells terrible most of the time

A reporter commenting on the fact that the place where reporters congregate smells bad.

[razorman]

56. Yeah. Maybe the Obama folks should hand out deodorant to the reporters as they board.

But, I don't think the media can take a hint.

[Waiting For Everyman]

36. And just maybe...

The Obama camp doesn't want the REAL REPUB TERRORISTS tipped off too much in advance about where he'll be at what time.

(Said above but bears repeating.)

[jillan]

37. Jeebus - she is covering the next President of the USA -

what more does she want?

[lyonn]

39. Fact: Reporter is now traveling on the loser's plane.

Edit: At least that is how I read it??

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

40. But that's OK for him

because it smells better. :sarcasm:

[Elidor]

41. If anything, it sheds interesting light on Obama

We all knew he was going 24-7, but this illustrates that a little bit. He must be putting in 20 hour days. His endurance is impressive. And he's more interested in setting up rallies on the fly and speaking to people and meeting them than accommodating the schedules of Big Name Reporters.

I bet he doesn't cook BBQ as well as McCain, either.

[fed_up_mother]

42. Keeping folks in the dark helps protect Obama. Maybe Secret Service doesn't much info out.

Just a thought.

[BumRushDaShow]

43. McLane allows "press" on the plane?

:rofl:

I understand that he kicked many of them out.

[Wapsie B]

46. Worthless pricks.....make 'em fly commercial

and take puddle-jumpers (turbo-props)to points here and there. Give 'em bologna sandwiches and water.

[thoughtcrime1984]

49. How about a change of careers?

This whine-ass should work for a living, barely scrape by, and bitch about that instead. Lucky a-hole.

[donna123]

52. it's embarrassing that this person calls himself/herself a reporter

they want everything spelled out for them
they want pampering and primping

wow, how ridiculous
has this person ever heard of investigative journalism? where the unexpected happens? where you should be ready for anything and everything? where you actually dig for stories rather than simply parroting what the campaigns are feeding you? where you don't have the next day's news nicely printed out for you daily so all you have to do is sit on your butt in your nice smelling plane and not do any real work? has this person ever been to iraq or afghanistan? do they expect and more ridiculously do they get everything on THEIR schedule when they go there?

baggage calls are preposterously early? so this person is complaining b/c the obama campaign is actually WORKING?? Isn't that a false complaint of repubs? that dems are lazy and don't work?

at least the obama campaign, including the vp candidate actually gives interviews to reporters and answers QUESTIONS
something we know palinocchio won't do unless it's on faux news

I know some reporters do actual work and actual journalism
but this stuff? unbelievable

[RFKHumphreyObama]

54. Dean Reynolds is a big bloviating baby

And is indicative of everything that is wrong with the American media and with the American nation. He is living proof that egotism trumps ability or intelligence in the modern jounalistic world

If I were Obama, I wouldn't want to banter with Reynolds either. He is a pathetic low-life creep who cares more about his creature comforts than his country