Obama's Soviet-style Press Relations

By Greg McNeilly
Feb 26th 2008 4:08PM
AOL News

Barack Obama's message has included "openness" from net neutrality to the government's relations with the public. He speaks of a new open era. But if his conduct, as a candidate, is a prelude to governance, then Obama's rhetoric is a sham and he'll be a hypocrite. The Politico reports today on the state of media openness with the Obama campaign. They compare his campaigning to the the 2000 campaign of then-Governor George W. Bush and the 2004 campaign of U.S. Senator John Kerry (D-MA).

Bypassing the national media for local coverage, often with very little substance, Obama holds 6-12 daily local press availabilities but only an average of two a week for the seasoned national press corp.

This is controlled, safe and secret approach to media is in stark contrast to Hillary Clinton or John McCain. The later two don't duck the press and are often freely available on a daily basis for interaction and observation.

The Politico also reports that Obama is so controlling he won't allow reporters to travel among the crowds at an Obama rally without staff escorts. Journalists covering the former U.S.S.R. will recognize this tactic.

And the secretive candidate is only becoming more so, reports The Politico:

Around the Super Tuesday primary elections on Feb. 5, the barriers around the press area at Obama events went from easily penetrable, fabric rope lines to interlocking metal gates manned by vigilant gatekeepers.

I can't deny this is an effective message-control. Which is, of course, is another way of saying manipulation. While getting the short-term impact Obama wants, one wonder's the deeper message this sends.

Clearly, this is old school style politics. There is nothing new, hopeful and certainly not open nor transparent in this approach.

Obama defenders may want to reflect for a moment on this sad set of tactics and demand more from the candidate they harbor so much hope for...after all...deeds can speak louder than words.

http://news.aol.com/political-machine/2008/02/26/obamas-soviet-style-press-relations/