Gov. Palin's Visit to Marietta

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Gov. Palin's Visit to Marietta

Topic Author: Roger Sheppard

Posted: Oct 11, 2008

Replies Posted: 16 comments

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Gov. Palin's Visit to Marietta

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Gov. Palin's Visit to Marietta

I just want to give a heads-up to all of the folks interested in seeing all or some of GOP Vice Presidential candidate Gov. Sarah Palin's appearance in Marietta, on Sunday. Oct. 12, 2008.

WTAP got a tip about this appearance on Friday afternoon, not from the campaign but from an un-official source.

News Director Bruce Layman and others worked hard on Friday to nail down the details.

As of this moment, which is Saturday morning, Oct 11 at 9:20am, we STILL do not have most of the particulars on this visit.

WTAP did extensive, live coverage of the visits of Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton to the Mid-Ohio Valley earlier this year, and the visit by Sen. Barack Obama to Nelsonville, OH.

We would LOVE to offer full and complete coverage of Gov. Palin's visit as well in an attempt offer equal or similar coverage.

But we have been thrown several obstacles.

First, no information to speak of now just 24 hours before the scheduled visit.

Second, we have been told that there will be only ONE TV camera allowed in to the unannounced location. That ONE camera will be a pool camera from our sister station, WSAZ, which will apparently be covering her from the time the bus trip begins in Huntington, through Gallipolis and Marietta, and on to St. Clairsville.

We will apparently NOT be allowed to cover her local appearance LIVE and we will NOT be able to shoot our own footage to bring it to you on TV or here on wtap.com in a speedy fashion.

We are hopeful that circumstances will change between now and her scheduled arrival in Marietta and we are going to work every angle to make this happen.

But I wanted to let everyone know that we are trying to offer equal coverage but are being foiled at every turn.

Posted by: steve Location: lowell
palin is a liarer

Posted by: steve Location: lowell
Palin could not be inviewed? Sounds like hilter. The republican Party have got to be proud!Nixion went to China in 1972 and brought back thier propaganda book, and gave it to the Republican Party they have never been the same.

Posted by: Anonymous What was the point of stopping if she had not intention of speaking to the people. It doesn't look like she is a very good politican. She should use every opportunity to ask for peoples votes and get the McCain-Palin message out to the voters. If she can't take the heat of the people she wants to help represent in the white house she should go back to Alaska.

Posted by: Andrea Location: Smithville
But Marietta doesn't have a starbucks for her to misquote the cup in her next speech, that must be the true reason she can't have any more press coverage than wsaz...noone to write her speeches on the side of a cup for her. Please people do you not see that she is an elitist whom feels that she doesn't need to speak to all of the people, you can travel up to St Clairsville to see her.

Posted by: Barb Location: Marietta
It is a shame that whoever leaked out any details and can't give us a concrete answer where she will be. As a Republican--if it is our party, shame on you and the same to everyone who is shielding Mrs. Palin. WTAP, keep up the good work and thanks for whatever you can do.

Posted by: Leslie Location: Marietta
You jumped the gun on this one by reporting something from "an unofficial source" and turned an UNSCHEDULED potty break into major ordeal. Area citizens are unhappy they won't get to see Gov. Palin unless they happen to be in the right place at the right time, and some may even be foolish enough to let it sway them on election day, but it's YOU they should be upset with. Also, unless WSAZ won't allow you to use their footage, which I seriously doubt is the case, you've got no gripe there either. It's absurd to suggest the campaign has something to hide or that freedom of the press is being stifled. They just want to make a quick stretch-your-legs pitstop without having cameras swarming all over some innocent restaurant. The only party who did anything wrong in this situation is WTAP by being more concerned with scooping the competition than getting the full story from OFFICIAL sources.

Posted by: David Location: Parkersburg
The campaign is trying to hide her like they have all along.(g) in Marietta this isnt Iran. We should have coverage from more than one pre determined station. Wake up people

Posted by: J Why does all the secrecy and the press limits for Sarah Palin's visit to Marietta not surprise me? Calling WTAP "bitter" tries to completely negate the issue of freedom of the press and the public's limited access to Palin, but it speaks volumes about resorting to name-calling when one has no good argument to support ones ideas.

Posted by: M.T Location: marietta
Thankyou for extending what info you have to us, interrested consumers.Now we have a better understanding of the difference between a'Rally' and a 'Stop'. I believe the dissappointment locally is the misunderstanding from the initial PR that it was going to be a Rally in town. It proves how interested people really are in seeing history, Sarah, and making history...1st female VP. GO McCAIN/PALIN!!

Posted by: Andrew Location: Belpre
Thumbs down to the Palin camp for not allowing local coverage of her coffee break. Perhaps things will change last minute so that our valley can see the coverage they deserve. What could possibly drive a campaign to limit media access to their candidate? In a time that the media exposure drives the perceptions of the American public, conventional wisdom would seem to dictate that any coverage would be welcomed.

Posted by: John Location: Marietta
I too would like WTAP to cover the visit or any future rallies! It is unfortunate that this election cycle, many of your news' peers have taken a very biased coverage of the candidates. Especially MSNBC and even NBC networks have left their anchors and commentatories inject personnal candidate preferances. Reporting half truths and innuendoes have smothered the facts about the candidates and their platforms. Most bias swings towards Obama-Biden. So Palin has been hammered right from the starting gate. She has been painted as a fanactic, brunette air-head. I would guess that all state govenors are smarter than the average citizen. Even former President and Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton said "Palin should make a good potential VP". He went on to say that "I like all govenors was weak on foreign and Federal policies. I too needed a crash course in these areas." It's unfortunate that Gov. Palin was pulled into the arena on the historically latest held date for a RNC convention. PLEASE VOTE

Posted by: Kim Location: Marietta
Things that make you go "hmmmmm". Why is Palin so secretive? One would think she would want as many people as possible to meet her & hear her message. Why bother stopping then? Wouldn't she want to try to sway undecided voters? this makes me think she doesn't have much confidence.

Posted by: g Location: marietta
my goodness... you came across very bitter!! think about wsaz... if it were you in their shoes... you would be so happy. be objective in the future, please. thanks

Posted by: Anonymous She has gotten such bad press everywhere that she goes. It is ridicuous. I don't blame her. I am so disgust by the unfair attacks on a decent and deserving lady! In addition, we have seen such a democratic bias on your station. I wouldn't want to be accomodating to you either. Look at your webpage, they probably did. It is very clear where you stand. Ex. Walt Auvil!

Posted by: mary Location: lowell
makes you wonder what they have to hide. I'd love to see what she has to say and maybe ask her a few questions.. but i dont have time to sit downtown all day and wait for her. Guess they dont want my vote that bad do they? cause i still havent made up my mind yet.. but her not allowing my local station (and the only one i get) to cover her visit isnt very appealing to me. thanks wtap for trying, i understand if you cant cover it. shame on the mccain palin ticket for stifling YOUR 1st amendment right of the Free press!

Posted by: Chaz Location: Marietta
Thank you for letting us know the situation. It is hard to understand why they can not be more open about their activities so we can show our support. Thanks for your efforts and on another matter, thanks for an outstanding job on the PHS - PSHS game. They did a great job also.