Army limits media access to Palin book signing at US base, citing anti-Obama ’grandstanding’
MIKE BAKER
AP/MetroNews.ca
November 19, 2009
RALEIGH, N.C. – The U.S. Army will allow the media limited coverage of Sarah Palin’s appearance at Fort Bragg, but will bar reporters from interviewing her or her supporters on the post, officials said Thursday.
A Fort Bragg spokesman initially said the Army would ban the media from Palin’s book signing next week, fearing it would turn into political grandstanding against President Barack Obama. After The Associated Press and The Fayetteville Observer protested, Col. Billy Buckner said the post would permit restricted access.
A small pool of reporters will be allowed to view and document the event but will be barred from interviews. The public will be allowed.
Buckner said the setup will allow reporters their right to access while preventing the appearance from turning political – something that officials believe would violate policy.
“If media are present, they can capture the imagery of what’s going and sort of the ambiance of what’s taking place,” he said…
…Palin has already agreed not to give a speech, McCollum said. Palin will sign her new book for people and will not stop to pose for photographs, officials said…
The entire article is here.
UPDATE 11/20/2009:
Army Allowing Media to Cover Palin Event at Fort Bragg
by AP/FoxNews.com
The Army has reversed its position and will open Sarah Palin’s appearance on the base to media.
RALEIGH, N.C. — The U.S. Army has reversed its position and now says it will open Sarah Palin’s appearance on Fort Bragg to media despite fears the event will turn into political grandstanding against President Barack Obama.
Fort Bragg officials in a news advisory said Friday evening that any interested media will be able to attend. A day earlier, a spokesman said media would be prevented from attending so the Palin book signing would not become a political platform to express opinions “directed against the commander in chief.”
The Associated Press and The Fayetteville Observer protested that ban.
The military then proposed limited media coverage but relented Friday.
Palin’s visit to Fort Bragg on Monday is one of many stops on a tour promoting a new memoir.
