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"Why I Don’t Write About Sarah Palin’s Facebook Posts"  

December 23, 2009 2:09 pm ET by Eric Boehlert

Boy, David Weigel at the Washington Independent really nails this one, as he details the on-going absurdity of the media's decision to take seriously Palin's Facebook postings (which she may or may not even write herself), and to cover them as news. To not only cover them as news, but to allow Palin to also stiff journalists with her on-going refusal to submit herself to a single question from an actual political reporter.

Instead, Palin (or somebody working for Palin), posts something on Facebook, all Wizard of Oz-like, and the Beltway press dutifully types it up as news. Because hey, that's how the political press always treats losing VP candidates, right?

You have to give Palin credit (I guess), since she's managed to create a whole new media space for herself which allows her to stay in the news without ever have to answer a single reporter's question. Of course, I'm guessing if she were a prominent Democrat and uniformly stiffed the Beltway press corps like that, she'd get hammered. (How dare she?!) But instead, reporters dutifully pass along Palin's online postings and news and pretend it's not unusual that a high-profile Republican refuses to speak with reporters.

Writes Weigel:

The media’s indulgence of Palin’s strategy — which often results in pure stenography of press releases that may or may not have been written by her — is ridiculous, bordering on pathetic.

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    • Author by MickD (December 23, 2009 2:16 pm ET)
      8  
      The cult of celebrity and "just plain folks" rhetoric, which is anti-progressive and anti-Obama, is driving this whole Titanic.

      Welcome to your liberal, yet corporate media, folks. And corporations are fine, upstanding citizens, akin the the banking industry (choke).
      Report Abuse
    • Author by wookie (December 23, 2009 2:22 pm ET)
      8  
      >>You have to give Palin credit (I guess), since she's managed to create a whole new media space for herself which allows her to stay in the news without ever have to answer a single reporter's question.>>

      That's really it. She is the political Milli Vanilli. But she stayed famous long after people knew she was faking.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by jeff191 (December 23, 2009 2:41 pm ET)
           
        Shes also the political Paris Hilton. famous for being famous. and about as bright
        Report Abuse
      • Author by shaggles (December 23, 2009 3:01 pm ET)
        7  
        Great analogy. Her theme song is "Girl You Know It's (Not) True".
        Report Abuse
    • Author by John Paradox (December 23, 2009 3:25 pm ET)
      6  
      all Wizard of Oz-like

      Pay no attention to the person behind the HTML.....
      Report Abuse
    • Author by cugagcmu805031 (December 23, 2009 3:39 pm ET)
      4  
      Weigel certainly does nail it. At the Wasilla book signing she had a blogger blacklist that kept Alaska bloggers from reporting on the event. The excuse given was that Harper Collins had rented the Wasilla Sports Complex, and that the bloggers were prohibited for their own safety.
      Is the implication that Ms. Free Speech thought her supporters would go "rogue" on the bloggers, or was it fear of being caught telling another lie?
      The media is also reporting that there were 1,000 people attending the event. It fails to mention that H1N1 shots were also being administered at the same time as Palin's book signing was going on. Another media failure.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by tiredofit10 (December 23, 2009 3:59 pm ET)
         
      this is the new reality i guess because we have such lazy slothly journalalist. if that is the case they could critique anyone or anything from from Facebook. the MSM is a sorry lot, except for a few like MMFA.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© (December 23, 2009 4:11 pm ET)
      3  
      If you do have to write about Sarah P., this is what you should write:

      A Prayer for Sarah Palin
      ~
      Report Abuse
    • Author by sjw (December 23, 2009 4:14 pm ET)
         
      Would somebody please explain to me why her 15 minutes didn't end last November?

      She's woefully lacking in mental horsepower, lies like a rug, doesn't bring anything to the table, and her most popular aspect was her satirization on SNL.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by sjw (December 23, 2009 4:15 pm ET)
         
      Would somebody please explain to me why her 15 minutes didn't end last November?

      She's woefully lacking in mental horsepower, lies like a rug, doesn't bring anything to the table, and her most popular aspect was her satirization on SNL.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by sjw (December 23, 2009 4:15 pm ET)
         
      Would somebody please explain to me why her 15 minutes didn't end last November?

      She's woefully lacking in mental horsepower, lies like a rug, doesn't bring anything to the table, and her most popular aspect was her satirization on SNL.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by popjoe (December 23, 2009 5:11 pm ET)
        1
      I don't believe you pathetic liberals are as afraid of Sara Palin now as you was a year ago. Well you better get used to her because she is going to be around for a long time and have a lot to do with the way America changes for the better. Go Sara! we love you!
      Report Abuse
    • Author by wzwriter (December 23, 2009 6:21 pm ET)
      4  
      I'm thinking of getting the following printed on bumper stickers:

      IS SARAH PALIN AN IDIOT?
      YOU BETCHA!!


      Think they'll sell???
      Report Abuse
    • Author by everettbme (December 23, 2009 6:27 pm ET)
         
      Simple Sarah. Here is someone who refuses to speak to reporters, and bans people who disagree with her. And she wants to be President. Does she really believe that if she ever was to become President that everyone would fall in love with her and heed her every word and never ever say anything bad.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by vwcat (December 23, 2009 7:12 pm ET)
      3  
      Here we go again. The press fawning and making submissive fools of themselves for some empty headed republican.
      They are always falling for the ditzy and small brain power kind of person who is a republican and puts alot more into style, ziggers and manufactured enemies then people who actually have something to say.
      Maybe if Obama starts acting dizzy and foolish and silly like Palin he could get much more fair coverage.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by Boxer1979 (December 23, 2009 8:11 pm ET)
      1  
      "Why I Don’t Write About Sarah Palin’s Facebook Posts"

      Why should you. When you can just laugh at them. Like I am right now!

      LMAO!
      Report Abuse
    • Author by bilbo_dies (December 23, 2009 9:19 pm ET)
      1  
      Somehow I get the feeling that no one here is a Facebook friend of Sarah Palin.

      Shucks. :-(
      Report Abuse