McCain Campaign Likely Screening Questioners
David Corn asks, “[I]s the McCain campaign screening reporters, and, if so, on what basis?” The few conference calls I’ve been on suggests they are. I’ve tried pressing the right buttons to get into the queue but never had a chance to ask a question. (Lately I haven’t heard about conference calls until after the fact.) On one I was on a question came from the environmental weblog Grist. That was understandable since McCain is trying to reach beyond conservative audiences. I’ve also noticed Hot Air’s Ed Morrissey usually gets to ask a question. It’s happened too often for it to just be coincidence. If staff is screening webloggers it’s based on the weblogger’s audience rather than how critical they’ve been of McCain.
Matt Lewis doesn’t buy Corn’s claim, but he’s gotten to ask McCain a number of questions.
I think calling on the same questioners again and again is a poor tactic especially for reaching out to an online audience. Having lesser-kinown weblogs getting questions answered by the McCain campaign gives those weblogs material to improve their credibility and audience. They are likely to be more sympathetic towards McCain even if they oppose much of what he’s running on. Screening calls also cuts against McCain’s straight talk brand of courageousness.
A good rule campaigns should live by in the online age is if you’re going to open up the conversation make sure it’s truly open. Going half-way will only hurt your credibility.
“McCain Campaign Screening Questioners?” [via memeorandum]
Good thing you didn’t post this before you got your credentials