by Charley James

OK, so like every other major, minor, would-be and never was journalist in the world, I want to interview Sarah Palin. Yet when I called McCain’s campaign headquarters in McLean, Virginia, this morning I was told, “She’ll be made available for interviews when it is in the best interests of the campaign.”

Excuse me?

“She’ll be made available for interviews when it is in the best interests of the campaign.”

A woman no one outside of Alaska ever heard of before last week is running for Vice President of the United States of America, purportedly the second-most important job in the country if not the world, yet reporters are being told the overarching consideration of the McCain organization is “the best interests of the campaign.”

What happened to the best interests of the people of the United States? Isn’t that what presidential elections are all about?

And why are the boys and girls on the bus –reporters on the McCain-Palin campaign plane – sitting quietly in back with their hands folded neatly in their laps and their reportorial curiosity stowed in the compartment above their heads instead of throwing food over the top of the bulkhead separating them from the honcho’s riding up front, demanding she be made available to them? Why aren’t they shouting “Give us Sarah! Give us Sarah!” out loud every time the charter takes off, every time Palin comes out of hiding to stand next to McCain at some carefully orchestrated photo op, whenever a campaign official pops out of his or her hotel room in the morning?

Drown out McCain when he’s giving a speech, if necessary; shout questions at her with a bullhorn if that’s what it takes; refuse to cover any of the campaign if the Republican Party media machine stands in your way. 

Do your bloody job, you simpering band of so-called professionals. What are you afraid of? Being denied “access?” You’re not getting access now so there’s nothing to lose.

You didn’t do your job in 2002 and 2003, and the country was lied into the Iraq war. For God’s sake, do it now.