Newspaper: Black reporter booted from McCain rally (Race card again?)

The Dallas Examiner ^ | August 5, 2008 | Brendan Farrington

[2ndDivisionVet]

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.-A newspaper is asking John McCain's campaign why a black reporter assigned to cover a rally was singled out by security and told to leave a backstage area.

Stephen Price, a reporter for the Tallahassee Democrat, was among four Florida capital press corps reporters behind the scenes at a Panama City rally Friday when a Secret Service agent approached and asked if he were part of the national media traveling with McCain. Price said no, and the agent told him he had to leave. Price said he then pointed out that there were other state reporters in the same area, but was still told to leave. The other reporters were white.

A Panama City police officer quickly approached with his hand on his holster and asked what the problem was, Price said. At the same time, Palm Beach Post reporter Dara Kam came to Price's defense and was told she also had to leave, Price said.

The other two reporters, Alex Leary of the St. Petersburg Times and Marc Caputo of The Miami Herald, weren't removed.

Caputo, however, said that initially he also was told he had to leave the area.

"Security was tight and was a bit over-controlling, which is par for the course at these events. And, as par for the course, I tried to get near the candidate when I saw another reporter there (Alex Leary). Security tried to throw me out, but I found a McCain staffer I knew and the person vouched for me," Caputo said in an e-mail to The Associated Press.

Leary said nobody questioned why he was in the area. He added that he didn't see the exchange Price had with security.[snip]

[snip]...The McCain campaign said it asked Secret Service to look into the events.

"The campaign looked into this, and found that no one from the campaign was involved," said McCain spokesman Brian Rogers.

Secret Service spokesman Eric Zahren said two other Florida reporters were removed along with Price and any other reporters who weren't with the national press should have been removed as well. At all campaign events, national and local press are separated for logistical reasons..............."

[2ndDivisionVet]

Three more months of this, getting shriller and shriller as Barry tanks in the polls.

[the invisib1e hand]

well, was he booted because he was black? or did he do something to deserve it?

[AliVeritas]

Hmmm... brb.

[pissant]

If McCain apologizes for this, he can kiss the whitehouse goodbye. Ask George Allen how them apologies work.

[GnL]

The more this race becomes about race (is that racist?), the more Barry O’Bama will sink like a Rosie O’Donnell-commanded sub.

[FlingWingFlyer]

Could it be that the Tallahassee Democrat sent this clown down there with instructions to get himself "booted?" Never trust a 'RAT.

[Texas Eagle]

Ah. In the first sentence we are told he was aksed to leave by "security". Further in the story we learn the "security" was actually The Secret Service.

Not quite the same thing. Nice try though, Dallas Anal Examiner.

[Hattie]

This racism garbage worked against Hillary. So now they think it will work against McCain. The people have had their fill. Here’s the real racism, 95 percent of Blacks will vote for Obama.

[RangerM]

Don’t the Secret Service operate independently and are not employees of the McCain Campaign?

[ken21]

that will be the question in november.

[Steely Tom]

well, was he booted because he was black? or did he do something to deserve it?

Yeah, Ol' McCain called over one of his Secret Service guys, who are just like personal manservants to him, and said "listen up, I want you to go over yondah to the press pool and look for any negro reporters, and I want you to kick 'em the hell out, you heah?"

And the Secret Service agent pulled out his mirrored sunglasses, slipped them on, grinned a big ol' grin, and said "yes sir, boss, I'll kick 'em out real good, don' you worry about that."

[Doctor Raoul]

So what really happened was that a black male and a white female reporter were removed.

And we all know that’s some kind of code word Mandingo angle behind this racist incident, just ask Bob Herbert of the NYT.

[Notasoccermom]

Here’s the real racism, 95 percent of Blacks will vote for Obama.

Can you imagine the intimidation that 5% gets? I think there is also a lot of "ageism" with this campaign. I would imagine that young people of all races are probably given a hard time for showing support for the "old man".

[PghBaldy]

Obama opened a hornets nest. Fact is, his people used it against Hillary and McCain (to my happy surprise) has turned it back to Obama. This issue will percolate through the country.

[singfreedom]

From what I understand, it is customary for only the candidate's pool reporters to be allowed backstage. If the other reporters had someone on the campaign staff vouch for them, they probably WOULD be allowed to stay. Actually, as a security measure, it makes perfect sense. It's a real shame some “colors” don't seem to absorb logic or reason anymore.

All the Secret Service needs is for some di*k head, posing as a reporter, to shoot a candidate! The policy makes perfect sense to all but the “color challenged”.

[digger48]

Don’t the Secret Service operate independently and are not employees of the McCain Campaign?

Yeah, but facts like that don't matter in an election year. No doubt, the SS is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Bushco. and no-bid contracted to Blackwater.

(or should I say Anti-Blackwater)

[Tzimisce]

Yeah? Well we all know about them WHITE PEOPLE. Especially those red necks in the south - driving around in their gas guzzling pick up trucks with the gun racks and Bibles. And we all know how they judge people by their skin color.

[Texas Eagle]

Don’t the Secret Service operate independently and are not employees of the McCain Campaign?

Only in the real world. In Obamanation, The Secret Service is racist.

[ncalburt]

what is the dallas examiner ?

[Doctor Raoul]

A bit more from the article: "Secret Service spokesman Eric Zahren said two other Florida reporters were removed along with Price and any other reporters who weren't with the national press should have been removed as well.

So the USSS nabbed three out of four. The liberal editor and this reporter can kiss my ass.