I really don’t see what other options the military has here:
Sarah Palin kicked off her book tour in Michigan this week, and thousands gathered outside a Barnes & Noble chanting her name, giving the event the feel of a political pep rally. The Army wants Palin’s appearance at Fort Bragg on Monday to be much quieter.
The base has asked Palin not to make a speech at a public book-signing at the base exchange; she also will not write personal notes, pose for photographs or sign anything besides her new memoir, “Going Rogue: An American Life.”
Fort Bragg also wanted to bar reporters from the event. Garrison Commander Col. Stephen J. Sicinski determined that by keeping out the media, the base would prevent Palin, a Republican and possible candidate in 2012, from having a platform from which to attack President Barack Obama, a Democrat.
“Fort Bragg, nor any other Army installation, cannot be used or appear to be used as endorsing criticism of the commander in chief,” said base spokesman Thomas D. McCollum. “Because this book signing is turning into a political platform with the addition of media coverage, we are restricting the media coverage.”
They really don’t have much choice in this matter.
Brian J
Whether or not they have a choice isn’t really relevant. Since when have the facts gotten in the way of a rant against the alleged Democrat effort to control the speech and freedom of their opponents or whatever sort of lame description these idiots will assign to the turn of events? I really, really hope they refuse to shut their stupid mouths here, since we are bound to get some hilarious quotes out of them calling those in the military traitors or something. (Not that I want to see the military bashed, of course; I just love seeing Republicans shoot themselves in the mouth.)
Senyordave
Preface this by saying I loathe Palin, IMO she is the most dangerous and destructive major national political figure since George Wallace, and at least wallace seemed to have aenough self-awareness to change over time, something I think Palin is incapable of doing.
I still don’t agree with barring the media to this event. I personally wouldn’t even bar her from giving a speech, although I understand the rationale for that part of the ban. I do think it would noty go over well if she gave a speech and attacked Obama at an army base, can’t imagine that is what military personel and their families would want to hear.
Kelly
No, they do have a choice. It’s just not the one they say. If the public is allowed in, the press cannot be excluded, this is the law. And it’s crystal clear that that is the law. The real choice is whether to exclude Palin from the base, or the public from Palin.
The Moar You Know
FEMA camps! Death panels! Birth certificates!
The right is going to get far more media play out of this than if she had just done the signing.
I might also point out that someone on base had to clear this event in the first place. Draw your own conclusions, but I’m thinking this made-to-order furor is no accident.
cmorenc
IMHO also, the military handled this correctly. They permitted Sarah Palin, like any other civilian book author, to come onto base to conduct an appropriately limited book-signing sort of promotion, but required Palin to agree to the same sort of ground rules any other entertainer/author etc has to agree to in order to forestall the event from turning into a political promotion or spectacle. When Al Franken was still actively working as a professional comedian, he would go on USO tours, but voluntarily subjected himself to analogous limits on subject-matter for the same reason.
The media curbs were put in place for Palin’s visit to Ft. Bragg precisely because of the MSM’s own tendency to egg on and inflame the potential political promotion aspects of Palin’s appearance, as opposed to the mere authorial connection. My understanding of the restrictions is that she is allowed to sign copies, but not to make special annotations with her signings, nor is she to give any speeches in connection with her appearances. It’s a pure meet-and-greet-and-give-bare-autograph kind of event.
The Grand Panjandrum
This really is the best way to handle the situation.
@cmorenc: The Franken example is spot on.
cmorenc
@the Moar you know:
Since the military has allowed the likes of Al Franken to go on USO tours to the troops back in his days as a professional comic, but well after his political views were well-known (and after agreeing to avoid politicized subject matter) – the army would have placed itself in a far more politically inflammatory position had it NOT permitted Sarah Palin’s visit to Ft. Bragg. Now I am a great admirer of Al Franken, and to say I am not so much any admirer of Sarah Palin would be a colossal understatement.
But IMHO the military did the right thing here allowing her to come on base for a book-signing appearance, subject to the same sorts of limitations every other author has to agree to. Maybe they even went a bit overboard about the media restrictions, but that was precisely to preven the MSM clowns from turning the signing into a political circus.
Brian J
@The Grand Panjandrum:
Not really. I’m sure Franken did something to bash the president, but the media isn’t telling us. What he did, I don’t know. But the media is almost certainly not telling us about it. ACORN, the very same group of bloggers and feminists that put him in office, is behind it.
Malron
The military is doing what its supposed to do in order to stop someone from using the servicemen in their personal PR campaign. Its shameful that Palin and her GOP worshipers would try to exploit the troops like this in the first place.
Senyordave
@Brian J,
Well said. Also, I woke up this morning with a cough, I’m pretty sure ACORN is behind it.
Karen S.
I, too, wonder who at Fort Bragg thought this a good idea. Do they not know what Bible Spice’s schtick is? It’ll be interesting to see if she can abide by Fort Bragg’s edict not to be nasty about Obama. It seems she can’t say anything complimentary about anyone, especially if they’re not so-called “Real Americans.”
Ash Can
@The Moar You Know: That was my first reaction to this — I was surprised that this was taking place on a military base at all. If the military wants to avoid this kind of controversy, why not ban any and all politically-oriented book signings, regardless of party affiliation?
My second reaction was one of disagreement with the ban of the media. I can certainly understand why Col. Sicinski would want to keep as much of the trainwreck on wheels that is Palin and her circus away from his base. The trainwreck will still be there, though, whether the media cover it or not. The base spokesman is wrong; this book tour is a political platform in and of itself, it doesn’t suddenly become one with the addition of the media. We politics junkies may be sick to death of Palin and her antics, but media coverage of the Fort Bragg mess is just another way to hammer home to those who pay far less attention to politicians than we do the fact that Palin and her followers are lunatic fringe.
Punchy
Why do they think that simply barring the media will disincentiv-ize Palin enough to shut her trap and just ghostsign a bunch of books? Do they REALLY think she wont jab Obama, question his leadership, and say some crazy shit just cuz there’s no camera in front of her?
This is going to end poorly. You heard it here first. Ok, apparently 13th.
jibeaux
That #acornfacts tag on Twitter got a good head of steam yesterday. I have personally been impacted as well, as ACORN made a head of lettuce I just bought a few days ago go all wilty and smushy already.
Belafon (formerly anonevent)
OT, but Yahoo! is reporting on Fox splicing in old footage. The meme is slowly starting to spread.
Tokyokie
My question is why is Palin signing books at the AAFES bookstore at Bragg and not at the Barnes & Noble in Fayetteville? My guess is that it was her people’s choice, and that the base commandant sized up the situation exactly by, in effect, saying: “You want to sign books here? Fine. But fuck you, you’re not holding a political rally.”
bartkid
>thousands gathered outside a Barnes & Noble chanting her name
I don’t believe this; show the footage.
As #15 points out, if it is from Fox, it is from 2008.
gbear
I wonder how much Palin will have to adapt her approach in order to speak to an audience that isn’t totally, you know, white? Will she still talk about ‘real america’?
gbear
@jibeaux:
ACORN has made all the squirrels in my neighborhood fat.
The Moar You Know
@gbear: What are you talking about? The event is optional. I doubt any Democratic or non-white service members will be in attendance.
El Cid
OMG! This is SOOOO oppressing Sarah Palin and also strong courageous pro-America ordinary Real Americans everywhere! It’s like Fort Bragg HAS JUST SURRENDERED TO AL QA’IDA !!! MAVERICK !!
jibeaux
@gbear:
ACORN took the last roll of toilet paper that I am absolutely, positively sure was in the bathroom cabinet. Bastards.
jibeaux
There used to be a real Santa Claus, before ACORN.
gbear
@The Moar You Know:
Yea, maybe you’ll be right. I was thinking of the base more like a campus, where people show up just because there’s something going on and they want to check it out.
Hannity will probably show video footage of Palin tossing a basketball followed by a cut to a perfect 3-pointer and a huge smiling crowd going crazy.
Mike in NC
Sounds right. Haven’t been to Fort Bragg in years, but based on many other PX, MCX and NEX visits, B&N must be a hundred times bigger. It was a lame attempt to show Palin “supporting the troops” (i.e., a photo op for the “future CINC”).
JenJen
Good for Fort Bragg. I think this is an excellent decision, and one they would’ve made regardless of who POTUS is.
By the way, please keep Cincinnati in your best thoughts today… Mooseburger is signing books here this afternoon.
soonergrunt
The Garrison Commander could’ve cancelled the appearance as it is distracting from the mission.
Paul in KY
ACORN gave my cat a rash. Won’t someone rid me of these diabolical commienazis?!
chrome agnomen
just a reminder: from little acorns do mighty oakbamas grow.
Martin
Why does the military hate America?
Brachiator
@Brian J:
You’re spoofing, right?
I got no problems with any of the restrictions on Palin, and think that cmorenc is on point here.
Jay in Oregon
ACORN’s new headquarters is the movie set where NASA faked the moon landings.
ACORN is so vain, it probably thinks this song is about them.
MattR
There isn’t some kind of middle ground here? I can’t believe there is no way to allow the press in to document the event without it turning into an out of control political rally. They can’t allow the press in with a restriction of “cameras only. no questions”? Or is the fear what Palin supporters will do if they see cameras? Either way it seems like a cop out from the people at the military base who are more concerned with doing things the easy way than the proper way.
marc
Whether or not the media is present to record it Fort Bragg brass must be getting the vibe that this event is very likely to look like a virtual “Klan rally” of uniformed service members.
MNPundit
Why are they even having that shit there? You know as well as I do these guys have riddled our military so that in the revolution it will side with the republicans.
R-Jud
@Jay in Oregon: ACORN is the reason my hair won’t hold a curl. Ever.
Notorious P.A.T.
I’m sure Palin will go along with the base’s restrictions, because she is all about country.
Bubblegum Tate
@Martin:
You beat me to it. Also.
On a somewhat related note, my best friend in college grew up in Fayettevilla (where Fort Bragg is). He constantly referred to it as “Fatalville” and “Fayettenam” such that it became a running joke. So one year, I went with him to his parents’ house for Thanksgiving. He gave me a quick driving tour of the neighborhood, and straight up, it was “that’s where the soldier went nuts and shot up his family,” “that’s where the cops shot the soldier who was running down the street naked shooting at houses,” “that’s the Hardees where 10 people got killed when a couple of grunts tried to rob the place.” Pretty sad. Also, it had more pawn shops and used car dealerships than I’ve ever seen in my life.
El Cid
Why do the troops hate the troops?
Bubblegum Tate
@Bubblegum Tate:
Fayetteville, not Fayettevilla. FYWP.
Glidwrith
I don’t think Lady Starburst is going to care about the press not being there. She has repeatedly banned them from her events or at the very least permitted no recording devices.
Squid696
The Navy wives convinced the Navy to keep Playmates from signing Playboy’s at base exchanges, why not Sarah?
anie
I expect at any moment now we will learn that ACORN’s next move will be to declare war on Christmas.
Calouste
And it has happen as some people here predicted
Palin quits a booksigning (via the GoS.
Hob
@Bubblegum Tate: I’ve never been anywhere near there, but there’s a not very sympathetic Camper Van Beethoven song by that name, from like 1984 — I always hoped it was fiction —
Fayettenam
Some marines from Fayetteville came to a show
Pushing people around wherever they go
Flattop haircuts and Camel t-shirts
They came to hear music and make it hurt
Way down yonder in Fayettenam
It’s a different way of life down there
Lordy lordy, I don’t give a damn
About those marines down in Fayettenam
The Ku Klux Klan runs a carwash down in Fayetteville
They call it the Kwick Klean Karwash
(Spelled with three K’s) — The owner gets his thrills
Beating up white women with black boyfriends
Way down yonder in Fayettenam
It’s a different way of life down there
Lordy lordy, I don’t give a damn
About those rednecks down in Fayettenam
White Patriot Party parties with the Army
Marines give their buddies machine guns for Christmas
They all get drunk and hang around downtown
Urinating on the floors of rock and roll clubs
Nuclear submarine parked down the coast
Turned all them flattops into buttered toast
The president they served so faithfully
Would be escaping on a plane to his bunker far away
While they’re all frying down in Fayettenam
Brian J
@Brachiator:
I doubt anyone will see this, more than half a day later, but for the record, I was spoofing. But I guess I am getting better at it, since it wasn’t over the top.
kay
Sometimes the horse-trading is a benefit:
“Other, less noticeable factors broke Reid’s way. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), who has long pushed to expand consumers’ health care choices, scored a big win today when Reid and Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus agreed to open the insurance exchanges to more consumers.
The change would allow roughly a million Americans who have employer-provided insurance to choose between keeping their employer coverage and buying coverage in the newly created health insurance exchanges. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce criticized Wyden’s plan, saying it would undermine the current employer-based health insurance system, but Wyden maintains that it doesn’t impact businesses. ”
I’d like to personally thank Wyden for not pitching a big, egotistical hissy fit, and still prevailing. Maybe Lieberman and the rest could take notes.
Of course, Wyden actually had something substantive to offer….