Will he text-message his SOTU too?
By SusanUnPC on August 11, 2008 at 2:15 PM in Barack Obama
This is utterly bizarre. He will not have a major press conference with his vice presidential choice at his side? If I were the selected “Second One,” I would be truly insulted. Via Heidi Li Feldman’s blog:
Senator Obama’s campaign announced yesterday that it will text-messaging, yes, text-messaging his choice of v.p. candidate to those who sign up for the message. I am not the only one who regards this as absurd. (Here’s commentary from somebody who writes a blog on a tech site.)
[B]y using this hip new form of making a major political announcement, Senator Obama avoids holding a press conference, thereby avoiding any chance he might be asked any question he does not want to answer.
This is consistent with Senator Obama’s approach to openness. He rents a football stadium but will not call for a genuine roll call vote with Senator Clinton’s name in nomination. He will text message anybody with a cell phone but he will not make himself available to reporters.
These are not democratic methods. They more closely resemble the techniques historically used by fascists determined to control and manipulate public opinion while at the same time ralllying public support or insisting on shows of them. …
Thanks for the tip, Suz.
Look, beyond the undemocratic nature of this — not allowing any questions from reporters — it is also indicative of the man’s laziness.
If he can’t be bothered to hold a proper press conference, what would he do if somehow he becomes president? Hide in the Oval and send his minions out to answer all questions? Phone in his speeches? Text-message his State of the Union speech?
It is also unseemly.
It dishonors both the vice presidential candidate, and the history of the critical selection of a vice presidential candidate.
What is the VP candidate supposed to do? Hold his own press conference? Open the front door of his home and greet the horde of reporters sure to be outside?
Talk about being left to fend for one’s self. My god.






















