Obama Charging Press to Cover Him on Election Night?

[Mr. Peabody]

Wow. This doesn't seem right. Why would you piss off the media two weeks before the election?

Obama campaign selling Chicago election night coverage packages to news outlets
By Lynn Sweet on October 21, 2008 11:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (93)

WASHINGTON---The Obama campaign is putting a hefty price tag on the best camera and reporting positions for news organizations covering Barack Obama's outdoor election night activities in downtown Chicago. If a reporter wants access to the file center--which will be the best place to find Obama officials and spokesmen--be prepared to write a check for $935. The cheapest place a reporter could stand on a riser with a view is $880.

That $935 covers one reporter in a heated file tent, power, cable tv, internet and food. I am told by an Obama spokesman who did not want his name used that this just covers costs and they are not turning a profit on this. The planners could have built in more al a carte options for Grant Park coverage.

This is an outrageous pay to play plan that caters to national elite outlets with deep pockets.

I am not asking for a free ride--news outlets pay for plane seats, other transportation organized by the campaign, hotel rooms, plus associated costs for filing centers.

But this Election Night list is pricey and does not take into account some reporters won't need power, cable, internet or food but will crave the access more than the food. As I was talking to this unnamed spokesman about this enormously expensive set-up, he did say--that a news outlet could rotate people in and out of the tent on that one credential. Great.

A general media area will be created where a reporter could watch for free, but the set-up is separate, unequal and clearly second class when it comes to getting top access to campaign people.

The campaign could not have made going to the free space more unappealing. If will be "outdoors, unassigned and may have obstructed views. General Media Area credentials do not include access to riser positions, satellite truck parking or the press filing center."

UPDATE To be clear: no one is asking for anything to be free for the press. It's just that the package of services packaged by the campaign is expensive and includes things not every outlet needs.
Obama's top donors--not the masses who donated the $5, $10 and $25 the campaign brag about--will have VIP access throughout election night and received an early heads up a week ago to plan to spend Election Night in Chicago.

Here's a story about this posted by Greg Hinz at Crain's Chicago Business.

Click below for the price list

FROM THE OBAMA CAMPAIGN....

The following coverage resource packages are available for purchase:

* Main Riser Position - $935 (Includes 4 Main Riser Credentials, 5'x8' Slot on Covered Main Riser and one 20 amp circuit)
* Main Riser Position with Telecommunications - $1870 (Includes Main Riser Position services, PLUS two unlimited long distance/local phone lines and one wired high speed internet connection)
* Cut Riser Position - $880 (Includes 4 Cut Riser Credentials, 5'x8' Slot on Covered Cut Riser, one 20 amp circuit)
* Cut Riser Position with Telecommunications - $1815 (Includes Cut Riser Position services, PLUS two unlimited long distance/local phone lines and one wired high speed internet connection)
* Press File Seat - $935 (includes 1 Press File Credential, seat in heated Press File Tent, Power, Cable Television, High Speed Wired Internet Service, Catering)
* Satellite Truck Position - $900 (includes 35'x20' parking position and 100 amp electrical service)
* Radio Position - $715 (includes table space and chair behind the riser, power and an ISDN BRI line for radio -- comes with two credentials)

Billing information must be submitted at as part of the request. Your credit card will not be charged until the campaign confirms your coverage resource package request. Coverage resource packages must be requested at:

http://www.barackobama.com/pressbilling

Additional services may be purchased a la carte:

* Unlimited Long Distance Phone Line - $300
* High Speed Wired Internet - $275
* One 20 amp circuit - $165

For telephone service internet connectivity and additional power, orders must be placed by October 23rd, 2008. For questions on pricing or additional telecommunications assistance, please contact (deleted)

The following credentials may be requested at no cost:

* General Press Area - No Charge (Includes access to bike racked press area with standing room only)

You must fill out the form to the right to request each individual General Press Area credential.

Request media credentials for the Election Night event:

Credentials to access the General Media Area are available at no cost. Please note that the General Media Area is outdoors, unassigned and may have obstructed views. General Media Area credentials do not include access to riser positions, satellite truck parking or the press filing center.

[timvp]

The first step to nationalized media?

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

The first step to nationalized media?

[ChumpDumper]

Wouldn't the government pay for nationalized media? This seems more capitalist than anything.

[timvp]

Wouldn't the government pay for nationalized media?

'Tis why I said the first step.

[MannyIsGod]

Wouldn't the government pay for nationalized media? This seems more capitalist than anything.

Yeah I don't get LJ's comment at all unless he was just tossing AHF a softball.

WTF, you think the AntiChrist victory party should be free? How does everyone expect them to pay for the hookers and blow?

[boutons_]

The networks have been hyping this campaign and sucking it for every drop, dragging it out, and amplifying every scurrilous turd of slime and lies.

Why shouldn't they pay? They pay for Superbowl, Olympics, etc

The Business of America is Show Business

What they . HUSSEIN gets falsely accused of socialism, but when he goes entrepreneurial capitalism, he gets trashed, too. all y'all

[ChumpDumper]

Eh, let me know how much Chicago hotels and escort services are charging that night too.

I doubt the press will pass those services up either.

[Mr. Peabody]

The Book of Revelations 11:4 says -

"And then the fifth horn blew. And the Dragon, preparing for Victory, gathered the scribes from the twelve tribes and commanded a he for his companionship."

[ElNono]

The Book of Revelations 11:4 says -

"And then the fifth horn blew. And the Dragon, preparing for Victory, gathered the scribes from the twelve tribes and commanded a he for his companionship."

LOL

[Anti.Hero]

haha. Damn. Angel Luv was right

[MannyIsGod]

The Book of Revelations 11:4 says -

"And then the fifth horn blew. And the Dragon, preparing for Victory, gathered the scribes from the twelve tribes and commanded a he for his companionship."

LOL

[timvp]

Yeah I don't get LJ's comment at all unless he was just tossing AHF a softball.

I was expecting AHF to take a harder swing.

This sounds more like thinning the herd than anything, although it'd be interesting to see what the norm is.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

I was expecting AHF to take a harder swing.

This sounds more like thinning the herd than anything, although it'd be interesting to see what the norm is.

Classic that some of you would single me out. Eh, whatever. I'm disappointed in the lack of thought from what are normally some very rational posters.

I've posted a lot of articles on here in an attempt to counter all the leftist bull , but I've realized of late that's a lost cause.

[timvp]

Classic that some of you would single me out. Eh, whatever. I'm disappointed in the lack of thought from what are normally some very rational posters.

I've posted a lot of articles on here in an attempt to counter all the leftist bull , but I've realized of late that's a lost cause.

By swing I meant I wanted you to do the homework. Could this be the beginning of nationalized media? Probably not. But if it's totally out of the norm, perhaps it could be the beginning to something.

As a standalone news item, it's a tad bit fishy . . .

[MannyIsGod]

I don't know AHF, all you've done is post some weak articles addressing what are pretty much non issues. I don't know what reaction you've been expecting.

[whottt]

Classic that some of you would single me out. Eh, whatever. I'm disappointed in the lack of thought from what are normally some very rational posters.

I've posted a lot of articles on here in an attempt to counter all the leftist bull , but I've realized of late that's a lost cause.

What gets me is they think they're intellectuals.


These suckers don't have a thought(analytical or otherwise) independent of CNN, DailyKos or Huffington post and think they're intellectuals.

[Tully365]

What gets me is they think they're intellectuals.


These suckers don't have a thought(analytical or otherwise) independent of CNN, DailyKos or Huffington post and think they're intellectuals.

What would be your description of a real intellectual? lots of Shakespeare and Tolstoy? Just wondering.

[Warlord23]

What would be your description of a real intellectual? lots of Shakespeare and Tolstoy? Just wondering.

whottt's definition of intellectual = Sarah Palin

He supports her because he knows this is the one time in history someone dumber than him has the chance to be this close to the White House

Oh wait, I forgot about GWB

[tp2021]

What would be your description of a real intellectual? lots of Shakespeare and Tolstoy? Just wondering.

Shakespeare didn't write the plays. Sir Francis Bacon did.

[Tully365]

I consider George Will to be a real intellectual... and think it's unfortunate that so many republicans shun him because he's "nerdy," and instead prefer to admire people like Rush, Hannity, and O'Reilly, who seem very anti-intellectual to me.

[Tully365]

Shakespeare didn't write the plays. Sir Francis Bacon did.

Pleeeez-- he couldn't even write better essays than Montaigne. Edward DeVere, The 17th Earl of Oxford... now that's a conspiracy theory that has some teeth!

[Ignignokt]

I consider George Will to be a real intellectual... and think it's unfortunate that so many republicans shun him because he's "nerdy," and instead prefer to admire people like Rush, Hannity, and O'Reilly, who seem very anti-intellectual to me.

That says alot more about democrats than republicans. Is there a counterpart to George Will's above the frey mentality in the Liberal editorial pages?

Thought not.

They are all a bunch of cheerleaders who do the free campaigning for Obama.

The Democrats have squashed dissent in their own ranks, and will squash it in the united states.

I know, it's only lame when the dirty neocons do it, but real cool when Obama does it.

Crocodile Tear, Oppurtunistic Defenders of the Cons ution, Neo patriots, Corporate Coffee bar/bookstore intellectuals. You define patriotism and the cons ution to define your distorted version of the american vision.

Your formula is simple for cons utional interpretation.

IF it helps your socialistic principles fine, if not, illegal and unpatriotic.

I mean it's democrats telling americans that its patriotic to pay high taxes when we fought the brits for that same reason.

Obama is your messiah, he supplants a need for God.

WHile i don't believe Angel Luvs assertion.

She's somewhat correct.

[Tully365]

That says alot more about democrats than republicans. Is there a counterpart to George Will's above the frey mentality in the Liberal editorial pages?

Thought not.

They are all a bunch of cheerleaders who do the free campaigning for Obama.

The Democrats have squashed dissent in their own ranks, and will squash it in the united states.

I know, it's only lame when the dirty neocons do it, but real cool when Obama does it.

Crocodile Tear, Oppurtunistic Defenders of the Cons ution, Neo patriots, Corporate Coffee bar/bookstore intellectuals. You define patriotism and the cons ution to define your distorted version of the american vision.

Your formula is simple for cons utional interpretation.

IF it helps your socialistic principles fine, if not, illegal and unpatriotic.

I mean it's democrats telling americans that its patriotic to pay high taxes when we fought the brits for that same reason.

Obama is your messiah, he supplants a need for God.

WHile i don't believe Angel Luvs assertion.

She's somewhat correct.

Nothing you've written has anything to do with me. If you dislike the general liberal view of things, that's fine. All of the other things-- messiah, calling people unpatriotic, illegal, etc,. is stuff you are projecting from other arguments that you must've had with other people, because I've never said anything remotely like that.

[whottt]

What would be your description of a real intellectual? lots of Shakespeare and Tolstoy? Just wondering.

You want examples of people or a literal definition?