Matt Drudge is reporting that the Obama campaign has kicked reporters from the New York Post, Washington Times and Dallas Morning News off his campaign plane… All three papers have recently endorsed John McCain.
From Fox News:
Journalists from three major newspapers that endorsed John McCain — the Washington Times, the New York Post and the Dallas Morning News — have been booted from Barack Obama’s campaign plane for the final leg of the presidential race.
The Washington Times reported Friday that it was notified of the Obama campaign’s decision Thursday evening — even though the paper has covered Obama from the start.
Executive Editor John Solomon told FOXNews.com that the Obama campaign said it didn’t have enough seats on the plane, but “I don’t think the explanation makes sense to us.”
“We’ve been traveling since 2007 with him. … We’re a relevant newspaper — every day we break news,” Solomon said. “And to suddenly be kicked off the plane for people who haven’t covered it as aggressively or thoroughly as we are … it sort of feels unfair.”
He said the newspaper protested but was turned down again by the campaign.
“I can only hope that the candidate who describes himself as wanting to unite the nation doesn’t have some sort of litmus test for who he decides gets to cover the campaign,” Solomon said, noting that the Obama campaign’s decision came just two days after the paper endorsed McCain.
More from the Washington Times:
The Washington Times, N.Y. Post and Dallas Morning News — three newspapers that recently endorsed John McCain — won’t be flying on Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama’s plane in the final days of his campaign — the papers have been told there is no room.
The Obama campaign informed The Washington Times Thursday evening of its decision, which came two days after The Times editorial page endorsed Senator John McCain over Mr. Obama. The Times editorial page runs completely independent of the news department.
“This feels like the journalistic equivalent of redistributing the wealth. We spent hundreds of thousands of dollars covering Senator Obama’s campaign, traveling on his plane, and taking our turn in the reporter’s pool, only to have our seat given away to someone else in the last days of the campaign,” said Washington Times Executive Editor John Solomon. News organizations typically pay campaigns for the cost of traveling on the candidate’s planes.
“I hope the candidate that promises to unite America isn’t using a litmus test to determine who gets to cover his campaign,” Mr. Solomon said.
I guess Sen. Obama is tired of throwing his friends under the bus and is now tossing journalist off the plane. Alright seriously, normally I’d consider this a non-story but given the Obama campaign’s reaction to reporters like Barbara West who’ve asked tough questions this bit of news is troubling.
Update: Michelle Malkin sums things up nicely: If you don’t make me glow, you gotta go.