Army limits media access at Palin event
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) – The U.S. Army will allow the media limited coverage of Sarah Palin’s appearance at Fort Bragg, but will bar reporters from interviewing her or her supporters on the post, officials said Thursday.
A Fort Bragg spokesman initially said the Army would ban the media from Palin’s book signing next week, fearing it would turn into political grandstanding against President Barack Obama.
After The Associated Press and The Fayetteville Observer protested, Col. Billy Buckner said the post would permit restricted access.
A small pool of reporters will be allowed to view and document the event but will be barred from the interviews. The public will be allowed.
Buckner said the setup will allow reporters their right to access while preventing the appearance from turning political – something that officials believe would violate policy.
“If media are present, they can capture the imagery of what’s going on and sort of the ambiance of what’s taking place,” he said.
Fort Bragg, which is base for some 35,000 soldiers, does not hold many promotional events, especially not with political figures. Officials said they worried that media coverage would turn the appearance into a chance for people to express political opinions “directed against the commander in chief.”
