corrente

Lady Palin has grown weary of your attentions.

"Palin won't submit to a formal interview anytime soon. She may take some questions from local news entities in Alaska, but until she's ready -- and until she's comfortable -- which might not be for a long while -- the media will have to wait."

The droll wooings and callings of the media bon vivants:

Palin Media Avoidance Watch, Day Seven
September 05, 2008

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin was named to the Republican ticket one week ago, and she has yet to answer questions from reporters.

[...]

Time magazine's Jay Carney tried to get McCain spox Nicolle Wallace to answer this question the other night.

Carney: We know now that Sarah Palin can give one hell of a speech, she’s a natural, and that’s no mean feat. We don’t know yet, and we won’t know until you guys allow her to take questions, you know, can she answer tough questions about domestic policy, foreign policy –

Wallace: Wait, wait. Questions from who? From him, from you? Who cares? No offense, but –

When a lady does not wish to receive callers she instructs the servant to say that she is engaged, or "not at home," which may mean the same thing. If there is any one or more whom she makes an exception, she mentions the fact to the servant. [1]

UPDATE: McCain campaign spox Jill Hazelbaker emails to say "of course" Palin will do interviews and press conferences. On the other hand, our friend Marc Ambinder at The Atlantic reports that a senior McCain campaign official tells him that "Palin won't submit to a formal interview anytime soon. She may take some questions from local news entities in Alaska, but until she's ready -- and until she's comfortable -- which might not be for a long while -- the media will have to wait."

If any visitor is once admitted into the house it is the duty of the lady to see the person. Accordingly, if a lady wishes to be "not at home" to anybody, she must be careful to inform the servant before the visitor arrives. But a well bred-lady ought to endeavor to receive whoever arrives, and whenever, so far as she reasonably can. If calling, you should not hesitate to depart at once, when informed that the lady of the house is engaged. No matter how intimate you may be with her, to parlay with the servant, and insist that she will certainly see you, is the height of ill manners. [1]

The campaign believes it can effectively deal with the media's complaints, and their on-the-record response to all this will be: 'Sarah Palin needs to spend time with the voters.' Not out of the question are appearances on lighter, fluffier television shows. But -- not for a while."

"While receiving callers a lady should lay aside her work, unless urged by her guests not to do so; in which case, she may pursue some light [fluffier] employment which does not demand too much attention" [1]

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[1] - Rules of Etiquette & Home Culture: Or, What to Do & how to Do it Published by Rand, McNally & co., 1889.

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