Small-town paper covers Barack Obama, gets big-city bill

Bob Zaltsberg is the editor of the Bloomington Herald-Times and back in April he got the idea to send one of his 12 reporters out on a big story, the passing through southern Indiana of the Barack Obama whirlwind.

They routinely cover campaigns when they're local, but this assignment involved traveling an hour away to Columbus, Ind.

James Boyd was the lucky fellow assigned to get himself over to Columbus, where he boarded the Obama campaign bus on April 11 for the 39-mile ride across to Bloomington and Obama's two quick stops there before Boyd jumped off the campaign to write his story.

The other day a bill arrived from the Obama campaign. It was expected. "We didn't want or expect a free ride," says the good-natured Zaltsberg.

What wasn't expected was the amount -- $438.74, which is about $11.25 a mile. No small sum for a smaller newspaper. (Or a larger one either these days!) For instance, Boyd had a turkey sandwich and cup of soup; cost for that $116.62. (He must have used the pepper to account for the extra 62 cents.)

The bus transportation -- $226.17 -- seemed a little large for less than an hour but it was chartered. Then, the paper got nailed for another $91.41 for something labeled "Files."

The facts are that the increasing costs of covering political campaigns in recent years and declining revenues for many news operations have seen the traveling news media contingents dwindle considerably, even from 2000. This, of course, reduces the independent coverage of candidates seeking the nation's highest elected office and the means of spreading the candidate's message.

With prorated airfares added in, it can cost thousands of dollars a day to maintain a full-time reporter with a major political campaign.

"This was a rare primary," says Zaltsberg, "and thus a rare opportunity for an H-T reporter to travel with a campaign, even for such a short distance."

The editor, who provides an itemized copy of the campaign's bill here, notes that Obama claims he will make Indiana a battleground state come fall.

But if that traveling circus does come back through his newspaper's area, Zaltsberg says, "We'll probably skip the all-inclusive bus package and drive along behind."

-- Andrew Malcolm 

Comments

[Wm Tate]

Having received similarly high bills as a reporter covering a presidential campaign, I have one word of advice for Mr. Saltzberg: Garage sale.

Okay, that's two.

But seriously, can't Obama get one of his numerous big-money donors to help out? I mean, at that $30,000 a head function in Hollywood the other day, the bill would have been paid for by, say, one bite of arugula!

-Wm Tate,
http://www.atimelikethis.us/

[Girl with the bushy armpits !]

Talk about beeing taken to the cleaner"s. I mean this borders on extorsion.When Obama talks about raising
taxes ,I guess he means it in a big way. Rezko"s teachings are bearing fruit.

[Slobodan Wlakreiz]

I was on that same bus and the menu had a turkey sandwich on plain white for a down to earth $59.95.
Boyd ordered his on toasted pumpernikel with mayo on
the side . I thought the toilet fee of $3.50 was a little
steep for one ply tissue. What made the trip worth it was
a video (free) of Mrs Obama that focussed on her
collection of book matches from all over the state of Illinois.

[We do not charge for extra cholesterol]

I was operating the sandwich bar on that trip and we had
a complimentary corn flake sandwich on toasted rye with
arugula.Mr Boyd said he had a standard to uphold as a
senior reporter.He even asked if duck under glass could
be obtained. He did not get it but was charged for it
mistakenly in the rush. Serves the elitist right.

[John Paul Telhomme]

They enjoyed the ride and the sandwich(es). They knew exactly how much it would cost them if they didn't, they should have asked question or investigated or done some research. They ought to stop complaining and pay up. Are we to feel guilty or sorry for elitist journalists who are remiss in doing their jobs properly? The same journalists failed to ask questions when the tide was sweeping us to war. And now, we have about four thousand and twenty soldiers dead in Iraq. Leave Britney Spears alone. Paris Hilton alone. Leave Lindsay Lohan alone. Do your jobs.

[Honeymoon in Teheran]

Zaltsberg should throw the book at this Boyd turkey for
beeing so lavish with company funds. Why did the bum
choose the most expensive item on the menu ? Many
reporters are compulsive free-loaders and the Obama
staffers are milking the situation for all they can. I mean
Boyd could have eaten after the one hour drive for $5.00
at some greasy spoon, instead the porker jumped on a
free lunch at his employer's expense. Zaltsberg if he has
any managerial credentials should deduct this exhorbitant
meal amount from Boyd's pay.And just heard on ABC,
The bus company belongs to Gov. Judas's wife and she
is charging an arm and a leg for chartered buses that have failed emission and safety tests in new mexico.

[McCain is Bush]

As I read this article I am left with the impression that today was a slow day for Andrew.

[Abednego Voroshilov]

Small city reporters should be seen but not heard is the
moral of this story. They should cling to their faith and
guns and let Chicago liberals call the shots.The Obama
campaign bus is not a soup kitchen and those who board
it need not expect bargain basement fares. Know your
place and show respect for those who are better than
you.

[What's his face ?]

I think Andrew is a most gifted journalist and blogger. In
fact no other writer seems able to capture the elitist
character and shocking arrogance of the Obama operatives. Other writers on top of the ticket all seem to
submit shamelessly to the Obama spell. Don Frederick
needs to take a refresher course on objectivity and truth
in reporting.

(Thanks for leaving this comment, Dad. :-) )

[I would rather have my intestins plucked out with a fork.]

No Obama bus tour for this reporter. Storys of abuse and
exploitation abound among those who were taken for a
ride .Claims for reasonable prices have been met in the
most arrogant and callous fashion. Protesting reporters
were met with disdain and scorn reminiscent of the J.
Wright abusive diatribes that Obama pretends he rejects.
On a couple of occasions ,some journalists including
females were physically expelled,leaving only sycophants of the liberal media to accomplish their task of the raping of our collective conscience.

[Alessandro Machi]

I'm curious how the reporter got back once he got off the bus. Now you know how Barack Obama was able to pay for his caucus cheaters chartered buses.

http://www.Hillary-Wins.com
http://www.FAIR-REFLECTION.com
http://www.CaucusCheating.com
http://www.WALLSTREETCHANGE.com

[Louis Angel Firpo]

Arrogant elitist doctrinaires appear to often pull the wool
over Washington journalists who could'nt cut it at the LA
Herald. NBC now reports that Robert Mugabe has just
voiced his total support for sen. Obama. Mugabe's goons
are also famous for their good will bus tours and tough
love tactics with inquisitive media people.

[Obama fatigue]

More coverage of the strong arm tactics used by goon
squads running the Obama campaign is required. As
What's his face puts it,dont expect it from Don Frederick.

[Lord Philpot]

This story illustrates clearly the arrogance and elitism
that better journalists are reporting more and more with
regards to the tactics and attitudes displayed by Obama
and his storm troupers. We could find ourselves having
to confront Robert Mugabe like extremism if this man is
not rejected by voters. Fortunately, there remains a
possibility of nominating the much more qualified and known quantity that represents sen. Clinton.

[Angry bus driver]

This Obama clique is giving a bad name to bus drivers.
We are beeing treated like second rate citizens and no
overtime is beeing paid for late night and weekend trips.
When I saw how much they charge for buss fare and
sandwiches I knew who I would not be voting for in the
fall regardless of what union goons tell me. They are in
bed with the Chicago ruffians and I want to vomit when
the union gives my hard earned money to this campaign
of corruption and deceit.

[Horse feathers]

Just for that 39 mile trip it cost us $769.00 of diesel and
$800.oo for insurance. Then we got a citation for falty
brakes that will cost at least $1500.00. We dont need cry
babys complaining to third rate journalists who rake in the
big bucks for echoing sour grapes.