Palin Cone of Silence Watch: Day 12 (*)

With Sarah Palin supposed to sit down with ABC News's Charles Gibson tomorrow, this may be the penultimate edition of the Cone of Silence Watch. But if Charlie Boy lobs softballs at Palin, the Watch will continue.

Meanwhile, it has been 12 days since the Republican vice presidential wannabe has been allowed to say anything in a public setting that is not carefully scripted or controlled. No interviews with the political press. No taking questions from the news media, although soft focus and touchy-feely stuff is okay. Palin has read one prepared statement twice and delivered an address written by a White House speechwriter.

McCain spokeswoman Nicole Wallace has disingenuously asserted that voters don't care if Palin can answer questions about foreign and domestic policy, let alone the string of troubling allegations that cling to her shoes like so much oily kelp washed up on a beach in Alaska. Campaign manager Rick Davis added that Palin won't give any interviews until she feels comfortable giving one and certainly wouldn't give any "until the point in time when she'll be treated with respect and deference." In other words, easy questions only.

What does the campaign not want us to know about a woman whom fate may dictate becomes the next president? What is it trying to hide? How much longer will Palin be kept inside this Cone of Silence?

(*) The Sarah Palin Cone of Silence is not to be confused with the Alberto Gonzalez Cone of Silence, the Harriet Miers Cone of Silence or the Karl Rove Cone of Silence. Local taxes will be collected and some restrictions may apply. Further information is available at 202-456-1111.