What's next? Loyalty oaths a la Nazi Germany?

Army fears anti-Obama politics at Palin event

By MIKE BAKER, Associated Press Writer Mike Baker, Associated Press Writer – Thu Nov 19, 5:44 pm ET

RALEIGH, N.C. – The U.S. Army plans to prevent media from covering Sarah Palin's appearance at Fort Bragg, fearing the event will turn into political grandstanding against President Barack Obama, officials said Thursday.

Fort Bragg spokesman Tom McCollum told The Associated Press that the military post's garrison commander and other Army officials had decided to keep media away from Palin's book signing, which will not include a speech.

The AP and The Fayetteville Observer were protesting the decision to ban media.

"The law couldn't be clearer about this," said AP Associate General Counsel Dave Tomlin. "The government can't admit the general public but keep journalists out."

McCollum said the Army did not want the Monday event to become a platform to express political opinions "directed against the commander in chief."

"The main reason is to stop this from turning into a political platform," he said. "There are Army regulations that basically prohibit military reservations from becoming political platforms by politicians."

He said only one politician can use that platform, "and that person does it as our commander in chief."