During his year in Knightsbridge exile, Assange has built what appears to be a semi-official status within the Ecuadorian government, staging visits with celebrities at the embassy and speeches from the office balcony, all with the cooperation of the administration of President Rafael Correa, whose own political positioning favors opposition to the United States.
In March visitors were flown by helicopter to one village for a carefully staged visit.
Freshman House Democrats sought to increase pressure on McConnell with a staged visit to his office in the Capitol to try to meet with him.
PARIS — It was apparently just a little summertime spinning with the aid of a grocery chain, but Luc Chatel, the education minister and government spokesman, found himself in some hot water over a supposedly staged visit to a quiet supermarket on Monday.
But the Labour leader's complacency in the days before including a staged visit to a high-street bakery to mock the government's contentious decision to impose a sales tax on hot snacks, during which the North Londoner looked as out of place as any Tory toff has revived questions about his judgment.
Except for brief staged visits by media pools, it is off limits to journalists, who expect to be given briefings by diplomats and officials at another hotel.
But in between the staged visits, candid moments put a human face on a society enigmatic to the West, more complex and textured than typically portrayed.
"In between the staged visits, candid moments put a human face on a society enigmatic to the West, more complex and textured than typically portrayed," said Jean H. Lee, The A.P. Korean bureau chief.
They are much better at teasing out politicians' views than the tedious round of speeches, press conferences and staged visits to supporters' houses that comprise a debate-free campaign.
