MyDD :: This week's lesson

This week's lesson

by Blue Neponset, Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 12:17:50 PM EST

I have tried to be cynical about the media's motives in regard to covering politics in general and the Presidential campaign in particular but I haven't been cynical enough. As Max Bergmann at The Huffington Posts notes: LINK

This is the week that should have effectively ended John McCain's efforts to become the next president of the United States. But you wouldn't know it if you watched any of the mainstream media outlets or followed political reporting in the major newspapers.

During this past week: McCain called the most important entitlement program in the U.S. a disgrace, his top economic adviser called the American people whiners, McCain released an economic plan that no one thought was serious, he flip flopped on Iraq, joked about the deaths of Iranian citizens, and denied making comments that he clearly made -- TWICE. All this and it is not even Friday! Yet watching and reading the mainstream press you would think McCain was having a pretty decent political week, I mean at least Jesse Jackson didn't say anything about him.

When I heard that John McCain called Social Security a "disgrace" I expected him to take a HUGE hit over it. I expected it to be covered extensively by the media and I expected McCain to have to devote a lot of time to recovering from such an awful gaffe. For whatever reason this didn't happen. He made his gaffe on Monday and by Friday it is all but forgotten.

The lesson to learn here is that the Media has its own agenda/priorities. We can't count on them to do the right thing. As a result, Obama and the Democrats have to carefully consider how a story will play out in the media before they make any decision. This is the main reason, IMO, that we have a new FISA law today.

If Obama had voted no on FISA it would have been THE story all week. It plays into the "Democrats are weak on terrorism" narrative that the Press likes to use and it is easy for the Media and the Republican talking heads who appear in the Media to make FISA into a black or white issue when in reality it isn't. This is what we are up against folks.

We have to beat the press and McCain in order to win in November. We ignore this at our peril.

(n/t John Cole)

Tags: McCain, Press, Obama, Media (all tags)

Permalink :: 22 Comments :: Post a Comment

Unity bucket (2.00 / 4)

:-)

Consider that everything which happens, happens justly, and if thou observest carefully, thou wilt find it to be so. -Marcus Aurelius

by Blue Neponset on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 12:25:10 PM EST

Re: This week's lesson (2.00 / 4)

The Media likes a horse race...and if they don't have one, they create one. Shame on them.

accepting McLettuce is like being 9 years old and forced to eat your own cooking

by Sychotic1 on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 12:25:29 PM EST

Re: This week's lesson (none / 0)

My name is Dog Chains, and i approve this message. I could see the outrage with Barry if he had cast the 40th vote (which is the filli number). But he knew it was no win, so instead of leaving out there as an issue, he did the logical thing and took the issue off the table by just going along. Do I think it's wrong, yes, do i think it's the end all be all, not a chance, i just don't think he knew his people would flip the script the way they have. And if people don't think it would have been an issue, they may need to pay more attention.

by Dog Chains on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 12:26:01 PM EST

Re: This week's lesson (2.00 / 1)

it IS stunning, isn't it?

Of course, we all know we have a liberal media, right? like HELL we do.

"If Obama had voted no on FISA it would have been THE story all week. It plays into the "Democrats are weak on terrorism" narrative that the Press likes to use and it is easy for the Media and the Republican talking heads who appear in the Media to make FISA into a black or white issue when in reality it isn't. This is what we are up against folks. "

Exactly, that would have been all we heard, and the airwaves in purple states would have been flooded with ads like:

"Barack Obama voted to eliminate our ablitity to intercept terrorists calls that plan for the next 9/11. He thinks the civil rights of terrorists are more important then your childrens right to live. Barack Obama is too dangerous to be President"

And, as ludicrous as that is, CNN and MSNBC would have had HOUR LONG panel shows discussing the impact on Obama's campaign of this.

And THEY would have run the ad over and over and over. Remember, the Swiftboat ads NEVER ran nationally, but CNN sure ran them into the ground.

My God, I have YET to talk to an Obama supporter who liked his vote, but most of us would like John McCain in the Whitehouse appointing Federal Court district judges far less.....

On Nov 4th, Barack Obama officially ends the Southern Strategy....

by WashStateBlue on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 12:27:13 PM EST

I didn't mind (none / 0)

his vote for FISA because I just don't see it as that particularly damaging to our rights...but that's just me.

This move was politically smart. It was politics. It was just what I had warned fellow Obama supporters that he will HAVE to do in order to win and it's just what I warned them not to flame Clinton over because she would have to do it too.

The American people; they were for the war before they were against it.

by nrafter530 on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 06:51:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: This week's lesson (2.00 / 2)

It is ridiculous that the press hasn't been all over these latest gaffes of McCain. They have covered others, although not nearly as much as they have any missteps by the Obama campaign. The only network that covered the SS and 'nation of whiners' gaffes was MSNBC and I expect they are preaching to the choir.

How the heck do we get the truth out there? I saw a recent poll that showed people think the biggest difference between McCain and Obama is on Iraq. They think the two of them are closer on most other issues. This is crazy. They are far apart on almost every issue, yet people don't seem to know it.

"The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good." Samuel Johnson

by MS01 Indie on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 12:39:20 PM EST

Not sure (2.00 / 1)

How the heck do we get the truth out there?

That is the real problem. If the MSM won't cover McCain's Social Security gaffe on their own then Obama & Co. have to make them cover it. I hope he learns from this and makes it a priority. The Media sunk Kerry (although he didn't help himself much) and they can sink Obama. He needs to start playing the Press better than he has this week.

Consider that everything which happens, happens justly, and if thou observest carefully, thou wilt find it to be so. -Marcus Aurelius

by Blue Neponset on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 12:50:42 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Not sure (none / 0)

When you're as bored and uninterested in a candidate as the media is of McCain, you're also bored and uninterested in their gaffes. The only "exciting" negative thing McCain could do is make a blatantly racist comment or get caught in a sex scandal.

by Johnny Gentle Famous Crooner on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 05:17:10 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: This week's lesson (2.00 / 2)

I fervently hope You Tube will single-handedly defeat McCain. If I were Obama, my only Florida TV ad would be his clip on Social Security. Maybe they could also find a bright 5th grader to explain how it works.

"For what do we live, but to make sport for our neighbors, and laugh at them in our turn?"

by redstocking on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 03:11:32 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: This week's lesson (none / 0)

Well, you might want to look into the idea that The People holds the Parties to different standards.

Republicans are quietly regarded as the Irresponsible Government party. Democrats are the Responsible Government party. Nobody's actually confused about this.

When Democrats are irresponsible and juvenile they invariably get punished. When Republicans are responsible and adult they get punished. The happy middle ground is adolescent seriousness and stupid-smartness.

Thing is, responsibility is means suffering, restraint, and being moderately thoughtful. Irresponsibility means glee, nonrestraint, punishment, and getting yourself into messes you don't know your way out of.

by killjoy on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 04:41:58 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: This week's lesson (2.00 / 2)

Ever though about calling your local media oulets?
I have and they either backpedal or defend themselves (claim it came fromtheir national feed, cable channel, etc.).
You might want to try it.

by spirowasright on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 01:10:50 PM EST

Re: This week's lesson (2.00 / 1)

Actually I turned on the TV today and all I heard about was John McCain's Birth control/viagra moment. Its dominating the airwaves right now. but i totally get your fustration and thats partly why i dont watch cable news that often- we cant rely on the media to report any news unbiased. we have to start getting the word out on McCain's gaffes by other means like emailing all your contacts and basically telling everyone at work and stuff like that.

by alyssa chaos on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 02:34:56 PM EST

damn. (2.00 / 4)

this diary is certainly my cup of tea. if written by just about anyone else - i would be right in there.... curse those mydd reputations!

"Democracy! Bah! When I hear that I reach for my feather Boa!" Allen Ginsberg

by canadian gal on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 02:44:38 PM EST

It's the innate GOP advantage (none / 0)

They're expected to be tough guys, and assholes, and REAL MEN in general. Cowboys "tell it like it is", right? That fits the Media narrative, and they soft shoe it, remove the rough edges. The only thing that will truly kill a GOP politician is a sex scandal, and possibly not even a heterosexual one.

We will need the country to shift significantly left to remove this consistent Bad Boy bonus they get.

by Neef on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 02:49:12 PM EST

Re: It's the innate GOP advantage (2.00 / 2)

We need the country to shift significantly feminist as well. Don't jump on me yet. I will be posting something on how pernicious sexism is for men as well as women. I will even talk about misandry. If I were a guy, I would use that word more often:)

I didn't think Hillary or Obama were feminists; I didn't think feminists should necessarily have voted for Hillary. Hillary did make some feminist noises in her concession speech. I would have liked to hear much more.

There was sickening misogyny and racism in the campaign, but the racism was recognized and criticized. The problem with misoogyny is that lots of people think they are describing human nature, not specifically attacking women. In the heady days of NY Redstockings, we would have said they needed their consciousness raised. Lots of women commentators were also badly in need of consciousness raising. Maureen Dowd, for example, needs to be in cr intensive care.

"For what do we live, but to make sport for our neighbors, and laugh at them in our turn?"

by redstocking on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 03:09:26 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: It's the innate GOP advantage (2.00 / 1)

Wow, I like you already:)

by Dog Chains on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 04:02:03 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: It's the innate GOP advantage (none / 0)

Yeah, a Democratic governor patronizes a high-priced call girl and he is forced to resign, while Vitter keeps plugging away in the Senate. Some double standard there.

"The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good." Samuel Johnson

by MS01 Indie on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 03:34:44 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: This week's lesson (none / 0)

I am beginning to worry that the media doesn't know how Social Security works. In my era, at least in Catholic school, you couldn't get out of the 8th grade is you couldn't explain at length on an essay question how Social Security works.

I am just about to pick up from my local library Richard Shenkman's new book, Just how stupid are we? : facing the truth about the American voter (NY: Basic Books, 2008).
I hope you all read The Daily Howler.

"For what do we live, but to make sport for our neighbors, and laugh at them in our turn?"

by redstocking on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 03:01:06 PM EST

Re: This week's lesson (2.00 / 1)

Please read daily Daily Howler by Bob Somerby, Gore's Harvard college roommate. Somerby has been exposing the so-called liberal media for at least ten years. He has archives going back to 1998, so you can see how the media trashed both Gore and Kerry.

"For what do we live, but to make sport for our neighbors, and laugh at them in our turn?"

by redstocking on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 03:21:09 PM EST

Re: This week's lesson (2.00 / 1)

I'm just surprised that this hasn't already been 'fixed' by the folks who aren't 'old people'.

Hell's bells, even the GOP didn't have to crucify Eisenhower's record in order to make Reagan their 'saint'. We can have two great ones, you know?

by emsprater on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 03:33:23 PM EST

Re: This week's lesson (2.00 / 1)

I'm a MyDD virgin. Do you have a bad reputation? I fully expect to earn one by the end of the weekend:)

"For what do we live, but to make sport for our neighbors, and laugh at them in our turn?"

by redstocking on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 04:24:11 PM EST

Re: This week's lesson (none / 0)

There is still some lingering anger here left over from the primary wars. I for one consider it all water under the bridge. Except for that special group of so-called "Democrats" who have got on the straight-talk express after their favored candidate lost. A bunch of them were rec-list posters here until they revealed themselves to be the Republicans they are. Most of them disappeared quietly after the end of the primary and the discourse has been much more cordial here since.

by Skaje on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 05:46:31 PM EST
[ Parent ]

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