The Election The Media Lost
[Guest post by DRJ]
Former Clinton campaign adviser Mark Penn tells CBS that Obama has run a good campaign and, like all campaigns, it’s had ups-and-downs. Penn views the race as even but thinks Obama should stop talking about Palin and start talking about core issues like the economy. I think that’s good advice.
I also agree with two other Penn opinions: First, that people vote for the top of the ticket but McCain’s choice of Palin has given his supporters more confidence in McCain’s judgment and goals.
Second, that the media is the biggest loser of this election:
“CBSNews.com: Your former colleague Howard Wolfson argued that you all unintentionally paved the way for Palin by exposing some of the unfair media coverage that Hillary Clinton received. And, therefore, a lot of the media may now be treating Sarah Palin with kid gloves. Do you agree with that?
Mark Penn: Well, no, I think the people themselves saw unfair media coverage of Senator Clinton. I think if you go back, the polls reflected very clearly what “Saturday Night Live” crystallized in one of their mock debates about what was happening with the press.
I think here the media is on very dangerous ground. I think that when you see them going through every single expense report that Governor Palin ever filed, if they don’t do that for all four of the candidates, they’re on very dangerous ground. I think the media so far has been the biggest loser in this race. And they continue to have growing credibility problems.
And I think that that’s a real problem growing out of this election. The media now, all of the media — not just Fox News, that was perceived as highly partisan — but all of the media is now being viewed as partisan in one way or another. And that is an unfortunate development.
CBSNews.com: So you think the media is being uniquely tough on Palin now?
Mark Penn: Well, I think that the media is doing the kinds of stories on Palin that they’re not doing on the other candidates. And that’s going to subject them to people concluding that they’re giving her a tougher time. Now, the media defense would be, “Yeah, we looked at these other candidates who have been in public life at an earlier time.”
What happened here very clearly is that the controversy over Palin led to 37 million Americans tuning into a vice-presidential speech, something that is unprecedented, because they wanted to see for themselves. This is an election in which the voters are going to decide for themselves. The media has lost credibility with them.”
Let the voters decide. And no matter who wins or loses this election, I think the biggest loser should be the media.
— DRJ
Fortunately for posterity, we have a secret videotape of the plan to destroy Palin. It didn’t work out too well but it was well planned like all the plans these guys made.
Mike K (2cf494) — 9/12/2008 @ 8:09 pmI can’t stop laughing, Mike K.
DRJ (7568a2) — 9/12/2008 @ 8:20 pmTwo magazine covers this week: compare and contrast.
Fair? You decide.
Patricia (ee5c9d) — 9/12/2008 @ 8:26 pmPatterico: I am disturbed by the “fishing expedition” the Democrats are doing by suddenly demanding phone records from Palin’s son, her own records, her husband, and by inference an open door to intimidate all her contacts. Don’t you have to do something through the courts beside request a warrant to harass anyone they choose? Since you are a lawyer, I’d like your comment.
howard432 (cc8b85) — 9/12/2008 @ 9:06 pmDems know they can’t beat Palin at the ballot box so they’re out to destroy her in the media. If they don’t succeed, she’s likely to be the first woman President. MSM knows it. The stakes are about a high as it gets in a republic. The question is: who rules, the media or the people?
We’ll have our answer in less than 2 months.
Ropelight (921f6e) — 9/12/2008 @ 9:19 pm“And they continue to have growing credibility problems”. They lost any credibility they may have had with their phony reports/photo’s from the Iraq war zone. They had very little left after Vietnam. You have to be more than slightly retarded to believe anything the Lame Stream Media puts out. Everything the media and democrats have put out for the last two weeks has been proven total lies within hours of their slime reports. I know I’ll never watch any of the so called major outlets or buy any of their rags. Too bad a super market tabloid has proven more accurate than all of the media outlets put togather.
Scrapiron (d671ab) — 9/12/2008 @ 10:02 pm#4 Most states have public record acts which would allow access to a public official’s phone logs, schedules, etc.
There’s nothing wrong with seeking Gov. Palin’s official records. This week’s LA Weekly cover story on Mayor Villaraigosa, based on an analysis of his schedule book, shows how informative and devastating such information can be.
As far as the investigation concerning Governor Palin’s brother-in-law, the immediate family’s phone calls are probably fair game as well.
Public officials and their immediate families have a much reduced expectation of privacy. That’s necessary given given the risks of nepotism, cronyism and even bribery via close family members. If one cannot stand that glare, then one has no business seeking high office.
Cyrus Sanai (4df861) — 9/12/2008 @ 10:05 pm“Public officials and their immediate families have a much reduced expectation of privacy.”
Even judges.
Fancy that!
daleyrocks (d9ec17) — 9/12/2008 @ 10:16 pmThe 20/20 interrogation was almost unbearable to watch.
American Digest had a good cartoon: They’re jackals.
Patricia (ee5c9d) — 9/12/2008 @ 11:23 pmThe media has been losing ground to the very medium we are in right now, the internet.
One of the ways it has gained back it’s ground is through politics. Make no mistake about it, the media could care less who wins the upcoming election. What they want to see is an even fight to the very end.
Sure McCain is slightly ahead right now, but if Obama takes the lead then the Media will correct the imbalance and let McCain take the lead and so on and so on.
We are in for a 2000 style election roller coaster my friends. Hang on, this game may not be settled till sometime next year. And who will win? The media of course, because we will either be tunning in or talking about which is a form of tunning in.
Oiram (41493b) — 9/12/2008 @ 11:59 pmOiram – Prepare yourself for a shock.
Icy Truth (6b3828) — 9/13/2008 @ 12:10 amI’m prepared Icy, are you?
Oiram (41493b) — 9/13/2008 @ 12:27 amMcCain WILL win
Icy Truth (6b3828) — 9/13/2008 @ 12:40 amYeah, I’m prepared for that ICY. I will hope for the best.
And I know you will hope for the best in the event that your wrong.
Oiram (41493b) — 9/13/2008 @ 1:37 amI’m prepared to see a few twists and turns before this is over.
Bit whoever wins, the media have lost a lot.
Evil Pundit (843b74) — 9/13/2008 @ 1:59 amOiram, our hopes were extremely low this cycle. In the past two weeks, they have shot sky high, but part of that is just the relief of having some optimism at all. You guys were certain Bush would lose in 2004, and I’m sure you are troubled greatly that Obama is not forecast to win when he was the overwhelmingly likely winner only so short ago.
While I will be greatly disapointed if Obama does win, the democrats will have to deal with Governor Palin for the next 40 years. She will be a fixture in this nation, encouraging family, strong free minded women, and conservative government. her success on energy and fiscal responsibility have made her hugely popular in Alaska, and nothing will take a great career away from her. This election merely accelerated it. Even if she loses, her profile is greatly enhanced.
Same is true for Obama. He will be a powerful man even if he loses. And Mccain is a pretty moderate guy, so the dems shouldn’t be too upset if he wins. He will try to help the dems get things done, as I think he should in this divided nation.
As to all the harassment surrounding Palin’s family, I think Cyrus Sanai has proven just how difficult it is to be a prominent and powerful conservative in this nation. Too many absolute psychos who can and will hurt you and your family, lie about you and your family, and have no shame or limit to their aggression in their pursuit of ‘vengeance’ against people who just happen to make reasoned judgments they dislike. Palin and her family agreed to go this route. She asked, and they were willing to sacrifice their safety and privacy to monsters like Sanai. They did it because they believe in Governor Palin.
Same applies to Obama, though to an obviously lesser extent, given the kid gloves the media handles him with. If Michelle were attacks like Todd Palin is, or if Obama’s beautiful kids were attacked like Palin’s kids, people would be fired before they were off the air.
Juan (4cdfb7) — 9/13/2008 @ 2:44 amIf Baracky wins, I am going to say a shitload of prayers for gridlock.
JD (5f0e11) — 9/13/2008 @ 5:01 am#17 JD:
I am unconvinced by the argument that dissent, in and of itself, is patriotic.
But there are times when its appropriate.
EW1(SG) (84e813) — 9/13/2008 @ 5:22 am— Make no mistake about it, the media could care less who wins the upcoming election. —
cboldt (3d73dd) — 9/13/2008 @ 6:15 am.
Inasmuch as “the media” isn’t some thinking entity, sure. But the overwhelming majority of its individual practitioners want Obama (or whoever the Democrat is) to win, and they have been and will continue to lie and distort in order to “improve the chances” of that electoral outcome.
.
The examples of their fabrications, misrepresentations, omissions, etc. are numerous. I agree with the above, a person has to either be retarded or a participant in order to come to any other conclusion.
“So, when American workers hear John McCain talking about putting ‘Country First,’” Obama said, “it’s fair to ask –- which country?”
Breathless coming from “The One”
Neo (cba5df) — 9/13/2008 @ 6:22 am#20 Neo: Quoth “The One:”
Warn’t that that feller traipsin’ about Europe, and all that?
Not sure if all them votes he picked up over there are much good in November.
EW1(SG) (84e813) — 9/13/2008 @ 6:28 amHey, a quarter million Germans CANNOT BE WRONG! YOU VILL OBEY THE MESSIAH – SCHNELL!
Dmac (e639cc) — 9/13/2008 @ 6:56 amYawn. Stretch. Your desperation smells good this morning. Goooood.
McCain’s gonna lose. You’ll blame Palin before it’s over. Just let her speak
Ahhh it’s a good morning to be an Obama supporter
i like america (f4c1e0) — 9/13/2008 @ 7:01 amThe press SHOULD be asking a lot of questions about Palin. We need to know a lot about her to help make an informed decision. We’ve had a long time to get to know McCain and Obama and Biden has a long voting record and career to access but Palin is an unknown. And we have less than two months until the election.
Denise (d8075d) — 9/13/2008 @ 7:03 amShe should be allowed more access to the press. If she can’t handle the press, how will she handle the complexity of dealing with world leaders?
The double-standard Gibson applied to Palin, compared with the uncritical media platforms repeatedly offered to Obama, who has had zero executive experience running anything, was especially striking. ABC and Gibson focused on Palin as if she were running right now for the presidency rather than the vice presidency. He and other media pundits, by contrast, have never asked the Democratic vice presidential nominee, Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware, if he has ever had to make a decision on anything.
Gibson’s aggressive approach appeared to take Palin by surprise: He was clearly attempting to put her on point by presenting her as having extreme religious views. This again, however, appears to be a double-standard, as Palin grew up in the Assemblies of God, one of the largest Christian denominations in America with 16 million members, and is now a member of the Wasilla Bible Church. Even now, Obama has yet to receive any comparable grilling on his 20-year attendance in the congregation of the notoriously racist Rev. Jeremiah Wright.
http://www.upi.com/news/issueoftheday/2008/09/12/ABCs_Gibson_grilled_Palin_hard_but_it_may_backfire/UPI-81241221234472/
UPI gives a very pro Palin assessment. Read the whole thing.
Joe (8102a5) — 9/13/2008 @ 7:10 am#1 Mike K! +1,000,000 ROTFLMAO!!!!
J. Raymond Wright (0440ef) — 9/13/2008 @ 7:13 am#9 Patricia Awesome Cartoon!
DRJ: Let the voters decide. And no matter who wins or loses this election, I think the biggest loser should be the media. +1,000,000
The rabid anti-Palin press corps are:
Liberal Fascist Journalistic Nazi Stormtroopers!
See: http://jraymondwright.blogspot.com/
Keep it up LFJNS’s Please keep it up!!!
“We need to know a lot about her…”
Yes, by all means the press should have more access to her – let’s tally up what the press has “found out about her” to this point:
– that she isn’t the trailer park trash as they previously claimed;
– that she’s not a whore;
– that her daughter’s baby is not actually hers:
– that the “unlawful use of her office” to fire a state trooper was actually a complete scumbag who was deemed unfit for the job by everyone but the policeman’s union;
– that she doesn’t actually intend to send the public school system back in time to the Salem Witch Trials.
Gee, we’ve learned so much about her, haven’t we? Why doesn’t she allow the MSM to sniff more of her crotch at this point? What is she trying to hide? Why can’t we know more about her crotch? Whyyyyyyy?
I think you missed your daily Talking Points Memo at this morning’s meeting – you’re about two stages past the latest news cycle, sweetie.
Dmac (e639cc) — 9/13/2008 @ 7:14 am#1 Mike K +1,000,000 ROTFLMAO #9 Patricia Great Cartoon, very accurate! DRJ Great Post
J. Raymond Wright (0440ef) — 9/13/2008 @ 7:17 amThe rabid wolf/jackal anti-Palin Press Corps are:
Liberal Fascist Journalistic Nazi Stormtroopers
For an explanation see:http://jraymondwright.blogspot.com/
Denise – you can’t reason with the partisan hacks here. If you want to reason with people, search out an independent blog.
This is the place to find the next hilarious excuse the right wing hacks have for their candidates.
i like america (f4c1e0) — 9/13/2008 @ 7:25 amDenise, Obama is every bit as obscure a person as Palin but he is at the top of the ticket. The difference is his color. The news media wants to have a black president. All else is secondary. That wouldn’t be such a worry but his history in Chicago, one of two or three political cesspools in this country, suggests that he is a radical leftist and has failed at every non-academic effort he has made.
He admitted himself that his community organizing efforts were a failure. That’s why he went to law school. Then he became editor of the Harvard Law Review with no publications to his credit. Does that suggest something ?
Then he came back to Chicago and got involved with Ayres and Wright. Then came the Chicago Annenberg Challenge in which $150 million was spent with no observable benefit to the schools. Then his mentor, Emil Jones, decided “I’m gonna make me a Senator.” The rest is history.
I see no personal accomplishment. All along he has been the vessel carrying other people’s hopes and ambitions. None of it has been through his own work.
Her story is almost the exact opposite. It is all her own work.
Mike K (2cf494) — 9/13/2008 @ 7:30 am#24, Denise said, “We’ve had a long time to get to know McCain and Obama…”
Check, but what do we know about Obama, much too little, certainly not enough to support him for public office, any public office.
What was he doing for 20 years in Reverend Wright’s church? He said he never heard the racial hatred and religious bigotry that we saw and heard on TV. Did Obama lie about what he saw and heard, and is he still lying now? Does Obama really agree with Reverend Wright, but has to pretend he’s blind and deaf to get elected?
Who paid for Obama’s Harvard education? How did he become editor of the Law Review without ever writing an article? How is that possible?
How is it that Obama’s wife got nearly a $100,000 raise when Obama was elected and started earmarking tax payer money for her employer?
Why did Tony Rezko fund a sweetheart deal for Obama’s Hyde Park mansion? Does all of Rezko’s money come from Islamic radicals, or only the part he doesn’t squeeze from his day jobs as a political fixer and Chicago slumlord?
Why is Obama so cozy with Bill Ayres? Should we trust someone who is linked with a known domestic terrorist? How deep is their relationship? Does Ayres support Obama because they see eye-to-eye on plans to subvert American institutions, like public education? Is that why Obama sends his children to private schools?
Yes, Denise, it’s well past time we had answers to these questions, and so many more.
Ropelight (921f6e) — 9/13/2008 @ 7:49 amAs a Democrat with integrity…there is NOTHING that will make me vote for a Chicago thug named Obama who employed fraud, corruption, bribery and intimidation to be crowned as the nominee.
Once again, the vacuous elite of the party thought they could ram THEIR choice down my throat and tell me get over it. Guess what. Women have had enough. The only question is how many congressional seats is the vapid Mr. Obama going to cost us as he thrashes out with his pithy wit that excites his supporters and repels the vast majority of us.
THAT is the real problem. If the DNC was smart, they’d dump the pandering, juvenile Mr Obama and put an adult, HRC at the top of the ticket. But that ain’t going to happen.
they sent an ARMY to investigate Palin yet not ONE to south side Chicago or Harvard or the Annenburg Challenge (Ayers instrument with Obama as Chairman ) or a state senate record on Obama… they really must think we don’t GET IT that Mr. Obama was SELECTED for us.
Annenburg-Ayers and Obama
you did realize that factcheck.org has a political agenda in support of Mr. obama?
But all of that’s OK. I’m getting over it now. How do you like it?
lnab (7a6fcf) — 9/13/2008 @ 7:57 amexcerpt from Evidence Gibson Was Prejudiced Against Palin: Comparison of Palin and Obama Interviews
ARTICLE
Gibson’s Obama interview:
How does it feel to break a glass ceiling?
How does it feel to “win”?
How does your family feel about your “winning” breaking a glass ceiling?
Who will be your VP?
Should you choose Hillary Clinton as VP?
Will you accept public finance?
What issues is your campaign about?
Will you visit Iraq?
Will you debate McCain at a town hall?
What did you think of your competitor’s [Clinton] speech?
Gibson’s Palin interview
Do you have enough qualifications for the job you’re seeking? Specifically have you visited foreign countries and met foreign leaders?
Aren’t you conceited to be seeking this high level job?
Questions about foreign policy
-territorial integrity of Georgia
-allowing Georgia and Ukraine to be members of NATO
-NATO treaty
-Iranian nuclear threat
-what to do if Israel attacks Iran
-Al Qaeda motivations
-the Bush Doctrine
-attacking terrorists harbored by Pakistan
Is America fighting a holy war? [misquoted Palin]
well, Obama has alread said he thinks we are all stupid…I guess ABC must agree. We’re not bright enough to identify PANDERING when we see it.
We Democratic deadenders have gotten very good a knowing when the media is hellbent on turning a pig’s ear into a silk purse.
lnab (7a6fcf) — 9/13/2008 @ 8:19 amBristol’s mom has got it going on.
I know that might be wrong but I have been waiting so long…
http://althouse.blogspot.com/2008/09/i-know-it-might-be-wrong-but-im-in-love.html
Joe (8102a5) — 9/13/2008 @ 8:29 amIn light of the Palin/Gibson “interviews”, I give you this from Don Henley:
+++++++++
I make my living off the evening news
Just give me something-something I can use
People love it when you lose,
They love dirty laundry
Well, I coulda been an actor, but I wound up here
I just have to look good, I dont have to be clear
Come and whisper in my ear
Give us dirty laundry
Kick em when theyre up
Kick em when theyre down
Kick em when theyre up
Kick em when theyre down
Kick em when theyre up
Kick em when theyre down
Kick em when theyre up
Kick em all around
We got the bubble-headed-bleach-blonde who
Comes on at five
She can tell you bout the plane crash with a gleam
In her eye
Its interesting when people die-
Give us dirty laundry
Can we film the operation?
Is the head dead yet?
You know, the boys in the newsroom got a
Running bet
Get the widow on the set!
We need dirty laundry
You dont really need to find out whats going on
You dont really want to know just how far its gone
Just leave well enough alone
Eat your dirty laundry
Kick em when theyre up
Kick em when theyre down
Kick em when theyre up
Kick em when theyre down
Kick em when theyre up
Kick em when theyre down
Kick em when theyre stiff
Kick em all around
Dirty little secrets
Dirty little lies
We got our dirty little fingers in everybodys pie
We love to cut you down to size
We love dirty laundry
We can do the innuendo
Horatio (783c7d) — 9/13/2008 @ 9:12 amWe can dance and sing
When its said and done we havent told you a thing
We all know that crap is king
Give us dirty laundry!
American’s (who vote) are smart enough to see exactly what is going on in the media. They are actually helping Palin by making the disciples of the Messiah(Barry)seem like bullies. She has taking Barry’s spot as the misunderstood underdog.
BrentF (e6db0a) — 9/13/2008 @ 12:19 pmReminds my of Star Wars when Kenobe lets Darth Vadar strike him down in order to “make him stronger”.
Sorry about the ‘ in Americans.Typo.
BrentF (e6db0a) — 9/13/2008 @ 12:19 pmJeez, Just saw a couple other typos. I will double check before I post next time. Sorry.
BrentF (e6db0a) — 9/13/2008 @ 12:21 pmA Public Service Reminder – Please don’t feed the Troll.
Dmac (e639cc) — 9/13/2008 @ 1:19 pm#17
If Baracky wins, I am going to say a shitload of prayers for gridlock.
Comment by JD — 9/13/2008 @ 5:01 am
JD, your true colors are finally coming out. What you just said is as unpatriotic is 1 million times worse than Obama not wearing a flag pin, or Obama supposedly not putting his hand over his heart, or Reid saying we’ve lost the war.
McCain or Obama, please no more Gridlock guys.
Oiram (41493b) — 9/13/2008 @ 2:49 pmCall me an American.
Oiram, the term “gridlock” refers to opposing party affiliations in our elected branches of government (Senate, House and Pres) – we had this during Clinton’s 1st term. I don’t think you understood JD’s meaning in this instance.
Dmac (e639cc) — 9/13/2008 @ 3:14 pmDmac, the fact is that many, many people carrying on about politics lack very basic information about politics—look at the “gridlock” comment above.
If a person says “gridlock is bad,” they must be happy with situations where one party rules both Executive and Legislative branches of the government.
I always have thought (and I am sure some famous person has written this) that you need to think of the laws you wish to create in the hands of your worst enemy. That helps create good law, in that it is fair and impartial.
Eric Blair (36c1a9) — 9/13/2008 @ 3:21 pm#17, #41, and #42. Sorry guys, I guess I’ve spent way too much time on the Los Angeles freeways.
I misunderstood JD.
Oiram (41493b) — 9/13/2008 @ 3:29 pmEric, check out the new Trolls that came to play two posts down – truly hilarious.
Dmac (e639cc) — 9/13/2008 @ 3:38 pmOiram, I’d avoid apologizing to conservatives.
When you apologize to nice people, they accept it, understand and move on. The people here will gloat. They think that means you’re wrong about everything you’ve ever said or ever will say and they will use it against you in the future.
If you don’t believe me now, at least watch for the behavior in the future.
i like america (f4c1e0) — 9/13/2008 @ 5:25 pmHey Oiram, most people like the idea of people with whom they agree getting their legislation passed. The problem is that the same rules apply to politicians with whom you do not agree.
This is independent of partisanship. Me, I like to see the branches fight. It’s MUCH better than having everyone in agreement.
At least that is my opinion.
Eric Blair (2708f4) — 9/13/2008 @ 5:39 pm“…but McCain’s choice of Palin has given his supporters more confidence in McCain’s judgment and goals.”
Oh please, you can’t be serious. If you are, then the Republicans are in worse shape than I had thought.
Jack (3b614c) — 9/13/2008 @ 10:34 pmJack – We don’t care what you think about Republicans. Thanks for stopping by.
KTHNXBAI
daleyrocks (d9ec17) — 9/13/2008 @ 11:32 pm