By:
John Amato on Thursday, February 21st, 2008 at 2:13 PM - PST
So nice to see that CNN is taking a stand for John McCain. (h.t billw) McCain Camp Fights “Smear”
I think Bill Keller of the NY Times would disagree.
Filed Under: Media Bias, Media Criticism
Tags: CNN, John McCain, Media Criticism
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Now now, children!! Play nice!
They put “Smear” in quotes to reflect McCain’s reaction.
Dropping Loads all over McCain Face!!!!!!!!
Watch Here : http://youtube.com/watch?v=GVy80H8G_oo
All the media seems once burned on this story. Maybe they remember the Judy Miller reports and where that got us. Probably don’t want to be called fools again so they are treading easy on this one.
Eric Jaffa @ 2:
Yeah, there’s nothing biased about that at all. That’s the standard way you would put it, as a journalist. The Times is alleging something that both involved parties deny, so the onus is on them to provide some really compelling evidence that it’s true. In the meantime, McCain calls it a smear, so when CNN discusses it, there’s nothing wrong with that headline.
And the NYT’s reaction to McCain’s reaction is right under it, so I don’t see a problem here. This is Journalism 101. Now I’m betting that over on Fox, those quotes are nowhere in sight.
The BIG global powers that be ….They’ll smear anyone… to get their agenda..
Could they ALL be smearing McCain…
and preparing for a Bloomberg “Independent run” ?
and… There certainly are A LOT OF trolls everywhere smearing The democrats…
…because they are not impeaching and holding the admin accountable.
JonfromAL @ 5:
Fox just employs liberal use of question marks.
“Obama: baby-eating ghetto-Muslim who’s coming for your daughters?” That’s more their speed.
Man….I am starting to see Obama as president and it is good.
Now Now… Fight it out where it counts…
@ the BANK!!
http://politics.charityads.org
Smear was in “quotes”. Doesn’t that signal that wasn’t CNN’s wording? Slow news day even for the blogs…
This story would be helped a great deal if the campaign people who talked to the Times would come forward. If indeed the story is true.
Don’t forget about the clinton/obama debate tonight
CNN is basicly taking McCain’s position at face value, and so their use of McCain’s term for the charge.
I’ll bet the farm that CNN didn’t call the Monica story a “smear.”
Amazing. CNN thinks the story is all about an illicit sexual relationship so they think it’s a smear campaign. These so-called reporters are missing the real story, the story about Mr. Campaign Finance Reform and his connections to a lobbyist. That’s not smear. That’s fact. If McCain thinks it’s rough now, wait until the Fall when all the shit hits the fan.
Chris Matthews is broken hearted that his boyfriend Butch McCain is screwing around with another blonde.
He refused to buy into any of it. He believes like CNN, that it is a unfair smear.
Wonder if it had been a Clinton????
looks like all out war for the soul of the repugnant party. so mcLame sold his soul to someone other than lindsay lohan. cnn vs. the times. one lies daily, the other waits weeks-to-years to reveal it’s been lying.
the truth is there’s no outrage because of peoples’ low expectations.
Cats r Flyfishn @ 12:
And I don’t believe for a second that they are missing the real story by accident, not for a second.
Cindy McCain, like others, stands by man.
AP - 37 minutes ago
STAND BY UR’ MANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!
Pump up his little ego
biff @ 9:
May not be their wording but they chose to use it. The could have more neutrally used the headline: McCain Camp Fights NYTimes Article.
On the other hand, the Times has so shamed itself that its hard to have any sympathy for em.
mclame could have picked a better one not work-safe.
Eric Jaffa @ 2:
If they were being objective, the chyron would have been worded to the effect, “McCain Calls NYT Piece a ‘Smear’”
Is there an exact numerical incidence of Wolf doing really odd stories that seem to cater to pure defense of GOP card holders?
every so often his stories are lacking half of the actual story and seems like a politician told him to say it, and he groveled and said sure, love to, love to, love to, throw the stick…….. aw, c’mon and throw it?
CNN?
They have the Virgin Mary Pretzel under latest news.
‘Nuff said.
earl @ 19:
May she lodge in Bush’s throat.
That’d be the Gannon Pretzel
Whats to know about Media people like Wolf other then they are concerned with golf and clothing and position and image, not how inflation is calculated and how it affects the average citizen. It is all about them and maintaining their status and position.
Isn’t it obvious?
As long as they keep the story alive they can call it whatever they want. Apparently Drudge originally broke this story so if they want to trace this “smear” back to its’ origin I think it will wind up coming from the Republican camp. Suhweeeet!
Peter G @ 23:
Of course it is. They go out to eat every night and eat fillet mignon because it is lower in fat and better than the less expensive cuts. They eat well and have nice things and the cost is not as irrelevant and much less a concern. Even $3.50 a gallon gas, even though it irritates them, is just an expense they tolerate.
The Democratic left chants we’ll never vote for Hillary. The Republican religious right chants we’ll never vote for McCain. The NY Times piece may embolden the religious right to sit out the election and concentrate on retaking the party for God and Rev. Huckabee. But in my view, this mostly sex piece hurt the NY Times more than McCain.
Dr. Matt @ 17:
I get that, but isn’t that like hoping a mcdonald’s hamburger turns into a filet mignon? Expecting CNN to be anything but outrageous is a waste of time. Stick to newshour…
[Deleted. Off topic-Sitemonitor]
I don’t see it as a smear. IF it is true, I give McCain credit for having a lot of fire in his furnace. But this country, lets president’s authorize killing, wars and letting the poor starve, like bush has done but they go apecrap crazy over a sex scandel. I don’t understand why they make such a big deal over it. Look at what they did to Bill Clinton. Because he had a consenual sex act they went on to have an excuse to impeach him.
Isn’t it funny. McCain finally got it up and people are putting him down.
Marge @ 28:
McCain will end up a hero and Cindy will stand by her man when this morphs into “a stunt-swift boat attempt now traced to the DNC. Possibly the Obama camp.”
McCain is a liar. He is a man that can be bought and sold. Check out his history. Even in the news conference where he tries to defend his action he lies. Notice when he is caught in a lie during this news conference he has a nervous laugh attack.
The whole issue here is not the affair John McCain had. It is how John McCain is really a Washington insider that will write laws for the right price. In this case helping big media get the laws they wanted. In the past the Keating Five.
L.A. Confidential @ 29:
The reich-wingers are going to blame Obama regardless. I’m surprised they haven’t started yet except for a few trolls on the blogs.
Does anyone know if they made the same statement in regards to the swiftboating of John Kerry? I’d be interested to know.
Its a legit story. Imagine if Obama had a problem with a woman where his staffers felt they had to intervene to keep him away from her? That wouldnt be news? Puuuh-fuck-en-leeeease.
L.A. Confidential @ 29:
It worked for Clinton and got him elected to a second term. McCain had to have something bring him to the attention of Americans.
Dr. Matt @ 31:
I’m don’t even care to look or tune in when they open fire on Obama.
I expect some truly nasty, despicable stuff. Way out over the edge.
Anything that reminds the public of McSwain’s hypocrisy wrt marriage, lobbyists and campaign reform is all good. And since he condemned Clinton for adultery it would be nice for the press to remind everybody that McSwain had a number of girlfriends during his first marriage, his present wife being one. Since Clinton’s infidelity was on the cover of every checkout counter news rack for 2 years, wouldn’t it be fair to dig up (metaphorically speaking) some of McSwain’s old flames and give them a little publicity? After all, once being a sex partner to potentially the most powerful man in the world has it’s cachet so these women (and I am sure they all are women), these minor Monicas, deserve there place in his-story?
john in california @ 36:
Why would the Con Media swift boat McDuke? Or do the six guys who control all the media in this country sit around saying, hey what can we do today to screw over everyones heads? Want to do McCain this week or should we stick with Hillary?
I caught this on the TeeVee and immediately thought, “What does CNN have against investigative journalism?”
Then I came to my senses.
I don’t care if he screwed a sheep. Provided that the sheep wasn’t a lobbyist for the wool industry. Isn’t that the bigger story? That he *allegedly* had an iimproper relationship with someone who was trying to gain favors from him?
Wednesday’s contributions to the McList of (currently 170) McPetNames(h/t Dr. Matt)
In case anyone’s looking for it :)
Will check back later
out
Not only do the bring McCain’s all-powerful lawyer Bennett into their studio and fawn over him, they start hawking his book as well.
Wolf, how far you have fallen…
L.A. Confidential @ 37:
Don’t matter to me Murdo, as long as the sheep sit around glued to the tube and not out hustling after our pie is good with me.
Is it really a smear to be 72 and tied to a sexy romance with a young, hot lobbyist? This may be just what McCain needs. He is typically perceived as a grumpy old man.
RHM’s blog
Does anyone know where we can get a live feed to the debate tonight via the internet?? I would guess that CNN would have one, but I see nothing on their website.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Marge @ 28:
I know! They are just going right for his nuts…wait.
They are just trying to castra….no no no!
This just a low blow! …Damn!
Wolf and Chris are such news whores. When did the last real news reporter die off?
RHM @ 43:
Young hot lobbyist?
You can’t be serious.
Rufus @ 46:
When newspapers were bought out by giant corporations. Television reporters? Never been one. All about ratings since day 1.
Deepthroat_2001@ziplip.com @ 27: