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David Brock and Paul Waldman have put together an excellent new book called Free Ride: John McCain and the Media, which documents the incredibly positive and fawning coverage John McCain receives from the pundit class that litters our print and broadcast news services. Here’s another title that would have worked just as well for me to describe the hero worship on display that permeates their ranks: “McCain’s Media,” because, well—that’s exactly what they’ve become. My task will not be to boldly go where no man has gone before, but to take a minute and highlight Media Myth # 5 :
John McCain doesn’t do things just because they’re politically expedient.
Brock and Waldman perfectly illustrate this point quite convincingly in his most blatant and obvious offense to this narrative. His relationship with the religious right:
As he prepared to make his second run for the presidency, McCain made a series of public shifts on his positions, the most ballyhooed of which was his rapprochement with Jerry Falwell, whom he had once denounced as an “agent of intolerance.” The media noted the senator’s rightward drift, but while a few criticized him for his fairly obvious attempt to pander to the Republican base, most of the media stuck to the script. According to his liberal advocates, the maverick was only suppressing his maverick instincts and doing what he needed to do to win the nomination. Once past the nomination process, the thinking went, the real, more moderate McCain would return. Jacob Weisberg, writing in Slate, said that McCain’s shift was “a stratagem — the only one, in fact, that gives him a shot at surviving a Republican presidential primary.” Jonathan Chait called McCain’s shift a “fake right” (Free Ride, Pages 178-79). In recent months, McCain has backtracked on his positions on immigration and taxes, with an eye toward pleasing the conservative base. It goes without saying that any other politician who tried a similar gambit would be criticized for such blatant pandering. But for John McCain, the rules are different.
Nothing here to see folks, move along. It’s no biggie, you see he really didn’t mean it. Heck that whole Falwell thing was a terrible mistake. If that were truly the case then he would never have embarked on his next bold adventure into the world of John Hagee, the Catholic hating preacher.
He’s so odious that even Bill Donohue of the Catholic League slammed McCain over his accepting this endorsement. And that says a lot right there. Donohue is a much admired figure of the media because of his incendiary statements and is constantly brought on to attack any Democratic politician he deems has offended his sense of religion. Why was he suddenly absent from the 24/7 cable news outlets during the McCain/Hagee courtship when the story broke? Yep, you got it. It really wasn’t surprising to me because that would not have fit the image the kool kidz want America to have about John McCain. He once again got a Free Ride on that issue, “my friends“…Ahhh, they certainly are consistent with their love and protection for John McCain, aren’t they?
No Trackbacks To “Free Ride: The McCain Media Myth # 5“
I can’t decide if he’s McFlip or McFlop, probably answers to either.
A Great and Good Nation deserves the Truth
The McCain Record on Veterans
http://www.wegoted.com/News/more.asp?ID=4398
I can’t wait for hillary to get out so we can start on this pig.
But he was a POW so that makes him Teflon doesn’t it? Sure seems that way.
“McCain’s Media”…
Sounds almost like “Smiley’s People”, or “Chato’s Land”.
It’s amazing what a plate of ribs will get you.
Another observation….
Despite His Votes To Cut Veterans Funding,
McCain Says We Owe Vets ‘A Debt We Can Never Repay’
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/.....a-funding/
McCain = Bush
http://presidentbushlegacy.com/bushlegacy
I know he was last in his class at Annapolis, but can somebody fill me in on what kind of serviceman he was? It obviously has no bearing on the task at hand, but if he’s going to keep pimping his (loooooong) past, I’d like to know if he was actually a “war hero” or just somebody who was forced to crash land and got caught.
just the very fact that this guy is nominated to be a candidate for POTUS is an indictment on just how fucked up we are as a nation.
Hate to be like this, yo, used to be an English teacher…
Last paragraph:
“over his accepting this endorsement.”
Sorry. I agree with you 100% otherwise.
The myth continued in yesterday’s New York Times. Front page, above the fold, we get to read about the military career of McCain’s son, Jimmy, a chip off the old block. Evidently, the McCain’s did not want the story published. Why? Because it was about nothing.
Free Ride: The McCain Media Myth # 5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etjpcF2X_mY
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A pro-torture POW.
I guess that the testimony he gave while detained was accurate.
That he was a war criminal.
tool @ 9:
Really. Johnny, I’m sorry you got tortured and were a POW but if that qualifies you to be President as your commercial suggests, well there’s a bunch of guys at GITMO who are equally qualified to be Prez.
Left&Left @ 14:
I think you’d find a lot of Arizona citizens who’d disagree with you. They’d argue that based on McCain’s senatorial record the guys in GITMO would be a better choice to be president.
Let’s face it, I don’t think there are a whole lot of Republicans who are tickled pink over their nominee. He was the best of the worst of their choices and they got stuck with him. He’s not right wing enough for the right wing who see him as too left wing leaning. His age is a factor whether it should be or not. His military experience is not about some grand feat, it’s that he was captured, tortured and he endured it all. I think the wiser better Republicans stayed out of the race this year for two reasons. One, it looks like a Dems race to lose. Two, they wouldn’t want to have to deal with all the problems that bush is leaving behind.
So the Republicans are applying the lipstick on their pig, and the press is looking the other way. When it comes down to McCain and the Democratic candidate, is the press going to spank the Democratic candidate when he or she shines the light on all of McCain’s flaws?
I was in the military as well, but I do not think that qualifies me to be president. Since we are being frank about this, his plane was shot down over Vietnam and he was captured. He was tortured and he broke. (Understandable, but a fact none the less). The place he does deserve credit is when the Vietcong started releasing prisoners his time came to come home and he refused to leave until all the other prisoners were released. This definately was a strong thing to do. But, it does not qualify one to be president.
I have tried to be fair and listen to as much of McCain’s speeches as I can. Content aside, he is an awful speaker. He speaks like a grandfather reading or speaking to a little child. Same manner and tone of voice too.
I don’t think he is as evil as bush, but I fear he might fly off the handle and make some very wrong decisions. Being president, you don’t get a lot of do-overs on major decisions.
Well, if the media is giving McCain a free ride it appears that its not working on the right wing websites. I glanced at a few (I.E. World net Daily, Red State, Free Republic) and McCain’s name is barely even found. The best I could find was from World Net Daily. They basically have an article that goes similar to “An imperfect Republican is better that a popular Socialist”.
The media had better do a lot more spinning for that turd they call McCain. Because it certainly does not seem to be working.
If McCain should choose Condi as his running mate, what would the media have to say about that? I don’t think it’s gonna happen, but with McCain, you never know.
I just ordered my copy so I can be prepared to debunk the myth.
The Smiths @ 7:
hey, makes sense to me! he’s saying we can never repay this debt, therefore, why pay anything?
The Smiths @ 7:
i believe them! oh wait thats right the va took my meds away from me! now its time to cut the old vets loose!
Did someone say “Flip Flopper?!” If the “Dem’s” don’t pounce on this like the Rep’s did Kerry - there is no hope.
pissed off patricia @ 18:
Well, my friend, you sound critical of McChipmunk.
Dr. Acula @ 25:
Oh dear, did I?
pissed off patricia @ 18:
I agree with your assessment. That is exactly the same way that I see McCain and I think much of the world does to. There is more to being a politician than simply having ideas or policies that your “base” approves of. There is also charisma, the way the politician presents themselves to the public, etc. McCain lacks all of those other qualities that the truly “great politicians” had. It is those politicians that moved mountains be it for better or for worse. In hindsight, one has to admit, that even Hitler was a great orator. He almost certainly had to be. Shear military force and fear alone is not enough to move people in the direction you want them to go. Hitler of course, was one of the worst butchers of the world but he was very good at being a politician. Still others that moved people in this way for good had those same qualities and Bill Clinton was one of those. Like him or not, Clinton had a certain charm that made people want to follow him. If McCain gets elected, I will be surprised if he lasts one term.
During the fiasco of the Gulf of Tonkin, the press was just as complicit in defining that mess as were the Politicians in office as well as Military leaders, look what they did to the lead up to Iraq!! I sometimes get the feeling the MSM is laughing at all of us, like we’re not bright enough to get the joke. I once heard Chris Matthews refer to the listening public as “peasants under the glass” The MSM creates a new narrative everyday and unfortunately far too many people grab on to their talking points and run with it….It’s quite a system.
John McCain is riding his wave right now and it’s frightening watch this incredible pandering, delusional, slow talker speak for me and this nation, but what is worse is watching reporters coo and giggle at his every word.
Blimey @ 24:
I have to be careful when I tell people I’m shopping for flip-flops
Because I still say thongs.
pissed off patricia @ 20:
An absolute failure as Security Adviser and SOS in the Bush crime family, if McCain picks Rice as his choice for VP, it will be a selection on the level of the Clarence Thomas appointment to the supreme court. A totally unqualified yes-person being rewarded for career ass kissing. A true affirmative action pick. Another example of the Repubs shear ignorance regarding race matters.
McCain’s new campaign song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpBnHtGUKs0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....re=related
We should all send a link to the Amazon page to all so-called journalists who have barbeque stains on their suits.
By the way, I love the picture of McCain on the cover of the book. Very clever indeed. There are many pictures of Bush depicted in just the same way. The sun rays radiating from just behind McCain’s head is no accident. The photo is a nice subtle way to suggest subconsciously that McCain is like a man of God or Holy. I suspect we will be seeing many more photos just like it so that McCain will have a better chance to win over the Christian Fundamentalists.
Pandering to the right? Yep he sure does and speaking of politically expedient he suddenly decides to “reach out” to MLK’s memory and “regrets” past actions on it…yeh right. He went to Memphis for one reason and one reason only it is a Presidential year and he is a candidate and wants cover all his bases. He read a prepared speech. He waited 25 freaking years. He courts right wing zealots that are engrained in racism. He is given a free pass by the MSM that is so bad Goebbels is spinning his his grave wondering how the “straight talk” express does it? Mccain is a war hero but he his not a leader, believe me I know the difference.
As was noted in an earlier C&L thread today, the MSM is not worth a second worth
of watching. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we had a total blackout of ALL MSM for
a day or so? But that will not happen because all of us MUST be kept informed as
to Britney/Paris/Lost/ect…Just a bunch of BS.
I do agree that he shouldn’t be given a free ride.
However, he is entitled to a senior discount.
ysbaddaden @ 29:
EXCELLENT Ysbaddaden
Left&Left @ 30:
I heard a person today say she would be a good choice because “she is an African American and she is a female”. Not a word about her qualifications or, in her case, lack of them.
If they ever make a movie of this book Bonnie Tyler should star as the Media
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yJ_86fqX5k
jesse @ 35:
I agree. I found it very coincidental that the year he is running for president, he suddenly has a change of heart about his attitude toward MLK. Up until this year he had no regrets about that vote? How stupid does he think the public really is?
I don’t believe ANY of the polls that are being tooted these days by CNN or MSNBC or FOX. When 81% of those polled don’t agree with the “direction” the country’s moving… then how in the hell can the choice between McSame and either of the Democrats be hovering around 50%?? What BULLSHIT!
pissed off patricia @ 41:
Unfortunately the public has show over and over again, just how stupid they are!
Eric Hussein Almighty @ 8:
When McCain graduated from the USNA in 1958 he was 6th from the bottom. While he was in training to be a pilot he drove a Corvette and had a reputation as a party man.
During his high school years he was described as quick tempered, having an aggressive drive, being combative and with a firey disposition. His nicknames were Punk and McNasty.
Before he was shot down in 1967 when he was shot down, he was in his plane waiting to go on a bombing run when a 1000 lb. bomb fell from a plane near his (the bomb racks were designed for 500 lb. bombs) starting a fire which engulfed McCain’s plane whence he jumped from the cockpit and fell into fire to escape certain death had he not escaped. He was severely burned helping another piolet to safety.
He’s a brave and gutsy guy, but was willing to violate the rules by not objecting to carrying overweight munitions that was the root cause of the accident that resulted in the death of 134 sailors aboard the Forrestal.
Yeah, he sounds like the perfect candidate to keep us involved in stupid decisions for the next 4 years.