Fake Balance and McCain's Desperate Fear Campaign
For the better part of a week now, the McCain campaign has been playing the barbecue cable news people like the ribs-eating, tire-swinging sycophants they are. And yet, unlike when a news story is negative about the McCain campaign, they aren't employing their phony-baloney "both sides are wicked awful" fake balance routine this time.
Senator McCain and his cowardly running mate have been accusing Senator Obama of associating with terrorists and consequently inciting violent partisans to blurt out death threats about the Democratic nominee. The most recent being, "Off with his head!" The McCain campaign has become nothing less than a well-financed whisper campaign -- a desperate, dishonorable tabloid operation on the same level as the thoroughly debunked trolls who spread lies via forwarded e-mails -- no better than the hoopleheads in this video.
Why am I so shocked? After all, this is the modern Republican Party. This is the party of Jesse Helms and Alex Castellanos (see White Hands). This is the party of the Southern Strategy. This is the party of Lee Atwater and Willie Horton. This is the party that ignored thousands of people at the Superdome in New Orleans. This is the party of "Harold! Call me!" and the party of Karl Rove and Steve Schmidt who, eight years ago, accused Senator McCain of fathering a black baby out of wedlock. This is the party of Bobby May.
It's the party that's presently banking its fortunes upon the expected racism of low-information rural white voters. Just like always. And yet, for some reason beyond comprehension, the establishment press continues to regard it as a very serious political party.
As we have observed, whenever a cable news channel reports on a gaffe or inaccuracy from either McCain or Palin, the reporter or pundit crowbars into the coverage an Obama or Biden gaffe regardless of whether or not it's an equally heinous trespass. This isn't a new procedure, of course. In 2006, for instance, at the height of the Republican "culture of corruption," whenever there was a Mark Foley story or a Duke Cunningham story or a Scooter Libby story, the press would have to counterbalance those stories with a piece about that one Democratic congressman who had a wad of cash in his mini-bar. Balance.
Yet not every news story has two equal and opposite sides. For instance, Sarah Palin is grossly out of her depth. Her painfully doofish interviews with Charlie Gibson and Katie Couric proved this. But "balancing" this story with an item about a random Senator Biden gaffe isn't balance at all, because the Palin issue isn't about careless mistakes. The Palin issue is all about a politician thrust onto the national stage who is clearly inadequate for presidential politics -- it's not about some random misstep in a rope line -- it's entirely about not knowing what the crap she's talking about.
So now the McCain campaign is inciting violence and racial hatred against Senator Obama. And cable news is discussing at great length every wildeyed mention of Hussein and terrorism and "exotic." All of it. On the surface, this McCain tactic is about connecting Senator Obama to William Ayers who, when Senator Obama was eight years old, was a member of a subversive terrorist group. It's a specious connection of mere happenstance and not any sort of ongoing friendship, as is implied by Senator McCain and Sarah Palin. For too many years now, on the national scene, the Ayers thing has been vetted and dissected and exploited and debunked. And that doesn't even include the years in which it was vetted in Illinois.
But none of that matters, right? The Republicans are losing. Their candidates have proved to be ridiculous, spasmodic and inadequate. So the Republicans are wheeling out the fear-mongering and smear attacks. Senator McCain, this week, has literally quoted the actual subject line of the most notorious of the e-mail whisper campaigns: "Who is Barack Obama?" (Here's McCain saying it. Here's the whisper e-mail.)
And, of course, this particular display of fear-mongering is obviously a thinly veiled way to underscore race. It's a way to fire up all of the Hoo-sane hooples who are grasping at anything resembling an excuse for their racially motivated hatred of Senator Obama. It's a way to paint Senator Obama as a black Muslim terrorist. All of the smears that have been repeated by Ann Coulter and Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity are now being exploited by the McCain campaign. You know, because he's such an decent, honorable, mavericky guy.
Put another way, this line of attack would carry little weight if Senator Obama was white and his name was Whitey Christian "Mayo" St. Whiteguy. Or, better yet, what if he was a former Navy pilot named McCain, or a hockey mom from Alaska named Palin?
When it comes to this present fear and smear news cycle -- shocker! -- cable news appears to have jettisoned its usual attempt at balance even though Senator McCain and Sarah Palin have their very own crazy associations. Lots of them. But you'd never know it from watching cable news. Maybe it's because there isn't enough time to cover all of the McCain-Palin associations. Or maybe it's a deliberate attempt to shape a more interesting "tight race" narrative. I don't know for sure. But where we usually hear "both sides make funny gaffes," we're certainly not hearing, "Yes, there's this Ayers thing, however Palin and McCain are associated with the following..."
Just in case cable news isn't aware or doesn't have time to cover the McCain-Palin associations, let's do the list, shall we? We'll start with Palin because she's only been at this for, like, five weeks, gosh darn it you betcha, so who knows who the hell Sarah Palin really is.
What about Sarah Palin's association with the Alaskan Independence Party? The group's stated goal is to secede from the United States -- a treasonous offense. Todd Palin was a member of this party, and Sarah Palin attended at least two of their conventions and -- whoops! -- spoke to their convention as recently as this past Summer. The founder of the party, the late Joe Vogler, once condemned the American flag. Where are the questions about whether Palin loves the American flag?
What about Sarah Palin's association with the witch doctor, Pastor Muthee, who blessed Palin at her church and prayed for her "finances"? Does Sarah Palin believe in witches? Does Sarah Palin support witch hunts? Does she know who Cotton Mather was?
What about Sarah Palin's association with indicted Senator Ted "Tubes" Stevens, whose 527 organization was run by Sarah Palin?
Then there's Senator McCain.
What about Senator McCain's association with convicted Watergate burglar G. Gordon Liddy? This is the guy who, on the public airwaves, instructed his viewers about how to kill a federal agent. This is the guy who boasted that he fired a handgun at a cardboard standee of Senator Hillary Clinton. Yet Senator McCain has appeared on Liddy's radio show numerous times since these statements -- as recently as May, 2008.
What about Senator McCain's relationship with pastor Rod Parsley, who wants to engage in religious warfare?
What about Senator McCain's relationship with anti-Catholic, anti-Semitic pastor John Hagee?
Should I go on?
What about Senator McCain's relationship with his chief campaign advisor Charlie Black who said a terrorist attack would help the campaign?
What about Senator McCain's association with Shelley Shannon who is accused of shooting and wounding an abortion doctor?
What about Senator McCain's association with Charles Keating? What about his association with Freddie Mac lobbyist Rick Davis -- you know, John McCain's campaign manager? What about his association with the U.S. Council for World Freedom, whose board also included a Nazi sympathizer?
Where's the very serious cable news balance here -- especially since the crazy relationship scales are so heavily tilted against the Republican nominees? Scarborough? Anderson? Stretch? Where's the balance?
We all knew it would come down to this, but it doesn't make it any easier to digest, especially with chaos all around us (as I type this, the Dow closed down 678 points). This morning, I turned on MSNBC and for 18 consecutive minutes all I heard were "Hussein" and "terrorist" and "Ayers" and a healthy discussion about how Senator Obama was a radical. Sure, it was in the context of what the McCain campaign is currently implying, but the coverage was so insistent upon figuring out the tactic that it only served to reinforce the plot. To quote Jon Stewart from his legendary CNN appearance four years ago, "You're hurting America."
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It's a sad state of affairs in which the McCain/Palin ticket is heading. The garbage they are spewing is disgraceful and dishonorable beyond words.They are inciting hate,fear and violence towards an educated,honorable family man !!! The sad truth is there are people at there rallies who feeding into this craziness and saying disgraceful things about Barack Obama without any reprimand from John McCain.I have lost all respect for John McCain and Sarah Palin.Here is an email I received about the slaughter of wolves supported by Sarah Palin,no suprise here....http://actionfund.defenders.org/palinpups
the only thing the Republicans have left is play the race card--but without the prompting of palin and mccain the race card would be played out--they are not gaining new votes they are pushing these mediocre minds to do violence--some candidates these two have turned out to be---the shameless and the shamed--they could never lead our nation!!
Unfortunately, race-baiting isn't their last resort. As we breathe, the Republican Party is engaged in a massive effort to sabotage the election process by stealing and destroying registrations by the truckload.
You can expect more "plants" like Mr. Angry man in Wisconsin, using words like 'socialist' at every upcoming McCain rally, where they will allow voters to voice their opinions. McCain, the most dangerous senator since Joseph McCarthy, is now going to use the last trick in his bag: Create a GANG MENTALITY.
If you never saw McCains personality disorder before, watch closely in the next month just what kind of "leader" he really is. In the next two weeks, he will come just shy of inciting riots.
Bob, thank you so much for putting all this information in one place.
People, do not let the MSM refuse to talk about this. If enough of us speak out, maybe we can make a difference.
It is time we contact the media and DEMAND that they and prominent Republicans call for an end to this dangerous incitement to violence and a$$a$$ination. It should be denounced in no uncertain terms. This is truly getting out of control. Please join me and compose a short email/comment and send it to every media contact you can come up with. Also, put it on every website and blog that you visit, and copy this post and distribute it where you can. We need to overwhelm them! This behaviour is frightening and un-American. I am beginning to fear for Obama's safety.
Media contacts:
CNN:
http://www.cnn.com/feedback/cnntv/
NBC and MSNBC:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3303518/
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10285339/
CBS:
http://www.cbs.com/info/user_services/fb_global_form.php
ABC:
http://abcnews.go.com/Site/page?id=3271346
A comprehensive contact list at DailyKos:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/6/15/34322/4810
More:
My list of 18 prominent contacts at CNN:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/06/mccain-calls-obama-a-liar_n_132355.html?page=19&show_comment_id=16517651#comment_16517651
Eve, thank you for these contacts!
What leaves me puzzled is that NO ONE in the, dare I say, common media outlets, is reporting this information. Its only in the blogosphere! Is this beneath the radar or CNN, MSNBC, and the "rabid red dog" news channel( NO, I won't use their name!). I suppose hanging out with neo-militants and nut-case evangelicals isn't as juicy as working in a charity group with a 60+ year old "terrorist".
As a Black-American, I'm quite disgusted with the turn of this election and the reporting of it. Its shameful that McCain has decided to take the low road, and some people want to follow him down it. What was all that rhetoric about uniting the people and change that McCain was espousing earier in his campaign?
I guess being a loser changes one's sense of integrity!
A letter to John McCain,
Mr. McCain, you have been weighed in the balances and your time is up. The decisions you have made regarding your campaign have been without regard to the American people. You have put yourself first and country last. Your once respected campaign rallies have now become hate rallies. You have allowed Sarah Palin to hi-jack your campaign rallies and turn them into forums for hate. This has opened the old wounds of racism and fear that continues to plaque the south. The south is one part of the country where you are above 50% in the polls. You nor your running mate are talking about real issues for the American people. The more you push division and hate you will be pushed down in the polls. The hands of God will not let you pass. The American people in this time of our history are not looking for messages filled with hate. Since you are not willing to take back the control you have given to Sarah Palin, you are heading for a political disaster that will be in the history books. Your time is up.
Pitbullcatcher,
I agree with you. McCain and Palin are increasing their own vulnerability as they smear Obama and incite hatred and fear among citizens all over America. Their behavior suggests they don't have the emotional or essential intelligence to run a campaign that provides answers to a nation in crisis. All they can do is play to the crisis. Senator Kerry suggests they should be disqualified for their dangerous actions which would probably be a beginning at least to healing and recovery.
This is one piece of journalism that I applaud! Finally, someone with the courage and vigor to say things as they are.
One great gesture from you would be to get on TV, all the main networks, and get talking! Writing about it is not enough. Low information voters don't necessarily read mainstream newspapers but everyone watches TV.
Please get busy Mr. Cesca, time is running out!
This is one piece of journalism that I applaud! Finally, someone with the courage and vigor to say things as they are.
One great gesture from you would be to get your a$$ on TV, all the main networks, and get talking! Writing about it is not enough. Low information voters don't necessarily read mainstream newspapers but everyone watches TV.
Please get busy Mr. Cesca, time is running out!
This is one piece of journalism that I applaud! Finally, someone with the courage and vigor to say things as they are.
One great gesture from you would be to get your a$$ on TV, all the main networks, and get talking! Writing about it is not enough. Low information voters don't necessarily read mainstream newspapers but everyone watches TV.
Please get busy Mr. Cesca, time is running out!
Bob: every day I become more certain that there are some crazy people out in these US of A streets who just might believe they can "save us" from the doom of the guy "not like us". That these people exist is a known as we have had good men and women assasinated by those who would claim to want to "save us". There are also the nuts who want to make a name for themselves. I know because after almost 40 years working with the insane that there are a whole lot more out there than we have ever locked up and look normal. The recent turns to incting of those who have very strong feelings for the one side they represent (GOP) and how they have used the "code words" for the "one not like us" and how his color of skin would change who would be everywhere doing everything bad to us is as crazy as the old lady who told me the black people would take over the world if Obama won. She was serious and crazy. So the equation works like this: insane person or persons who in their thought process see Obama as a threat (because they have been incited to see hm as one) they have weapons, real weapons. You can come up with the end result as we have with JFK/MLK/RFK etc.
The BIG problem is the media. Most people don't realize (unless they worked in a newsroom in the last decade) that during the Bush regime there was a massive purge of reporters and editors. Experienced, seasoned journalists and editors who understood what REAL balance was all about were weeded out by the corporate medida's "powers that be" and replaced with conservative and, alas, not-too-bright newbies with little to no experience. These newbies were carefully trained to regurgitate corporate and/or rightwing press releases as "news" and "fact." Most TV and newspaper "journalists" apparently don't even know how to do a three-minute google fact check! One of the corporate gimmicks is what is known as the "six of one, half dozen of the other" scam - present EVERYTHING as tit for tat, even when wildly inappropriate (as when implying that McCain's vicious mobs are "the same" as Obama questioning McCain's judgement). Unfortunately, now when we need most for the media to be an honest and engaged advocate for justice, we have an entertainment-driven, immature, sorry excuse for a press. Before this era, the Ayers story - discredited months ago - would NEVER have been allowed news space, let alone be allowed to take up headline space day after day as the US economy burns.
Right on oneangrymamma!
America has been dumbed down in all the worst places.
It's as if somebody turned off the security system at your local bank and now we have nothing but one robbery after the other.
Here's some news that's brewing in Missouri.
(Which is one of the states in play this election)
But I'll bet, if it hadn't been for the internet...
You never would have heard about it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eVVowOvFQE
"Fake Balance" ? I feel the Repubs are equally guilty of using "fake equivalences"..! To re-word Rove's infamous statement: "Republicans may end up with a different math, but they're entitled to their math. Others are entitled to THE math."
Examples:
a. The "culture of corruption" was mentioned. It seemed like for the multitude of Republicans mired in some sort of corruption scandal, they'd find one Dem offender. Then a Republican says something like "See, the Dems are just as bad". I don't see how they can somehow say "many=one" (???)
b. NONE of the outright lies, half-truths, lies-of-omission, and, umm, "misleading statements" of the Bush Administration can EVER be perceived as being as bad as a Clinton lie. Somehow, NOTHING is as bad a Clinton lie..!
c. There were 46 documented examples of Republican sex offenders/offenses. I found 5 documented examples of Democratic sex offenders/offenses. Then a Republican says something like "See, the Dems are just as bad". Sexual offenders should not be tolerated from either side; but I don't see how they can somehow say "46=5" (???)
d. "Flip-flopper" count..? I'll admit that Obama HAS flip-flopped on several items; but that pales in comparison to the many documented flip-flops of Bush and/or McCain (44 by one count; 61 by another).
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/24/AR2008022402094.html
http://thinkprogress.org/mccain-flip-flops/
Ah yes. MSM. My most recent favorite is CNN which "fact-checked" the Raines ad put out by the McCain campaign and found it to be FALSE. They then proceeded to run it for "discussion" for the next week, and they never once, while introducing it, referred to their own conclusion that it was False. I don't much object to the discussion even though it's purely ratings based, but I do believe if they've checked the ad and found it to be untrue, they ought to say just that every time they show it subsequently. Am I wrong?
You are NOT wrong.
Can we please stop with all of the fear mongering, name calling, and general sleeze? We're talking about who will occupy the office of President of the United States! I would hope for something more intelligent. Can we please talk about what to do to get this nation (arguably the world) back on track in a serious, thoughtful manner?
ShirleeK, you hit the nail on the head! That's the real difference between the two campaigns...Obama is trying to bring the issues and his plans to the people, and McCain, having nothing to offer, is using fear-tactics (or is that "strategy"...I get the two confused. ;)
Great Writing Bob! I am tired of this Head-line; "Barack Obama attacked John McCain." This is not True, Sen. Obama is Only Defending himself against John McCain, and Sarah Palin's Lies.
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