John McCain Doesn't Know What Bad Press Looks Like

When McCain gets regularly portrayed in the press as a serial liar the way Al Gore was in 2000, then he can complain about getting bad press.

When McCain is portrayed as an angry lunatic the way Howard Dean was in 2003, then he can complain. When McCain's war record is dragged through the mud while the press looks on for weeks too frightened to call out the partisan accusers, the way John Kerry's military record was, then he can complain. When McCain's campaign is defined by his haircut the way John Edwards' was, then he can complain. When McCain is portrayed as a cackling witch the way Hillary Clinton was this winter, then he can complain. When McCain is portrayed as arrogant and presumptuous the way Obama is today, then he can complain.

But pretending that when the press simply chronicles McCain's disjointed campaign means that reporters and pundits have somehow turned on the candidate -- that they are attacking him and piling on -- is just ludicrous.

Read the full Media Matters column here.

Comments

[walkthewalk]

On "Race for the White House" today, David Gregory posed two questions. The first, "Will the energy issue be a winner for McCain?" And the second, "Will Iraq be a losing issue for Obama?" That says it all.

[swift goat pet for truth]

YES!
Thanks.

And that is why McCain is so close in the polls.
Corporate Media is keeping him there.

[Boomerwoman]

Yes, we have the MSM (owned by corporate giants with blood on their hands) to thank for Saint John. They don't want to lose all that glorious money they make from their lucrative war.

[CaptainObvious]

I'm ok with him complaining if they attack him over his haircut or label him a cackling witch.

If they brought up any of the other issues you mentioned, however, I'd have to say they were being honest.

[LillianB]

Thing is, when McCain is portrayed as a serial liar, he'll finally be experiencing fair press coverage.

He has delivered lie after lie after lie, in his ads as well as on the campaign trail, and he isn't called out on it. He should be, and that wouldn't mean press was "leaning Obama" for that reason. It would mean they did their jobs like they should be done.

[SMP]

McCain is getting a free ride with the press , journalists, and TV news media...........

McCain hasnt been able to tell a lie the same way twice. and as for his trip to Sturgis?? DISGUSTING....esp offering Cindy "up on a plate". McCain has no respect for women... Dirty Old Man,

Does this country really share that value???? Only the "white" male can dominate???

Americans need to really look what has been done to us in the last 8 yrs...and take that "Leap of Faith" and believe in Change!!!!

Vote with dignity and pride in Nov. Vote Obama!!!!!

FYI: Older white female from rural PA

[mesut]

I have a 23 year old son and two neices that are voting age. I would hate to see them not vote because they are not informed on issues from at least one candidate. Right now, they could really care less. It seems every voting cycle we are less informed about the character and true intergity of the candidates. We are bombarded with information hardly related to what we need to know about candidates who will govern for 4 or 8 years. We are often sidetracked by the media especially when they have selected the candidate for us. This election cycle seems to be the worst. I wouldn't even mind if both candidates were equally raked over the coals by the media. Yet sadly, Sen McCain can be rude to reporters, not answer questions, have people escorted from his town hall meetings, forget his voting record he seems to brag so much about, joke about serious issues, and mock what it means to run for president. The media is allowing him to get away with it too. If only Sen McCain was receiving bad press then both he and Sen Obama would be on a level playing field. He should thank his lucky stars that he is not receiving bad press because then he would have to worry about every gaffe he makes much like Sen Obama....And wouldn't that be a shame?

[LeftRight]

Not to mention complaining that Obama is loved by the press when they go out of their way to show every bad thing about him......