Palin & GOP Attack Media: A Look at The Playbook

Wednesday night's Republican convention was another page out of the GOP/Karl Rove playbook that has brought them victory for decades. Here's an excerpt:

1) Don't talk about your party's disastrous policies and the results: our failing economy, declining national security and domestic infrastructure. Instead, focus on the "toughness" and "character" of your nominee, and the heartwarming personal story of your VP. Be sure to include lots of visuals of your families, especially cute kids.

2) Present yourself as outsiders who are running to clean up Washington and get rid of corruption. Don't ever mention that the unprecedented level of corruption and corporate profiteering has actually been brought by your own party, whose leaders' policies you are embracing.

3) Attack your opponent for his strengths: his charisma, his community service, and his opposition to the unpopular and failed war.

4) Above all, attack the media for questioning your VP's qualifications, and for pointing out your myriad contradictions, omissions and lies.

The last point is the key. It is hard to say who is receiving more criticism and vitriol from the McCain campaign: Barack Obama or the media. In the absence of a legitimate argument, and in the presence of half-truths and outright lies, McCain operatives are fiercely attacking news outlets that ask tough questions and dig up the truth.

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During Wednesday night's speeches, Mike Huckabee blasted the "elite media". Sarah Palin said to thunderous applause, "I've learned quickly, these past few days, that if you're not a member in good standing of the Washington elite, then some in the media consider a candidate unqualified for that reason alone."

Here's the problem: by vetting Palin's record and experience, and asking tough questions, the media are finally doing their job. And it has nothing to do with Palin's standing with the "Washington elite" (though the cozy relationship between media, government and corporate elite is a legitimate-but-separate issue).

This week, CNN's Campbell Brown grilled McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds on Palin's clear lack of foreign policy experience. It was exhibit A of the kind of tough journalism that Americans crave, and democracy requires. Team McCain's response? Cancel a planned interview on Larry King, claiming that Brown was unfairly hard on Bounds. This highly effective strategy, in the words of Leonard Downie Jr., the executive editor of The Washington Post, is designed "to put boundaries on the press's pursuit of the Palin story."

The real question is whether the media will step up and defend their right to practice real journalism, and whether the Obama campaign will learn from the failures of Al Gore and John Kerry, and defend itself as ferociously as it is being attacked.

If history is any guide, the media will quietly ignore the GOP's attacks, while softening their critique and questioning of Team McCain. NBC political director Chuck Todd led things off, weighing in shortly after Palin's speech: "Conservatives have found their Obama." As usual, Fox did their part, with Brit Hume opining, "You see tonight that Sarah Palin has served the cause of uniting this convention quite ably." Fortune's Nina Easton called it a "home run," and Weekly Standard Executive Editor Fred Barnes said, "It's a gift. She's a natural. You can't teach this."

The press corps would do well to remind themselves of George Orwell's timeless words: "During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act." Fortunately, there are some winning examples of press holding Palin accountable already. Here's a quick list:

AP's Jim Kuhnhenn's superb analysis of Palin's speech.

Will Bunch, Philadelphia Inquirer.

Columbia Journalism Review debunks Palin's environmental record.

Politico's sarcastic and spot-on apology for asking the tough questions.

CNN's Jeff Toobin:

CNN's Roland Martin:

The views expressed in this post are my own. My listed affiliation as Executive Director of Free Press is for identification purposes only and does not reflect any endorsement of these views by the organization.

Comments

[demfriend]

I am but one person, one citizen, one voter, who cannot walk up to any candidate and ask a question I want answered. For this I can only hope someone in the media will do it for me. When anyone might at some time in the future, God forbid, hold my life in their hands as the result of something happening to the president, I sure as hell want to know who and what that person is and how they think as much as possible. I have been subjected to what the rest of OUR country has been the past 8 years and I don't think this country can survive 4 more years of Bush. McCain has supported and hugged Bush all he can for at least 90% of the Congress these past 8 years. He is not totally Bush but Palin has already shown her need to misuse the powers of her office without hesitation and she has shown tendencies more toward Cheney which should scare the hell out of us all but people belief the flash and lies the GOP plays. The MSM must ask the questions and must disclose the truth before there is no way out of the disaster called McCain/Palin

[dikky]

Palin is grossly unqualified, and her speech said nothing. However, some in the media praised her and her speech. It may be because they are "afraid." The Republican playbook once again is to blame the "liberal media" (except for their own Republican network, Fox) for their failings. I say to the media, have some kahunas! Tell it like it is, and quit cowering in front of these whiners.

[swift goat pet for truth]

It works.

The media lets it.

[shaboopus]

Re: Palin's attack of Obama as a community organizer, wasn't "her" Jesus a community organzer and Pontius Pilate was a govenor!!!!!!

[collegegirl19]

This is why i've been pushing for Obama. At least he doesn't attack the media for telling the truth like the McCain camp has been doing since news of Palin's daughter came out, courtesy of Mrs. Palin herself & that her background wasn't checked well enough. Attacking the media for giving the people what they want is a government that wants to brainwash everyone into believing what they feel we should. Go Obama!!!

[gevan]

First off, she calls herself a lipsticked pitbull. Next she may complain of unfairness the next time someone uses the the term for a female dog. What are the odds?

[desade]

More dribble from the left elite. Your four points are out in left field. What experience? what community service (I was an Eagle Scout and I did community service, should I be president?), and last but not least WHAT CHANGE DOES YOUR LEFT WING CANDIDATE OFFER????? I have heard nothing except give people money, eliminate taxes for everyone (sic), and no foreign policy whatsoever. Iraq? He'll destroy this country by giving in to the terrorists by leaving the country. Same as Clinton did when he refused to take out Bin Ladin. And what did the terrorists do? Felt we were weak and destroyed the trade center buildings, killing thousands of innocent people. So you advice is to elect a weak liberal candidate and kiss the US goodbye!

[HansB]

You might want to ascertain you have your facts straight before stating nonsense. Most of us aren't Republicans, you know.

As I recall Bin Laden received support from Republican presidents. Bill Clinton did try to take him out, in August 1998, in a strike which missed by several hours. Republicans fell all over him with criticism for that attempt and there was no second try.

As for your characterization of Obama's policies, maybe you should spend ten seconds or so finding out what they are before you spout rubbish.

[kevinw]

Where is our attack machine. I have watched both conventions and they have had their surrogates interviewed on all of the pundit shows during both conventions. There were times that more Repubs were interviewed during the Democratic convention than democrats. We had no ads during the DNC convention they had hundreds. They still are displaying more ads than we are during their convention. We have displayed three or four. We had one good one with James Taylor music that played once never to be seen again. Instead of complaining about their attack approach, we need to be mounting some kind of attack against McCain. We need to have surrogates confront the repubs when they are lying, like Rachel Maddow did this evening during David Gregory's show. The Repub brought up the Maverick point that McCain called for the ouster of Donald Rumsfield. It never happened. Once public opinion was going against Rummy, McCain started complaining about him. Never called for his ouster. That has been a lie. Rachael got the Repub to admit he never called for Rummy to resign. We need some aggressive surrogates out now. We wasted the conventions. Obama is not running for head of Romper room. They are defining him and we are doing a superb Kerry imitation.

[2stupid4words]

I could be wrong, but the last time I checked American newspapers were still produced in the the United States. If our media want their jobs outsourced, they are dangerously close,huh? Do your jobs and let the powers that be know where the true power is, THE PEOPLE! Print what you know and provide the people with truths, regardless how slanted. Insist on getting to root of problems as well as goodness.

[QUINCYGIRL]

GO MCCAIN/PALIN 08 ALL THE WAY TO THE WHITE HOUSE!!!!!!!

[JNagarya]

McSame-Palin insult the intelligence of the vast majority of average, MODERATE Americans, and you support that? Then you are an elitist.

[Chavez08]

YAAYYYYY! DESTROY THE MMIDDLE CLASS -YAAYYYYYY!!! ENDLES WAR -YAAYYYYYYY!!! CHINA FIRST - YAAYYYYYY!! HATE YOUR NEIGHBOR - YAAYYYYYY!!

[idyl]

As someone from Chicago, I smile a little when an opponent once again underestimates the junior senator from Illinois. Palin's attacks ran hollow last night, because they were directed at a straw person, ideological projections, and do not take Obama's message and talents seriously. The playing field is littered with others who have made the same mistake. Obama does best when he is combating images and false characterizations. He (and we) should see this as an opportunity, and stick to the game plan.

[kevinw]

Then he and the campaign needs to start combating the images soon. We are running out of time.

[idyl]

Making a difference in everyday lives (the campaign's first video after the Republican Convention):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcRA2AZsR2Q

[QWERTY007]

I, too, am a Chicagoan and I DARE you to defend anything the the Dems have done in the state, county or city over the last four years! GIVE ME A BREAK! The Dems have totally screwed Illinois government at all levels. Go brag on that, idyl..

[crystalclear2828]

He's attacking the media because he don't want the media to get a hold of his VP candidate because she is just a clueless as he is. When he can't have his way he quit talking, now do we really want a 72 year old child for President when he can't have things his way, he throws a temper tantrum.

[Melissa]

The media is trying to do to her exactly what they did to Hillary. This time I don't bellieve it will work. CNN, MSNBC and others were completely biased when it came to Hillary. No one in the democratic party ever came to her defense. Look at the polls for the convention - Fox News had over 9 million viewers and blew all the competition out of the water. I used to hate Fox News but they treated Hillary better than any other station.

[BinBaldwin]

Dishonest Media rarely mentions she is a Governor. They act like she is still a small town mayor .

[JNagarya]

She acts like a small town mayor.

[JNagarya]

She talks and acts like a small town mayor.

[Davwbaird]

no that is how republicans are setting the stage and promoting the mayor of the meths capital of Alaska.

[erykah]

And they act as if Obama is still a community organizer.

[BinBaldwin]

Sarah Palin rocked America last night. I can bet Hillary and Geraldine Ferarro and Even Arianna Huffington will be voting Palin. In fact Ferarro did not rule it out when asked.

[Agent420]

Sorry, but your ignorance is showing.

[JackieOC]

The cancellation of Tucker Bounds interview with Larry King is something that the Democrats better pick up on and fast. These are the very things the Right has been so forceful at. The smallest area of possible attack is where they go. I think the problem with the Right attempting to control the news, is they have spent too much time on FOX, where they are catered to. They are acting like spoiled children, throwing themselves around when they have to face real questions. I say let them cancel Larry King, but let's have, in their place, a discussion as to who was invited and why they canceled. Thats what Karl Rove would do!