Michael Shaw

Michael Shaw

Posted: October 22, 2008 03:18 AM

Reading The Pictures: Newsweek -- Swallowing GOP Attack -- Positions Obama As Leftist

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First of all, I take issue with the idea America is a center-right country when Bush initially sold himself as a centrist, failed to earn a clear mandate when he was re-elected (basically through the exploitation of fear), and then lost the last mid-term election to the Democrats.

More concerning the visual politics here, however....

I'm troubled by the way Newsweek places Obama between us and the flag, and how a national news mag has Obama's back to us again (1 , 2) reinforcing the right-wing meme that we don't and can't really know him.

Most specifically, though, I take issue with the fact a politically centrist Obama is framed looking leftward -- at the same time, in the closing days of the election, his inordinately rightward-looking competition is openly branding him a socialist.

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- larry278 I'm a Fan of larry278 50 fans permalink

Obama-a leftist? No way. Check out what WSWS, a leftist sites, says of Obama. Obama is not a leftist or a socialist.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 04:18 PM on 10/23/2008
- apoyo I'm a Fan of apoyo 41 fans permalink

I don't like that cover. For many reasons.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:34 PM on 10/22/2008
- jobecky20 I'm a Fan of jobecky20 5 fans permalink
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Don't forget...Newsweek is the mag that didn't touch up Sarah Palin's face, much to the dismay of the Palin lovers. I think Newsweek is just trying to piss off both sides equally. They have a pretty crappy magazine anyway.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 10:44 PM on 10/22/2008

I guess Newsweek only wants Republican Subscribers!!
That won't be hard!

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:23 PM on 10/22/2008
- raechel I'm a Fan of raechel 28 fans permalink

Oh, for crying out loud. Newsweek? Forty years ago my public high-school buds and I read Time & Newsweek, and we always called it "Weak News." It may have gone downhill recently, but it's never been that great. Why does anyone care? None of those undecided voters reads Newsweek.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 05:50 PM on 10/22/2008
- vegas9999 I'm a Fan of vegas9999 6 fans permalink

Politically centrist Obama? Wow. That reminds me of Andrea Mitchell looking O'Reilly in the eye and saying "you really believe Chris Mathews is a liberal?"

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 05:32 PM on 10/22/2008

...and you missed the subtle suggestion that he's looking through bars? Damn! It was the first thing that struck me.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 05:18 PM on 10/22/2008

McCain was also for higher taxes for the wealthy, too:

"When you reach a high level of comfort paying a little more isn't a bad thing."
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/10/22/45231/402/272/638398

By the way, Adam Smith, in the Wealth of Nations, expresses the same sentiment. Too bad, then, that McCain flip flopped like an olympic gymnast on this in order to appeal to the very base GOP base.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 04:58 PM on 10/22/2008

Wouldnt their front page viewpoint indicate that its THEIR position?

Look man, c'mon! we all know the MSM wants money more than honesty and integrity.
The top media personalities routinely earn millions. You think they dont butter their bread with whomever's policies will help them make the most money and Fu** the poor and middle classes that they all have disdain for anyway as being ignorant sheep that they can influence their way with standard GOP manipulation tactics?

get real
The MSM is totally conservative at the top where they get their marching orders from.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 04:09 PM on 10/22/2008

I cancelled my subscription to Newsweek last Spring because editor Jon Meacham had finally crossed the line (for me). I had seen Newsweek becoming increasingly focused on entertainment instead of news reporting over the years, but during the 2008 primary season Newsweek under Meacham's leadership seemed to take a Fox News-like plunge away from any semblance of objectivity.

Just one example was the contrast between the cover photos granted to Hillary Clinton (full color, a flattering posed shot) and John Edwards (black & white, with his tie undone and collar open, exhausted and unsmiling in an unguarded moment). Meacham didn't even pretend to give fair treatment to the different candidates then. I am not surprised that he is continuing his biased slant now.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 02:35 PM on 10/22/2008
- davidly I'm a Fan of davidly 19 fans permalink

It may not be a center-right country, but with the Republicans spending their energy marginalizing all things left, and the Democrats running from them, it's easy for some to come to that conclusion. Liberals refuse the liberal label, and the Dem campaign recently referred to the socialist comment as "a smear campaign". It's at least pretty clear what kind of country they think they seek to lead.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 02:05 PM on 10/22/2008
- Marlyn I'm a Fan of Marlyn 83 fans permalink
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What you don't understand is that the Democrats are not all of one mind. Some of us are Liberals, but others are BLUE DOGS, Republican lite.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 07:18 PM on 10/22/2008
- davidly I'm a Fan of davidly 19 fans permalink

Yes, but how many can you name in either house who tout the Liberal label?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 01:19 PM on 10/23/2008

Center-right as in compared to (most of) the rest of the world. The Democrats would be considered center-right in Europe, the rest of the English-speaking world, Latin America, large parts of Asia...

but I agree with the visual analysis.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:07 PM on 10/22/2008

America isn't a center-right country, it's a center country. And that center is leaning to the left.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:08 AM on 10/22/2008
- tompoe I'm a Fan of tompoe 24 fans permalink

It's the corporate media, stupid. Why are you giving them a platform?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:33 AM on 10/22/2008

oh, and the fading, blurred - melting, if you will - flag..

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 04:53 AM on 10/22/2008
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