I Wish There Were More Mayhill Fowlers
Not just because she did us bloggers proud by presenting the unexpected scoop of the campaign, but because she is that rare Barack Obama admirer who can admit he's not perfect.
Obama himself is very good about admitting when he's wrong or when he's made a mistake. Quickly and convincingly. In his second book, he actually reads as humble.
Yet some of his most ardent supporters possess a total inability to admit he is human with flaws and foibles. Defensive isn't even the word for them. Thin-skinned doesn't begin to describe them. They're abjectly terrified and enraged by every single thing a Clinton (or anyone) says about their darling.
To hear many of his supporters talk, it is as though we have all been banished from a political Eden, a paradise where Obama's winning was to be just a formality. He would just go to the post office and fill out a change-of-address form and move gloriously in to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. right away while the whole country (even Republicans!) swoons and applauds.
But then this wicked creature named Hillary came along with her normal, earthbound, in fact rather ham-fisted political campaign. Obama could've easily beaten McCain and the vicious right-wing smear machine had it not been for this horrible woman who has spoiled everything by daring to throw some elbows. And now the perfect fantasy is shattered.
It shattered that easily.
And now along comes Mayhill Fowler. "Bittergate" shows clearly how the most cultish Obama fans can't conceive of a supporter taking an objective look at something their candidate does and finding fault, or questioning anything about him.
When I first heard about Bittergate (could this be the best "-gate" name since the original?) on Saturday afternoon and then found out where it started, I was immediately very proud of my fellow HuffPoster. She has more than put Off The Bus on the map!
I've been enjoying her posts all along. They feature on-the-ground and "off-the-bus" (i.e., non-insider) reportage, mixed with her own thoughts and opinions. (OffTheBus cofounder Jay Rosen puts the concept of the citizen journalist in context in this thoroughly enlightening post about Bittergate.) Fowler is open and curious: Sometimes the net positive in one of her posts seems to shake out for Hillary, sometimes for Barack.
I really feel for Mayhill right now because: 1) She has toiled in relative obscurity, for free, here at HuffPost, then through her amazing post she has influenced the course of this campaign as directly as anything else has, period, and she gets almost zero credit by name, at least in the MSM -- it's all "as first reported on the Huffington Post..." and increasingly not even that; and 2) It can't be comfortable for her as someone who gave the maximum donation to Obama to now be seen as a traitoress to his "movement." And to do so of all places at the site some claim should be renamed the Obamington Post (actually I just made that up) because of its rather noticeable pro-Obama slant in coverage.
Conspiracy theories are flying fast online in the effort to smear the messenger. She's not a "citizen journalist," she's got an agenda! She's actually a paid Hillary shill in disguise! McCain paid her to go to this fundraiser and tape Barack! And, uh, to make Barack say something "inartful"! And my favorite: Hillary gave Fowler the money she donated to Obama! (Months ago? Knowing what Barack would say last week?)
This is the kind of paranoid garbage that is making this primary so ugly.
Obama said what he said regardless of the presence of Mayhill Fowler. Nothing's off the record when you're facing the public (which he was, even if it was in a private home).
I stand with Mayhill and encourage others to consider the example of integrity she has given us. She explained that as much as she likes and supports Obama, his comment gave her pause, and she thought others should know about it.
It's called antiseptic sunlight, kids. And Barack has shown that he can take it, by addressing the controversy head on over the last few days. See, I admire that.
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The time to admit your candidate is not perfect is AFTER the election, you starry-eyed numbnuts. You don't hand the opposition their foibles (which, in case you aren't old enough to know it, we all have) on a silver platter under the guise of 'honest journalism.' Mayhill Fowler is George Stephanopoulos in drag.
Bravo, Mayhill Fowler! A true critical thinker in a generation of women I'd all but lost hope for (OMG, did I say 'hope'?) and Thank you, Scott for a) coming to her defense as an honest, unbiased journalist and a writer and, b) your brave attempt to point out that the uproar created by the protests of Obama supporters in the face of the bare truth only drew the moths to the flame! Hence...Bonfire!
It's hard to take an honest look at someone you have allowed (with good reason) yourself to idolize. There are no saints in politics...none...and Jesus doesn't play the board either. It's tuff, ruthless and often disappointing...but (to coin a slogan from the AZ Lottery) 'you can't win if you don't play!.'
There is an art to politics...the art of STFU...and it gets harder to do every day...for every candidate. In the end, we each decide for ourselves what the 'trade offs' will be...to deny the facts only delays the inevitable barter that goes on in each ones head. For me, it will all boil down to Dem or Repub, nothing is more important than a Dem for POTUS, nothing.
I agree in principle, but I would take your praise for courageous objectivity a lot more seriously if it flowed as freely against Hillary's interest as for it.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/_96832.html
Your facts do not justify any of your conclusions. I'm glad there are few of you and Mayhill.
Anyone who doubts Shrake's intentions in this blog should read his rude responses to other posters below. He's as transparent as any other Hillary shill.
Thanks. What is the deal with OffTheBus? Oh, never mind. Until the indictments come down
(kidding, sort of), I will stay OffTheBus and read Sam Stein. I would think good (real) journalists
would be troubled to have their reputations impacted by these conscienceless wannabes.
I was rude to whom? I thought I was very respectful. Paranoia, self-destroya, my friend. Not everyone has evil "intentions." My intention was just to talk about an interesting new phenomenon: Citizen journalism. BTW, Michael Tomasky has an interesting column, rebutting my point of view, which I found very informative: http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/michael_tomasky/2008/04/citizenjournalisms_rulebook.html
shrake, we can see what a rude and name-calling person you are right here in your comments above. you are a disgrace of journalism.
shrake, "My intention was just to talk about an interesting new phenomenon: Citizen journalism."
Mayhill is not a journalist in any sense other than in a Fox News platform. Opinion with slander is yellow journalism, friend.
Have you even read Mayhill Fowler's blogs?
The first one I read was her April 7 "blog". I was shocked at her constant use of the words
"cocky" and "arrogant". I guess I had missed OffTheBus and was appalled at such bad
writing.
The few Comments here seem to be by Hillary sycophants.
Read the 1,000 or so negative comments about Huffington Post, Arianna Huffington, Marc Cooper,
Jay Rosen, and Mayhill Fowler on other blogs at HuffPo since Monday.
Investigations are ongoing to determine what, if any, association Fowler had with the Clinton administration. Obviously, OffTheBus had chosen to be tone deaf, self-congratulatory, and ultimately will look real bad if it is proven that Fowler was a mole for the Clinton campaign.
Before you defended her -- and before Marc Cooper hired her -- someone should have checked
out what candidates to whom her husband has made donations. Someone should have read
her racist blog comments about Black Panthers at Wellesley. Too much trouble? Oh, well.
Good work.
I agree. She doesn't treat him like some idiot who is't accountable.
Thank you Mr. Shrake for this post. From the comments. I think your premise is unrefutable.
I, too, appreciate Ms. Fowler. I find it absolutely amazing the vehemence with which she has been attacked -- you would think she had outlawed air. It is likewise amazing that none of these attacks, not one, question whether or not the quote was made and is true.
It is impossible to hold animus toward her for the opinions of others based on her telling of what was unquestionably stated by Sen. Obama. It tells us one thing, Sen. Obama has either read or subscribes to the theory of the book, "What's the Matter with Kansas?" It instructs me that his belief system can be skewed by a halcyon perscription for a large portion of the electorate.
I, for one, find that instructive. We wouldn't have had that luxury had she not reported the truth or withheld this truth as so many seem to believe she should have. Seems as though the duty of a free press was well served by Ms. Fowler.
I'll just bet you have not read or seen the entire speech..have you??
Prolix I can see you being a friend of Fowler and Shrake. Your comments are incoherent. "It instructs me that his belief system can be skewed by a halcyon perscription for a large portion of the electorate." good grief!
I'll take Greider, Phillips, and Frank on middle class voting habits over any nonsense you or Mayhill preach.
The most interesting part of this episode is the defensiveness from Obama's supporters. I think they gave the story more "legs" than anyone. The paranoia is very apparent (keep making those "double secret agent" allegations.)
I wish these spin masters like Jay Rosen and now Scott Shrake would stop characterizing Mayhill Fowler, a WELL KNOWN Clinton kneecapper and vehemently Obama-hater as an admirer or supporter.
SHE IS NOT. One need only read the TITLES to her posts to see that.
This is the most astounding outright, baldfaced lie I have heard on HuffPo.
Senior management should reign in these disingenuous lying jackals and have them cease trying to represent Mayhill Fowler as anything but what she is, a bitter, pro-Hillary shill with a long, established history of Obama-bashing.
Show me ONE ARTICLE Mayhill Fowler has written where she's even ACKNOWLEDGED Obama's strong points, much less extolled his virtues like she always has Hillary Clinton.
Wake up people. There's some horseshit afoot and it's pathetic hacks like this article's author and Mayhill Fowler who are slinging it.
I'm so tired of these intellectually bankrupt straw-man arguments. "I'll preface an anti-Obama piece by characterizing his supporters as more than thin-skinned; That way when they attempt to rebut me, they'll also be 'proving' my point."
Fowler wanted her 15 minutes. End of story.
So, what you're saying is, the "straw man" exists! A lot of Obama-supporting people have commented on this post in measured tones and made good points that I find really stimulating and persuasive. To them I say: Rebut me! I am learning things I didn't know, it's great. The whole incident does raise a lot of tough questions about journalism, partisanship, and what they both mean.
Other commenters are more in keeping with the rigid, short-fused kind of supporter I described as bothersome and you describe as a straw man.
Innocent question: Can you think of another primary that's provoked this much feeling? I can't.
Read a book on disenfranchised voters. You do not make Mayhill an Obama supporter by your say so. If I may guess you, Rosen and Mayhill are neo-cons posers.
Mayhill Fowler is Obama supporter and FOX News is fair and balance..
The problem is this site is left leaning..and supports democratic nominees..that's why we don't see McCain supporters here.. one thing is to write a negitive artical about him is another for the site to be doing spy work..i wouldn't mind if NY times did this, buf Huffpo..
Ha! Fox News is fair and balanced!!! AHAHAHAHA!!! Now that's rich.
"Bittergate"?
Sure using a word that correctly describes the state of mind of someone who has been laid off and faced with long term unemployment - "bitter" - is exactly the same as breaking into an opponent's campaign headquarters. No more "-gates" please. Thanks.
Nobody has a problem with reporting the truth. I don't a single Obama supporter (and I know a lot) who thinks BO is superhuman, without flaws, or who cares about Mayhill whoever. That's just the common smear of the anti-Obaman (be they for Clinton or McCain - or both). Only people (such as the author of this piece) who want to keep Obama's so-called "elitism" in the news a long as possible care about this.
It's a non-issue and a waste of time.
There is nothing cultish about wanting the truth. The article only shared part of the story, and in doing so, set off an unwarranted attack on the Senator. Thin-skinned I am not. I simply want the truth and all of the truth. Put things in proper context and then we can have an honest conversation--refer to Mr. Coleman's article to include all remarks. This whole campaign is about reporting the truth--it is not about falsehoods to create a silly story.
I have no problem with Fowler's reporting what she saw or heard, I have a problem with people jumping on her reporting and taking advantage of it. She has every rights to criticize Obama based on what she think is right or wrong about him.
I support Obama big time, but doesn't mean I think he's perfect. I have no illusion, when I say he is the best candidate. My assessments of him are not based on his perfection, but rather his potential to make change happen despite the imperfections.
Hillary also has major potential, but not as POTUS. She's way too "tainted".
The odd thing is that Obama has said this things before but worded them much better. I don't think he's perfect and there are a few times I felt like he should have worded things better. I don't think the problem is that his supporters think he doesn't have flaws, we know he has flaws but we accept him anyway because there is a honesty about him that we don't normally get from a politician. The problem is the MSM blowing up every flaw that he has.....I've gotten use to it by now and take what is said with a grain of salt.....now if he starts remembering clearly being shot at on the streets of Chicago with video proof that it never happen then I would lose respect for him because I expect better out of him.
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