The New York Times on Obama and Deval -- Assume Nothing, Question Everything
Every solid reporter and editor knows the key to journalistic success: assume nothing and question everything. For successful business executives, it's a survival mantra. Educators call it critical thinking, the ability to see an advertisement, hear a presentation, read a news story with a questioning eye on what's behind the claims being made, who are the sources, who benefits, who does not, what's the context, what are the implications of the story -- in other words -- the Colbert truthiness of it all.
The venerable NYT runs a front page, above the fold, story about Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick's problems in his first two years in office. It's a legitimate evaluative survey for every governor of any state. And every governor has to go through it -- in their state's newspapers.
But this story is in a national paper from New York, not Massachusetts. If critical thinking is applied, there are some reasonable questions to ask. Why this governor? Why now? Why on the front page of this most powerful national newspaper?
The 'why this Governor' is answered in reporter Abby Goodnough's opening. It's because he is "....a surrogate for Senator Barack Obama of Illinois, his friend and fellow gifted orator.....He dazzled voters with a message of hope and change." Oh, by the way, he's black.
Hmmmm.
The story goes on to detail the battles this governor is having with the state's Speaker of the House, who has more power with the legislature than the newbie governor. The article gives the overall negative impression that Deval is losing the battle due to insufficient governing skills.
So, again, why this Governor? Why now? The implied logic and conclusion seems clear - guilt by similarity. Deval is Obama. Obama is all new, change and eloquence with questionable governing skills. Oh, and he's black Really?
Critical question: Why did the editors chose this governor to compare with Obama? Why not compare Obama with Vermont Governor Timothy Kaine? He's a newbie Governor in a state that hasn't elected a Democrat since 1964. He was all about change. He's also an Obama supporter. Why not him?
Has the NYT done a similar story comparing Hillary Clinton to a female governor like Arizona's Janet Napolitano or Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius, both of whom are articulate, are change agents, and neither having an easy time with unfriendly legislatures? Oooops, they're both supporting Obama.
If you subtract the elements of fractious legislative relations, change agent, new voice, articulate, what's the only thing left to compare between Obama and Deval? Is it because they're both black? Perhaps the venerable New York Times is not above playing the race card. This is a critical question that needs to be asked.
Loading comments…
Want to reply to a comment? Hint: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to
First of all you should get your fact right: Tim Kaine is the governor of Virginia, NOT Vermont . Vermont had a run of Democratic governors since 1964..like that guy who got kneecapped by Joe Lieberman in the Presidential race in 2004; what was his name again? Oh yeah, HOWARD DEAN.
Second of all, Tim Kaine's predecessor was Mark Warner, and he was a member of which party?oops! He was a Democrat too! Somebody else has posted a list below of other Democratic governors from Virginia since 1964.
If you can't recall simple facts it tends to cast a lot of doubt on your commentary - try Google. But I think you do ask a relevant question about the NYT which seems to be succumbing to the terminal case of "Murdoch-itis" that is infecting the national media as a whole.
The New York Times is just a crappy newspaper
It is a crappy newspaper. It's the most overrated newspaper in the world. It always has been. And how people have it in their heads that the NYTimes is a "liberal" newspaper is the most amazing thing one can imagine! It's a sign of just how deluded people can be and how incapable they are to see and admit the truth that's in front of them rather than the marketing/
I'm a Virginian and I noticed that, too - Jim Douglas is the governor of Vermont.
Kaine is Governor of Virginia not Vermont.
You dont live in the Northeast do you? Boston and New York City is 4 hours apart, plus every liberal reads the New York Times, you can find that bird cage liner at most Colleges and Starbucks. Plus if you knew something about newspapers the New York Times and Boston Globe are owned by the same folks. Get over yourself, plus if he was a Republican this wouldn't be a issue.
That make me think, is news outlets are just around to give Republican's hell?
"Critical Thinking" Deductive Reasoning ' has been going on in this Country for Decades.
WE HAVE FOLLOWED THE'DOTS", but the media refuse to. Instead is inundating US with 'shiny' mental objects . Useless Chatter to disguise the REAL Plan
Come On we are aware of your complicity.
Even 'Frontline' pussied Out by Not adding the Main Factors to their 'Bush Wars' (misnomer he's just another STOOGE)
Catch Up would you, We are Bored and ready to walk OUT....Oil Cheney Rumsfeld. Wolfie and their Old Friend Bin Laden (and Family- Some of the cast of Characters who have Conned the World and Stolen All Our Resources)
Stop Blowing Useless smoke Up our Asses- WE Know the Logical Connection. It's about time you all do your Jobs!
Staying engaged and following this historic election is admirable, but often it seems there is a willingness to buy the daily spin from those who banged the drums for the Iraq war and presented a republican slant throughout this administration and beyond.
Consumed with the daily he said/she said bickering that is presented, too few are looking at what is being offered with a critical eye. Instead we take the spin and run with it if we believe it serves an argument for our candidate or damages our opponent.
Who is benefiting from portraying the Democrats as constantly fighting with themselves? Who benefits from showing poll after poll where supporters of Clinton wont support Obama or visa versa? Who benefits from the constant stream of Rev Wright videos, Ferraro outrage, monster comments, Hillary 'misspeaking', Bill Clinton outbursts, photos of Barack in Kenyan garb, and the daily load of petty b.s. being thrown at us? Who are the sources of this information? What are their political interests and motivations?
Why are democrats fighting with themselves rather than focusing on McCain? Could it be that the media hasn't given us a reason to attack McCain? Could it be that no one has lit a fire under the asses of democrats as to what a McCain presidency would bring? Could it be that most stories we hear about McCain are that he's a maverick and a war hero and a straight-talker? Who benefits from those stories, and who does not?
Good thinking, good questions, Kane.
The Dems need to quit fighting like a play ground fight at recess!
Although Hillary was once my choice and the front runner, I think OBAMA's time has come. The Dems need to focus on the Fall election and not infighting with one another.
"...Obama'
"Why not compare Obama with Vermont Governor Timothy Kaine? He's a newbie Governor in a state that hasn't elected a Democrat since 1964. "
If you are going to publish, please fact check accurately.
1. As already pointed out, Tim Kaine is Governor of Virginia, not Vermont.
2. He is not the first Democrat Governor since 1964. For God's sake, he followed Mark Warner.
3. In fact, two seconds of research on Virginia's official research would reveal the following Democratic governors, all since 1964. Maybe you get a pass on Harrison due to the "elected since 1964" language, but that makes no sense since there was no Virginia race in 1964:
Albertis S. Harrison, Jr. 1962 1966 Democrat
Mills E. Godwin, Jr. 1966 1970 Democrat
Charles S. Robb 1982 1986 Democrat
Gerald L. Baliles 1986 1990 Democrat
L. Douglas Wilder 1990 1994 Democrat
Mark Warner 2002 2006 Democrat
Tim Kaine 2006 Democrat
Source: http://www
Let me get this straight: If the New York Times wants to do a story about Deval Patrick, they should control themselves and do a story about Governor Kaine instead? And why, exactly, is that? Because Patrick is black? And you can't do stories about black governors because Obama is black? Makes sense to me.
While you are subtracting all those elements to justify your story, you are forgetting one - newsworthiness. Patrick has been all over the news in New England lately - particularly on the casino issue. It's not like he was plucked out of thin air.
The NYT is no longer a respectable paper. It has made questionable decisions so many times and has been part of the Clinton race-baiting politics of divide, distort and polarize for decades. It is one of those institutions that are rotten to the core and out to simply collapse and disappear. Americans are better served by the alternative media.
I agree with you.
You mean better served by the media that parrots what you would like to believe regardless of truth?
If your argument is strong and true, dissent can only serve to strengthen it. Since most liberals here continually shout down any dissent with ad-hominem attacks, one is left to conclude that their base argument is weak indeed.
Peter - so why does that mean they can't do a story on Deval Patrick?
Which alternative?
Ask yourself this question: Why in addressing Governor Deval Patrick's problems does Abby Goodnough believe it important to mention in the article that Patrick upgraded his car from a Ford Crown Victoria to a Cadillac?
Do you think Goodnough would have found it equally important if Gov Patrick were driving a Prius or a Honda?
I'm not asking this in a smarmy way, but just out of curiosity, Kane, where are you from? As a New England native (born in Massachusetts, in fact), I can see where an upgrade from the standard state Crown Victoria to a Cadillac would raise eyebrows, no matter what race the governor hailed from. This is not his personal car, it's a state vehicle, driven by his State Police security detail. In a state with a billion-dollar deficit, the choice to lease a new vehicle with a $1600 a month lease was a big gaffe from a symbolic standpoint. A Prius would have been a better choice, actually, since at least that could be spun as a sign of environmental awareness. A gas-guzzling Caddy -- not so much.
what are you implying? Did the article say the new Caddy was strewn with empty fried chicken buckets and watermelon seeds?
GROW UP
NoGoodName
I live in Boston and when Deval upgraded his car, you would have thought the man stole it from the dealership. ...... it was pathetic. There was no mention about what past governor Romney had been driving. Romney had taken all of the furnishings out of the governor' s office when he left ( like the Clinton's trashing of the White House) and when Deval wanted to replace them with new ones....th
It was a big story in Boston when it happened because he ran on a platform of reducing government waste. Buying a Cadillac and $12,000 drapes for his office were during his first week.
"He dazzled voters with a message of hope and change. Oh, by the way, he's black...Hm
So now the New York Times is racist?
OMG - why don't you Obamanuts just hand John McCain the keys to the White House now and spare us!
Do you think the majority of voters are going to stand for this endless hurling of race charges which started in New Hampshire and now seems destined to go on to November?
Nobody can say or do anything without the Obama race police coming after you.
Please, no more about Hillary destroying the party.
You folks are doing a fine job yourselves.
If he's elected president, it'll be 4 years of the race police on patrol. Superdelegates, please save us from this. That's you job.
weak, very weak.
The NYTimes is merely touching a nerve to sell papers:
http://www
A significant difference between Patrick and Obama is that Obama will have a friendly congress. The House and Senate Democrats will most likely increase their gains of '06 and Obama should have his way (within reason) for at the very least, his first 2 years.
That and the fact they are two different people.
Oh yeah...the
Thanks for highlighting this. I have already sent my thoughts on the implication I assume we are supposed to derive from this article to nytimes.co
I am writing the NYT to thank them for a thought-provoking piece. You see it is their job to report news; our job is to research and make sure it is accurate. It is what we should do in all instances, not just this one.
Why? What on earth is wrong with the story? Patrick has been all over the news in New England for a couple of very good reasons. He's been all over the front page of Boston and Connecticut papers this week too. Should NYT have to ignore the story because you see racism in it? Would it be okay for them to do a story on the Patriot's Randy Moss? He's black and he is in Boston. You are going to be awfully busy shooting off emails to newspapers.
Now that I've read Rev. Wright's letter to the NYT from back in March of 2007,
http://www
I understand how visciously and irresponsibly this newspaper has tried to tip the scale to favor the Clintons!
Along with the addition of Mr. Kristol to their staff, this is just one more instance of their lack of journalistic integrity.
Yea they supported the WAr in IRAQ too at first, they never reported the truth or asked questions.
FFE F*** the Forth Estate. We need to remind them that they have a duty to the truth and nothing else.
If you can't say something nice about Obama, don't say anything.
Plant.....
No one ever accused the NYTimes of being on the side of everything that's righteous and good. Of course it was racist.
Bah! Not racist at all. Obama has talked about his close association with Deval, and even borrowed some of his "riffs". They are similar in their oratory and their promises. It is a valid comparison.
Why is everything racist to Obama supporters?
Ask yourself this question: Why in addressing Governor Deval Patrick's problems does Abby Goodnough believe it important to mention in the article that Patrick upgraded his car from a Ford Crown Victoria to a Cadillac?
Do you think Goodnough would have found it equally important if Gov Patrick were driving a Prius or a Honda?
"Why is everything racist to Obama supporters?" For the same reason that everything is sexist to Clinton supporters.
Will Rogers said: "I am not a member of any orgainized political party. I am a Democrat."
are you sure you can say "riff" without being a racist?
Oh, please. Grow up. The story was there because of David Axelrod, not Deval Patrick. (who has been an extremely mediocre governor, so far, as it happens.)
And in trouble again this week.
That's ridiculous. Do you know anything at all about Deval Patrick? Do you know how much he has been in the news lately for reasons that have nothing whatsoever to do with Obama?
You must be logged in to comment. Log in or connect with
