CBS Rejects McCain's Assurance He's Not Questioning Obama's Patriotism

Photo of Brent Baker.

CBS News reporter Dean Reynolds, who on Tuesday night centered a story on how “Obama is pivoting toward a more combative style, rebuking the Republicans for habitually turning differences over policy into questions about patriotism, a habit he said John McCain has readily embraced,” on Wednesday night countered John McCain's assurance he is “not questioning” Barack Obama's “patriotism, I am questioning his judgment.” After playing that soundbite from McCain in story pegged to how a new CBS News poll found McCain has cut Obama's lead in half since two weeks ago, Reynolds retorted:

Yet the McCain campaign continues to run ads attacking Obama on a personal level, belittling him as a shallow celebrity and describing him as fussy, hysterical, or testy. And while Obama's been fighting back lately, our poll found a majority believes McCain spends more time attacking Obama [52%] than explaining what he would do as President [38%].

Reynolds then concluded by acknowledging that “with the race getting closer, there's a sense that whatever voters may think about it” -- and, though he didn't say it, journalists -- “McCain's strategy may be helping him catch up.”

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The CBS News/New York Times survey put Obama up 45 to 42 percent, half the 45 to 39 percent lead of two weeks ago. (A new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll reported on Wednesday's NBC Nightly News had the identical results, 45 to 42 percent, down from a six-point spread a month ago. NBC News political director Chuck Todd pointed out that Obama is up 55 to 38 percent among those 18-34, but with those 35 and older McCain up by one point, 43 to 42 percent.)

My August 19 NewsBusters item, "CBS & NBC Trumpet How 'Barack Obama Fights Back' on Patriotism," recounted:

CBS and NBC led Tuesday night with speculation over the VP picks, but moved quickly, without citing any proof of John McCain's supposed scurrilous attack on Barack Obama's patriotism, to Obama condemning McCain for questioning his patriotism.

"Patriot games," CBS Evening News anchor Harry Smith teased, "Barack Obama fights back." Viewers then heard a clip of Obama before the VFW: "I will let no one question my love of this country." Reporter Dean Reynolds described how "Obama is pivoting toward a more combative style, rebuking the Republicans for habitually turning differences over policy into questions about patriotism, a habit he said John McCain has readily embraced." CBS ran two Obama soundbites, yet on Monday, when McCain addressed the VFW, CBS didn't show a second of him. Reynolds soon asserted that McCain and Republicans "had the stage to themselves last week while Obama vacationed." Certainly not on the CBS Evening News which spent the week puffing Obama...

The latter part of the Reynolds story on the Wednesday, August 20 CBS Evening News, picking up after Reynolds, from an Obama event in Lynchburg, Virginia, reported twice as many supporters are enthusiastic about Obama (48%) than McCain (24%):

DEAN REYNOLDS: ...McCain is seen as more capable on foreign policy [66 to 55%] and by twice as many voters as “very likely to be an effective commander in chief” [44 to 21%]. Today in New Mexico, he tried to underline that advantage with an optimistic assessment of a still-unpopular war.

JOHN McCAIN: Senator Obama's made it clear he values withdrawal from Iraq above victory in Iraq. Even today with victory in sight.

REYNOLDS: Then, he added this.

McCAIN: Let me be very clear. I am not questioning his patriotism, I am questioning his judgment.

REYNOLDS: Yet the McCain campaign continues to run ads attacking Obama on a personal level, belittling him as a shallow celebrity and describing him as fussy, hysterical, or testy. And while Obama's been fighting back lately, our poll found a majority believes McCain spends more time attacking Obama [52%] than explaining what he would do as President [38%].

But with the race getting closer, there's a sense that whatever voters may think about it, McCain's strategy may be helping him catch up.

—Brent Baker is Vice President for Research and Publications at the Media Research Center


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Ha! So what

"...belittling him as a shallow celebrity."

If the shoe fits.

I'd like to see the look on a reporters face if they asked McCain about this strategery and he just said "So what."

What did I miss?

What do any of those things have to do with patriotism?

The default retort of any

The default retort of any Liberal when criticized: HOW DARE YOU question my patriotism!!

motherbelt

At least Obama didn't spin his yo-yo over the White House wall.

I ♣ my seal

I like "fussy"!

Thanks, CBS.

what the hell is wrong with

what the hell is wrong with questioning the left's patriotism anyway?!?!?!

i got lots and lot's of damn questions

traitorous sons of b*tches anyway 

Journalism is the opium of the liberals

Obama: McCain 'doesn't know what he's up against'

 A combative Barack Obama said Tuesday that Republican John McCain "doesn't know what he's up against" in this election and challenged his rival to stop questioning his character and patriotism.

Is Hussein O referring to his  'Chicago Mob connections' ,  his 'Connections to Chicago terrorists'  , or his connections/relatives in Radical Islam in his threat to/against McCain?

Is that how he got rid of all the opposition, and got them off the ballot,  in his past runs for office. Threats that can be taken as threat of violence. Where is the FBI?

McCain now knows all it takes the put Hussein O in a temper tantrum is tell the truth about him, something the media will not do.

Someone post just one thing to show that Hussein O has ever been patriotic to anyone, or anything other than self, and of course his bank account.

I'll accept the report that his brother lives on less than $1 per month as proof he cares nothing about family.

  Old, Retired and glad of it.

It's Obama's turn to explain......

It's Obama's turn to explain his Presidential concept instead of whining about John McCain.

Let's begin with the Russian aggression into Georgia and what did Putin mean when he said, "Our shield response will go beyond diplomacy".

The conversation between Obama and Putin would go something like this: Yes, um Vladimir, um uh this is Barack Obama, um, Obama, um er uh um I've been um um elected uh er President of the um um United States. Obama, um yes that's right, Barack Obama, um um uh er, let me um uh um let me put um uh er er uh Joe Biden on the phone, Biden, Joe Biden.

Putin: до свидания (Goodbye)

Obama: Um wait, wait, um uh would you like to um uh speak to Secretary of State William Ayers?

Putin: click..........

Now that you mention this

REYNOLDS: Yet the McCain campaign continues to run ads attacking Obama on a personal level, belittling him as a shallow celebrity and describing him as fussy, hysterical, or testy. And while Obama's been fighting back lately, our poll found a majority believes McCain spends more time attacking Obama [52%] than explaining what he would do as President [38%].

I've started to see Obama ads now. Everyone that I've seen attacks McCain. He's joined at the hip to GWB, he wants tax breaks for big oil, etc. Standard Dem talking points, no doubt the media will say plucky Barry is fighting back.

I think the McCain camp realized that the only way they would get any attention is if they talked about the MSM favorite subject, Barry O. It worked.

Well, I Do Question Obama's Patriotism.

It conveniently appears at the most opportune times; depending in which of the "57 states" he happens to be. 

Gone on the coasts, there in fly over states and in the south.

Gone when the cameras stop rolling ... like not visiting wounded heros.

Gone when he promises to surrender our sovereignty when visiting foreign soil. "My fellow citizens of the world." Rubbish! Does he include Russia in his fantasy? 

Belittling Obama?

I'd like someone from CBS or NBC to explain how running for President isn't above this guys pay grade!  He can make a decision to vote against a bill, about saving a baby's life, without knowing when a human being is entitled to rights.  I would think he would err on the side of the baby, but not this guy.  Doesn't make any difference to him, whether he knows or not, he just votes.  

This guy wants to be the leader of the free world, and he couldn't even be a leader in his church.   

Democrats: Stuck on Stupid since 2000.

Actually pb, he doesn't vote

Or didn't vote.

He had the record note that he was present.

Nice, positive action, don't you think? 

David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive

 

well yeah

But, you know, if the language of those bills had been different or if there hadn't already been similar laws in place, Obama would have been more than willing to vote with his peers.

Taking the initiative to do what needs done to make some actual progress? That's above his pay grade.

Glad you're here

In case I did not mention it before. Glad you're here because there is no way on earth I could actually watch this stuff.

We've got to wonder WHY

does anyone even tune in to these so called "journalists"/analyists?? These were the guys who were convinced that Gore/Kerry were the winners. I'm still waiting to hear, from these under achievers, what is going to be the October surprise - one idea is a video/audio of barry voicing displeasure with the US - another will be his smart wife explaining her displeasure, and the other idea would be him stepping on his own crank with another dumb policy remark. But considering the pass he's already received, the October surprise might not be a surprise at all.

There is no sense in being stupid, if you can't prove it! - my dad V

Back at ya, CBS

BTW, some of us would be interested in an MRC study of:
what percentage of the time CBS “attacks” McCain, and
what percentage of the time CBS “explains ” McCain's plans.

Impunitas semper ad deteriora invitat.

So what if McCain is

So what if McCain is questioning Obama's patriotism?  I know I certainly am.

Besides, I'd rather McCain spend more time attacking Obama and less time telling us what he'd do as President...the less he reminds us what his plans are, the better.  McCain still sucks...he just sucks less than Obama sucks.

"Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it." -Ronald Reagan

fitzfong.blogspot.com

A news flash to Reynolds,

A news flash to Reynolds, all his ilk and all Obama loving networks....

This is politics...it is a blood sport.

Opponents have been getting attacked since the beginning of time...

Your use of the word attack repeatedly isn't going to matter to a rats rear...

You are all in desperation mode...people see it...it is backfiring on you all with your over-blown love-fest for the empty-suited, leftist, sock-puppet...

...but hey, keep it up you little leftist worry warts...it's getting hysterically funny watching you slowly sink in the quick sand you put yourselves in the middle of...

No one is going to throw you a rope either...

....Boo-f'n-Hoo....and pass the Kleenex 

As an aside...to those of you who don't know me, I know full well what happened here with McCain defending himself against Obama's insinuations/false attack on McCain, his outright lie about him calling him unpatriotic...he is an immature clown who the puppet-masters never realized how clueless this empty vessel really was when they selected him. 

"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh

How can McCain attack anyone with NO MSM AIR TIME ?

Hell, McCain can't even get Air time when Obama is on Vacation, he is a no show on MSM.  

Accusations from the MSM...? ?  you have to consider the Source, they are Obama's Press Secretaries .

Obama is never accused of anything...cheating, attacks, Racists, etc..The MSM sucks, I'm running out of names to Describe them.

The Republican Revolution will not be Televised

I am questioning far more than Barry-O's patriotism.

I am questioning his intelligence, competence, as well as his fuzzy background.

This man is a product of the Chicago political machine. As far as I am concerned, this places him about two notches above a street hustler.

What is more, the MSM have inflated this guy into the Sta-puft marshmallow man from Ghostbusters. When he finally implodes, it is going to be really messy.  :-)

-Dave.

Vote None of the Above in '08!

Good for you, John!

"Let me be very clear. I am not questioning his patriotism, I am questioning his judgment."

Good for you, John. I question Obama's judgment all the time. I also question his honesty, integrity morality, and courage. I guess that makes me a racist evangelical xenophobic fundamentalist warmongering conservative fascist, according to CBS anyways.  Did I miss anything?

You've GOT to be kidding me, Obama!

You're having a hissy fit because McCain thinks you're fussy, hysterical, and testy?

Go cry to mommy.

Really! Can anyone picture this whiney wimp in the White House?

Give McCain something to talk about

Obama has gotten this far on vague promises and his "rock star" persona.

  • It hasn't been on his record, because he doesn't have any. What was the statistic? He was only in the senate less than 150 days before he decided he was ready to lead.
  • It hasn't been on the cleverness of his ideology. He offers nothing new. His grasp of government and policy is standard liberalism, of the mediocre McGovern flavor.

Obama got this far on brute "audacity," and nothing else. That audacity is what McCain is attacking, simply by showing it for what it is: simple ambition. If Obama had anything else to offer, McCain would gladly attack that instead, but that's all Obama has.

Reynolds is so biased for Obama that even Michelle is jealous.

Apparently, patriotism is

Apparently, patriotism is above Obammy's pay grade as are a lot of other things such as honesty, experience, the moral integrity of the characters he associates with now and in the past, and the fortitude to stand up to criticism. And his voting record (when he does vote) is also "above his pay grade".  It sucks.

Keep hammering away at the Messiah's patriotism, Senator McCain.  I don't think he has any.

NY Daily News: John McCain's Ads have Racist Undertones

The NY Daily News is asserting that John McCain’s ads that focus on Barack Obama’s short résumé have a racist hidden meaning. In an article titled The qualifications campaign: Barack Obama's real vulnerability Jeremy Mayer, an associate professor at George Mason University, writes that McCain’s ads portray Obama as an affirmative-action nominee.

Mayer writes: “This is why the McCain ads that focus on Obama's short résumé are so brilliant. While only a small portion of the white electorate is unwilling to vote for a qualified black candidate, a much larger percentage of whites resent it when they feel blacks are getting promoted faster because of race.

If the Republicans can subtly portray Obama as an affirmative-action nominee, McCain could well be our next President.”

Unbelievable! I’m speechless.

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"There is no longer a media in this country.  There is simply an established propaganda arm for the Democrat Party and any and all who relate to it in any way, elected and unelected." ~ Rush Limbaugh