Just after CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric noted how there is “some finger-pointing already going on” in the McCain-Palin campaign, CBS's Bob Schieffer did a little finger-pointing of his own as he blamed John McCain's presumed impending loss on his supposed move “to the right.” Schieffer observed Friday night that “with this continuing bad economic news, I think it's going to be very hard for any Republican, even one who says he's a maverick, like John McCain.” The host of Face the Nation then offered his take on “what's going to make it even harder,” that after the primaries:
Instead of moving to the center, he moved to the right. He put Sarah Palin on the ticket which pleased the right but, as we're now seeing in these polls, her appeal does not go much beyond that.
How much of a move “to the right” was it for McCain to refuse to raise Jeremiah Wright's rants? Or to stand by his liberal position on global warming and other policies where he's gone left against the majority on the GOP? You could just as well argue that picking Palin and hitting Obama on taxes are what has given McCain any hope.
The exchange on the Friday, October 24 CBS Evening News:
KATIE COURIC: Bob Schieffer is our chief Washington correspondent and anchor of Face the Nation. Bob, the polls are not working in his favor, there's apparently as we just saw, some finger-pointing already going on, but you say don't count John McCain out.BOB SCHIEFFER: I don't think you ever can, Katie. He's just come back from the dead too many times, but with this continuing bad economic news, I think it's going to be very hard for any Republican, even one who says he's a maverick, like John McCain.
And here's what's going to make it even harder -- what usually happens in primaries is that Democrats move to the left, Republicans move to the right, to build support among the party activists, the true believers, the people who are willing to go out and work and give money. Then they move back to the center during the general election to go after the independents. McCain has done just the opposite. He ran to the left of the other Republicans during the primaries, then instead of moving to the center, he moved to the right. He put Sarah Palin on the ticket which pleased the right but, as we're now seeing in these polls, her appeal does not go much beyond that. It's going to be very, very hard for John McCain, Katie.
—Brent Baker is Vice President for Research and Publications at the Media Research Center
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
I nominate this reporter to replace Schieffer at CBS:
October 25, 2008 - 19:05 ET by riff_raffHere's a reporter that knows how to conduct an interview:
http://www.youtube.c...
I'd sure like to know her name.
That was posted here earlier
October 25, 2008 - 21:01 ET by motherbeltThat was posted here earlier today.
And as an update: in a snit, the Obama campaign cancelled an interview the station was supposed to do with Biden's wife.
He has selective blindness.
October 25, 2008 - 19:06 ET by winston smithHe has selective blindness. He only sees McCain moving to the right, but he doesn't see how the Democrats have moved left with Obama, the economy and taxes.
Right?
October 25, 2008 - 19:10 ET by DingbatMc moved to the right???? When did that happen??? IMHO, if he HAD done that, The Messiah would be toast.
No credibility left
October 25, 2008 - 19:11 ET by Indiana JoeI sure hope McCain wins. For the obvious reasons, of course, but also to stick it to these "pundits" who have given up any semblance of reporting on the "pulse of the nation," and tried to shape it instead.
If Obama wins, the hope that the media will ever recognize the depths of their own sickness is almost negligible.
"I do not... believe that the same God who has endowed us with senses, reason and intellect has intended us to forego their use." G. Galilei
I pray we beat the
October 25, 2008 - 19:15 ET by bigtimerI pray we beat the media...with all we've got.
I knew months ago I would end up so furious by election time I would just vote against them for starters...gawd they are scum.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
"He put Sarah Palin on
October 25, 2008 - 19:28 ET by ckc1227"He put Sarah Palin on the ticket which pleased the right but, as we're
now seeing in these polls, her appeal does not go much beyond that."
Which merely shows that character assassination by the media works. I mean, what do you expect, they've framed her in a negative light since she was picked.
Obama's Economic plan: more taxes, more spending, more regulation. Prosperity here we come.
And that's always the
October 25, 2008 - 20:23 ET by motherbeltAnd that's always the media's advice to the Republicans on how to win: they should be more like Democrats.
MB,
October 25, 2008 - 22:11 ET by Indiana JoeNo, when the Republicans even think of behaving like Democrats, the media decries their "dirty campaigning." Just bring up any true thing that cast a Democrat in a bad light, and the MSM is in full hue-and-cry about all the "negativity" on the right.
Let the Dems attack the Reps with trumped-up "facts," though, and the media picks it up and runs with it.
Pass the duct tape, please.
"Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." - John Adams
You've got to be pretty far
October 25, 2008 - 19:35 ET by DaBirdYou've got to be pretty far out there in left field if you see McCain tracking right.
Also, the same could be said in reverse about the media in this country; "Media doomed because they have moved (way) to the Left". There you go Bob.
What?
October 25, 2008 - 19:50 ET by New Jersey ConservativeThe MSM pay guys like Bob Schieffer the big bucks but they are totally out of touch. Has Schieffer been paying attention to anything? John McCain even uses the Dems talking points of the "failure of the past eight years". What would Schieffer say if McCain spoke the truth from the beginning and focused on the Democratic policies of doing nothing to rein in Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, CRA, no doc loans or else we will sick ACORN on you?
Let's face it - Bob Schieffer and the rest of these clowns are in the tank for Obama and it would not matter what John McCain said or did.
Exactly, NJC,
October 25, 2008 - 22:19 ET by Indiana JoeMcCain could be parrotting Obama point-by-point, and the MSM would be talking about how he had "abandoned" the poor consevative movement.
And I'll bet Mac is totally confused. How could he go from the darling of the media to the goat in so short a time? Of course, he's always been the media's favorite Republican, because they knew they could beat him. That's why they worked so hard to try to foist him on us in 2000.
He must be the only one who doesn't get it.
"Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." - John Adams
He must be the only one
October 25, 2008 - 22:26 ET by bigtimerHe must be the only one who doesn't get it.
...He is IJ.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
Perhaps McCain has TRIED to
October 25, 2008 - 19:47 ET by GregEPerhaps McCain has TRIED to move to the right. But he has not. He is not a conservative, doesn't think that way, and therefore is not very good at acting out what he is not - conservative. On the other hand, Obama and liberals move to the center only when necessary, but are most comfortable where their views actually are - very Left. They move to the center (as best they can, mind you) when their opponents are true conservatives, and that "move" is not truly a changing of their thought process, it's simply a disguise in hopes of being elected. It's an act. They would still have the mindset of the Leftist they always have been. A conservative presidential candidate, with conservative ideas, logic, etc, forces the move of a Leftist to the center to try and blunt the contrasts, because a conservative thinker is a logical thinker, and a Leftist cannot compete very well with those ideas, granted they are voiced with strength and confidence. Only a true conservative has that strength and confidence when speaking from a conservative viewpoint. A centrist attempting to be a conservative, is out of his element, not speaking from the heart, and has to memorize what he wants to say because he doesn't quite believe it. If one believes what one is saying, one need not have to memorize anything because it's in one's core. Obama is a Leftist, and need not memorize anything of a Leftist viewpoint. McCain is a centrist at best, and most comfortable there. When attempting to be conservative, he must work much harder to maintain the ideas and words, because they are not in his core and do not flow freely.
A conservative seen being as eloquent as Obama, would mop the floor with an equally eloqent speaking Obama spewing Leftist ideology. America would easily see the logic and thought of the conservative as most closely aligned with their thought process.
GregE... Right you
October 25, 2008 - 19:48 ET by bigtimerGregE...
Right you are.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
and therefore is not very
October 25, 2008 - 20:29 ET by motherbeltand therefore is not very good at acting out what he is not - conservative.
That's for sure!
I remember at the beginning of his campaign (still in the primaries, I think) when he said I am a proud, conservative, liberal Republican.
McCain moved to the right?
October 25, 2008 - 19:41 ET by R D HelmWhen did this happen, 'cause I sure missed it.
Bob Schieffer's center must be where my left-field foul pole is located.
-Dave
In order for wealth to be spread, it first must be seized.
POLLS POLLS POLLS POLLS POLLS
October 25, 2008 - 19:49 ET by JaykeAll these people have is POLLS! Give me a break! I don't believe POLLS. Take your POLLS and shove them Schieffer!
In Shieffer's own mind I imagine this is True, But, There is the
October 25, 2008 - 20:05 ET by JayTeeThere is the USA full of non PBS news watchers that do not think like Shieffer does. . . in fact, a long way away from the way Shieffer meditates about the Election.
And with Couric doing the Interview, the Stage is SO SLANTED They had to Nail down the Chiars.
We can only remember the ONE election that the POLLS showed the Real Winner weeks before the Election . . . you know......what was that one . . . not Kerry ......not Gore....Hmmmmm...which one was it ?
Question for All
October 25, 2008 - 20:38 ET by oilcanWhat do you think of the latest tactic by the MSM? The one where they are now doing the "divide and conquer" routine, in that they're planting the aura of seeds of discontent between the Palin and McCain camps into the minds of their viewers/readers/audience?
Hell, I didn't know there were two camps, did you? It's McCain's campaign dammit and he can run it anyway he wants. Which to say it isn't the best I can tell. But, to foment the idea, that there's a rift is just disingenuous by the MSM. To present a campaign that is fractured and falling apart.
oc... ..and let's don't
October 25, 2008 - 20:42 ET by bigtimeroc...
..and let's don't forget that Palin is just a big drag on McCain...the polls say so...
What a bunch of BS.
Msm thinks they repeat something enough...it is.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
It is not a tactic oilcan
October 25, 2008 - 20:44 ET by shawn228Is there media bias? Sure I believe that, but there are no seeds to plant.
Palin is upset that her handlers have done such a bad job, She along with McCain are throwing President Bush underneath the bus.
Colin Power has endorsed Obama and Tom Ridge has publicly said that McCain would have a better chance of winning if McCain picked him.
He's got my vote
Tom Ridge has publicly said
October 25, 2008 - 22:19 ET by AllRightyTom Ridge has publicly said that McCain would have a better chance of winning if McCain picked him.
Ridge said things would be different if he had been chosen as VP. Whatever. Tom Ridge would have been a problem with plenty of Righties. Ridge is Pro-Choice, among other things. With McCain's center-ish ideals, he really needed someone who would pull the Right in. His choice in Palin revived the average American and struck fear in the MSM.
Obama just chose the first person he could think of that wasn't Hillary. He may have done better (without MSM help) if he had chosen Hillary (if she didn't kill him first). So he chose Biden.
We all know who the MSM chose...
AllRighty
October 26, 2008 - 01:06 ET by shawn228I was one of the people that thought Palin was a great choice. I was like gosh this is a like a every day person, she gives back to the people and I read freestinkers list about her and had a very favorable impression.
I am not a dem, I am a independent. I was not the only independent voter that had second thoughts when she did those interviews.
The GOP is in disarray right now without the msm help. I'm sure most here think this a good ad, but to me it seems kind of desperate since it was safe seat just a few weeks ago.
He's got my vote
Not a tactic?
October 25, 2008 - 22:30 ET by Indiana JoeWell, you know what they say about opinions. My opinion is, the MSM has been using tactics to paint McCain and Palin in the worst possible light.
Biden said that Hillary would have been a better VP pick than him. That says a lot more than someone whining because they feel snubbed. And since when does anyone care what Tom Ridge thinks? But you say that like it means something.
And when it comes to throwing people under the bus, Obama's got the prize. All Obama has been doing is running against Bush's third term. What should McCain do but distance himself? Besides, the media loved McCain when he went against Bush in the Senate. Now, he's supposed to embrace the policies he voted against, the choices that got him labeled "maverick," and accept being blamed for those policies? Because the media (oh, and you) say so?
Nope, you guys have McCain right where you want him; he's damned if he does, and he's damned if he doesn't. Damned for daring to run as a Republican. It would have been the same no matter who got the nomination.
"Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." - John Adams
Indiana Joe
October 26, 2008 - 01:12 ET by shawn228I'm not saying you or anyone should care what Tom Ridge thinks, I am pointing out that there really is infighting and finger pointing within the GOP. And yes I admit the msm is adding fuel to the flame
" Nope, you guys have McCain right where you want him.....);
fyi, I'm voting for McCain
He's got my vote
Maybe next time we nominate
October 25, 2008 - 20:54 ET by GregEMaybe next time we nominate this guy.
http://www.youtube.c...
Wow
October 25, 2008 - 21:01 ET by shawn228That guy looks like he could use a nice bubble bath and a steaming hot cup of coco
He's got my vote
GE...Wow! Did that guy
October 25, 2008 - 21:03 ET by bigtimerGE...
Wow! Did that guy ever speak for me...I have that same anger too, it is somewhat a relief to hear others say what a lot of here think, with such passion...
Thank you for this link...
The guy has my VOTE!
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
GE!
October 25, 2008 - 22:23 ET by AllRightyI watched the vid, and I think that guy has a serious point... but I feel like I just got me arse chewed... and I didn't do anything!
I carry a pistol because my rifle won't fit in my purse.
Wow. I don't know how you
October 26, 2008 - 10:01 ET by sherylsimsWow. I don't know how you guys FIND all these great links, but that right there is why I come here every day, That anger is right underneath the surface for me as well. I just hope it doesn't all blow out of me while I am at church or something. Heh heh
"don't count John McCain
October 25, 2008 - 21:00 ET by TN Mom"don't count John McCain out"
That's the ONLY true sentence in the above newscast!
Oh, and if the Democrats/Obama move any farther to the left they'll fall off the planet.
ITS OVER!!!!!!!!!!!!! RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 25, 2008 - 22:41 ET by cristantiTHE PRESS AND MEDIA ARE TRYING TO MAKE ALL OF US GOP THINK ITS OVER, THEY WANT US TO GIVE UP AND JUST NOT VOTE!!!! THE POLLS ARE DOUBLE DEMOCRATS ASKED COMPARED TO GOP, SO HELL OF COURSE ITS GOING TO BE HIGHER NUMBERS FOR OBAMA, THERE IS NO WAY I AM GOING TO BELEIVE THESE LIBERAL PUNDITS AND LET THEM SUPPRESS MY VOTE, THIS IS WHAT THEY WANT, WE CANNOT LISTEN TO THEM, BRENT IS SO RIGHT, MCCAIN HAS NOT DONE WHAT SHIFFER SAID HE HAS DONE, HE FLAT OUT LIES, MCCAIN SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT UP WRIGHT, HE SHOULD BE SHOWING THOSE CLIPS DAILY. AND I DO NOT BELEIVE THAT ONLY CONSERVATIE WOMEN LIKE PALIN, HAVE YOU SEEN THAT WOMEN WHO SUPPORTED HILLARY , SHE IS AWESOME, SHE GOES WITH PALIN EVERYWHERE, AND HAS ALL THESE DEMOCRAT WOMEN FOR HER ON HER WEB SITE, HOW ABOUT THAT SITE CALLED PUMA, THESE ARE DEMOCRATS FOR MCCAIN, DO NOT BELEIVE THE MSM, LIKE RUSH SAID, IT AIN'T OVER TILL ITS OVER, AND EVEN FRIDAY HE SAID IT IS NOT TIME TO PANIC YET, HE DOES NOT FALL FOR THESE MSM BS!!!! HE SAYS ALSO THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO GET ALL THE REPUBLICANS TO THINK ITS OVER. DO NOT BELEIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
All the more reason to work
October 25, 2008 - 22:46 ET by Clear thinkerAll the more reason to work harder for the right!
BTW... Stop with the Caps, it's rude!
Violence If Obama Loses
Making Fun of AGW http://giovanniworld.wordpress.com/
Wow, this is news. Was I
October 25, 2008 - 23:52 ET by Clear thinkerWow, this is news. Was I asleep or something, cause I can't remember anything in the past couple of months that would indicate to me that McCain had turned to the right. Can someone help me out on this one?
Give Your Firearms To Obama - Not A Joke!
Making Fun of AGW http://giovanniworld.wordpress.com/
Bob Schieffer??? Is there
October 25, 2008 - 23:58 ET by SkeeblerBob Schieffer??? Is there anyone who believes that this rancid old prune has ever been bothered by a cogent thought???
The thermometer of success is merely the jealousy of the malcontents. Salvador Dalí
???
October 26, 2008 - 07:41 ET by conscientiousobjectorMcCain isn't far right even now. I happen to think that's not a bad strategy. You'd think Obama's far leftism would turn more people off than it has. I agree that Palin energizes more of the base than undecideds. I think he should have picked her early, during the long Dem primaries when the news dominated Democrats. He should have rumored picking her and let the press blow it up. At the same time, I don't see an undecided wary of voting for her because she's unkown finding any more solace in Obama for that reason.
Ahhh, I remember the days
October 26, 2008 - 10:00 ET by USA4freedomAhhh, I remember the days when a news guy would, for example,report on say, a car accident.
The report would go something like this: A wreck involving two vehicles on 1st and Main Street, no injuries.
To now, a Republican speeding in his SUV, (and using too much gas) caused a wreck on 1st and Main Street, (the part of town that would be nicer if not for Bush). This act, quite possibly a racist act (because he has both an American flag and a Mc Cain sticker on his bumper), ran into a Prius owned by a black man (further proof of being a racist act), that decided to run a light because he has been held down too long, by the white man, and this light was more proof of that.
Lucky, there were no injuries, the selfish behavior of the Republican driver, in demanding to drive a over size car will surly cause more fatal accidents in the near future. We can only hope that these racist acts will stop.
Ronald Reagan, 1962: I did not leave the Democratic party, the party left me.
Insert: your name, 2008, and the Republican party.
you should have added
October 26, 2008 - 11:34 ET by Jnoblesome of the media cliches they like to use in reporting like:
"SOME SAY...." "HOWEVER....." "THE SO-CALLED...." "BUT....." "ALLEGEDLY...." "THE NON-PARTISAN GROUP DEMOCRAT PARTY SAYS....."
:-)
If McCain hadn't at least tried to move right
October 26, 2008 - 09:40 ET by katiejanehe would have been the type of candidate the Democratic Party USED to have before it abandoned any pretense of being centrist and moved to the flaming uber- left.
I'm always amazed when the MSM criticize Republicans for being conservative - is everyone supposed to be some shade of liberal? By what definition are we supposed to believe that Obama has moved to the center?
Sounds like another idiot who naively believes that Obama isn't the liberal loon he really is. Like the conservative ship-jumpers who want to convince us that "he won't really be as liberal as his supporters want him to be." If Obama wins and gets the full Congress behind him we're going to see liberal policies we can't believe.
True, look at Drudge this
October 26, 2008 - 10:04 ET by USA4freedomTrue, look at Drudge this morning:
http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view/2008_10_25_John_Kerry_wants_New_Deal_II:_Backs_big_fed_stimulus/
John Kerry- New Deal II
They cant wait to spend that money.
Ronald Reagan, 1962: I did not leave the Democratic party, the party left me.
Insert: your name, 2008, and the Republican party.
See-BS Proves Why No One Watches Them Any More!
October 26, 2008 - 12:33 ET by ReaganRuledSee-BS still just doesn't get why no one watches their silly little network anymore! Their polls are the MOST skewed, and they criticize McCain for appealing to the largest segment of the Republican base while Osammie moves to the least populous segment of HIS Party, and of the voting population at large, and that garners NO criticism?!
See-BS and NBS move farther and farther to the left, and their audience continues to dwindle. Apparently, they've learned nothing from the dinosaurs.
Bob Schieffer, the world's
October 26, 2008 - 12:54 ET by fitzfongBob Schieffer, the world's oldest (and dumbest) second banana rotted a long time ago. Time to send him to the landfill where he belongs.
"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
Yeah Right!
October 27, 2008 - 09:37 ET by NorthCoasterMcCain would be 20 points doewn if he hadn't put Palin on the ticket. How can you consider yourself a political analyst Bob, if you don't recognize the reality of that?