An emerging preview of the post-election media spin that McCain lost because he moved too far to “the right,” with his pick of Sarah Palin as the smoking gun? On Monday night's Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, veteran journalist Carl Bernstein, now a political analyst for CNN, contended McCain is “in the difficulty he's in” because “he's really become a captive of the right wing of his party and its agenda and it shows, particularly through the pick of Sarah Palin.” Bernstein's supposition came three days after Bob Schieffer of CBS News blamed McCain's situation on how, 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...”
Bernstein, formerly with the Washington Post and Time magazine, lamented on the Monday night/Tuesday morning CBS show: “I think he's abandoned the principles of his campaign in 2000 and that's probably why he's in the difficulty he's in.” He elaborated:
The campaign of 2000 was built about being a really independent-spirited American politician and now he's really become a captive of the right wing of his party and its agenda and it shows, particularly through the pick of Sarah Palin.
My October 25 NewsBusters item, “CBS's Schieffer: McCain Doomed Because 'He Moved to the Right,'” recounted:
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."
—Brent Baker is Vice President for Research and Publications at the Media Research Center
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Isn't Obama a Puppet for the Extreme Left?
Tue, 10/28/2008 - 05:05 ET by ZachJonesIsHomeWill America
follow a course steeped in ideology tempered by history or will she follow a
course steeped mainly in ideology? “Nine-tenths
of wisdom is being wise in time. “ Theodore Roosevelt - Please consider: Americans Might Want To Heed the Admonitions of The Past
Regarding Election at -http://zachjonesishome.wordpress.com/2008/10/25/americans-might-want-to-heed-the-admonitions-of-the-past-regarding-election/
zachjonesishome.wordpress.com
If anyone has become
Tue, 10/28/2008 - 05:13 ET by MidAmericaIf anyone has become the captive of the Right Wing of the Republican Party it's obama. He's now so far to the right of the obama that ran against hillary that he's nearly become George Bush's third term. If you listen to obama's talking points where he emphasizes tax cuts, pro-business legislation and tax rebates to stimulate the economy plus he will win the war in Afghanistan, why he's almost become the next Compassionate Conservative.
Ummm...Mid????
Tue, 10/28/2008 - 05:28 ET by TheSterDid you make a typo???
I'll give you one more chance...unless you are being FUNNY???
Ster.
Listen, strange women lyin' in ponds distributin' swords is no basis for a system of government.
No, Ster, I understand Mid's
Tue, 10/28/2008 - 06:25 ET by FoolicanNo, Ster, I understand Mid's point. Since the election began, Obama has made an extreme flip-flop by emphasizing tax cuts (for the middle class) in his campaign rather than tax raises (for the rich). Of course, they're both the same thing, but he just came up with a more nuanced approach to appeal to the independents.
Exactly!!! Fool!!!
Tue, 10/28/2008 - 06:32 ET by TheSterThat was sooooo coherent!!!
Thanks!!!
Ster.
Listen, strange women lyin' in ponds distributin' swords is no basis for a system of government.
Who you calling
Tue, 10/28/2008 - 07:54 ET by MidAmericaWho you calling nuanced?.... That's what democrats are. : ) Although I like to think of them as being 'slippery'.
What I was speaking of is what people are 'hearing'. Most people hear campaign rhetoric like music. They 'hear' a tune. They aren't anylizing the notes so they don't 'hear' a lot of what's actually being said. When I said obama has moved way to the right I'm refering to average peoples perception of obama's positions. And for democrats it's all about perception because they have proved in many elections that left wing policies are losers at the polls. Left wing positions can only be gotten through by stealth or imposition by left wing judges.
Does anyone take any CNN
Tue, 10/28/2008 - 05:41 ET by ThisnThatDoes anyone take any CNN "analyst" or journalist seriously anymore?
___________________________________
If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it is in English, thank a Soldier. - My barber
Which ones???
Tue, 10/28/2008 - 05:45 ET by TheSterWhich ones??
Ster.
Listen, strange women lyin' in ponds distributin' swords is no basis for a system of government.
Sorry This....Ummm..
Tue, 10/28/2008 - 06:17 ET by TheSterNO!!!
Like my new Tag??
Hehehe
Ster.
Listen, strange women lyin' in ponds distributin' swords is no basis for a system of government.
Supreme executive power
Tue, 10/28/2008 - 13:18 ET by Tim the EnchanterSupreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony! If I went 'round claiming to be an emperor just because some noisome bint had lobbed a scimitar at me, they'd put me away!
Really, Carl?
Tue, 10/28/2008 - 05:43 ET by Red JeepOh, you mean McCain moved to the right to try to get Republican votes, Carl? Where’s the Beef, Carl? The choice is between 2 Democrats. The only true Republican in the race is Sarah Palin.
Red...BOOO...YEAHHH!!!!
Tue, 10/28/2008 - 05:54 ET by TheStersorry.....ummm....Good Answer RED!!!
Ster.
Listen, strange women lyin' in ponds distributin' swords is no basis for a system of government.
As usual, a Liberal's
Tue, 10/28/2008 - 06:34 ET by motherbeltAs usual, a Liberal's advice for success to a Republican is to be more like a Democrat.
Oh, I get it Carl. McCain is getting hurt because he's not enough like a Democrat. If he had gone even farther left, do you suppose those "in the middle" would have supported him?
<Chris Matthews face> HAH!
What's your problem, Carl? You guys got just what you wanted. You built McCain up and you knocked him down. Please don't embarrass yourself with phony noises about how you feel bad for him.
...
Tue, 10/28/2008 - 06:43 ET by gopsteveWhy is it that there are seemingly an endless supply of liberals, past and present, that the msm always turn to to get their "expert" take on things?
Oh, never mind, silly me!
If Bernstein had been involved in reporting that helped lead to the resignation of a Dem prez, he would have long since been forgotten.
It's just frustrating.
I woke up in bed, the TV was
Tue, 10/28/2008 - 07:31 ET by SickofLibsI woke up in bed, the TV was on, and I was half asleep listening (not looking at the TV) to this segment. I said to myself, oh great, another Obama campaign spokesman spewing the same crapoganda.
Ferguson, to his credit, raised a number of issues, including ACORN. The spokesman, of course, dismissed any Obama connection as ludicrous. Same for socialism. The money line was that Obama has been fully vetted by the media more than any candidate in history.
This really got my attention: I sat up, looked at the TV, and saw it was Jerkstein. TV off.
Oh, right, he was
Tue, 10/28/2008 - 07:59 ET by motherbeltOh, right, he was "vetted."
If vetting is defined by slobbering interviews and constant refrains of "we've been all over that and it's settled."
Just like Obama supposedly denouncing Ayers. Everyone just keeps saying he denounced him and it's taken as fact. The fact is he renounced the acts Ayers committed years ago, not the man, even though he says he is unrepentant.(and he didn't even criticize him for that!)
Just like running his campaign gives him the experience he needs to be Chief Executive!
<sound of duct tape being ripped off roll>
MB, on the rare occasions
Tue, 10/28/2008 - 08:03 ET by SickofLibsMB, on the rare occasions when I can get my kids to help with housework, they typically don't lift up the rug edges and vacuum under there. Then I lift it up and show them all the accumulated crap and they go 'wow, that's disgusting, how'd that get under there?'
My analogy for the day.
Wow - another media type
Tue, 10/28/2008 - 08:27 ET by katiejanecriticizing McCain for trying to appeal to the Republican base vice pandering to Independents and unhappy Democrats. How dare McCain not be the Democratic-lite candidate they shoved down our throats? What's the matter with Republicans - why didn't we accept that "they knew better" than all of the knuckle-dragging freaks we are?
Does anyone really think that McCain would have had a chance of getting elected without conservative support? I guess Carl is forgetting how well that 2000 campaign worked out for McCain.
Carl
Tue, 10/28/2008 - 09:10 ET by rjwest21I'm barely old enough to remember Watergate, but as long as I can recall watching CNN (looooooong time) I swear that Bernstein has been lamenting the impending doom that is the 'radical right' and their 'takeover' of the Republican party. I mean, seriously, that's been the guy's political analysis on practically every broadcast.
'88? The GOP was taken over by the Reagan Republican right wing.
'92? Bush was catering to the radical right wing & trying to stop an upstart southern governor.
'96? Dole was appeasing the radical right wing of the party & trying to stir up the "Clinton haters".
'00? Bush was trying to capture the radical right wing of the party and crush poor 'ol John McCain & the straight talk express.
'04? The radical right wing of the party was "swiftboating" poor ol' John Kerry ("Jenjis" Kahn had no comment).
'08? Now, McCain (who was THE MAN in the '00 primaries, mind you) is doomed because he moved to the right?
-
Perhaps it's time for Carl to put down the booze & come up with a new rap?
Combination
Tue, 10/28/2008 - 09:59 ET by cvgbuckeyeYou pretty much have to be dumb, a college student, soccer mom (thats the dumbest analogy of anyone on record anyhow since it wreaks of liberalism), black or a combination of the four to vote for ANY democrat.
This current election will be the most accurate indicator of that in the American population and I am in fear of the answer.
21
Tue, 10/28/2008 - 10:31 ET by cocodrieWatergate boiled down to one thing, Nixon lied to protect his friends, [very stupid friends]. This happened before lying and perjury was OK, so the left-wing extremists ran Nixon out of office. Nixon didn't even get to enjoy the company of young "ladies" in the oval office. Where are you frank? This calls for some of your inane remarks and questions.
Carl,
Tue, 10/28/2008 - 09:56 ET by NorthCoasterYou need to spend some of your prodigious ability on Barak.
Working For Peace
Tue, 10/28/2008 - 10:13 ET by melpolhttp://www.associatedcontent.com/melpol
Big budget deficits will be on the minds of the new congress. Raising taxes and cutting entitlement programs usually has solved the problem. But a Democrat congressman named Barney Frank has a great idea,he has suggested trimming military spending by 25 percent. It would take the place of raising taxes and cutting entitlement programs. This suggestion has angered most congressmen. But with a new Democratic administration soon coming into power the suggestion by Barney Frank will be taken seriously.
Military spending is necessary if our country is to remain safe. But there is a limit to how powerful we want our armed forces to be when there is no enemy nearly strong enough to challenge us. The money saved by cutting military spending could be better used to make our nation stronger by creating more jobs. The defeat of McCain and the Republican Party in the presidential elections will remove the strongest advocates of increased military spending. We need an economy based on peace not war. Obama is a peace candidate and will be a master of international negotiations. He is loved by peace loving people all over the world. Obama understands that America has internal economic problems and making new wars will not solve them.
melpol...Obama Is
Tue, 10/28/2008 - 10:19 ET by Clear thinkermelpol...
Obama Is A Racist
liberalspeak
Tue, 10/28/2008 - 12:15 ET by lotr"...he's really become a captive of the right wing of his party and its agenda and it shows, particularly through the pick of Sarah Palin.”
Let's read beneath the surface here: He is lamenting the fact that McCain picked a woman running mate who is even more "anti-choice" <gasp> than he is.
McCain was already in the center. He was both wise and ballsy to pick Palin.
And Darkness and Decay and the Red Death held illimitable dominion over all. -- Edgar Allan Poe