WashPost’s Milbank Claims: ‘Media Would Love to Have an Obama Scandal to Cover’
Unintentionally defining irony, in the midst of trying to rationalize news media disinterest in the “Fast & Furious” scandal by maintaining “it’s not a political scandal” but “a scandal of government,” Washington Post columnist and former reporter Dana Milbank claimed on CNN's Reliable Sources: “It’s not an ideological thing. I think the media would love to have an Obama scandal to cover.”
Cue the laugh track as you watch the video.
Milbank, whom the Post features most times on page 2 of the news section, already made clear his disdain for Republican efforts to get around the Obama administration cover-up, writing a column headlined in the June 21 newspaper: “Blowing gunsmoke.” Online, the Post’s archive page for Milbank carries this declaratory subhead: “The party’s shameful pursuit of Eric Holder.” (Much milder headline over the June 20 online posting of the column: “Republicans’ attempt to hold Holder in contempt is uphill battle.”)
Audio: MP3 clip
On CNN, Milbank insisted: “I think to say the media isn’t interested in scandal is preposterous. We love scandal. I love scandal. That’s the thing that really drives us.” That prompted host Howard Kurtz to wonder: “What’s wrong with this scandal?”
Milbank tried to rationalize the media’s lack of interest, asserting nothing scandalous took place worth reporting:
Because it is a scandal, but it’s a scandal of government, and it’s not a political scandal. And when you take it and you say, what’s the worst case here? Well, the Obama administration was continuing something basically that was going on under the Bush administration. You know, did they try to cover up some embarrassing things afterwards?
There’s just -- there’s nothing conceivable that would bring this into a major political scandal here. I think that’s why people have been slow to get on board. It’s not an ideological thing. I think the media would love to have an Obama scandal to cover.
If only he could stumble upon one.
More of the relevant portion of the discussion, on the Sunday, June 24 Reliable Sources on CNN, with Amy Holmes of The Blaze and The New Yorker’s Ryan Lizza, appearing wth Milbank:
DANA MILBANK, WASHINGTON POST: I think to say that the media isn’t interested in scandal is preposterous. We love scandal. I love scandal. That’s the thing that really drives us, so-
KURTZ: What’s wrong with this scandal?
MILBANK: Because it is a scandal, but it’s a scandal of government, and it’s not a political scandal. And when you take it and you say, “what’s the worst case here?” Well, the Obama administration was continuing something basically that was going on under the Bush administration. You know, did they try to cover up some embarrassing things afterwards?
There’s just -- there’s nothing conceivable that would bring this into a major political scandal here. And I think that’s why people have been slow to get on board. It’s not an ideological thing. I think the media would love to have an Obama scandal to cover.
KURTZ: I would agree to this extent. Eric Holder doesn’t look like a classic non-cooperating witness. He’s testified a number of times; just 7,000 page documents not enough, or not the key documents according to Issa.
But let me toss it back to Amy with this question. When the President invoked executive privilege, the media certainly reported. But I would say didn’t pounce on videotape of candidate Barack Obama accusing George W. Bush of hiding behind executive privilege.Story Continues Below Ad ↓
AMY HOLMES: Indeed he did. I thought you were going to play the tape. President Obama, then-Senator Obama, pouncing on President Bush. So, yes, the media got interested in this idea of hypocrisy. I think we saw Jon Stewart made great fun of it.
But in terms of the mainstream media and their interest in this story, I think part of the reason really is the partisanship of the media. I mean, Brian Terry should be a household name. This man died at the hands of guns that had been illegally pushed to Mexican drug dealers across the border without the Mexican government’s knowledge of this.
And when Dana is saying that it started under the Bush administration, that’s actually a little bit spin by the administration, that the operation under the Bush administration was different from this one. I wonder if it’s too technical in terms of these details. But in this story, we actually do have a smoking gun quite literally.
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Comments
Yep. He's right.
Submitted by bkeyser on Sun, 06/24/2012 - 3:28pm.
The problem is, they just can't find one.
No wonder, BK
Submitted by Blonde on Sun, 06/24/2012 - 3:54pm.
......the democrats and their complicit media can't find their a$$$$ with both hands, either.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
The official line now is....
Submitted by motherbelt on Sun, 06/24/2012 - 3:37pm.
Bush started it, just like he started wars in Iraq and Afgthanistan, and now Obama has no choice but to continue those things.
Vacuous besides being a liar
Submitted by David Kramer on Sun, 06/24/2012 - 3:34pm.
Jon Corzine steals $1.6 billion bundles for Obama.
Chris Dodd sneaks in language into bill to allow bonuses Obama behind it oooh, forgot about that one did yah?
Fast and Furious
2008 election fraud and intimidation in many states
Secrets leaks
Loans and payoffs to bundlers and greenies
Pipeline lies
Giving money to Brazil for drilling but not here
Shutting down energy exploration
EPA implement legislation
2011 states implementing something illegal, does it any this year for votes
Partial list off the top of my head, yeah, absolutely nothing to cover at all.
And Solyndra Stealing part
Submitted by texastommy on Mon, 06/25/2012 - 11:07am.
And Solyndra
Stealing part ownership of GM and giving it to unions.
Actually, the list is almost endless, IF one is a fair and honest judge of the facts. But wait, these are MSM "journalists." Never mind.
It's all about word placement
Submitted by Restless Legs on Sun, 06/24/2012 - 3:52pm.
If he puts "not" in the right place, then he's correct:
"It’s an ideological thing. I think the media would love to have an Obama scandal to cover... NOT."
The biggest scandal of all is under their own noses!
Submitted by Mary Louise Turner on Sun, 06/24/2012 - 3:51pm.
The make believe media is a sad, sad joke. The biggest scandal of all is right under their own noses - the unwillingness to criticize Ears (and Democrats in general) for ANYTHING, let alone a major scandal such as F&F. Why don't they tell the truth for a change and admit that they are wholly owned subsidiaries of the DNC, especially rags such as Mr. Milbank's?
Oh sure, an occasional reporter will rise from the ooze and "scold" Ears. But these mild rebukes seem to be more on the level of a lovers' quarrel than an actual split. These good little lackeys will come back and support Ears come election time.
But their noses have grown so
Submitted by celator on Sun, 06/24/2012 - 4:11pm.
But their noses have grown so long and so wide from all their lies and distortions, they cannot see the crisis right in front of them. And as we know, if they don't see it, then it doesn't exist! It's like an optical illusion.
The more amazing thing though is that the MSM actually believes (no, really they do) that people are awaiting with baited breath, hearts pounding, sweaty palms, for the latest pronouncement about anything from the MSM. Delusional.
Ha! That's quite a whopper.
Submitted by Slyrr on Sun, 06/24/2012 - 4:32pm.
Ha! That's quite a whopper. The only thing about Obama scandals that the media 'likes' is covering them up.
They have plenty of ammo for their guns, if they WANTED to use it. Obama has gift-wrapped gaffe after gaffe, scandal after scandal and dropped it right into the media's laps like a cache of top-secret documents to the New York Times.
But the media are just like the late-nite 'comedians' who said 'We can't make fun of Obama because there's nothing to make fun of'. Oh, they COULD. But there's an unspoken agreement among the whole corrupt bunch: 'This is OUR guy, so hands off. If he commits a crime, ignore it. If he does a gaffe, pretend it didn't happen. Pretend all his stupid plans are brilliant. Lie, cheat, steal, do whatever you have to do to protect him. And remember, if you do anything to make our guy look bad, it'll be YOUR head on the chopping block.'
What would Milbank call a scandal?
Submitted by ohio granny on Sun, 06/24/2012 - 4:52pm.
What would Milbank call a scandal? A dead border patrol agent? Possibly a dead ICE agent? 200 - 300 dead Mexican citizens? Giving government loans to Obama and democrat bundlers/supporters and leaving the taxpayers on the hook? Sitting in a racist, anti-semitic church for 20+ years? Starting his political life in the home of an unrepentent domestic terriorist? Leaking military secrets to make himself look strong on foreign policy?
So exactly what would it take before you call something a scandal?
It's time this treasonous, criminal, and corrupt administration
Submitted by Dave. on Sun, 06/24/2012 - 4:58pm.
...was brought down.
Over 200 people have now been murdered directly because of F & F.
If it can be proven that Obama instigated this insane operation (and I have no doubt that he did and I also believe that Eric the withHolder is sitting on the documents that would prove it), then both Obama and Holder should be impeached, promptly arrested, and tried as accessories in every last one of those deaths.
It's time to do away with what is becoming a two-tiered society, and return the members of the ruling class to the same tier as the rest of us.
Too bad the Senate dems are in open support of Obama's totally corrupt administration.
It's also too bad we no-longer enforce our own Constitution.
If we did, these criminals would have been driven from office a long time ago.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
Well said.
Submitted by Radical1979 on Sun, 06/24/2012 - 5:06pm.
.
Millbank
Submitted by mmilesll on Sun, 06/24/2012 - 5:37pm.
This fat mouthed idiot has been in the basement too long. There are going to be so many scandals to cover even his pea brain won't be able to cover it.
Dana Milbank is on the same "emotional" tier as Dottie Sandusky
Submitted by djwolf12 on Sun, 06/24/2012 - 5:40pm.
Dana Milbank is in the stages of utter DENIAL. Watergate was certainly a "Scandal" of epic preportions, but to my knowledge Watergate didn't have a BODY COUNT. For him to say the media would LOVE TO HAVE AN OBAMA SCANDAL then to subtitle his own article “The party’s shameful pursuit of Eric Holder.” is downright embarrassing, hideous, and deceitful.
Krystal Ball, M-BS-NBC Contributor: "The Obama Administration is Scandal Free!" Yeah, in your dreams. I CANNOT WAIT until 11/6/2012 to watch every single Marxist and Progressive idiot in the media's head explode on live tv when Obama gets his ass served to him on a platter.
Milbank is more clown than journalist
Submitted by merly1 on Sun, 06/24/2012 - 5:50pm.
just sayin'
Every thread from the
Submitted by ray johnson on Sun, 06/24/2012 - 7:01pm.
Every thread from the Accomplice Media, Hollywood, and the Obamao administration ( regime ) will invariably lead to one, and only one finding/conclusion : Repubs are racist. Romney's right keeping his distance and commenting abstractly about transparancy, and coverup(s). Must keep hitting on the subjects of jobs, the economy, etc..
This MUST be....
Submitted by BBallleaper on Sun, 06/24/2012 - 8:07pm.
the same guy who had a very tiny pee-pee and always wore his underwear in the shower. Sure we put Atomic Balm in his jock strap but it was the only thing in it! What a tweeb this guy is. Scandal? Whcih one of 50 would you like us to start with???????????????
I had Atomic Balm in my jock
Submitted by texastommy on Mon, 06/25/2012 - 11:11am.
I had Atomic Balm in my jock one time during football practice. A most uncomfortable experience.
What Manly Man...
Submitted by BBallleaper on Sun, 06/24/2012 - 8:09pm.
is named Dana??????? It's girls name. Girly Girly Girly you little fairy pantywaist!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Actually, not so
Submitted by Blonde on Sun, 06/24/2012 - 8:50pm.
I've known quite a few men named Dana.
Also men named Lesley.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Kelly
Submitted by Boudin on Sun, 06/24/2012 - 9:00pm.
Adrien, Alice, But not Sue
Yeah, those guys named Dana
Submitted by killa37 on Mon, 06/25/2012 - 12:44pm.
Yeah, those guys named Dana are really a bunch of candy-assed panty-waists, aren't they??? I know one guy named Dana - he's the biggest left-wing tilley-assed queebie you could ever NOT want to meet..............and the guy is useless, worthless, and gutless too!!! He does NOTHING except hang around his Mom's house, posting stupid comments on the Internet, collecting food stamps, welfare checks, Section 8, HUD, and everything else.............and the only time he goes out is when he makes a trek to the local soup kitchens and 'free-food and other goodies' places that all of the 'homeless' and useless people seem to know about. And, oh yeah...................he always votes!!! Guess which side he votes on??? And he's got an ObamaPhone, and free gas in his Cash-For-Clunkers car, and he's managed to get his Mom's mortgage paid for from Obama's stash..............and he's even in the process of getting a sex-change operation (I think it's called the 'Chasity Boner in reverse' operation...........instead of getting an 'addidictomy', he getting a 'lopadictamy'), paid for by Boy Baraka too!!!
Too technical?
Submitted by metaphorsbwithu on Sun, 06/24/2012 - 8:16pm.
The Bush era operation, I believe:
Was much smaller and conducted out of 1 city.
Actually had devices to allow the ATF to trace the location of the guns. (The Fast and Furious program had no means of tracking the weapons and actually prohibited interdiction of the weapons.)
Was done with the full cooperation of Mexico which was in on the sting. (Fast and Furious was done without the knowledge of Mexico.)
Resulted in numerous arrests until the drug trafficers discovered the weapons had tracking devices and removed them.
The program was ended at that point.
Too technical? Maybe to someone who is still dependent on talking points to advance a narrative that it was really Bush's fault.
You forgot one thing
Submitted by stunned on Sun, 06/24/2012 - 10:41pm.
Bush operation ended in 2007; Obama operation began in 2009, nearly a year after Obama took office. If the Bush operation was bad why did Obama double down on stupid?
tired of liberal lies
Deleted
Submitted by Dave. on Sun, 06/24/2012 - 8:50pm.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
Millbank's a filthy liar, and
Submitted by mattm on Sun, 06/24/2012 - 9:47pm.
Millbank's a filthy liar, and he knows it.
Political scandals have to have sex in them, don't you know?
Submitted by DrRJP on Mon, 06/25/2012 - 12:57am.
There's no SEX in FAST & FURIOUS, and the body count was only a measly 300 Mexicans and one US Border Guard - no story here because Eric and Barack were hoping their plan would bump off a few thousand peons to justify their bogus 90% smuggling stats.
Nah, the scandal is not political - even if the entire Democratic Party are calling F & F a "GOP witch hunt" and Nancy Palooka deems it a "vast, right-wing conspiracy for vote suppression."
Vote suppression, my asphalt!
the only votes that got suppressed by F&F are those poor bastards were lured across the border to vote for Obama only to be gunned down. if they promised to work for him, too.
They got their Red Card, all right. Very red. Very dead,
Milbank is almost as ludicrous and delusional as Markos "Screw-em" Moulitsis who told Keith OlberNazi that, and I quote, "The Democrats didn't lie in 2008."
"The only thing "progressive" about the Kos, DWS, and the DNC, is how quickly their mental illness has metastasized.
I guess it is still called, Projection. Only the screens have gotten bigger.
Mr. Milbanks is a braindead
Submitted by John21 on Mon, 06/25/2012 - 8:28am.
Mr. Milbanks is a braindead moron.
The propaganda media which he is a very proud member (I guess you can be proud of being part of the cesspool) has ignored many scandals of the "Incompetent Administration" for the last 3 years. Now he says that the media want to cover a scandal, sound like Mr. Milbanks is doing a CYA event.
The propaganda media have been acting like cheerleaders (almost as easy too) for this administration from the beginning. They have continuously provide public relations services, cover and distraction. I would really like to see one honest media talking head reporting on Mr. Obama or Mr. Holder, but that is impossible in Mr. Milbanks world.
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Better to be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.
LOL! LOL! LOL! That's like
Submitted by okie-pastor on Mon, 06/25/2012 - 5:15pm.
LOL! LOL! LOL!
That's like being in the middle of the pacific and saying I wish I could see some water. I really do I would love to see it but just can't!
They can't find the truth for the same reason a thief can't find a police station.