Back in 1964, Lyndon Johnson and his hatchet man Bill Moyers made the infamous "Daisy" ad charging Barry Goldwater would cause a nuclear war, and it became a massive media story. Reportedly the ad ran only once and yet everyone came to know about it, thanks to the press. In 1976 and again in 1980 the Democrats worked overtime suggesting the election of Ronald Reagan would trigger a military calamity, so much so that in their 1980 debate, Reagan joked that Jimmy Carter was cartooning him as a "mad bomber." The media couldn’t get enough of that narrative, either.
So what happens when a vice presidential candidate makes the gaffe to end all gaffes and declares that his own running mate will trigger an international crisis? In the Year of The One, it’s yet another controversy that is virtually ignored by a national press corps that has become an institutional embarrassment.
In the latest of a long string of verbal fiascoes neglected by the Obama infomercial narrators, aka the national "news" media, Sen. Joe Biden told a fundraiser in San Francisco on Saturday, "Mark my words. Within the next, first six months of this administration, if we win, they’re going to -- we're going to face a major international challenge. Because they're going to want to test him, just like they did young John Kennedy. They're going to want to test him."
The next day he did it – again! This time in Seattle he declared, "Mark my words. Mark my words. It will not be six months before the world tests Barack Obama like they did John Kennedy. The world is looking… Remember I said it standing here, if you don’t remember anything else I said. Watch, we’re gonna have an international crisis, a generated crisis, to test the mettle of this guy."
What do you suppose would be the reaction had this statement been made by Sarah Palin about John McCain? Never mind that within minutes that soundbite would appear in Obama campaign ads coast-to-coast. It would also, and quite correctly, be the top news story of the day. Look at the record.
Front page story in the New York Times? Try page A-18. Above-the-fold in the Washington Post? Try a tiny paragraph on page A-4.
What about the "news" networks? The story broke at 7:35 am Eastern on ABC’s own Political Radar blog, yet ABC ran nothing on Monday, not on Good Morning America, or World News, or Nightline. NBC made a mention of the controversy on its news Monday night – but edited out the controversial elements in the Biden quote.
It sounds ridiculous, but it’s true: Joe the Plumber has drawn tougher scrutiny than Joe the Bumbler.
The networks were much more interested in casting Colin Powell’s endorsement of Obama as a truly Earth-shattering event, a real "game changer," even if they would never acknowledge the race is tight enough to require changing. They all cited CBS’s glue-sniffing poll showing a 14-point Obama lead. These obedient publicists would not cast Powell as a calculating Beltway power player viciously back-stabbing his career-makers -- Reagan, Bush I, and Bush II. It was no betrayal, unlike the way they pounded "Zig Zag Zell" Miller for endorsing Bush four years ago. Tom Brokaw, the host of Powell’s liberal coming-out party, boasted after the show he was a world-renowned figure with a "gold-plated military and national security resume."
Minutes after Powell’s allegedly dramatic announcement of something he’s discussed with Obama for months, NBC’s Andrea Mitchell said it was "very powerful," and Newsweek editor Jon Meacham oozed that it was a "seal of approval from the most important military figure of the age." MSNBC created a special Sunday cheerleading edition of "Hardball," so that Chris Matthews could tingle in his Sunday best. "Obama gets the endorsement of the year!" ABC and NBC both led their Sunday night newscasts with it. ABC’s Dan Harris called it a "major endorsement by a major Republican."
Baloney. Powell sounded like a former Republican angrily walking out the door: McCain was an unready mess on the economy, his Supreme Court nominations would be horrendous, and the Palin pick was just plain embarrassing.
The Monday morning network shows were absolutely aglow. On ABC’s "Good Morning America," Diane Sawyer sounded like a Sixties teenager at a Beatles concert: "This morning, Senator Obama's banner weekend: Record breaking crowds, cash, and the endorsement heard around the world." She called the endorsement a "booster rocket." The screen graphic screamed: "Obama's Best Weekend Ever? Powell and Donors Boost Obama."
No one in Network Land cared that Obama’s enormous wad of September cash would have been scoured as "obscene" if Bush had raised it in 2000 or 2004. Their only principle is bullying the voters into putting Obama and his gaffe-prone running mate in power.





















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Comments Policy
Jack-in-the-Box Joe Biden.
October 21, 2008 - 23:12 ET by semolina_filcherJack-in-the-Box Joe Biden. You'll never know when he'll pop up next.
And if the media has its
October 22, 2008 - 00:00 ET by ckc1227And if the media has its way, you never will.
At this point, I don't think it even matters. It could come out tomorrow that Obama is dealing drugs on the side, yet somehow, that wouldn't matter either, to the media or to the clueless who are voting for him.
Obama's Economic plan: more taxes, more spending, more regulation. Prosperity here we come.
Wash Post
October 21, 2008 - 23:20 ET by Jay in NHC'mon Brent: The VP nominee forecasting the possibly calamitous mettle-testing of his running mate, not exactly a "macaca" moment, is it? What was that, front page 15 times in 6 weeks?
You are absolutely correct,
October 21, 2008 - 23:40 ET by motherbeltYou are absolutely correct, Mr. Bozell. If anyone had said that about McCain, the headline would have been "International Crisis Predicted if McCain Elected" on all the major newspapers.
No one in Network Land cared that Obama’s enormous wad of September
cash would have been scoured as "obscene" if Bush had raised it in 2000
or 2004.
And you know, sure as God made green apples, that if Bush had said he'd take public funding and then reneged on it, they would still be talking about it now!
Not to mention the fact that he tried to claim that because his money was coming from the people, it really was "public funding." Do you think anyone else could have gotten away with that verbal jujitsu? I guess it depends on the meaning of the word "public."
And Biden, who a few months ago said that Obama wasn't ready to be President, now says that his guy is green, but don't worry, old Joe has "forgotten more about foreign policy than most of my colleagues know." (He'd better hope they never find out! LOL)
You guys are going to have to hire more staff to keep up with all of this. It's only going to get worse (and deeper) if he's elected!
While not a comment on
October 21, 2008 - 23:35 ET by MidAmericaWhile not a comment on Mr. Powell, this makes me wonder what happened to democrat extrordinaire General Wesley Clark. Is he resting 'comfortably' under mild sedation somewhere or perhaps is he now writing biden's speeches?
Look at his eyes. Joe's
October 21, 2008 - 23:37 ET by winston smithLook at his eyes. Joe's literally "turning Japanese" on us by the day!
Japanese Joe?
October 21, 2008 - 23:38 ET by MrShyhttp://www.youtube.c...
NOW PLAYING:
Governor Palin Get Your Gun
LOL Winston...you do....
October 22, 2008 - 00:31 ET by BEGRUNTknow the "real"meaning??....Just say yes or no.....LOL!!!!
"If a man does his best, what else is there"?
General George S. Patton Jr.
Before the era of botox and
October 22, 2008 - 00:41 ET by winston smithBefore the era of botox and face lifts -- yes I do know the original meaning. ;^)
LMAO!!!!!!......
October 22, 2008 - 01:06 ET by BEGRUNTFew do....LOL.... ;-)
"If a man does his best, what else is there"?
General George S. Patton Jr.
twice!
October 21, 2008 - 23:44 ET by goldboughHe tried to get on the news by saying it twice and they STILL wouldn't air it. I shouldn't be amazed at how far left the media is, but I still am.
Imagine if biden does
October 21, 2008 - 23:57 ET by MidAmericaImagine if biden does have to assume the Presidency. That will make Speaker of the House pelosi only one rubber room away from being President.
Yeah and "Sheets" Byrd (Pro
October 22, 2008 - 00:17 ET by jdhawkYeah and "Sheets" Byrd (Pro Tempore of the Senate), the former Gran Kleagle of the Klu Klux Klan second instead of third in line to the presidency!
No , it won't. They don't
October 22, 2008 - 07:14 ET by motherbeltNo , it won't. They don't move up in line. A new VP would be named; Pelosi would remain Her Speakerness.
Hey MB
October 22, 2008 - 08:04 ET by MidAmericaOh sure, step on my joke. : ) Well it would still happen, if only a for a while if old joe was immediately found to be standing in the Oval Office with his pants around his ankles, saluting the chandalier and singing the Marine's Hymn.
You should have had a spew
October 22, 2008 - 08:50 ET by motherbeltYou should have had a spew alert!!
Luckily I didn't have a mouthful of coffee!
Here is CNSnews cartoonist
October 22, 2008 - 00:14 ET by jdhawkHere is CNSnews cartoonist Eric Allie's take on "plugs" biden (D for dufus): http://townhall.com/...
What goes around, comes around
October 22, 2008 - 00:21 ET by wdhorningIt is blatantly obvious that Obama:
So if Obama is elected, and if Congress gets a super-majority, then the tyranny begins, and it will, mark by word. Because just as tyranny has reigned within the MSM and Obama's history, it will reign in the future.
You see, if it takes corruption to get into power, and we have seen "mountains" of corruption in Obama's history, then if he is in power, what else can you expect? To you think for one moment he is going "behave" like an "angel"? And with the huge corruption with Democrats in Congress being overwhelming already, except the most corrupt administration in history of the USA. And with Obama's communist goals you can expect:
And the MSM will be guilty of destroying America, which will become more communist than China, and furthermore, will usher in the greatest human rights violations upon all Americans, because that is the very nature of communism, the suppression of all rights.
The above is of course my opinion. But if it walks like a duck, looks like a duck, and sounds like a duck, then its a duck. Obama's history and campaign statements prove to me that all of this is chilling and scary.
Well, this is what I believe the MSM will do. And then if you wake up one day and start to criticize Obama, he will apply "truth" regulations to you and have you arrested. And with a liberal US Supreme court, plan to spend time in jail and/or pay huge fines.
I share your fears for the short run but not the long run..
October 22, 2008 - 00:56 ET by Jonah Johansen"And the MSM will be guilty of destroying America, which will become more communist than China, and furthermore, will usher in the greatest human rights violations upon all Americans, because that is the very nature of communism, the suppression of all rights."
Not going to happen, because Americans will wake up to who Obama really is and what is gang is up too, at some point. The level of backlash will be proportianete to the level of betrayl by the liberal establishment and its propaganda arm the MSM and since the level of betrayal is unprecidented, so will the backlash.
Jonah...
October 22, 2008 - 01:04 ET by MightyMouthBut with all three branches of the government (Obama will populate the SCOTUS with a majority of liberals) who will stop them? Will you and I take up arms against our government? (if we still have any arms)
"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...
I fear too that we may have
October 22, 2008 - 09:51 ET by play21cwI fear too that we may have to take up arms.
BUT in a recent poll more than 74% (or 76%) of the Armed forces want McCain. So that means we'd be going up against the government with their help.
hope it wont get to that, i think people are starting to wake up and realize what is going on
Sabatoogee!
October 22, 2008 - 00:27 ET by BarkerI have a sneaking suspicion that Bill Clinton put those words in Biden's mouth.
Possible Barker
October 22, 2008 - 00:42 ET by BlondeBut Joe's medical records excluded all references to his brain...go figure! He doesn't have one.
In his own words (19 seconds): This man is qualified to be VP?
Now you have your proof !
October 22, 2008 - 00:40 ET by caiobabeThis proves that the feeble Biden medical records released to the public are incomplete and most likely falsified. They do not show the brain scan tests that have been performed within the last several years which would show normal functioning
Why is this significant? Well, because his brain is not operating well enough to catch his own gaffes before he says them.
It was a closely held
October 22, 2008 - 00:55 ET by MidAmericaIt was a closely held secret but biden actually was a part of a TV sitcom for years. Yes.. he was the character Sophia on The Golden Girls.
Sitting on the polls
October 22, 2008 - 01:34 ET by Kirk Hall[.]They all cited CBS’s glue-sniffing poll showing a 14-point Obama lead[.]
I remember when they first had to put the stuff behind the counter. Obviously it is still easy enough to get. Anyway, that made me laugh.
"What do you suppose would
October 22, 2008 - 02:42 ET by Acts 2_38"What do you suppose would be the reaction had this statement been made by Sarah Palin about John McCain? Never mind that within minutes that soundbite would appear in Obama campaign ads coast-to-coast. "
»→ Tobacco bama
October 22, 2008 - 03:21 ET by Cool ArrowTo back Obama, one must not only wilfully suspend disbelief, but also rewrite history.
Obama will be tested with a generated crisis? Really? Like JFK?
To date, all attempts to put lipstick on The Bay of Pigs have failed.
The prophet Biden is warning us of Obama's ineptitude more than comforting us with Obama's ability.
JFK grew into the job, it can be argued, learning from his cowardly retreat from Cuba. But it can also be argued he learned nothing given our venture into Southeast Asia.
Yes, Obama may well grace the mantles of America along with Jesus, Mary, JFK, and Joseph (in that order), but not mine.
LYDSEXICS UNTIE!
The MSM is such a disgrace.
October 22, 2008 - 06:40 ET by sewcattyThe MSM is such a disgrace. Their bias and desire for BO to win is so obvious, and they don't even care. Yesterday, the yahoo AP headline in BIG letters...AP INVESTIGATION....palin children traveled with her at state expense (paraphrase).
I was furious. I read the article, she did nothing wrong. just another MSM hit piece on Palin while continuing to ignore BO and all of his slimy buddies and of course completely ignoring Biden's remarks.
I called the AP in New York yesterday and complained. I suggest others do the same.
»→ Obama/Baboso
October 22, 2008 - 06:45 ET by Cool ArrowMaybe Barack Obama just wants somebody who drools more uncontrollably than him.
Anybody else enjoy Seton Motley's segment on Fox&Friends this morning? Good stuff.
"More people read their VCR manuals than watch Morning Joe" - Seton, behave.
LYDSEXICS UNTIE!
That's FrankenSCHTEEN!
October 22, 2008 - 07:36 ET by SickofLibsNext, Biden will perform for us "Puttin' On The Ritz" with tophat and tails.
»→ That's Bob Barker
October 22, 2008 - 07:57 ET by Cool ArrowI swear Joe Biden has been replaced with Bob Barker.
Be sure to spay or neuter your pets.
LYDSEXICS UNTIE!
YOU'RE THE NEXT CONTESTANT....
October 22, 2008 - 08:42 ET by MrShy"I swear Joe Biden has been replaced with Bob Barker."
NOW PLAYING:
Governor Palin Get Your Gun
»→ Awesome, Shy
October 22, 2008 - 08:53 ET by Cool ArrowIs that your creation? If so, I owe you royalties for my new Desktop background image.
ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LYDSEXICS UNTIE!
---> Thanks Cool !!!
October 22, 2008 - 09:13 ET by MrShyYou need it, I create it !! :)
(notice I changed the name of the "game show".... refresh your browser/page, if the graphic doesn't look any different...)
NOW PLAYING:
Governor Palin Get Your Gun
»→ Even better
October 22, 2008 - 09:16 ET by Cool ArrowDesktop updated. Thanks
LYDSEXICS UNTIE!
sol....you mean this.....LOL
October 22, 2008 - 12:36 ET by BEGRUNThttp://www.youtube.c...
"If a man does his best, what else is there"?
General George S. Patton Jr.
Back to the Daisy Ad
October 22, 2008 - 08:49 ET by oldreporterI've heard the Daisy Ad ran only only once many times. But when I was a young man, with an even younger wife, living in Omaha in 1963-64 we recall seeing the ad repeatedly. Poor memory? Was Omaha a test market? Don't know.
Maybe they meant for one
October 22, 2008 - 09:20 ET by motherbeltMaybe they meant for one round of ad buys? Don't they usually buy a whole bunch of spots at one time?
Also, maybe it was a case of them pulling the ad, but news outlets and others showing it in order to criticize it?
Philosphoical Take...
October 22, 2008 - 09:00 ET by SnocrashIf Joe Biden gaffes in the forest, and the MSM hears it, does it still make a sound?
(With appologies...)
sound familiar?
October 22, 2008 - 09:09 ET by i was just thinkingSounds to me like more of the that Republican fear-mongering! Except that Biden isn't a Republican.
From the roof of the church-----
October 22, 2008 - 11:39 ET by Roscoe MendagoWell, who can argue with that. Would anyone with a head not see how in the tank the media is for Obama, even Biden can't distract, with his Twilight Zone meanderings. We're left with only one outcome, as that great American frontiersman, Gabby Johnson will be announcing from the church roof, "the president is a BOOOONG"!!!!!!