When's the last time you heard the MSM talk about a Republican being hit by the "Democrat attack machine"? Scratch that. Have you ever heard the MSM talk about a Republican being hit by the "Democrat attack machine"? Neither have I. But fretting about impending Republican "swiftboating" of the Dem presidential candidate is an MSM staple, and we saw a good example of it this morning, right down to an image of John Kerry in uniform.
Oh, and Hillary Clinton sees herself as a modern-day Ginger Rogers.
Ann Curry had a chance to interview both Dem candidates recently, and Today ran an extended clip during this morning's first half-hour, the two interviews being artfully edited into a back-and-forth. Overall, I'd say Curry gave Hillary the tougher time, but be that as it may, let's focus on two snippets. First, Curry fretting to Obama about those mean Republicans. Check out the screencap. Kerry in uniform, decorations on display. Beneath, the graphic ominously asks: "Can Obama Handle Republican Attacks?" Again I ask: have you ever, EVER, seen the mirror-image graphic in the MSM?
View video here.
ANN CURRY: In the last presidential election, John Kerry, a decorated military veteran, was swiftboated as being unpatriotic. Why do you dismiss the kinds of questions that are going to be the bread-and-butter of the Republican campaign if you become the nominee?
Obama replied that he was "making a bet that the American people are sick and tired of that kind of politics."
Later, Hillary played the woe-is-woman-me card with a vengeance, even fox-trotting out [sans attribution] an old line about Ginger Rogers.
CURRY: Do you feel the playing field has been not level because you are a woman?HILLARY CLINTON: I don't know if I'd call it unlevel. I just think that it's never been done before. Nobody knows quite how to cover a woman running for president. We've never had someone get this close. And it is like Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire: you know, I have to do everything Fred does, only backwards and in high heels. The most pervasive form of discrimination in the world, no matter what the ethnicity, the race, the religion of the people who live in any society, is discrimination against women.
But Hillary doesn't know if she'd call the playing field unlevel. Right.
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
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Wow, that's some
April 22, 2008 - 08:49 ET by motherbeltWow, that's some discrimination Hillary didn't talk about!
Nice political tactic: complain about something by saying you're not going to complain about it...like the "not that I mind always getting the first question...."
And Curry gave Obama the template for his campaign: (actually he's already using it)....
Every time he is faced with an uncomfortable question or criticism, his response will not answer the charge, but he will loftily proclaim that the American people are sick and tired of that kind of politics. End of discussion.
However, as Mary Katherine Ham says in her column: he is not above going for the throat, which makes him look hypocritical...
Obama's problems are compounded by the fact that if he's not that nice,
new, squeaky-clean politician at all times--and the close fight in the
Keystone State will not allow him to be-- he starts to look dishonest.
He's been selling Bambi-style politics, but when it comes down to it,
he may become the hunter in a split second, battering Hillary with both
barrels to serve his own purposes. (emphasis added)
and he may be painting himself into a corner.
When Republicans Attack
April 22, 2008 - 08:38 ET by Hero SquadRepublican Attack Machine... turned out to be the perfect name for my 2004 championship fantasy football team.
Curry's point is actually a good one, but she unnecessarily evokes her own bias by being dismissive of Republicans as having only one political tactic. That's both foolish and false.
*****
"People only insist that a debate stop when they are afraid of what might be learned if it continues." - George Will
Never heard of it.
April 22, 2008 - 12:03 ET by In ExcessThe MSM is the Democratic Attack Machine.
I can't remember where I
April 22, 2008 - 08:51 ET by Free ThinkerI can't remember where I read it, I think it was at American Thinker, but it was an interesting commentary on how the left and the msm has redefined "swiftboating" to mean smearing a political opponent. Kerry was "swiftboated" because he tried to portray himself as someone he was not and those who knew him called him out on his own lies and distortions. And yes you are right, I could never ever imagine Ann Curry, or anyone in the msm, asking a Republican if they are ready to handle Democratic attacks. Perhaps it is because the left is so well known for its attacks that it is seen as status quo.
Swiftboating: Telling the
April 22, 2008 - 11:44 ET by kgSwiftboating: Telling the truth regardless of the lies presented by the media and the person in question.
If they redefine it enought times they actually believe it.
"Forget change, I want improvement!"
I must admit, the first thing...
April 22, 2008 - 09:00 ET by ThalpyI must admit, the first thing that comes to mind when I think of Hillary is Ginger Rogers. Oh brother!
And another thing: If Kerry could have refuted the "swiftboat" assertions, he would have. He did not and has not.
Thalpy, I agree
April 22, 2008 - 10:50 ET by Mica the MagnificentGinger Rogers was grace and elegance, the anti-Hillary.
Miss Rogers had dancers' legs, not legs that inspired NASA to solve the design that allowed the Mars Range Rover to take the impact of landing on rock without damaging the rest of the vehicle.
What is More Informative, Ann Curry or Test Pattern?
April 22, 2008 - 09:02 ET by allanfWhenever I see an interview by Ann Curry, I know I'm in for a singularly uninformative few mintues with lots of "how do you feel" questions.
We can read you like a book, MSM.
April 22, 2008 - 09:12 ET by dronetekFunny how the media never refers to what Dan Rather did as the swift boating of George W. Bush. They only use it as a defense tactic for democrats. Yet another glaring example of their agenda and bias.
I did a google search of "Democrat attack machine" and got nothing but references to the Republican attack machine. How about that?
http://www.google.co...
Its also pretty telling that they have no problem constantly implying that a bunch of vietnam vets are liars. They are actually perpetrating what they accuse others of doing to Kerry.
AND NOW THE REST OF THE STORY
April 22, 2008 - 09:37 ET by iveseenitallAs I sat in front of my small screen t.v., way back when, a man dressed in the uniform of The United States military sat in front of Congress and lied about his brothers in arms. He lied, and lied, and lied in order to bring disgrace upon America. As heroic men were dying in the jungles of Vietman, a young traitor was here, throwing away his undeserved medals, meeting the enemy in Paris, and lying about his brave comrades. Now, the next time you hear the word "Swiftboating" from a modern day uninformed ignoramus like Ann Curry or anyone else in the media, just remember that you know the truth about John F. Kerry, you know THE REST OF THE STORY.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
not MY medals, no way
April 22, 2008 - 18:04 ET by mom_roxWell, actually, Kerry's medals are displayed in his office. He threw someone else's medals over the fence.
A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.
- George Bernard Shaw, 1944
Agreed, ivseenitall
April 23, 2008 - 02:16 ET by gfrrmanbut my question to John Kerry "I was in Vietnam" Heinz Kerry, if as he says, "I saw and participated in atrocities against the N. Vietnamese..etc...." is he lying or should he be tried as a war criminal? Valid question!!!! Either way he's a spineless piece of dung.
"Eventually, Socialists run out of other peoples' money...." MARGARET THATCHER
isia; missed that; only saw clips , however saw 2 nd tower live.
April 23, 2008 - 03:00 ET by upcountrywateryour paragraph above is one of the best ever!
Can the MSN pull it off?
as if ,the swift boating is a 1984 double-think ?
present high-school is 30-50% drop-out rate,
Volume of opinion, bulk of oratory, is all that matters.
science, math ,reading , in the ash heap of history.
dang man! not yet!
<gaia/love>SAVVVE The Whales N' Earth; conserve N' recycle !
IranianUranium<sleep>New/Infrastructure/repair?/ROFLMAO
Is it really dancing backwards---???
April 22, 2008 - 09:08 ET by misterbillIs it really dancing backwards---??? Since her butt is in the front???
Swiftboating - is such a joke
April 22, 2008 - 10:37 ET by Gary HallI'll bet that over 90% of the exposure generated by the Swiftboat folks during the 2004 election was generated by the MSM attacking the Swiftboaters. Most voters became aware of the swiftboater campaign by seeing the MSM run their commercials as a part of the news effort to discredited the Swiftboaters.
On the other hand, the MSM is already in swiftboat mode against McCain, and each and every day as we go forward, they will up the effort with both old and new attacks on every aspect of his existence.
McCain is being Swift-MSM'ed.
If by "swiftboating" they
April 22, 2008 - 10:48 ET by DJEddleIf by "swiftboating" they mean that the lies and disgraceful actions of a presidential candidate will be exposed, then I would love for Hillary or Obama to be "swiftboated." Quite frankly, I'm glad the swiftboat ads were shown against Kerry. It exposed him for what he is...and he still has not proven them to be wrong. So, I'm not exactly sure why these ads were summarily denounced by the MSM...unless they had an agenda, of course.
But we all know that would never happen, right?
*If you like the comments, check out the articles.
Swiftboating: The art of
April 22, 2008 - 10:54 ET by bassndudeSwiftboating: The art of being caught in the lies and fabrications surrounding ones life. i.e....busted!
Save a SeAL, club a liberal!!
Swiftboating = Telling your
April 22, 2008 - 11:28 ET by BDSwiftboating = Telling your opinion of the leadership abilities of someone you previously served with.
What is wrong with that?
Not a thing BD...but I like
April 22, 2008 - 11:29 ET by bassndudeNot a thing BD...but I like "busted" better:-))
Save a SeAL, club a liberal!!
Yeah, that is "Telling".
April 22, 2008 - 12:08 ET by BDYeah, that is "Telling".
The forerunner of "Swift
April 22, 2008 - 11:39 ET by ahusserThe forerunner of "Swift Boating" which I was particularly amazed at was the Arkansas state Troopers who admitted pimping for Bill Clinton while he was the Governor. Also revealing that Bubba was a serial philanderer and that Hillary was a shrill harridan. This of course includes all the women who came forward more or less confirming the troopers assertions. The MSM and the left poo pooed these assertions. The Clintonistas, the press and the left just bashed these men and women unmercifully. Of course never proving these men and women lied or what their agenda was for doing so. The Democratic attack machine was in full swing in their inimitable fashion illogically saying on the one hand it didn't matter and didn't happen at the same time and then "Carvilling" those who came forward. I felt that these men and women had no agenda and no particular reason to lie in concert the same as the Kerry "Swift Boat" veterans. In fact these people had much to lose, opening themselves to ridicule and personal attacks on their collective characters to get the truth out as they saw it. Having so many men condemn someone in some kind of covert, concerted conspiracy 25 plus years after the fact stretches the bounds of logic and in my mind the unity of their assertions had the ring of truth. The mostly leftist press in this country, as good little propagandists, spin, lie and conceal facts in to further their agenda which is more important than any truth (or facts even). To them "Agenda" trumps facts every time. Beware they can use these same tactics to place another extremely flawed individual (Hillary or Obama take your pick) in the White House.
She's got it half-right --
April 22, 2008 - 11:33 ET by ThisnThatShe's got it half-right -- everything Hillary does is backwards.
She needs to work on the high-heels thing, though. I think she mean "high-handed".
As for Kerry -- did anyone mention that he served in Vietnam?
___________________________________
If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it is in English, thank a Soldier. - My barber
Kerry
April 22, 2008 - 13:26 ET by okiehawk44Kerry served in Vietnam and Cambodia, but he was forced to return to America when he failed his regular physical. His pap smear looked suspicious to his gynocologist and his urine tests showed (falsely it turned out, if you can believe it) that he was 2 months pregnant.
This was the Army's loss and Teresa Heinz Kerry's gain. Just ask her. She has said John is the girlfriend she always wanted, and he can dance backwards.
okiehawk44
April 22, 2008 - 15:06 ET by Mica the Magnificentlol . . . .
But ouch at the same time.
He can ski backwards, too.
Hillary...discrimination
April 22, 2008 - 15:14 ET by bigtimerHillary...discrimination against women is getting so tiresome...the only dancing you know how to do is around your never-ending lies whenever you open your mouth for whatever agenda you are attempting to achieve...whether it be a courtroom or the Presidency.
I am so tired of this critter.
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill