On today's CNN Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer, network White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux moderated a discussion with Barack Obama at the UNITY convention of minority journalists. Beforehand, Blitzer asked her about someone who wasn't attending the conference:
BLITZER: Senator McCain, I take it, he was invited to address this conference, as well. Is that right?MALVEAUX: Yes, he certainly was. His campaign said there was a conflict of interest, that he had a lot of other things that were going on. He wasn't able to attend. This is a conference that has spanned across four days or so here in Chicago. Thousands of people have attended. It happens every four years. And so it really is very important to the journalists here, a lot of writers, a lot of people who represent media throughout the country are going to be paying very close attention. It is a shame that he wasn't able to attend.
McCain begged off because of other commitments. That may well be true, but even if it weren't it would have been a mistake for him to participate. He would not have been received nearly as warmly as Obama and the contrast would have given the mainstream media an opportunity to joyfully focus on the disparity.
What would most likely have happened is suggested by what occurred when incumbent President George W. Bush and Democratic opponent John Kerry addressed the same group at their 2004 convention. From the August 7, 2004 Washington Post:
The journalists' reaction to Bush was tepid compared with their enthusiastic reception for Kerry, who spoke at the same convention Thursday. Breaking with journalists' custom of neutrality, the audience gave Kerry a standing ovation even before he began speaking and interrupted his remarks with applause nearly 50 times.In contrast, Bush drew a smattering of polite applause and a standing ovation at the end of his appearance. At one point, his speech was interrupted by a heckler who cried out "Shame on you for lying to the media, misleading the public" before being evicted from the room.
Ernest Sotomayer, a Newsday Web journalist who is president of Unity '04, echoed the views of many audience members when he said of Bush, "I wish he would have been able to give us much more detail on things like affirmative action and commitments to get more (minority) hiring in the media industry."
Little wonder, then, that a crowd of media types brought together by their sense of minority identification would cheer much louder for the candidate ready, willing, and able to encourage the grievance industry. Looking for a candidate who'll make "commitments to get more
(minority) hiring in the media industry," obvious government interference in private industry, is indicative of the UNITY mindset.
NewsBusters senior editor Tim Graham has already detailed the reception Obama received, including a couple of ovations from many audience members. CNN's transcript of Obama at the UNITY convention reflects multiple interruptions for applause and laughter as he spoke.
It was far from a shame that John McCain didn't attend. For whatever reason, he was right to have skipped the event. He's realized, as others have, that "breaking with journalists' custom of neutrality" is the standard again this year.
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The UNITY Conference?
July 27, 2008 - 20:10 ET by c5thenIS that the RICO statute flaunting meeting where the MSM all gets together to decide how they're going to skew the information presented to the public for the next 4 years?
The day that "politician" became a career choice is the day we started losing the Republic. Let's get it back! Alan Keyes '08.
UNITY
July 27, 2008 - 20:13 ET by Mike BatesIS that the RICO statute flaunting meeting where the MSM all gets together to decide how they're going to skew the information presented to the public for the next 4 years?
My guess is these guys and gals don't need much direction: They know what information they want conveyed.
McCain begged off because
July 27, 2008 - 20:23 ET by motherbeltMcCain begged off because of other commitments. That may well be true,
but even if it weren't it would have been a mistake for him to
participate. He would not have been received nearly as warmly as Obama
and the contrast would have given the mainstream media an opportunity
to joyfully focus on the disparity
For once, McCain did the right thing, not the pandering thing.
Oh, yeah, they would have played over and over how McCain's reception was "polite" and Obama's was riotous.
It's not like any of those people (even the one who said McCain would "regret" not attending) would have voted for him anyway.
Oh, please. Like there was ever a snowball's chance in hell of that happening. They just want a good excuse to make it McCain's fault that they don't vote for him.
It's the same thing with the NAACP. Every year they act as though if Bush had attended, they might have voted for him.
<insert hysterical laughter here>
I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson
NAACP for Bush
July 27, 2008 - 20:31 ET by Mike BatesIt's the same thing with the NAACP. Every year they act as though if Bush had attended, they might have voted for him.
Well, maybe they would have. Like, maybe, if Jesse Helms were his opponent. But that'd be about it.
Mainstream Media Infatuation with Obama
How many kudos did the MSM
July 27, 2008 - 20:36 ET by BlazerHow many kudos did the MSM give McCain for attending the La Raza forum or The NAACP's. None, most of em' probably wont' vote for him anyway and it brought him more admonishment from the right.
This comes on the heels of Obama snubbing our wounded troops in Germany to kiss Euro butt. What did Blitzer and Malveux have to say about that?
"You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. We must be cautious. "
- Ben Kenobi on Liberals, and the MSM.
" The Cake is a lie."
Suzanne on the case
July 27, 2008 - 20:41 ET by Mike BatesThis comes on the heels of Obama snubbing our wounded troops in Germany to kiss Euro butt. What did Blitzer and Malveux have to say about that?
I think that was the very next question Suzanne was going to bring up, but then they ran out of time.
Allow me to complete her
July 27, 2008 - 20:39 ET by GregEAllow me to complete her sentence...
It is a shame that he wasn't able to attend, so we could see how small he was treated in great city of our Messiah.
City of the Messiah
July 27, 2008 - 20:43 ET by Mike BatesIt is a shame that he wasn't able to attend, so we could see how small he was treated in great city of our Messiah.
I don't think she'd say that. Think it, certainly, but why let the rubes in on the joke?
Ooops, you're right. I
July 27, 2008 - 21:07 ET by GregEOoops, you're right. I should have said "let me say what her last statement actually meant."
What does this mean?
July 27, 2008 - 21:15 ET by WingletDriver"His campaign said there was a conflict of interest, that he had a lot of other things that were going on." - Malveaux
It is apparent that Malveaux doesn't understand the meaning of the phrase "conflict of interest." This is a scheduling conflict, not a conflict of interest. It's no wonder that journalism majors have the lowest measures of achievement across the board compared to other college degrees.
Dum journalusts
July 27, 2008 - 21:36 ET by Mike BatesIt's no wonder that journalism majors have the lowest measures of achievement across the board compared to other college degrees.
Didn't realize that. Years ago, I believe, that distinction belonged to education majors.
Kiss our rings
July 27, 2008 - 21:46 ET by Eileen Right"And so it really is very important to the journalists here, a lot of
writers, a lot of people who represent media throughout the country are
going to be paying very close attention. It is a shame that he wasn't
able to attend."
Come pay homage, kneel before us. We'll still find you unworthy, but will "respect" you. The "Special Bus" MSM
Respectable
July 27, 2008 - 22:05 ET by Mike BatesCome pay homage, kneel before us. We'll still find you unworthy, but will "respect" you.
And among libs, "respect" is almost as important as "intentions."
What a Shame
July 27, 2008 - 22:19 ET by Alex44It's a shame the main stream media are dishonest political hacks.
A hundred to one
July 28, 2008 - 00:21 ET by KC MulvilleMcCain goes to Colombia a few weeks ago, and all Good Morning America can do is ask why he's leaving the country at a time when Americans are hurting. Then Obama goes, and he gets wall to wall coverage, no questions, just photo-op releases. The media proclaimed every single day what a triumph it was. Meanwhile, they're giving McCain the backhand. The media's questions to McCain during Obama's trip were all for him to react to Obama, and then they spun it to declare that Obama was driving the agenda. Then, there's the report that the media is contributing a hundred to one for Obama.
Wonder why he couldn't find the time? Never mind all the realities described above. And what's infuriating, Malveaux is indignant about it. No self-awareness at all.
A hundred to one
July 28, 2008 - 09:14 ET by Mike BatesThen, there's the report that the media is contributing a hundred to one for Obama.
The ratio will probably go higher by November.
May as well
July 28, 2008 - 00:25 ET by Cool ArrowMay as well ask if McCain will be visiting the Dem Convention.
LYDSEXICS UNTIE
Dem Convention, Cool
July 28, 2008 - 09:16 ET by Mike BatesMay as well ask if McCain will be visiting the Dem Convention.
There'll probably be more moderates at the Obamathon in Denver than at the UNITY confab.
UNITY ?
July 28, 2008 - 06:40 ET by billbThese "Conventions" should be labeled for what they are, RACIST!
RACIST!
July 28, 2008 - 09:19 ET by Mike BatesThese "Conventions" should be labeled for what they are, RACIST!
I believe the MSM have proven definitively that only whites can be racist.
"Geez, I've got a great
July 28, 2008 - 07:17 ET by ConservativeRex"Geez, I've got a great idea, why not attend a convention where not one in one-hundred of the folks there are going to vote for me"! That sounds like a winning political strategy.
Get real Malveaux, it's not like you have to go fishing for a reason to whine. Hell, in terms of folks at CNN voting for McCain, the ratio is probably one in one-thousand.
There might be hope for McCain yet, he probably picked up a bunch of votes by having a scheduling conflict.
Malveaux getting real
July 28, 2008 - 09:21 ET by Mike BatesGet real Malveaux. . . .
But if she did that, wouldn't they bounce her out of the MSM club?
The shame of it all is to suggest...
July 28, 2008 - 07:23 ET by ThalpyThe shame of it all is to suggest that a meeting cluster of this type has any value at all. It is their unity only.
That's what counts
July 28, 2008 - 09:23 ET by Mike BatesThe shame of it all is to suggest that a meeting cluster of this type has any value at all. It is their unity only.
But in their minds, that's all that matters.