In the civics textbooks (and in self-important gatherings of journalists), we are told that the newspapers are the factual sticklers that hold politicians accountable. But the deeply held media principle that Barack Obama floats above the grubby world of politics like an idealistic space cowboy means the civics textbooks aren't in use.
Instapundit highlighted how The Washington Post's Howard Kurtz noticed that the nation's leading newspapers (The New York Times, USA Today, and Obama's hometown Chicago Tribune) all avoided the substance of Barack Obama's flip-flop on the D.C. gun ban. Patterico added the L.A. Times to the list (complete with video of Obama on DC's local ABC channel.) Yesterday I noticed the same thing online at Time.
Kurtz called it Pretzel Logic:
Barack Obama is under hostile fire for changing his position on the D.C. gun ban.
Oh, I'm sorry. He didn't change his position, apparently. He reworded a clumsy statement.
That, at least, is what his campaign is saying. The same campaign that tried to spin his flip-flop in rejecting public financing as embracing the spirit of reform, if not the actual position he had once promised to embrace.
Is this becoming a pattern? Wouldn't it be better for Obama to say he had thought more about such-and-such an issue and simply changed his mind? Is that verboten in American politics? Is it better to engage in linguistic pretzel-twisting in an effort to prove that you didn't change your mind?
Regardless of what you think of the merits of yesterday's Supreme Court ruling overturning the capital's handgun law, it seems to me we're entitled to a clear position by the presumed Democratic nominee.
After showing all the newspapers skipping out on the public record, Kurtz lamented:
That's all we get? He said/he said journalism?
Even if you wanted to maintain that it wasn't really a flip-flop, what about giving the readers the facts?
The Washington Post did include this half-sentence deep in a story: "Obama, who has advocated strict gun-control laws and who spoke favorably about the District's handgun ban before yesterday's ruling..."
Deep in a story is also a cop-out. In fact, the Post only describes Obama as "calibrating" a position, not flip-flopping.
Democrats have lamented their inability to win more votes in rural America, and particularly in parts of the West and the South, and many have tried to calibrate their positions on guns to make themselves more acceptable to voters in those regions.
That "calibrating" is easier when reporters strenuously avoid obvious factual changes in positions.
—Tim Graham is Director of Media Analysis at the Media Research Center.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
At least
June 28, 2008 - 22:38 ET by DelsaHoward has one eye and ear open.
He is one half better than the lame brains he works and reports with.
Who knows, maybe he'll figure SOBama out BEFORE the election and actually report on it?
Plus - talk is cheap
June 28, 2008 - 22:50 ET by Dee BunkObama voted against two judges that made the decision possible and would appoint judges who would overturn it. That is what matters.
He is just not thinking any
June 29, 2008 - 00:26 ET by Kirk HallHe is just not thinking any of his views through very well. Uh uh right. Even if that is the case it is still very very scary. Calibrating positions, what about when he calibrates a decision, an important one?...Jeez.
He's re-calibrated his flag
June 29, 2008 - 08:50 ET by JerryHe's re-calibrated his flag pin wearing position. He's re-calibrated his position on Rev. Wright multiple times. Campaign finance. Gun control. Bombing Pakistan. When he campaigned on Change, we didn't know he was talking about his mind.
On the positive side, maybe he will re-calibrate his belief that terrorists aren't a threat after the 4th or 5th U.S. city is nuked.
When asked if he went to war with Iraq to derail the impeachment vote: “I don’t think any serious person would believe that any President would do such a thing." - President Clinton (Dec 1998).
An agent of change
June 29, 2008 - 00:58 ET by Cho Yi FanThis is an example "change". Senator Obama would say that he didn't flip flop he just "changed" his position. Just like he will "change" the amount of money that you take home in your pay check.
Tee hee hee it's all good!!!! Just ask him.
"A man may be killed but never humiliated."
Shaolin proverb
When it comes to documenting
June 29, 2008 - 01:28 ET by FlashmanWhen it comes to documenting the malfeasance on the left the 4th estate is in foreclosure.
Kurtz
June 29, 2008 - 02:30 ET by KC MulvilleI read this article by Kurtz, and my first thought was how nice it was that anyone noticed. Kurtz did a good job here - his article is not just generalities, but actual statements from journalists who have plainly twisted themselves to excuse Obama.
Remember, these are the same journalists who piously confess that if they had only been more skeptical, they would have challenged Bush on his rationale for the Iraq War. If only they had been more skeptical, they could have prevented the disaster ahead. And yet, faced with glaring evidence of cynical manipulation, they "overlook" it for the sake of a higher goal. Where's their skepticism now?
How many times do you gave to hear the "woo-woo" to figure out the train is coming?
Won't Get Fooled Again? Sigh!
June 29, 2008 - 09:28 ET by BacchusWell said, KC.
A respected journalistic motto used to be: We Report, You Decide. However, much of the MSM has adopted a new motto: We Decide What You Need To Know. These MSM have decided that the people they serve are incapable of interpreting the news properly without their help, that it's their duty to prune the news that doesn't fit the narrative that they believe is right for the people. This is, by definition, propaganda journalism. Kudos to Kurtz for taking it on.
Woo Woo
June 29, 2008 - 09:38 ET by Cool ArrowKC, Sure I hear that sound, but look, up ahead! There's a light at the end of this tunnel!
We're saved!
LYDSEXICS UNTIE
A very effective way to inro
June 29, 2008 - 04:45 ET by FairlightA very effective way to inro the story.
Is this becoming a
June 29, 2008 - 06:14 ET by motherbeltIs this becoming a pattern?
Ya think?????
These are flip-flops on major issues!
How much more "recalibration," "rewording" and "nuance" are we going to get from this guy while the MSM gaze at him mesmerized and chant "this is not a flip-flop...this is not a flip-flop...."
The media are completely derelict.
Shoot 'em all; let God sort 'em out! - Marge Simpson
The MSM are complicit, NOT just asleep.
June 29, 2008 - 07:48 ET by rrobinThe MSM has become SO overtly complicit in hiding the true Marxist views of Obama at every turn, on every possible issue, that their "reporting" cannot be trusted and I cannot even waste the time to bother with their "newscasts" anymore. Obama IS the greatest danger our country has faced in my generation, and our news media are more than happy to keep everyone focused on American Idol.
Imagine how long the Obama phenomenon would last if there were ANY true, honest, in depth investigative reporting out there detailing his real views on taxes, race, his economic intentions, his foreign relations intentions, or his real views on the role of government in our lives, etc. etc. etc. Wake up, folks, and wake your neighbors up too! The MSM sure won't do it. The future of our country is literally at stake, and the MSM is very complicit in hiding Obama's true intentions and agenda.
I love NewsBusters, and
June 29, 2008 - 07:45 ET by Paul GI love NewsBusters, and I love and laugh at all ur guys comments. But really, deep down this isnt funny. Our country is gonna elect a president who the MSM is all in the tank for..and We here NB know and realize that FACT, but the whole country does not read NB. I know WE all sit here and laugh at the MSM and their bias, but its REALLY not funny anymore....its serious. The MSM certainly is not going to report on the<ir> bias...the print media certainly is not going to report on the<ir>bias...Sure there are many different web sites We go to, but im afraid its only us that visit them. Sure, we all listen to Rush everyday, but someone tell me what WE can do?! Yes we have a Pres. nominee that none of us are proud of...thank you again MSM, but as we all sit here and write and read back and forth to OURSELVES...like I said its funny...but WE ARE NOT ACCOMPLISHING ANYTHING!! I am a piano player at a resort hotel and<even tho my boss doesnt like it> I stick my nose into peoples conversations, especially when they are talking politics. If they're liberal its even better. But even when I shoot down their BS with facts..I know im still not gonna change their minds. They read, listen or hear only what the MSM wants them to. So i guess what im saying is, SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME<US> WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO?!?!
Believe me, Paul, no one
June 29, 2008 - 07:53 ET by motherbeltBelieve me, Paul, no one thinks this is funny.
Shoot 'em all; let God sort 'em out! - Marge Simpson
There are so many reasons
June 29, 2008 - 08:33 ET by USA4freedomThere are so many reasons that I look at this election with utter despair.
First and foremost with me is the fact that we have such a lame a$$ candidate, that no one in the base can want. (I know.. hold your nose..) that does not spell enthusiasm with money or support.
If you look at the race from a birds eye view, you have Obama has already sewn up the left, now is moving to the middle, going after Hillary’s base, and the people that Mc Cain needs. Hillary’s base will more then likely fall in (holding their nose) because for the most part because Obama is no different then Hillary in their views. The Democratic base is going off the deep end with money. They are going to do the grunt work needed, taking people to the polls, going door to door.
On the other hand, for the most part its business as usual with the RNC. As Edward Smith (captain of the Titanic), heads for the ice field, the press is TOTALLY IN THE TANK FOR OBAMA. So with the self inflected censorship by our great leader McCain, we have less and less to fight back with or lack of will to do so. We seem to be apologizing with every breath. We hold our self to Marquess of Queensberry rules, while the Democrats bring every thing from brass knuckles to bazookas, while the MSM totally covers them.
So lets review shall we..
So lets get this right:
2005 & 2006 polls say public really P/O.
Cure for the problem: change nothing..
2006 get our clocks cleaned in election, (losing both House and Senate) Democrats learn that if they run a conservative candidates against us, they win..
Cure for the problem: change nothing..
2006 & 2007 GOP gets together and thinks about what happened, and decides to keep up spending, earmarks, chase the global warming bus, and tries to ram about 12-20 million immigrants on us. Never try to drill for more oil, or make more refineries, nuclear plants. Etc. etc..
2008, 3 special elections in “safe” Republican seats. Score Republicans 0 Democrats 3.
I’m not sure how much they pay you idiots at the head of the RNC, but here is some free advice:
Stop being such gutless wonders.
You have a serous problem when the Democrats run to the RIGHT OF US.
I know, all of those Latin votes seem almost too good not to try to get but when you P/O 80% of America, so mad they tie up the switch board, fax machine, e-mails, people calling you on the phone yelling like they have lost their minds, mailing bricks to Capital Hill. That is kind of a hint, a little heads-up, a little nudge, a gentle tap on the shoulder, whispering quietly in your ear “maybe its not what the public wants..
The RNC and Mc Cain’s answer to that?????: Mc Cain wishing everyone in Mexico happy "Cinco de Mayo day and that he is announced that Juan McCain will attend the La Raza Annual Convention in San Diego on July 14,2008. I am not kidding you.. He is so proud of it that it’s on his web site:
http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/6dfbbff2-9e17-4dd1-b2a1-87e4287e69fb.htm
When a majority of America thinks that Global warming, or Global cooling, or Global (fill in the blank) is not caused by humans, and you make speeches (John Mc Lame) of how we are going to jump on the band wagon and how its going to cost us more money. The President folds and tells us that thePolar Bears are drowning, and we need to protect them, and we cant drill for oil as the price goes through the roof, as well as food because so much is used to make gas.
Ya know, maybe the Democrats are right, maybe you in the leadershipof the RNC are just too stupid to run this country.
Hey don’t worry about us... just keep running to the left. It seems to be working for some one.. the Democrats..
PS, you can stop sending out that letter where you ask us what’s important to us, you know, the one that ask: do you think national defense is important? Check yes or no, and at the end of the letter you tell us that you need more money to make sure we get what we want.
He is a better question:
Do you want the RNC to grow a set of balls? Check: Yes or no. Send us money, and we will try to buy a set!
Ronald Reagan, 1962: I did not leave the Democratic party, the party left me.
Insert: your name, 2008, and the Republican party.
Romney / Jendil 2012 (if,we survive)
Paul I totally agree with
June 29, 2008 - 08:26 ET by USA4freedomPaul
I totally agree with you. Some times I get so tired I just don’t listen to any news. Its just depressing. That is one of the reasons that I have not been on NB as much. I guess it’s the head in the sand theory. Some times Iget so unbelievably frustrated that my head just wants to explode. (see my notebelow). I have to take some time off, (my wife’s idea when I would rant and rave at the dinner table).
I try to remember that that is part of the MSM job to knock the wind out of us but its still hard when you see the Lemmings racing each other towards the cliff.. I want to run left, no I want to run left more!!
Ronald Reagan, 1962: I did not leave the Democratic party, the party left me.
Insert: your name, 2008, and the Republican party.
Romney / Jendil 2012 (if,we survive)
→ Joy comes in the morning
June 29, 2008 - 08:40 ET by Cool ArrowDon't fret too much.
Our candidate is milquetoast. He cannot win without a miracle of major proportions.
Prepare yourself to financially weather the rough four years ahead, and remember Ronald Reagan arose from the ashes of America's last, worst decision.
What we will have after the Obama years is a legitimate claim that racism is over in America forever. Voting Obama out will be as pragmatic as voting out Carter was.
LYDSEXICS UNTIE
Paul G...Not at all one
June 30, 2008 - 22:10 ET by bigtimerPaul G...
Not at all one bit funny.
I am and have been nothing but furious...it is maddening...
I know of absolutely nothing we (conservatives) can do at this point...it is going to be what it is.
I, for one, am going to vote, we all should, but I feel nothing but desperation...let alone sadness.
Sometimes we have to laugh once in awhile to relieve stress I suppose about this whole mess.
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Wilson
Nobody said it was easy or fast. . .
June 29, 2008 - 08:25 ET by WingletDriverPaul G,
All we can do is fight the good fight. In the end, we are all judged by God--whether we believe in Him or not. Although the US has some problems with encroaching socialism, there are good signs out there:
1) More people are choosing to homeschool. This is directly because they are sick of the indoctrination that schools call education.
2) Larger families tend to be conservative so we'll win by attrition. My wife and I only have 6 kids, a small family in our church. Our parish is in Maryland (definitely a Democrat stronghold) but few families there would vote for any Dem. This is primarily because of abortion but more folks are starting to catch on to the anti-military/anti-US tone also.
3) As bad off as we are, we'll have ringside seats for Europe's collapse. They have a head start on us and implemented their socialist programs more fully than we did. If it weren't for the EU, France, Spain and Italy would have gone under by now. The UK, Germany and the emerging economies from Eastern Europe have rescued the continent, but not for long. France and Spain are still syphons for public funds and there is only so long that the Germans will pay for French freeloaders.
The one danger I see here is that when Europe's social security/socialized medicine destroy their economy, most dimwits in the US will not understand the mechanisms behind it and adopt even worse programs.
4) There are still folks like NB contributers, Dittoheads, etc. Even if the Dems pass the Fairness Doctrine, they will not be able to police the internet or XM/Sirius.
5) Europe has gotten more conservative over the last 8 years. They're still to the left of center, but at least they are starting to catch on. I still think they're killing themselves (low birth rates, non-assimilating immigrants, low productivity, unsustainable social programs) but even they have figured out that unbridled socialism (Schroeder, Chirac, the latest UK elections) isn't working.
Sorry for the long post. But, we really have no reason to be so blue (pun intended). The rest of the world looks to the US as a place of hope despite the anti-US rhetoric from the MSM and the Democrats. Why do we have so many people coming in via illegal immigration? On Bush's latest trips to Europe, the Middle East and Africa there were no protests of any kind (in fact there were a lot of folks lined up to see his motorcade). The "conservative" Pope Benedict XVI drew huge crowds and people (Catholics and Protestants) are making his books bestsellers. We have 80+ years of embedded socialism to overcome, but, like getting rid of weeds in your lawn, it's a slow process that often has setbacks.
<The rest of the world
June 29, 2008 - 09:06 ET by Seabeach4348<The rest of the world looks to the US as a place of hope despite the anti-US rhetoric from the MSM and the Democrats. >
This is true, but what Paul G. was trying to say should give all of us pause. There are only four months left until the election, and the Republicans and McCain appear to be just, well, along for the ride. I know; the big debates have not yet started, and I hope that McCain will start acting presidential by then by verbally clobbering his phony opponent.
And, like the rest of us, I have received those letters from the RNC asking about what is important and what I would like to see. I truly wonder if anyone reads them.
Two people at my office are planning on voting for BHO because "...he seems sincere..." or "...he's a really good speaker...", etc. When I pressed them for what they thought he stood for they replied "Oh, he stands for 'change'..." Then I asked the obvious question: "Change? For instance..." and I got blank and puzzled looks. (as expected) And, yes, these two people ARE more interested in American Idol and in what some of the latest dilemmas that loser actors/actresses have gotten themselves into. But.....there's two votes for the socialization of America just because of what these two people don't know what we do!
So BHO's propaganda/dumbing-down tactics are working. And the scum and preverts in the MSM are fully compliant and in foaming-at-the-mouth mode. I mean it's so bad that Obama could literally urinate on the audience, and the MSM would find something positive to spin about it.
My gut feeling is that, once again, our conservative silent majority (call it whatever) will rise as they have done before and not elect a candidate as deadly for the country as BO, but it is possible that BO could win. I just don't want to wake up wednesday morning after the election and hear the words "president elect Obama".
The Mc Cain and the RNC needs to get off their hands and start doing something to make us believe that they really want to win this election. They should have learned, by now, that being "nice" only gets them unelected.
Just another observation
June 29, 2008 - 12:16 ET by WingletDriverI'm not disagreeing with what you said, which seems pretty accurate. But don't you wish that the Republican Party had a conservative at its helm? McCain's every instinct is toward liberalism: Global warming, drilling in ANWR, energy independence, Gitmo, Gang of 14, McCain-Feingold, cutting taxes, immigration. Bush had very few conservative traits and, other than Iraq, he fought very tepidly for them. McCain has even fewer good traits and will fight against us rather than (even if only grudgingly) for us.
I'm going to ask a provocative question that is off the topic of the original news story but is germane to what we're talking about: What's wrong with Alan Keyes? A true conservative in every sense, we wouldn't have to hold our nose and vote. The one answer we'll hear is that he's unelectable, which is only true until we conservatives stop settling for such atrocious candidates as McCain. It's about time we start making the Republican party earn our votes.
I haven't received a questionnaire about what I find important, but it's sad to think that the party is so clueless it has to ask.
Questionable questionnaires
June 30, 2008 - 11:27 ET by needle“I haven't received a questionnaire about what I find important, but it's sad to think that the party is so clueless it has to ask.”
I am fairly certain that the so call questionnaires to which you are referring are STRICTLY devices to raise cash. I fully imagine that on the receiving end they have a machine that slices open the envelopes, sifts out the money, and throws away the rest unread and undisturbed. The questions are frequently asinine: Do you want the Congress to increase your taxes? Do you want the government to un-crowd our prisons by freeing all prisoners whose names begin with A thru L? Occasionally I might read and even answer one of them – I get about three or four a week; if you want, I will send you a packet of them – but they generally do not address any of the issues in a clear, effective, and unambiguous manner. So what I do is pen a note at the end saying that I have [a generous] X dollars waiting for them, if someone will personally contact me to discuss a certain inadequately addressed topic. It simply never happens. I have a fabulous idea for David Horowitz’s Freedom Center which, if they were to act on it, would make them financially independent. I have tried several ways to contact them. I could more easily have a chat with Osama bin Laden himself.
On a related note: Does it vex anyone besides me that we all pay our thousands of tax dollars to finance the pretty ineffectual status quo? Want any improvements? Send [more [and more]] money! Want English as the official US language? Send money to US English. Want Term Limits? Send money to US Term Limits. Etc. And what happens? Nothing. The fact that we cannot even get Congress to establish that English is the official US language shows to me that our government is absolutely hopeless. If the next Katrina were to hit Washington, we should declare it a national holiday.
Impunitas semper ad deteriora invitat.
Hear, Hear!! Ronald
June 30, 2008 - 21:57 ET by USA4freedomHear, Hear!!
Ronald Reagan, 1962: I did not leave the Democratic party, the party left me.
Insert: your name, 2008, and the Republican party.
Romney / Jendil 2012 (if,we survive)
I just went over to
June 29, 2008 - 08:38 ET by Paul GI just went over to American Thinker and they have an article today on this very same subject.
Doublespeak is part of the communist platform.
June 29, 2008 - 08:53 ET by CrashLighten up will you! A person can be for something and against it at the same time ... especially a liberal person.
A liberal can't even make the distinction between a "flip-flop" (John Kerry) and changing ones mind over a long period of time.
→ Crash
June 29, 2008 - 09:00 ET by Cool ArrowI am diametrically in agreement with your post.
LYDSEXICS UNTIE
→ Doublespeak
June 29, 2008 - 09:02 ET by Cool ArrowIs that anythng like "a period of negative growth"?
LYDSEXICS UNTIE
What is even sadder is that
June 29, 2008 - 09:25 ET by Rush FanWhat is even sadder is that even if we come back in 2012 with a great ticket such as Romney/Jindal as USA4freedom suggests, we will have lost the opportunity to replace with conservatives perhaps two of the current liberal Supreme Court Justices who will have retired by then.
By the way, I realize that if RINO John McCain is somehow elected this year, we still might have liberal justices selected.
-------------------------------------------------------
Which political party is invested in our defeat in Iraq?
No guiding principles
June 29, 2008 - 09:44 ET by Indiana JoeThe excuse that Obama hasn't thought through his positions seems to be true. The question is WHY hasn't he? I think it's because he has just said what he needed to get elected in the past. He started running in a Democratic arena (Chicago), and he had to appeal to the leftists to get elected.
He's now parlayed himself into a run for the Presidency, and is finding that the liberal boiler-plate isn't enough. So he's feeling his way through the issues, re-defining here, tweaking there. Re-calibrating his opinions, there's a new one. He's trying to pander on a mammoth scale.
So, is a politician who changes his views based on popular opinion really "new" and "different?" One who will say whatever it takes to get elected? He's never thought this stuff through because he didn't need to. He has no real principles of his own, and is too easily swayed in his need to win.
That's what I find most frightening about him. If elected, to what lengths is he willing to go to actually "defend and protect" our Constitution, versus self-serving "uniting?"
Nothing new here, folks; no
June 29, 2008 - 11:56 ET by motherbeltNothing new here, folks; no "new kind of politics."
Rev. Wright was right about him; he said he is a politician; he will say what he has to say as a politician.
Shoot 'em all; let God sort 'em out! - Marge Simpson