For those who say that the Maverick can't learn a new lesson, Bloomberg has a story that proves John McCain has at least learned this lesson; the media is not his friend. Pronouncing that McCain's "longtime love affair" between himself and the media is "on the rocks," Bloomberg reports on how McCain has been distancing himself from the media of late. Naturally, Bloomberg takes a few shots along the way, too.
It seems that, instead of placing the blame on the media where it belongs for its mistreatment of McCain and its sycophancy for Obama, Bloomberg seems to suggest that it is the fault of McCain's new campaign manager who, Bloomberg gravely tells us, was "close to Karl Rove."
Some of the campaign's new approach may coincide with the bigger role taken by (Steve) Schmidt, who was close to Karl Rove, a former campaign manager and White House aide to President George W. Bush, known for keeping a tight grip on press access to his boss.
Sorry, but it wasn't Steve Schmidt's fault that Time Magazine has had Obama on its cover 7 times in a year while only giving McCain that benefit twice during the same time period! Nor was it Steve Schmidt that just called VP pick and Alaska Governor Sarah Palin "like Caligula," well known as one of the most debauched and mentally ill of Rome's ancient emperors. Nor was it Schmidt that has indulged in the lowest sort of glee at raking over the media coals the life of a teenaged girl and a Down Syndrome baby.
Naturally, Bloomberg doesn't present any exact statement by the McCain camp or McCain himself stating directly that the "longtime love affair" is over. But we do get another spurious interview by an "expert" that Bloomberg happened to dredge up to add some useless and meaningless points to the story.
"There are a lot of people who don't like the press anymore and think they're out of control; attacking the messenger isn't a terrible political strategy," said Darrell West, a scholar at the Brookings Institution in Washington who has written several books on the mass media.
Don't "like" the press "anymore"? So, this "expert" is claiming it is merely a "political strategy"? There is an apologist, eh? The media had no hand in McCain’s new attitude?
I'm not sure he realized it, but this so-called expert made an admission of the bias and vindictiveness of the press, though.
Yet, it may also have pitfalls. `"You still need the press to get your message out and if you have an antagonistic relationship it can blow up in your face," West said.
Yeah, "pitfalls" like the press will unfairly turn on you! He just admitted that the press is not unbiased, but are vindictive and mean spirited. Of course, this is already well known!
In any case, the story does lay out some of McCain's more recent examples of pique directed at his once loving press corps. McCain used to jokingly call the press his "base." Perhaps he's finally realized that they were lying to him the whole time!
I won't say I told you so Senator.
OK, yes I will.
(Photo credit: The New York observer)
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Comments Policy
Yes. It was decided at the monthly rightwing nutjob meeting.
September 2, 2008 - 09:32 ET by JWFKarl is still large and in charge baby! Cheney still shot me in the butt with a paintball during the monthly paintball competition. And this time I was just a referee!
JWF
September 2, 2008 - 09:35 ET by Cool ArrowBetter put some ice on that.
Rocky & Bullwinkle '08
McCain's been warned
September 2, 2008 - 09:34 ET by Adam_MEA lot of conservative pundits, especially Rush, have warned him for months that the media would turn on him the moment he clinched the GOP nomination. Now even I have to admit that the press has sunk to a new low with their treatment of Sarah Palin, but McCain should've known that at least some of this unfavorable coverage was coming.
As for Palin, I will be very curious to see how the voters feel about all this mudslinging. Remember that Hillary who had unfavorable ratings over 50% managed to turn the tide when she became a sympathetic figure(especially when she shed tears right before New Hampshire). Will the same happen for Palin?
Yes, tears please!
September 2, 2008 - 09:37 ET by Mica the MagnificentAt her speech on Wednesday, Palin should tear up as she begs the MSM to lay off her daughter.
A 25% bump in the polls the next day for McCain/Palin
No Tears!
September 2, 2008 - 09:54 ET by BlondeNo way.
She needs to seriously and specificially take the media to task, and call them out on their obvious double standard. To wit, John Edwards, anyone? At the time that broke, he was in serious contention for the dem VP slot. NYT's refusal? Hogwash!
We have a huge opportunity to force the media to eat crow.
And Sarah Palin can serve it up...."Bon Appetit".
<BIG EDIT> See the blog post that just showed up directly above this one....New York Times....the media standard in double standards. Sheesh!
David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive
Blonde, not even a little tear?
September 2, 2008 - 10:19 ET by Mica the MagnificentShe should absolutely be serious and specific.
But a little tear or two to get the Oprah and The View crowd to tear up as well may activate some long dormant brain cells in these people, and maybe even a few in the MSM.
She won't be talking about politics, she'll be defending her family.
It boosted Hillary's numbers, and she was tearing up about herself!
No, not one teeny, tiny tear
September 2, 2008 - 10:32 ET by BlondeShe won't be talking about politics, she'll be defending her family.
Does a momma bear cry? Hell, no! She kills the threat, forthwith.
David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive
I'll agree with you out of fear
September 2, 2008 - 10:37 ET by Mica the MagnificentI have a feeling you're a momma bear.
Can't argue Blonde
September 2, 2008 - 10:38 ET by Cool ArrowA total in-your-face slapdown from Gov. Palin is what they deserve with not so much as a blink.
Rocky & Bullwinkle '08
A Palin Quote from last month,
September 2, 2008 - 12:31 ET by IamTinmanDo you know the difference between a hockey Mom and a pit bull?
Lipstick!!
I agree Blonde - no tears
September 2, 2008 - 10:40 ET by Dee Bunkshe needs to prove she's tough first.
Wow, I forgot about Oprah
September 2, 2008 - 10:38 ET by Adam_MEI know Oprah's in the tank for Obama, but if Palin makes the rounds on the talk shows, she'll win over the hearts of voters in no time. That's why this line of attack by the media is so stupid. It sets her up perfectly as a victim.
Oprah wont' allow her on
September 2, 2008 - 10:41 ET by Dee BunkShe cries for Obama
The only reason the media
September 2, 2008 - 09:36 ET by BruzillaThe only reason the media played up to McCain was because he was always willing to trash Bush. Anytime they needed some "Republican" to bad mouth other Republicans, McCain was their go-to useful idiot. Now that he no longer has his useful-idiot status, he is of no use to them and he can't deal with that.
Bingo
September 2, 2008 - 09:51 ET by jondelwicheI agree fully. He was useful as a"maverick" bashing the right.
Oddly, Lieberman never got the same media love for his bashing
of the left. Odd, huh? :o)
Palin is the only reason I may vote for this ticket.
If you're willing to make
September 2, 2008 - 10:30 ET by BruzillaIf you're willing to make your choice based an a completely inexperienced VP who has misued her authority, supported the succession of her state from the United States, and who thinks letting her 17-yr old daughter marry some 18-year old guy with no education or career is a good idea... then you derserve the kind of piss-poor leadership they will provide if they get elected.
I've seen you on two other threads today,
September 2, 2008 - 12:36 ET by IamTinmanand you've been wrong every time.
Go back to Daily Kos! At least there you might raise the level of intelligent discourse.
There are no pitfalls
September 2, 2008 - 09:47 ET by Dee Bunkbefore the petty attacks, they were just ignoring him. This statment isn't true
"`"You still need the press to get your
message out and if you have an antagonistic relationship it can blow up
in your face," West said. "
Bad press is better than no press. It was all Obama all the time before and even though most people realized they were biased, this new petty nastiness will show people that listening to these despicable people's opinions is the wrong thing to do.
The press and thier golden boy will suffer for this.
"steve schmidt is close to karl rove"
September 2, 2008 - 09:48 ET by larry on LIif that is truely the case, then mccain is is good hands.i love the fact that the msm and bho's camp are really concerned about the addition of sarah palin. the first debate between palin and biden will be extremely telling, regarding the the success of mcains campaign.just to make it a fair debate ,the obama camp should see to it that "plugs" stays away from the sauce.
Karl Rove
September 2, 2008 - 13:43 ET by NorthCoasterWouldn't you like to see and hear the paroxisms of anger if Karl Rove signed on to the McCain team? What a show that would be.
Karl has been a marvelous voice as a political pundit on Fox News. He's obviously Conservative but he was making suggestions for Democrat Candidates to improve their campaigns durng the primary season.
Presidential Tickets and political posturing
September 2, 2008 - 09:49 ET by akhajawallDear NBers.... I have edited this spam out.
WTH
Ok. I am weighing it all.
September 2, 2008 - 11:44 ET by JWFBut what is up with the quotes? Who exactly are you quoting? They most certainly do not look like titles of books or movies? Those are all common words found in the dictionary. And why capitalize Right in Right ticket? What about Strong?
Ok. Done weighing. Going for Gramps and the Hot Babe. Sorry.
JWF: I don't think the
September 2, 2008 - 11:53 ET by KillgraveJWF: I don't think the "colonel" is going to answer your questions. You will have better luck talking to the robots at Disney World. At least they're more cheerful and entertaining.
Yes.
September 2, 2008 - 12:15 ET by JWFThis guy is all over the internet like a bad rash with this very same post.
How did a robot register with an account?
This from an August 4th blog after a similar rant.
September 2, 2008 - 12:56 ET by IamTinmanSome friendly advice to all readers of this blog or any other political blog:
COL. A.M. Khajawall (Ret) is a fraud. There is no one by that name listed in the USAR or any other branch of the US military. I checked.
He is a professional blogger (do a Google search) and does not deserve anyone's reply of "with all due respect" for his alleged military title.
He needs professional psychiatric help for making these bogus claims about his military service - he believes that lends credibility to his postings.
This fraud deserves to be arrested for impersonating a US military officer.
MESPEAK: Now I don't know whether he exists or not, but this veterans vote counts as much as his and McCain/Palin will get it!
Not only does Bloomberg
September 2, 2008 - 09:51 ET by mattmNot only does Bloomberg fail to correctly identify the media as the culprit, they mislabel the players. It's not McCain's love-affair with the media that has ended, it's been their love-affair with him. And it ended the minute he became the presumptive nominee. So, not only are the media biased and hypocritical, they're completely out of step with reality.
I really have to disagree
September 2, 2008 - 10:36 ET by BruzillaI really have to disagree with you. The MSM didn't set up the media lounge area on McCain's jet... the MSM didn't set up the Straight Talk Express bus and invite themselves to come in and make themselves at home with McCain. That was all McCain's doing.
McCain loved the media because they would soak up everything he said without question, and show him all the respect that Conservatives refused to... but that was only because of his useful idiot role. Now he's acting just like a jilted lover.
For a minute there I though
September 2, 2008 - 12:20 ET by mattmFor a minute there I though you might have a bit of a point, but then I thought about it. Having a PR operation to get your message out is not "having a love affair with the media." The fact is the media love him when they saw him as a thorn in the side of his Party, but now that he's the candidate, he's back to being the enemy again.
My problem with McCain on this was that he didn't realize he was being used. Maybe now he has learned his lesson. He should feel like a jilted lover, but he also should have seen this coming.
Mattm (and kg) they [MSM] simply run the show.
September 2, 2008 - 11:03 ET by Gary HallMattm. As I started to reply, I see that kg (just below in the thread) is on to the rule of "MSM" law. The media's "love-affair" existed only because McCain, being more moderate, had the strength of character to stand up against who the MSM sees as the ultimate enemy, the conservative base of the Republican party, from time to time. That's why they liked him. However, early in the R primary races, they seemed to go harder on McCain, fearing that he was the best chance the R's had to keep the white house - they're simply playing the field. Now that McCain is the candidate - they are in attack mode each and every day.
This same media has spent years introducing, then promoting, Obama as their future candidate. Not sure for the first several months of the D(ic) primary season as to which could win in the 2008 contest, they played it rather wishy-wasy for a while - a little back and forth. Then as soon as bits of trouble for Hillary bubbled to the surface, and it became more clear that Obama's campaign machine was capable of winning the general election - this same media pulled off their mink gloves and went rather strongly after the Clinton's, throwing all the excitment of something trickling down Chris Matthew's leg behind Obama.
Naturally, as soon as Obama's nomination becomes assured, they back off of Hillary - and suddenly they are the dream machine.
Bottom line here. As always, just as in local and statewide races, the media plays the game to get both their favorite Democrat into the final race, and their least favorite Republican in for the defeat.
This time McCain won the R nomination, in spite of their medeling, but once again the gloves are off.
There never was any love.
The media is friendly to
September 2, 2008 - 10:46 ET by kgThe media is friendly to Republican only till they get what they want. It's about time McCain woke up. He does have them to thank for his nomination though.
"Forget change, I want improvement!"
I don't know about her
September 2, 2008 - 10:57 ET by marpelI don't know about her husband and the media, but I'd like to find media comments on Cindy's fabulous dress at the convention last night. She's my age, and I only wished I could wear a dress like that!! She looked breathtaking!!!
Cindy McCain is like Princess Di
September 2, 2008 - 11:07 ET by Dee BunkShe's all class when it comes to her wardrobe and philanthropy.
Princess Di
September 2, 2008 - 11:14 ET by Cool ArrowThis is getting a little too fluffy.
Rocky & Bullwinkle '08
Cindy McCain
September 2, 2008 - 11:18 ET by MrShyIs it just me, or does Cindy bear a pretty good resemblance to Joanne Woodward?
* * * SOCKS THE CAT '08 * * *
For REAL Change
Yeah Shy - I see the resemblance
September 2, 2008 - 11:22 ET by Dee Bunkbut Cindy is More attractive in my opinion.
Dee
September 2, 2008 - 11:30 ET by MrShyI would agree. No disrespect to Joanne, either, but she has a more normal face, whereas Cindy's is a bit more... glamorous.... for lack of a better word I can find.
* * * SOCKS THE CAT '08 * * *
For REAL Change
exotic maybe
September 2, 2008 - 11:42 ET by Dee Bunkshe's more unique looking - that usually means less attractive but not in her case.
Just to drag this on because it will irritate some... Sarah Palin reminds me of Gena Davis not Tammy Fay. I don't think Fay is attractive - the only thing they have in common is the glasses and the hair color.
Cindy McCain does look a
September 2, 2008 - 13:11 ET by marpelCindy McCain does look a lot like a younger JoAnn Woodward. She has gorgeous eyes. In my younger days, I used to be quite a "fashionista" and that dress last night was just exquisite. It looked like a Carolina Herrera, but who knows? Anyway, yes, we've all annoyed our fellow bloggers on here, so I will shut up for now.
PS, Sarah Palin looks like a prettier, smarter version of Tina Faye. She's lovely. She's smart, and if you tick her off, she can shoot a gun. Most men, here in Texas, find that extremely attractive. LOL
I had
September 2, 2008 - 13:54 ET by NorthCoastera hunch (almost said feeling-haha) that when John McCain was waiting to talk to his wife before making his final decision on a VP, that there was at least one woman on the short list.
Wise choices again and again.
Keep the MSM at an arms distance they are only your friends when they can use you to their own advantage. They have promoted their own agenda for so long that they think it is the fair thing to do.
So, McCain finally gets it.
September 2, 2008 - 11:45 ET by R D HelmBetter late than never, I guess.
-Dave.
McCain is a wily political veteran,
September 2, 2008 - 12:25 ET by IamTinmanHe knows as well as anyone what hyenas the press are and how quick they are to turn on someone when they smell blood. He also knows what low regard the media are held in by the average american. Even lower than congress which is currently about 9%. John McCain and Sarah Palin are much more in touch with the average american than Empty Suit Obama and Motormouth Biden even with much of the media solidly in the tank for the left.
To Johm Mc Cain...
September 2, 2008 - 16:31 ET by Tim the EnchanterGlad you finally noticed the 800 pound gorilla in the living room. Most of us here already had, though...
800 lb Gorilla
September 2, 2008 - 16:35 ET by Cool ArrowThe man who claimed at Saddleback he didn't know why he again hasn't been chosen as Miss Congeniality in the Senate, chose a runningmate who was voted that honor in the Miss Alaska Pageant.
Rocky & Bullwinkle '08