Pinkerton: MRC Got it Right on McCain

Photo of Mark Finkelstein.
  • Bookmark and Share

On last night's Fox News Watch, panelist and conservative columnist Jim Pinkerton mentioned that, when it came to analyzing the reasons for the collapse of John McCain's candidacy, Media Research Center [MRC] got it right: it was the Arizona senator's avid support for the amnesty-based immigration plan, and not his backing of the Bush Iraq policy, that did him in with GOP primary voters.
FOX NEWS WATCH PANELIST JIM PINKERTON: The mainstream media said "[McCain's] toast because of the Iraq war. In fact, he's toast because of the immigration bill, and it was only the MRC that caught that, saying the real thing that hurt him with the Republican base, the people in the primaries, was immigration and not Iraq.

View video here.

MRC [NewsBusters' parent organization] had made the point in its CyberAlert of July 11, Nets Blame Stance on Iraq, Not Immigration, for McCain's Setbacks.

This NewsBuster has written along similar lines on a number of occasions, including this item from Wednesday, 'Today' Blames McCain Implosion on War Support; Rollins Tells It Like It Is, where I observed:
If I hear one more MSM outlet ascribe the implosion of John McCain's candidacy to his support for the war in Iraq, I'm going to scream.

Also see this earlier item.

MRC/NB: bringing our readers spot-on analysis they won't get at the MSM. Kudos to Pinkerton for pointing it out.

Contact Mark at mark@gunhill.net


Comments Policy

All comments are owned by whoever posted them and are subject to our terms of use. They should not be assumed to represent the views of NewsBusters.

Viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.

Add to that his judiciary, an

Add to that his judiciary, anti-freedom campaign "reform" and tax history--becoming chummy with the dems doesn't work well, ever.  High falutin' McCain is history.  

Liberalism is a convenient lie.

Good morning Andrew,To add to

Good morning Andrew,

To add to your additions...he's basically not a very nice person, and I think his innate nastiness shows through occasionally.  It's all about John McCain, all the time. 

Too bad the MsM keeps trying to make his nose-dive about Iraq.  (And I believe his so-called popularity this go-round was a media myth).  We know better.

Good morning to you, Blonde--

Good morning to you, Blonde--sorry I can't stick around long this morning.  Most Americans want a win and this war is a long one--as promised.  You're quite right about McCain--I think his campaign will wrap it up in a few months.  Just my opinion.  The "base" remembers.

Liberalism is a convenient lie.

I'm compelled to crack one

I'm compelled to crack one more "it sure sucked here in Brevard" joke. :)  I'll also be deadly serious and point out the obvious about John McCain's imploded campaign. The spending burn rate is a metaphor for what's wrong with government now, so it's more than a bit ironic his Brevard-guy was so-damn-cheap, IMO. (PS. Now that they've figured-out it's a politician, I note the media have gotten the "R." right, as they should on ALL scandals, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Green, you-name-it, because that's Journalism 101.)
JMR

sarc,That's funny!  He's a N

sarc,

That's funny!  He's a Nole, of course.

Well, there's no end to the idiocy displayed by Florida politicians....nor to our money they glady throw away.  Here in Fort Lauderdale, the mayor wants to install a $250K toilet to prevent "illegal sex".  Hmmm...maybe this would work for Brevard County's elected official's "big misunderstanding".

Exactly! These very-romanti

Exactly! These very-romantic public restrooms we have in this state are clearly a hazard!! Oh, and everyone please pray that I win today at poker. :)
JMR

(PS. Now that they've figu

(PS. Now that they've figured-out it's a politician, I note the media have gotten the "R." right, -sarcasmo

But the question is, do you think they would have printed D-Merritt Island, or just Robert Allen of Merritt Island?

Just askin'.......

Surprisingly, considering t

Surprisingly, considering the name, in my personal experience, the Tallahassee Democrat is IMO a bit LESS partisan than papers in larger FL cities like Orlando, Miami, St. Pete, Tampa....So in the case of this paper, I'd hope they practice actual old-fashioned Journalism-101 (BTW, that's what we all need to start-calling this "put the party initial, dammit!" issue!).
JMR

McCain

Hey Blonde remember his stand with Bush on the war is not real ie his stand against all "torture" even if a little cold water or sleep deprevation might save the lives of our great military men and women.   Who's side is he really on, you can't win a war being Mr. nice guy!!!!!! The Lord knows weve tried.  Stop prosecuting our soldeiers for doing what soldiers are supposed to do. You are right, it's not just one thing it's the whole person,  Mr. McCain get a grip. Go back to AZ if they will even have you,

Reporting or Campaigning?

Good points all.  However, those other McCain short-comings do not negate the elephant in the room that Mark/MRC/NB has steadfastly pointed out which Pinkerton confirms.  That elephant being McCain's stance on illegal immigration/border security/amnesty which as highlighted today was the proverbial nail in McCain's presidential bid coffin.

It would serve all Republican candidates and those currently in office to take note of this hard lesson taught to McCain by the Republican base.

More importantly, nor do those other issues that hurt McCain, correctly addressed on NB and elsewhere that negatively influence conservative support, change the absurdity of the demedia claim that McCain's support for the Iraq war was the single issue inflicting the mortal wound to his campaign bid.  Quite the contrary.  McCain's support for finishing the job in Iraq was the only life support keeping him afloat.

It is clear this is just another ploy by the demedia to influence McCain and his fellow Republican candidates to change their support for Iraq.  Once again the demedia attempts to shape the news rather than report the news in an effort to convince voters that remaining in Iraq is a flawed concept yielding a negative outcome,  This is the same demedia Iraq tunnel vision that wrongly stated the outcome of last years election was a clear mandate against the Iraq war. Ironically, after multiple attempts to cut-off funding for the war these elected officials haven't succeeded in achieving this supposed mandate.  So much for a clear mandate (must be a synonym for concensus).  Yet the demedia would have us believe that Iraq was the cause of McCain's failed campaign?

elephant in the room

What really is interesting about this is that Pinkerton's observation reveals a deeper naivete of the MSM.  Seems to me that few if any members of the MSM report on the immigration issue and its implications to the proper extent.  I think the immigration issue is as big if not bigger than even the Iraq issue.  This is especially true of voters like me who live in a community rife with problems and expenses associated with illegals.  Those of us who experience the scourge everyday will definitely vote against vacillators like McCain who refuse to take a tough stand against amnesty and the immigration bill.  Being from Arizona, McCain should know better. 

(this quick anecdote: last week an adminstrator from our local Health Department called the local hospital and wanted to know why illegals were being pressured for some kind of payment for emergency room care.  He was told that the hospital, which is going broke by the way, was trying to stop the illegals  from using the emergency room for every small ache and pain that they have, i.e. an illegal had recently come in complaining of athlete's foot.)

Catherwood, I must disagree w

Catherwood, I must disagree with your perception of "naivete" on the part of the LibMedia.  They do not exhibit "unaffected plainness or ingenuousness".  They are very disingenuous in their reporting on the Iraqi theater of the War on Terror, illegal immigration (wherein they seem to always neglect to use the word "illegal" when reporting on illegal immigration), the economy, and so forth.  The LibMedia is merely the propaganda organ for the Democrat Party, and they will cover up as much as possible for any Democrat caught up in scandal, while exposing any Republican.  They'll even make up a scandal <cough*macaca*cough> in an attempt to discredit a Republican or Libertarian.  No, Catherwood, the LibMedia is anything but naive.

"A communist is someone who reads Marx.  An anti-communist is someone who understands Marx."  Ronald Reagan

the definition of is is

Mike

yep, naive may have been an inauspicious root  for expressing that idea.  I do want you to grok my point, though.  Neither the msm or the politicos fathom the depth of destruction and antiAmericanism associated with illegal immigration.  My point is that unless you lived in a community razed and pillaged by the illegals, you/they cannot possibly understand the destruction being wrought.  I have seen things, lived through things, and made decisions about things that, I think, the media has no idea about.  Neither do most citizens....the whole country is basically naive unless you live in what are now Mexican villages.

Seems to me that few if an

Seems to me that few if any members of the MSM report on the immigration issue and its implications to the proper extent. - catherwood

The only coverage the MSM seems to want to give to the illegal immigration issue (could we please start referring to it by its rightful name, not just "immigration"?) is that which refers to opponents as bigoted racists who want to deprive deserving folks their chance at a better life.

I sincerely believe it was a

I sincerely believe it was all about "IMMIGRATION" and nothing at all to do with Iraq.  It is so odd that there is such a disconnect between Congress (and the president) and the people on this issue.  I feel as though I am living in a foreign country - these congressional representatives must be living in a DC bubble!

BUILD THE DARN FENCE!!  ENFORCE THE LAWS!!  DEPORT THOSE HERE ILLEGALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How could John McCain possibly not understand that his support for this horrible bill will probably cost him his Senate seat???  Again, the only thing I can justify any of Congress' actions with is that DC bubble!

CC---see my post above...it

CC---see my response to Catherwood above...it's not about immigration...it's about ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION.

See how they have distorted the debate? Let's not adopt their preferred terminology, which makes it seem like opponents are against something that's perfectly OK.

Mark, the MSM take on McCain has nothing to do with reality.

Mark, the MSM take on McCain has nothing to do with reality.

1.  They cannot stop blaming the war stance because they are invested in defeat as are the Democrats.  If the US actually wins, they will look like the anti-American pro-terrorist cause supporters they really are.

2.  They cannot admit that McCain(ism) over the past 5 years has been nothing but a MSM creation and he is only a legend in their minds.

3.  They can only use McCain now as a club to bash Bush if they build up his pro-America stand as being the only reason he is losing and lost it.

4.  The reality would be that whatever the MSM cites as a reason for nearly anything is totally wrong and only used to shore up their agenda to the 'big' picture.

Pretty much says it all.

McCain's support of immigration and the campaign finance stuff is irrelevant to the MSM's agenda.

ACA

...

Quoted from:  'Acaiguana Notes from the Bomb Shelter' (soon to be a movie at theaters near you)

Aca - Right on #1, Right on #

Aca - Right on #1, Right on #2, Right on #3 and Right on #4!!!  You win the jackpot!

Except that he fell into th

Except that he fell into the "immigration" trap, too.

Aca, you are mostly right on

Aca, you are mostly right on #2.  McCain is a legend in his own mind.  I really don't think he was a legend in the collective mind of the media; he was only a tool used to bash Bush.  When he could be used in this manner, he was a "maverick".  When he could not be used in this manner, he was savaged or ignored by the press.

"A communist is someone who reads Marx.  An anti-communist is someone who understands Marx."  Ronald Reagan

I agree with Jim.It was about

I agree with Jim.It was about the amnesty bill.The msm does understand it but would drather push "It's about Iraq" for their own agenda.I guess msm feels if they lie enough about it then it will be the truth.Get em Jim.

I agree about amnesty--but it isn't--

I agree about amnesty--but it isn't--the only issue. He is getting quite waspish in his behavior. He is exhibiting irascibility and intolerance of the feelings of his constituents. As an older person, I understand some of the actions he has displayed lately. I have seen some of the same changes in associates of mine. He certainly let it be known that the opinion of the man in the street were far inferior to his. It is time for him to step down.

Lest you jump all over me re: the age issue--I see, hear and read many public figures his age or older who do not display the same attitude of empirical superiority. He has lost it!

McCains new brainwaave

Now that he's cleaned house by firing all those past advisors who no doubt advised him not to be pushing so hard for the base-unpopular Shamnesty Bill...

Has anyone else heard McCain's latest effort to please conservative primary voters...

His first act if elected President will be to close Gitmo.

Sure that sounds great. But only if it entails executing all the inmates the day before the gate clangs shut for the last.

Otherwise, you might wanna go back to the drawing board on THAT policy John.

Unless, of course, McCain is thinking of eventually running as an Independent slash Maverick?

You've seen the spoof. Now see the spoof of the spoof on YouTube: The Clintpranos: Bada Bong

...and lets not forget his no

...and lets not forget his non-torture bill in the Senate either.

Among tons of others that are NOT conservative values...including voting against being self-dependent here in this country with our own oil....we only needed one more vote and we would be more than half way of having oil coming from ANWR by now.

McCain needs to realize he has a fork stuck in him...he is done...by his own doing...it had absolutely nothing to do with his support of the war as the msm knows well but will repeat as often as possible the opposite.

I also wonder how he is liking the McCain/Feingold bill he passed by now with his campaign finance BS...he will most likely have to stick it out now if he is stupid enough to and take public money...lol.

Illegal Immigration is going to get others yet too....time will tell...heheheee

BigtimerKudos,I was going t

Bigtimer

Kudos,I was going to write the same things that you have highlighted about the traitor and Manchurian candidate John McCain.

The MSM media has not come close to analyzing what is happening with people in this country.

Illegal Immigration for sure is the number one issue but there are other aspects which the media ignores. Right along with Illegal Immigration is the out sourcing of American Jobs and Industry to foreign countries.

The middle class is being destroyed and Americans are finally realizing it because Illegals are taking American jobs. Ask any carpenter or cement contractor in Los Angeles.

They refuse to see the hundreds of thousands of American workers that have lost their jobs to H1B visa holders or have seen their company relocate to a foreign country.

Free Trade and Globalism is not selling well now that Americans are losing their jobs and finding they will have to work two at WalMart and McDonald's to make up the difference.

McCain is a big free trader and supported NAFTA and CAFTA. He had a tin ear when his constituents repeatedly raised these concerns at town hall meetings.

Remember the lettuce comment he made about the "jobs Americans will not do"?

I also agree with about ANWAR and the fact so many conservative Politicians do not realize the public is not buying the global warming/Fossil Fuels are running out nonsense they are shoving down our throats.

Americans want our domestic resources exploited and want new oil refineries.They are sick and tired of paying high prices to foreign dictators and having their liberties taken away because of it.

Anyways...have a nice Sunday evening!

Is this Mexico or the USA

}}----> Good post Scotty

And don't we feel smug with the price of produce being so cheap for so long.  Meanwhile our kids are disconnected from the correlation between working and eating.  They're about as likely to do jail time as succeed in business.

Good thing we have an unlimited supply of permanent underclass servants to pick our veggies for us.

Thank you Mr. McCain

LYDSEXICS UNTIE!

Free trade and globalism are

Free trade and globalism are GREAT.  Don't believe me?  Then hit the supermarket sometime.  I'd rather have competition for my dollar, rather than feed some bloated unions.

Protectionism really doesn't work out too well.  Check out the Corn Laws of England sometime.  Also, hit a supermarket in Japan and see the exorbitant prices that are paid there due to the monopoly the Japanese farmers have there.

And as for this endless whining about how "the middle class is being destroyed": sounds like someone else wants to have their cake and eat it too.  Sure, jobs are being outsourced from the United States...only to be replaced by jobs being outsourced TO the United States.  Anytime one buys a Toyota Tacoma, they boost the economy of San Antonio, as that is where they are made.  Seems to me that the middle class in San Antonio is benefitting from the globalization you so hate.

MAKE WAY FOR THE SAN ANTONIO SPURS!!!  THE 1999, 2003, 2005, AND 2007 NBA CHAMPIONS!!!!

}}----> Sorta right Unsane.

I agree in theory, Unsane.

Just one small correction.  California makes the Tacoma.  San Antonio makes the Mighty Tundra.

LYDSEXICS UNTIE!

UnsaneI am glad your happy

Unsane

I am glad your happy about your fellow American being thrown out of work so you can get your discount items produced in China by child labor camps.

For example Apple,The Apple I-Pod is manufactured in child labor camps where children are forced to work 16-18 hours a day.

I have debated this issue with you before Unsane and we will never agree.

We do not have free trade today. Just look at the VAT tax and tell me we have free trade.

What are the replacement jobs for the computer programmers and engineers?

Where are the replacement factories that have gone to China and Mexico?

You are so far out of touch on this issue that it boggles the mind.

I hope your job is secure but I doubt it unless it is a government job.

Is this Mexico or the USA

My wallet is very important

My wallet is very important to me.  For instance, when I was in Korea, I ordered 5 three-piece suits made, and they were custom-tailored to me.  All if them cost me $1000.  Had I come over here and gotten 5 three-piece suits custom tailored, I MIGHT be lucky to spend $1000 for a jacket. 

But your solution, of course, is to FORCE me to spend the extra money anyway, because I am throwing Americans out of work (never mind the tailors threw themselves out of work by pricing themselves out of the market).

The problem is that you want to see the entire world as a zero-sum game.  Additionally, you want to have your cake and eat it too.  How about my fellow Americans that have been thrown out of work when a major AFB closed, only to get hired later on by a Japanese automaker? 

We DO have free trade.  Let me take you through a produce warehousing facility, and then look me in the eyes and say we don't. 

Oh, and by the way...NO JOB IS SECURE.  YOu can look at the government as your jobs-protection agency all day long, but even then, NO JOB IS SECURE.  The ONLY way to secure your job is to work harder than your competition, and be of high value to your employer.

I don't look to the government to cradle me from Big Bad Competition as you seem to want it to.  The government is not a jobs protection agency.  Europe has been trying this for years and it has only been burning them; just look at France's 8-9% unemployment rate, and its jobs and markets are among the most coddled in the world.

Compete, or die.

Res tantum valet quantum vendi potest.

There's mass unemployment in

There's mass unemployment in the US. Wow.

I never knew that. Even so, it is a fact that labor laws in China would be the responsibility of uh, China.

Surely you are not suggesting a quasi-imperialist interference by the US in the laws of a sovereign state. This could be war!

Isn't it the height of arrogance for white people to tell yellow people how they should organize their culture.

You've seen the spoof. Now see the spoof of the spoof on YouTube: The Clintpranos: Bada Bong

Jack, you are right. Absol

Jack, you are right. Absolutely. Kind of like telling the Arabs in Iraq how to organize their culture (even when the government there tells us we can leave). Oh wait, we're fighting the terrorists that flew planes into the towers on 9/11. No, Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11. Hmmm, why are we telling the Arabs how to organize their culture?

Well?

What, Blame?  Is democracy only good enough for YOU? 

And of course you are positively ACHING for our troops to leave Iraq on the slightest excuse, never mind that it is better to kill the terrorists in downtown Baghdad than in downtown Houston.  That's because like any other Leftist who desperately wants a Nanny State, as you have indicated in the past, you are running around with your empty nursing bottle, crying for the nearest bureaucrat to fill it for you instead of filling it yourself. 

Res tantum valet quantum vendi potest.

I said &quot;yellow people.&q

I said "yellow people." There's a billion of them, and they are clever little buggers and have been a coherent civilization for two millenniums.

The moment they start flying planes into buildings I'll revise my views.

As regards Iraq and other state sponsors of islamo-terrorists, I'm more interested in imposing our military might.  I could care less whether they take or reject Western "culture."

Though as Winston Churchill noted in 1899,  it would benefit them immensely (socially, economically, and politically) if they abandoned their current religio-cultural thinking.

But that's up to them. If they want to treat woman as second class serfs, who are we to stop them.

You've seen the spoof. Now see the spoof of the spoof on YouTube: The Clintpranos: Bada Bong

I know you said yellow peop

I know you said yellow people. I was making the comparison to the war in Iraq and how we are the great saviours bringing them our form of government and culture.

The very fact that you use the derogatory term "yellow people" says enough. The rest can be written off to bigotry.

And don't try to cloak it in some faux patriotic reasoning. It's a bigotted way of speaking.

Oh really. What color are you

Oh really. What color are you?

You've seen the spoof. Now see the spoof of the spoof on YouTube: The Clintpranos: Bada Bong