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McCain Media Attacks Become Entrenched Part of Strategy
September 02, 2008 8:13 PM
This McCain vs. the Media meme has been percolating for a few months.
I can't say that I don't understand the frustrations of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and his campaign team.
Empirically, according to studies and ombudsmen, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., is on TV and on newspaper front pages more often.
And in my personal view -- speaking for myself only -- I can certainly see why McCainiacs would be frustrated with the media as a whole.
(To be fair, there are other studies, such as this one, saying that Obama gets more negative coverage. On the other hand, one of those studies cited as evidence of negativity me saying, quite factually, that, according to polls, "far more Americans say John McCain would be a good commander in chief than Obama." That's not negative, that's a fact, and it's Obama's biggest vulnerability. But I digress.)
That said, amidst the McCain campaign's feelings that the New York Times and MSNBC and others will never give them a fair shake, they could be seen as losing perspective.
Some of this is, of course, a pose. "Annoy the Media. Vote Bush," read the bumper sticker that President George H.W. Bush brandished during the 1992 GOP convention. (The Boston Globe recalls this today in a blog post: "Annoy the media, defend Palin.")
Hence, we will see former Sen. Fred Thompson, R-Tenn., tonight, according to the Weekly Standard, say, "What a breath of fresh air Gov. Sarah Palin is. She is from a small town, with small town values, but that's not good enough for those folks who are attacking her and her family. Let's be clear, the selection of Gov. Palin has the other side and their friends in the media in a state of panic. She is a courageous, successful reformer, who is not afraid to take on the establishment."
That's all fine and well. Red meat for the base.
But McCain's campaign has spent much of the day complaining that CNN's Campbell Brown went "over the line" in her interview with McCain spox Tucker Bounds last night.
Check it out for yourself:
See anything unfair in there?
The McCain campaign says the questions were so beyond the pale, they canceled McCain's appearance on "Larry King Live" tonight.
McCain-Palin spox Maria Comella says, “As a presidential campaign, we reserve the right to adjust Sen. McCain’s media schedule in order to ensure the most effective use of his time. After a relentless refusal by certain on-air reporters to come to terms with John McCain’s selection of Alaska’s sitting governor as our party’s nominee for vice president, we decided John McCain’s time would be better served elsewhere."
Then there's this "prickly" TIME interview with a reporter McCain was once fond of, Jay Carney. You can hear Carney's confusion.
TIME: There's a theme that recurs in your books and your speeches, both about putting country first, but also about honor. I wonder if you could define honor for us?
McCain: Read it in my books.
TIME: I've read your books.
McCain: No, I'm not going to define it.
TIME: But honor in politics?
McCain: I defined it in five books. Read my books.
TIME: [Your] campaign today is more disciplined, more traditional, more aggressive. From your point of view, why the change?
McCain: I will do as much as we possibly can do to provide as much access to the press as possible.
TIME: But beyond the press, sir, just in terms of ...
McCain: I think we're running a fine campaign, and this is where we are.
TIME: Do you miss the old way of doing it?
McCain: I don't know what you're talking about.
TIME: Really? Come on, Senator.
McCain: I'll provide as much access as possible ...
TIME: In 2000, after the primaries, you went back to South Carolina to talk about what you felt was a mistake you had made on the Confederate flag. Is there anything so far about this campaign that you wish you could take back or you might revisit when it's over?
McCain: [Does not answer.]
TIME: Do I know you? [Says with a laugh.]
McCain: [Long pause.] I'm very happy with the way our campaign has been conducted, and I am very pleased and humbled to have the nomination of the Republican Party.
Yikes.
At some point, the media is going to want to ask Gov. Palin questions.
And some of those questions are going to be tough -- as mayor of Wasilla, did she, in fact, seek to ban books at a local library, for instance, as one rival claims?
And I don't know how much the American people will think those questions unfair, or how well complaining about those questions will play.
- jpt
September 2, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (129)
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Tim, great. Than we're all happy. Right?
Posted by: Willem van Oranje | Sep 2, 2008 11:01:18 PM
TIM TELL US WHY YOU THINK SO
Posted by: rodney | Sep 2, 2008 11:01:13 PM
tim: "what would you say if i said marxism runs through every fiber of obamas?"
Can I answer this one?
Yawn.
Posted by: Willem van Oranje | Sep 2, 2008 11:00:23 PM
willem...
im just asking because you guys seem to be so against her? im just asking, in all honestly, what makes you think shes a bad choice? i feel she was a great choice. possibly better than the republican nominee as a matter of fact... lol
Posted by: tim | Sep 2, 2008 10:59:38 PM
Tim: "what makes palin a bad choice for v.p for mccain??"
You've got to figure that one out yourself, my boy.
When the arguments why she would be a good VP doesn't catch on with voters and are laughed out of the ballpark, you've got a problem. It's your problem, not ours.
Posted by: Willem van Oranje | Sep 2, 2008 10:57:51 PM
is there anyone left in here who wants to talk issues or did everyone leave?
Posted by: tim | Sep 2, 2008 10:57:20 PM
sean o...
what would you say if i said marxism runs through every fiber of obamas?
Posted by: tim | Sep 2, 2008 10:53:36 PM
len
Why does Sarah Palin hate America?
Posted by: quiot | Sep 2, 2008 10:52:42 PM
I find most curious in this article the statement of fact that McCain would make a better comander in chief than Obama. I don't think anything could be farther from "fact". Maybe that's a rational opinion, and the most widely accepted one, but I think its entirely wrong headed to concluded that a military man (and there's no doubting that it runs through every fiber of McCain's character and genes) makes a good commnader in chief. Military decisions are for generals, not presidents. The leadership of the commander in chief entails policy making decisions that should properly not be trusted to generals, or for that matter, those whose entire way of thinking is the product of life in the military. A commnader in Chief decides whether to make war, not how to do it. I find it odd that so many accept that such a grave power should be entrusted to those who, for quite natural reasons, are predisposed to lead the country to battle rather than those who would do so with a greater trepidation over the costs to the country, not just in lives, but in global respect and stability.
Posted by: sean o | Sep 2, 2008 10:52:20 PM
With only sixty days until the election, isn't it fair to ask the McCain campaign when Vice Presidential nominee of their party, and someone who's views we know little about, is going to be allowed to take questions from the media?
Posted by: Willem van Oranje | Sep 2, 2008 10:49:48 PM
I happened to see a little bit of the Republican convention tonight. I thought that I had tuned in to a MEMORIAL DAY celebration.
Posted by: Ron | Sep 2, 2008 10:49:02 PM
john fro, texas.. dont be afraid to partake in my question below a well... lol
Posted by: tim | Sep 2, 2008 10:47:36 PM
Palin has visited three countries in her lifetime.
The United States, Germany and Kuwait. She claimed to have visited Ireland, but apparently it was just a fueling stop.
I'm so glad she's so well traveled.
Posted by: johnTX | Sep 2, 2008 10:45:26 PM
Does anyone not see the one sided position of CNN?
I do. The fact that all of Obama's dirt never gets any attention is pure humor. Obama is not ready to lead.
I'd take 10 Palin's before I'd take 1 Obama.
Go McCain-Palin
Posted by: kbean | Sep 2, 2008 10:42:37 PM
any others wanna try tha one? what makes palin a bad choice for v.p for mccain??
Posted by: tim | Sep 2, 2008 10:37:36 PM
tim
to much scandal to start with what will come next second mccain is old would you want her to run our country --with no crediable experience-----someone emailed me some pictures that i cannot believe---this is not the girl next door.----what do you think people like putin--chavex and a few others would do to her--rookies need to stay out of the big leagues--
Posted by: rodney | Sep 2, 2008 10:32:28 PM
rodney...
ok, simple question for you. why do you think palin was a bad v.p. choice for mccain?
Posted by: tim | Sep 2, 2008 10:30:57 PM
Rev. wright exercised his freedom of speech to say something is wrong with a country he honorobly served as a U.S. MARINE. He tried to bring attention to a problem that is being swept under the rug in america, that american citizens are hated the world over because of the american governments interference in the state affairs of other sovereign nations (see panama). Sarah Palin however has actively sought to get her state to sever its ties with the United States, she is now saying she said no to the "Bridge to Nowhere," but does not mention that she kept the money anyway. Money from a nation she has advocated strongly that she wants no part of. and this is the person the republican party says is the best qualified to ruin America? to quote her, " oh, fu** me to tears!"
Posted by: THE curious black | Sep 2, 2008 10:27:50 PM
what happens if palin gets impeached as governer-----should be interesting.--mccains soulmate--what a freaking act
Posted by: rodney | Sep 2, 2008 10:24:25 PM
Brown should have asked that insurance industry lobbyist acting as a spokesman for the McCain campaign why insurance covers Viagra but not birth control.
Posted by: Flash Override | Sep 2, 2008 10:22:46 PM
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