« Previous | Main | Next »

McCain Campaign Mocks Media's Relationship With Obama

Share

July 22, 2008 11:49 AM

ABC News' Rick Klein Reports: With Sen. Barack Obama receiving wide coverage for his foreign trip, Sen. John McCain’s campaign is dialing up its criticism of the news media, with a Web video and an online contest mocking the mainstream press for what the campaign describes as Obama-tilted coverage.

The Web video splices together clips of several journalists -- notably MSNBC's Chris Matthews -- offering glowing praise of Obama on the air. It also features Clinton supporters Terry McAuliffe and Gov. Ed Rendell, D-Pa., in clips where they say members of the mainstream media are enamored with Obama, D-Ill.

"I felt this thrill going up my leg," Matthews says in one clip. "He's sort of a gift from the world to us in so many ways," he says in another.

Those clips -- and most of those used in the video -- come not from the general election, but from Obama's Democratic primary battle with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y.

The online contest jokingly invites users to vote for their favorite love song to serve as a soundtrack for the media’s “devotion” to Obama.

The critique of the news media is particularly striking coming from McCain, R-Ariz., who has long enjoyed a cozy relationship with journalists. In 2000 and 2008, his Republican rivals accused members of the media of being too close to McCain, and McCain once jokingly referred to the political press corps as "my base."

But the McCain campaign has grown frustrated with media coverage in the general election, particularly during his foreign trip. All three network evening news anchors are scheduled to interview Obama while he's abroad; some observers have noted that none of them made the trip with McCain when he visited Iraq in March.

In addition, the McCain campaign on Monday expressed anger with The New York Times for rejecting an op-ed submission from the senator, a week after the newspaper published an opinion piece authored by Obama.

July 22, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (205)

User Comments

Feed You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.

How about suggesting a song for McSame: Jealous Again by the Black Crowes!

Posted by: Deep Release | Jul 22, 2008 12:04:18 PM

With the Republicans in "Every Man for Himself" mode combined with McCain's envy of POTUS Obama at work, he is limited to the incessant WHINE.

Both the Republican party and McCain knew he was out of his league when they chose him as their nominee. Combine that with arrogant thinking in assuming their old played out tactics would work and WHALAH! The rats are scurrying!

I NOMINATE HIM "WHINER IN CHIEF".

POTUS OBAMA - ITS INEVITABLE

Posted by: Nat Turner | Jul 22, 2008 12:09:32 PM

"McCain once jokingly referred to the political press corps as “my base.”

And today he's whining, sounds like a couple in the middle of a break up, doesn't it? Nothing sadder than an old man dumped by his sweetheart.

Posted by: JR | Jul 22, 2008 12:11:00 PM

John McCain - "WHINER IN-CHIEF"

Posted by: Nat Turner | Jul 22, 2008 12:13:31 PM

McCain is really starting to act like a whinny loser.

Posted by: R | Jul 22, 2008 12:14:41 PM

The media's obsession with Obama is nauseating. McCain deserves some respect and no matter what he does, the media falls deeper in love w/BHO. It truly turns my stomach to see the no-longer-veiled bias for Obama. It's also frightening because they are acting worse than they did with Bush--and not questioning a single thing even when things are fishy. No candidate deserves this much adoration. No one. Certainly not a junior senator with precious little experience. He's just a celebrity. A celebrity with no substance.

Posted by: rhian | Jul 22, 2008 12:21:24 PM

Obama would be nothing without the media.

He has them bought and paid for.

He has to utilize the media to keep his reinforcements of his mind conditioning working to the limit.

If Obama loses media appeal he will sink like a concrete block in the river.

The media and Obama's over inflated ego is what keeps him a float.

Posted by: seah | Jul 22, 2008 12:24:39 PM

McCain's jst put off that he's being replaced as the media darling for the moment.

Kinda how the first wife feels after being replaced by the trophy wife, I guess.

Anyway, he's starting to sound kinda bitter.

Posted by: The Commander Guy | Jul 22, 2008 12:25:02 PM

The NYT rejected McLame's opt-ed
for precisely the reasons they clearly stated. McBush does not spell out what his foreign policy strategy for Iraq, Iran or Afghanistan.Secondly he does not clarify any of his positions on energy, education, healthcare or infrastructre renewal. Lastly it is a bit unseemly that an Old warrior can only whine like a baby that the media isn't giving McCan't the same coverage. I say the MSM has given a free ride of sorts, with all the gaffes and missteps of McSame & his campaign. I can only hope that McBush gets his wish and gets more coverage and scrutiny. i.e. McBush stated Monday about the serious problems on the border between Iraq and Pakistani border. Unfortunately there is no such border, just like there is no Czechoslavakia. Just imagine what the media hoopla would be if Obama had made any of these gaffs, the media would have labeled him as inexpierienced, naive and not CinC material. Talk about a double standard. I hope the media will start doing it's job and stop Giving McWhiner a free pass , give McWhiner the coverage & Scrutiny he really deserves!
An expert in foreign policy is MacCain not!

Obama 08

Posted by: James | Jul 22, 2008 12:26:28 PM

Mr. Obama,
Whatever you say & you do. You're always right.

Posted by: Alex | Jul 22, 2008 12:28:03 PM

After a decade of the media loving McCain, it appears he's lost that loving feeling.

Posted by: Dan | Jul 22, 2008 12:29:55 PM

McCain, don't be mad because america want's a new trophy wife. You just don't do it for us anymore.

Posted by: Brian | Jul 22, 2008 12:33:25 PM

Maybe Mccain should be asking why the republican party leaders (some of whom own the independent cable operating stations acroos the state) dropped MCNBC from their basic cable line up this past week.

isn't that interesting...they are leading with FOX NEWS across this battleground state...

Posted by: dl | Jul 22, 2008 12:34:01 PM

someone needs to start asking questions ...the heads of the state republican party in NH own the local state wide cable services...

they just removed MSNBC from the basic cable line up.

This is the same state where the state RNC jammed the phone banks of the dems when they voted Bush.

Posted by: dl | Jul 22, 2008 12:36:50 PM

Carly Simon "You're So Vain"

Posted by: CJ | Jul 22, 2008 12:37:06 PM

The more press Obama gets the more people get sick of him.

Posted by: geevill | Jul 22, 2008 12:37:54 PM

If McCain did get the kind of media attention that Obama gets Americans would realize just how unelectable he is in about five soundbites.

Posted by: R | Jul 22, 2008 12:39:28 PM

Obama will pull this nation out of its ignorance and bigotry into a bright new day and a bright new way for freedom! Mclame doesnt stand a chance, he should just go back to his rocking chair, cause its time to Barack!!! Obama 08! No Mclame!

Posted by: JJ | Jul 22, 2008 12:40:39 PM

LOVE ME DADDY!

Posted by: Emmanuelle | Jul 22, 2008 12:42:58 PM

NAT
thats because thats all mccain has is fixed news and rush limbaugh and everyone knows how sick and twisted they are!!!!!!

Posted by: angie | Jul 22, 2008 12:44:13 PM

Post a comment