Media Matters: Did Adoring Christie Coverage Invite NJ Corruption?

[highplainsdem]

http://mediamatters.org/blog/2014/01/21/did-adoring-christie-coverage-invite-nj-corrupt/197660

In the wake of the mounting revelations, the Daily News' Lupica quotes a political insider who described described Christie's mounting woes this way: "Christie has been on a continual roll and he thinks he's invincible. And once you think you are invincible, you've got a problem."

Question: Who was instrumental in convincing Chris Christie's political team that the governor was invincible? The Beltway media.

And so who might deserve some of the blame for the bullying abuse of power sponsored by Christie? The Beltway media.

It's certainly possible Christie and his staff would have behaved just as arrogantly and boorishly without the adoring press clips during his first term. But it's also easy to imagine how the indulgent Christie press might have created a sense of invincibility within the governor's inner circle. You can see how Christie's crew may have interpreted that lavish media praise for the governor's bullying personality (he's a Straight Shooter!) as a green light for increasingly outlandish behavior, such as deliberately choking off traffic on the nations' busiest bridge and thinking they could get away with it.

-snip-

[livetohike]

1. It's been a lovefest on Morning Joe for a long time. Still is one, despite all this news

I never could see why the media was/is enamored with him. I guess I just don't like arrogant bullies.

[Arugula Latte]

2. If he somehow survives this mess and runs for president,

someone should splice together a commercial made up of snippets of him being a bully -- snapping at people in crowds, etc. People will quickly see his true, unappealing colors.

[livetohike]

3. Great idea and I'm sure it will be used in the future (if he survives this). n/t

[Bandit]

4. I think the Christie Campaign may just do that

Christie voters find that behavior appealing and will turn out for him because of his bullying and abusive ways. Funny, things we find appalling, right-wingers find attractive.

[truebluegreen]

5. A feeling of invincibility has to be a part of it,

because otherwise how could anyone think, high stakes or petty motivation, that closing lanes on the GWB would go unnoticed?

It is inane and idiotic and yet apparently true.

[rocktivity]

6. Who was instrumental in convincing Chris Christie that he was invincible? Chris Christie.

"Governor Soprano" is not a political marionette a la Reagan and Bush II. He has the financial blessings of the Koches and the Tea Party, and of course his own sidekicks and minions. But there is no Christie "political team" -- no Karl Rove or Dick Cheney setting the strategies and giving the orders. He's calling the shots -- which is why the Grover Norquist faction of the GOP wants nothing to do with him.

As for the "Beltway media," it's always leaned right: no news there, if you'll pardon the expression!


rocktivity