Joe Conason: Obama, get ready for the "Clinton rules"

[babylonsister]

http://www.salon.com/opinion/conason/2008/04/18/debate/


Obama, get ready for the "Clinton rules"

As Wednesday's awful debate proves, it won't matter who the presidential nominee is -- the press will play footsie with McCain and attack the Democrat.

By Joe Conason


April 18, 2008 | The sorry performance of ABC anchors Charles Gibson and George Stephanopoulos in this week’s final Democratic primary debate should serve as a signal of the coverage to come. Playing gotcha with Democrats and patty-cake with Republicans will remain basic operating procedure for the mainstream media this year, no different from the past half-dozen presidential campaigns -- except that the additional bias in favor of John McCain may make a bad situation worse.

And as Barack Obama should have learned during the debate’s first 45 minutes, if not before, the same fuzzy but obsessive focus on "character" that plagues Bill and Hillary Clinton will be turned on him with equal or greater ferocity by those who once claimed to admire him. He is now subject to the "Clinton rules," which have long permitted pundits, editorialists and reporters to indict the former president and first lady for sins that other politicians, mostly Republican, may commit with impunity (see Gingrich, Newt, first, second and especially third marriage).

snip//

And having raked Bill Clinton's charitable foundation for evidence of conflicts of interest, when will the press corps take another look at McCain’s "Reform Institute," the nonprofit think tank that has served as a soft-money conduit and cushy sinecure for his political advisors?

Will anyone ask McCain why he doesn't wear an American flag pin, the burning question that the ABC anchors pressed on Obama? Perhaps the former POW deserves a pass on that issue, but it is interesting to note that photos of McCain with a flag pin are very scarce -- which may simply prove that not every patriot must constantly sport Old Glory on his lapel.

It would be refreshing to place the likes of Gibson and Stephanopoulos and their peers on the witness stand for a change to explain their choices and prejudices. Why did they require Democrats to make tax-cutting pledges that are based on bad economics and worse journalism? Why should they focus on Obama's tenuous connection with a reprehensible but inconsequential figure like former Weatherman Bill Ayers, when they have never mentioned the White House coddling of Cuban exile terrorists? Why do they obsess over the "bitter" gaffe by Obama while passing so lightly over the confusion of Sunni and Shia groups by McCain, supposed master of foreign policy?

Details may be different but the double standard remains the same. If the coverage of this election already induces a nauseating sense of déjà vu, be warned. It will only get worse.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

1. agreed, but it also signals something else.

we are seeing the death of boredcast news as we knew it. This is the death knell, the final bombing, the last gasp, the encore, the final curtain, the end of times (and The Week, and Evening news, and more)

Today, we have other outlets, far more interesting, reliable, inquisitive, and far more fact-based. Except when it comes to missing blond bimbos. There, the MSM has us hands down.

The internets, the blogs, the podcasts, even something as subtle as texting - they have changed society, and society has yet to catch up. They will try, they will fail. They will come up with lame "cool" news slots that will be so effing boring and stupid, that watching one will make even a 70 yr old feel like the old farts don't get it. They will attack their competition (DU, Kos, myDD, and many, many more) trying to minimalize their impact, insult, deride, even attack (commercially) the access and the technology.

watch for legislation to come up thru our current admin to fuck us over even more. This time, on the internets.

[The Doctor.]

3. Yes, they will try.

The exchange of Information and Ideas has been the bane of the elite ruling class for as long as there has been history to tell. They always believe they can lock down the innate human tendency, no, compulsion to know and learn more about their environment, bet it natural, sociological, or political.

They have been proven dead wrong. Every. Single. Time.

And by 'dead' wrong, I mean they were often dragged into the streets and executed... and not always expeditiously.

These people think they can beat humanity. Perhaps for a time, they can. Maybe for a hundred years, maybe even for a thousand. But one day, they, their progeny, and anyone that is aligned with them, will be dragged out of their homes by the savage mobs and dispatched with ugly rancor.

Their only other option is to destroy the race, and themselves with it.

Isn't that heartwarming?

[ChairmanAgnostic]

6. you are a well-read person, and thank you for your insight.

This little experiment, these united states, this idea of DEMOCRACY, it is not outdated, to the contrary, it is more vibrant than ever before. But only as an idea.

I suspect that the world is looking at us and wondering if we will survive. The unmitigated, uncontrolled, and constant attack on America from within started with people before Newt, who took up the charge for personal gain. Even he sees the limitations and dangers. If it involves you, and not him, at least.

This is that weird moment in history in which the world's future is decided. Either we are slaves to corporations for generations to come, or we create, rather, re-create, America. There is absolutely nothing wrong with global trade, global companies, and global economies, they are, were, and will be a fact. How we deal with that reality is critical. And again, we sit at the fork in the road, and there is no knife or spoon to be found. A DANGEROUS time, and yet a time filled with opportunity. But not under Hilary. And certainly not under McCain.

[roguevalley]

5. then again, we get them. get the fairness doctrine restored and go

after sponsors of assholes. been done before, can be done now.

[Phred42]

9. You're assuming that the NET stays open

but you're right - I'll miss the blond bimbos

[ChairmanAgnostic]

10. can't assume that. It has been under attack for years

And if it is shut down, it will really piss people off. Of course big bizniz cannnot afford to be without it, either. that might be its only savior.

[Phred42]

12. That's why they want to charge different rates for speed and access

CONTROL!

:mad:

[tbyg52]

17. Charging different rates for different speeds is not a net neutrality issue

Net neutrality means bits is bits. Same charge to everyone for the same amount of bits, no discrimination by content.

[tbyg52]

13. Yep. Paper ballots and net neutrality

What can be more important than getting facts and getting our votes counted?

[ChairmanAgnostic]

14. good candidates.

serious, honest, with integrity and knoweldge/experience.

[tbyg52]

16. Well, sure, but you also need to get the facts about them and get your vote for them counted! nt

[The Doctor.]

2. It's going to be up to Obama to turn all that around on them.

He's going to have to turn all of their accusations into counter-attacks rather than go defensive. Every time they say "Look at his relationship with _____!" He has to turn around and say, "That doesn't begin to compare to McCain's this that and the other thing. Now, let me talk about the issues."

He can turn their game on it's head. I'd happily lend my consulting services to him for free on this stuff too.

He just can't turn defensive and not be hurt by the media tactics. So far, it seems he's figured that out.

[blm]

4. Clintons certainly HELPED make it so - tell the truth, Joe - Bushies had to get into Rose Law Firm

to scrub the files of its biggest client and GHWBush's longtime ally Jackson Stephens, especially to get rid of all BCCI dealings paperwork.

Whitewater was USED as the smokescreen to get in, and the Clintons cooperated in exchange for the White House.

[Irishonly]

7. I Agree With Conason

Around here we call it tabloid press. I remember the days of investigative reporting and reading Woodward and Bernstein every day slowly taking a president down. Agnew had to leave office because of reporters not holding back. Now we have them say they didn't investigate claims about Iraq because of the surge of patriotism after 9-11.

The press will not cover issues. Just as we hardly ever hear about the number of deaths in the invasion or the economy, we will be bombarded with gates. I guess I should say Senator Obama will be asked about the "gates" while McCain will be given a free pass. Keating matters, his not being able to keep Sunni and Shia groups straight, and openly admitting he knows nothing about the economy. It's pretty bad when Conservative economists make fun of his plans.

His short temper will be ignored. Do we want someone that calls his wife names talking to foreign leaders. I can just hear him now using racial slurs and wondering what the big deal is and the media will ignore his bad behavior.

Senator Obama will be asked why he scratched his cheek while talking about Senator Clinton. I wouldn't be surprised if they string together of different thing Rev Wright said and make a non issue a hot topic.

I didn't watch the debate and have only seen little bits but it was awful and I think we saw what the republican attack dogs will do. McCain will play innocent much as that dork in the WH about Senator Kerry.

[liberalla]

8. I've already been thinking about this... and dreading it. ** BUT,

I have hope it won't be as effective, and people will recognize it when they see it. The backlash against ABC over that phony debate gives me hope that people will just reject it. This could be one good thing that comes out of the prolonged Clinton-Obama 'down, dirty and disappointing' contest. The role of the media pushing the trivial, disguising anything truly important has been exposed. More and more people don't trust the media to tell the truth, point us in the 'right' direction, and preordain the next President for us. If we had already picked the Democratic nominee, it would already be down to 'D' vs. 'R', everybody role-playing according to the script, and McCain pushed to the front.

I just don't feel it will go smoothly and according to their plan.

** BUT, it's good for us to be prepared for it! Thanks Joe Conasan!

[philly_bob]

11. Press "plays gotcha with Democrats, pattycake with Republicans"

Great phrase, Joe.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

15. wait for tomorrow - The Weak, with George Stephinotaplus.