"The news media are so far in the tank for John McCain..."

[DeepModem Mom]

Media Matters for America: Someday never comes
Jamison Foser

The news media are so far in the tank for John McCain, many reporters don't bother even trying to pretend that the presumptive Republican presidential nominee has faced the level of scrutiny they've given Democrats Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and, when he was in the race, John Edwards. Instead, like teenagers trying to put off homework so they can go to the mall, they insist they'll get around to scrutinizing McCain ... eventually. Once the GOP primary campaign heats up. Or once he wraps up the GOP nomination. Or once the Democrats pick a nominee. Or after the conventions. Or before his first State of the Union address. No later than midway through his re-election campaign. Really. They promise.

Just this week, Newsweek's Richard Wolffe acknowledged, "I don't think there's an equal balance of criticism and focus here. In some ways, John McCain is getting a free ride," then added, "But at some point, that scrutiny will come."

At some point. Someday....

***

Howard Kurtz, (Shelaigh) Murray's colleague at The Washington Post, took issue with her statement that the media will scrutinize McCain once the Democratic primary process is over: "We don't have unlimited resources, but I think we need to be covering McCain as vigorously now as in the fall. I mean, it's not like he's laying on a beach somewhere -- he's out there campaigning."

Kurtz's comment hinted at a common explanation reporters offer for the lack of scrutiny given to McCain: the excuse that the Democratic primary is drawing all of their attention and resources. But this is bunk. The media aren't ignoring John McCain. They're covering him. They just aren't doing so with a critical eye. They have plenty of time to call him a straight-talking maverick. They have plenty of resources to dutifully jot down, then type up and publish, his comments. They just don't bother to tell us if those comments are true, or consistent with his previous positions, or make a whit of sense. This lack of scrutiny would be bad enough. But the situation is worse than that. Not only are the media failing to fact-check McCain -- many reporters seem to be auditioning for a position with his campaign....

***

Even if the media do someday scrutinize John McCain's statements and record and proposals, it may not matter. By lavishing him with praise now, and defending him against even perfectly accurate criticism, the media are inoculating McCain against future scrutiny. Intentionally or not, by repeating over and over again that McCain is Mr. Clean and a straight-talker, the media are priming voters to disregard future news reports that suggest the contrary -- just as journalists do already.

http://mediamatters.org/items/200805020009?f=h_latest

[glarius]

1. I'm watching McCain with his diatribe against universal health care as he lies

about what it entails. He keeps saying the government "runs" it and says the patient has no say in anything. I heard him once say just look up north to Canada to see what a failure it is. Firstly....the government DOES NOT RUN OUR HEALTH CARE! THEY PAY THE BILLS, PERIOD!. We choose our own doctors and the doctors and hospitals make the decisions. NOT THE GOVERNMENT. 93% of Canadians in a recent poll said they want to keep our system. Are we all idiots, or perhaps we just might be onto something. McCain is such a fraud!

[AndyTiedye]

2. The Mighty Slime Machine Will Do Whatever It Takes to Put McCain in the White House