The Trib Plays Gotcha With Obama

[carpe diem]

http://time-blog.com/real_clear_politics/2006/12/the_trib_plays_gotcha_with_oba.html


They are REALLY reaching with this thing, which suggests to me that there is really nothing there. Of course, there was nothing to Whitewater either, but the Republicans, with great assistance from media outlets like the Tribune, managed to make the Clintons' lives hell for 7 years with this kind of manufactured, parsed b.s. Of course, part of Obama's problem is that he has been so squeaky clean that the press pretty much has to resort to this kind of coverage to prove that they are being tough and impartial. He's usually so smooth in his words and actions, that he doesn't give them a lot to work with...thus this lame intern connection. Damned if you do, damned if you don't...if you're a Democrat. Can you imagine any Republican being hounded over some petty b.s. like this? They could have found the body of an intern buried on the land and it wouldn't have gotten this much ink.

[Bitwit1234]

1. I think the Dems should do this

tell republics to cut it the hell out or they will have one whole group they pay for the investigate any and all republics and bring to light anything they have done since they were two years old.

If the Democrats had access to newspapers and the news shows on TV it would be a different story, they could slam the republics like they are slamming us. That was the Democrats mistake, letting the republics buy all the media.

[Doctor_J]

3. Dems don't own or run any newpapers,

TV stations, or radio stations. So there is no way for them to "do this"

[Doctor_J]

2. Trib = GOP organ

they endorse repubs for every office, every election. Last Dem they endorsed for pres was LBJ. To their credit, they admit in print that they are a republican paper - they don't pretend to be honest.

[stevebreeze]

4. reminds me of all the scandalous behavior from Blagoyvich

most of it so trumpted up it didn't really hurt Ron at the polls.

[Mabus]

5. Just part of the RW playbook

They will go after Democratic leaders for any number of things until they find something that resonates with their base. Some of their favorites include, going after them with morals issues (candidate X is a sex addict or corrupt); when they can't get them on morals they go after character (candidate X doesn't connect with the average American or is boring or crazy or unrealistic); if they can't get them on morals, they go after something else. It is a continuation of their politics of personal destruction.

All of this boils down to: the GOP will use fear and/or smear. If you're in Obama's camp, complain. The media will continue this type of crap until we tell them to stop. The good thing is, right now, the press is more likely to listen to us. They are well aware that the Democratic party is in control.

[beaconess]

6. They're also on the defensive

They know they are partly responsible for Bush getting into office and for helping to gin up the Iraq War. Many outlets are now falling all over themselves to look "tough" in their coverage of the disaster known as the Bush Administration and their Republican sycophants. Now is an excellent time to start holding their feet to the fire - just as the right wing has been doing for decades.