"It was only a matter of time." -- MSM gearing up to knee-cap Obama

[phantom power]

When push comes to shove, the GOP always gets home-court advantage in the MSM. Who the Dem candidate is, doesn't really matter at all.

It was only a matter of time before the media began to trivialize Obama and his campaign as a bunch of latte sipping left-wing hippie elites. That's the 30 year conservative rap on liberals and it's been fully internalized by the MSM and a whole lot of Americans, even some Democrats. When you start to hear the pundits talking about "beer track/wine track" this isn't far behind.

We saw hints of it in the Matthews article in the NY Observer last week:

The galloping campaign, in Mr. Matthews’ estimation, was that of Senator Barack Obama. He had the momentum, was in the saddle, was holding the reigns. But had Mr. Obama become the avant-garde candidate? If so, he was in trouble. The middle-class workers would pull back in suspicion. Who was this Ivy League guy on his, um, high horse? They wouldn’t get on board. The galloping horse of history might pass them by.

(...)

At the moment, Matthews and his pals are feeling strange zings up their legs whenever they hears Obama speak, but we all knew that once Barack looked like he might have it wrapped up the media would be mau-maued by the right so hard that they would immediately put convenient off-the-shelf narratives like that into circulation. And so they are.

(...)

History suggests that Republicans and their mindless mouthpieces in the media would never portray this alleged Obama cult as "dangerous." That's much too powerful. In order for it to feed into pre-existing frames, they need to show it as silly, vaporous and "feminine" (and only hint darkly in whispered tones about certain "elements" that are "behind" it.)

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2008/02/on-cult-by-digby-it-was-only-matter-of.html

[Bread and Circus]

1. It won't work, not this time, not this year.

[islandmkl]

4. but...it's still how they will do it...

[Bread and Circus]

6. But we have a movement this time and a great candidate. Bullshit will just blow up in their faces.

[phantom power]

12. Sincerely, I hope Obama's campaign doesn't share your false confidence.

You combine the cumulative effect of the MSM pushing the effete-latte-liberal meme, with the GOP's evil superpower for tapping into voters' latent racism, and it's going to be a powerful combination.

Of course, a Clinton campaign would be up against the same, just with latent sexism substituted for latent racism.

I'm worried about it, because it's a very hard battle to win when the MSM doesn't provide a level playing field.

[Cha]

8. That's right..this time the fuckers lose

their street cred and We The People move right past 'em.

They need to go down, anyway..no time like right here right now.

[Vinca]

2. You're right. Anything for a headline, that's all they care. nt

[Major Hogwash]

3. The teamsters union isn't impressed with Tweety one little bit.

As if Chris has ever worked a day in his life!

This isn't going to matter to us one fuckin' bit!

[Neecy]

5. interesting....

That's much too powerful. In order for it to feed into pre-existing frames, they need to show it as silly, vaporous and "feminine"

Have you noticed how Tweety only uses first names for Democrats? It's "Barack" and "Hillary", as though they're both lightweights. When it comes to his GOP snugglebug it's the tough last-name locker room "McCain" or the respectful "John McCain" or occasionally "Senator McCain" - a courtesy he never gives Senators Obama and Clinton. It's not terribly subtle and I don't know how effective it is, but there's definitely a different weight he gives to candidates depending on their political affiliation.

[phantom power]

9. It was effective enough to defeat a decorated war veteran in 2004...

and a future Nobel winner in 2000. Obama's campaign (or Clinton's) underestimates the power of this at their peril.

[Mojambo]

14. This is where Obama's extraordinary charisma will come into play

Neither Kerry or Gore had it, and it will make a difference.

[anigbrowl]

16. Newsflash: Kerry was boring. 'Future Nobel winner'??! Just silly.

Yet another "don't vote for Obama because I'm so worried by the big evil Conspiracy that rules our lives - and only I know 'what's really going on', which is why I'm too dangerous to be employed by any campaigns or news organizations."

Yes, you are so much wiser than everyone who works in national politics. Doubtless attacks on the nominee by the GOP will come as a complete surprise and they'll be caught like a deer in the headlights.

[phantom power]

19. I don't actually see an advantage for Clinton on this particular front.

As I mentioned above, Clinton would face exactly the same treatment, just with sexist dog-whistling substituted for racist dog-whistling. In fact, the broader point is that any Dem candidate will face it. They can, and do, apply the same techniques every time. It's remarkably effective.

So no, this thread is not intended as an argument against Obama. It's about what's going to happen to the Democratic candidate, regardless of who that turns out to be.

I guess I agree that Obama has more charisma than Kerry had. I'm not convinced that it can't be neutralized. Kerry's war-vet status was supposed to be immune from GOP neutralization. And yet the GOP turned that on it's head in a New York minute.

We'll find out soon enough.

[samplegirl]

7. Won't matter

When people like Rush, Hannity, and O'Rilley can't even convince people anymore. Nope they can throw all the shit they want but the 80% of Americans don't care and will vote for change!

[TheDoorbellRang]

10. The M$M sold Americans a bill of goods in 2000 and 2004

I think about 70% of the populace have figured out the M$M is not their friend.

[Bigleaf]

11. I know Tweety Loves McLame. I remember he kissed his ass 8

years ago when he ran against Shrub and told my wife as soon as this is a 2-horse race he will turn so fast your head will spin. In his eyes, Mclame will do no wrong. Just wait. I am an Obama supporter and I think he will do fine but it still irks me that Tweety pulls this shit. Too bad Olbermann did't co-host Hardball in addition to his own show so he could keep that idiot in line like he did last night.

[anigbrowl]

13. Thank you for your concern.

I asked my republican friends about it but ehy just screamed about the liberal media and called me a commie. Next!

[MADem]

15. Build 'em up, tear 'em down... nt

[northzax]

17. thank god we are about to nominate the candidate

With a proven history of fighting back against these smears, both from the media and opponents.

Oh wait, we're nominating the one who's entire campaign is based on NOT fighting back? Huh. I thought we always complain about our candidates not fighting back?

[elixir]

18. Sounds like they're starting their engines. Put your helmets on and buckle up.