MSNBC is really running with the "Monster" stuff today

[Lucinda]

I watched CNN for quite a while this morning and didn't even know Power had resigned until I hit DU. I turned on MSNBC and it's the big story.

I hope after this is over we can ALL work towards making the media stop manipulating our elections.

Came back to add that they are nailing Obama with this. Not surprised that I'm seeing the usual "poor Hillary" kneejerek responses. Your guy is taking a hit on MSNBC.

[anonymous171]

1. That's what I have noticed too.

I think they realized how much they had to lose by a prematurely ended primary. They want to drag the race out and in doing so keep their ratings up.

[Zueda]

22. Have you ever seen the chart showing Media Consolidation

from before the Reagan years until now?

I don't think the media is just interested in a horserace. IMHO

[Lucinda]

25. They have a very specific agenda. And it's not pro-Dem.

[Lucinda]

27. Might be tin-foil hat time, but I think the manipulation

is about more than just ratings.

[bdamomma]

2. the media is just the enablers and manipulators of this thuggish regime

don't they ever report on McCain? or is he getting an extra pillow now?

[Cant trust em]

6. Let them continue to never report on McCain

More time we're on TV the better. I think this falls under the axiom of "There's no such thing as negative publicity."

[Lucinda]

16. McCain is certainly not the story this cycle. It's all Dem all the time.

:D Works for me.

[DearAbby]

20. McCain who?

People's attention glued on the battle of the Democrats. McCain isn't getting attention to get his "message" out. We know what it is anyway. The battle between Clinton and Obama has become an epic. What Pillow? He hasn't been invited.

For the RealityTV viewers at home, this has become the hottest contest in recent history. The Key will be to get them out from their TV to the voting Booths...but check that, It appears by numbers of Democrats coming out to vote in the Primaries...that will be no problem, the GOP has to be very concerned.

[Cant trust em]

3. Does this benefit or hurt Clinton?

Many people on DU seem to think that MSNBC hates Clinton. My question is does pointing out that an Obama adviser calling her a monster make Obama's campaign look bad and Clinton look like the victim and thus, a good thing for Clinton? Or are they just spreading a "Clinton is a monster" meme?

[anonymous171]

4. Benefits MSNBC

Longer primary=more viewers=higher ratings.

[Lucinda]

10. Big benefit from what I'm hearing. The tone, IMO, is Obama is just politics as usual.

[Zachstar]

12. Ratings=Money keep that in mind.

MSNBC is a major media outlet. And while they lean to the left a little bit they also are in it for ratings and money. Barring McCain passing laws forbidding left wing media they will have little to worry about and even may gain from a McCain presidency.. having alot to talk about like when they had Bush.

Why do you think they allow Countdown to remain on the air? He is completely ruining their chances of covering an extended race but he pulls in the BIG BIG BIG ratings.

Their election coverage is sorta ok but I mainly watch MSNBC for countdown. If I want mainstream news I watch CBS news. I really miss Dan Rather....

I hope one of the networks books Dan Rather for Election Coverage this November! I cannot be without his ratherisms!!

Anyway remember that Major Media = Ratings so we just need to call them on their shit and move on to exposing Clinton.

[MonkeyFunk]

15. well

it hurts Obama because today's discussion is about this.

[Hieronymus]

21. It's definitely not in favor of Hillary.

[Lucinda]

28. You're not watching the coverage, are you?

[dbonds]

5. Doesn't that work in Obama's favor?

They get to repeatedly say Hillary is a Monster as a quote and people go, hmmm maybe thats right. Of course since they do it as a quote none of the talking heads have to put their job on the line to say it. I don't think many people listening to the news would be offended after last week of someone on Obama's team calling her that.

[Lucinda]

13. Nope. He's taking the hit. At least this afternoon.

[anamandujano]

50. I'll tell you why it doesn't work in BO's favor. It's an indication of how

the Obama campaign works behind the scenes. They are the complete opposite of hope, unity and inspiration.

The dumb@ss who said it out loud to the press was just giving it a try to see if they could escalate their nasty rhetoric. It backfired. She had to go so BO could continue to pretend he's a new kind of politician. The press let him get away with the race baiting. This is small change in comparison.

Now they think they might be in trouble.

[npincus]

7. Awww... if Hillary isn't tough enough to get her feelings hurt, Obama cna anser the phone at 3AM

Poor Hillary... her indignation at being called a name makes her look soft and weak.

[Cant trust em]

8. last week some Clinton supporters were calling Obama soft

over "whining" about the dressed photo. I guess the shoe is now on the other foot.

[Lucinda]

14. No. The coverage, at the moment, is Pro-Hillary.

[rodeodance]

26. as it should be--thanks (i am not watching)

[Lucinda]

29. I agree....it's about time . But I want these guys to understand there is a bigger issue here

Many are fine with it when their guy benefits...

[Lucinda]

11. You're missing the point. They are nailing Obama.

[The_Casual_Observer]

9. MSNBC is kind of low budget. Most of their programming has to do

with filming prisoners. Prisoners don't get paid to act.

[marlakay]

17. Media is making a fortune by keeping this going

thats all there is to it. Don't expect to hear any fair news...just anything that keeps it going.

[Mass]

18. In fact, HRC is taking a hit. This shows how classy the Obama campaign is and how unclassy the

Clinton campaign is. In fact, this validates Powers comment. But I am not surprised you are not seeing it.

[Lucinda]

30. You haven't been watching MSNBC, have you?

[Mass]

32. No, I just think that people are smarter than MSNBC thinks they are.

If they are not, they deserve McCain as president.

[bridgit]

19. MSNBC is falling all over themselves trying to be relevant to someone, something, anyone!!

Poor MSNBC :cry:

[greguganus]

23. I'll be so happy when Hillzilla wades back out into the Atlantic Ocean. n/t

[SeaLyons]

34. don't hold your breath

waiting for that to happen....

Hillary is wading her way to the White House!!!!


Go Hillary

[rodeodance]

24. Its not everyday that a close advisor a Pres. cand gets called a Monster by the opposing

camp.

it is NEWS!

[Lucinda]

31. Yup. It is.

:)

[SeaLyons]

35. Indeed it is

:)

[Catherina]

33. It's brilliant. Most Americans already think Hillary IS a monster

This is great reinforcement.

About 3 people I know at work dropped their support for Hillary today. They're outraged to see a strong woman like Samantha Powers, who didn't get where she is by riding on a man's coat-tails, get hurt for telling the truth.

This is going to play to Obama's advantage by increasing the disgust at a woman who's already an object of disgust and scorn for her 70s style angry Feminist campaign.

[rodeodance]

41. no. it is limited to many obama fans on boards such as this. Mature people will not

like seeing a Pres. candidate mocked as she was.

[Catherina]

54. Mocked? You sure have a funny way of spinning things

Mocked was what Hillary has been trying to do to Obama with her snarky innuendos like "as far as I know".

Samantha Power spoke the truth. There was no mockery in associating the word monster with a woman who has the blood of over a million Iraqis and 4000 US soldiers on her hands.

She put her electability ahead of her integrity.
She put her personal advancement ahead of the lives of American soldiers.
She traded votes for death.

It is unconscionable to put someone who made that perverse choice- so publicly, so shamelessly- into the world's highest office. Vote for Edwards, Biden, Obama: anyone but the woman with blood on her hands. HILLARY KNEW.

http://www.hillaryknew.com/

"Hillary Knew" (explicit lyrics that might offend your delicate ears, the b word is in there): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_gI-_wQvQY
"Hillary Knew" (clean version for the mature reality-disconnected crowd that sees sexism everywhere): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfxoIGLpoQY

[Lucinda]

51. Wanna bet?

This does nothing to help Obama IMO.

[Catherina]

53. I wouldn't want to take advantage of your naivete

so let's just make it a polite woman's bet. If it damages Obama, I'll give $20 to DU. If it damages Clinton, you give $20.

Obama's going to walk out of this smelling like a rose and once again, Hillary's supporters will start complaining about how unfair MSNBC is. Give it a week to be undeniable because it's already started backfiring. Samantha Powers is one of America's strongest voices against genocide. That was a very bad move by Clinton's campaign and former supporters are dropping like flies. Did you check into the Left Coaster today?

Friday :: Mar 7, 2008

Peddle It Somewhere Else Hillary

by Steve Soto

Lastly, it's time for me to step out of the sh*tstorm and take a shower to wash off the slime and disappointment. I’ve had enough of the Clinton fluffing of McCain, and I’m done with her. Frankly I’ve looked foolish trying to defend her and her campaign’s burn-the-house-down-to-get-the-nomination strategy, and I’m tired of seeing this message and these tactics. Politics at this level is not softball, but as I have said before, being an arsonist does not recommend one for the party’s nomination.

http://www.theleftcoaster.com/archives/012095.php

Friday :: Mar 7, 2008
Thoughts on Samantha Power

by Turkana
It was reported yesterday that Obama foreign policy adviser Samantha Power had called Hillary Clinton a monster. This was deplorable and inexcusable. Even so, I didn't believe she should be fired. Last night, the Obama campaign decried the comment, and Power apologized. Today, Power resigned form the campaign, effective immediately.

The reason I didn't want Power to resign is that I think she is too important to lose. I had hoped an apology would suffice. In retrospect, a resignation may have been necessary, in the context of a campaign. But I hope Obama will continue to consult with her, and should he win, I hope she will be part of his administration. Samantha Power is no political hack. Samantha Power is a Pulitzer Prize winning scholar on genocide.

As anyone who has followed my posts here knows, Kenya was just on the brink of genocide, and barely averted it. The Bush Administration has called Darfur genocide, but done nothing about it, for which Bush feels no remorse. This country needs people like Samantha Power inside the halls of government. Despite this stupid mistake, she is a fine person, and can be an important asset to the entire world.

Peddle It Somewhere Else Hillary

[nonconformist]

52. Yeah right. nt

[anigbrowl]

36. I think this is a benefit for Obama, for three reasons

1. Power was in the UK at the time, taking a break from the campaign. It was clearly an unguarded remark by an adviser, and I think the public can see that. It's not like it was put on a conference call with reporters or deliberately floated for circulation.

2. Power resigned immediately, Obama said he didn't approve, that's all anyone can do under the circumstances. The longer the Clinton campaign keeps venting about it the more they look like they're having a tantrum.

3. Power stated an opinion rather than an untruth. If she had said that Hillary was (for example) a communist, then it would be slander, for which she and the Obama campaign would be rightly criticized. But calling someone a 'monster' just amounts to saying you *really* dislike them, and is actually fair comment.

This last point is why the Clinton camp are so furious. Telling a lie about someone is a legalistic issue; it can hurt a reputation, but if it's shown to be a lie then ultimately it won't really stick. Things like the 'Obama is Muslim' and Rezko don't make that much difference in the long run (despite the desires of a few) because once people look at the details, they can see there's nothing to the allegation. Similarly, the 'Vince Foster' conspiracy theory doesn't really hurt Hillary because when you look into it there's nothing to really connect her with his death.

But 'monster'...well, that's a comment on someone's character. It can't be disproved or waved away. And you can bet every time it goes negative, another pundit here or there is going to say 'you know what? she actually is a monster.'

With the way she's been giving the thumbs-up to John McCain all the time lately, I feel the same way.

[WinkyDink]

39. "Monster" is a completely OTT description of this former First Lady.

I think its usage, a word normally reserved for the Pol Pots, Stalins, and yes, Hitlers of the world, shows not only the irrational thought of one of Obama's now-former chief advisors, but also implies something about his judgment about his advisors, period, no matter the swiftness of the resignation (NOT firing).

I think your points are splitting hairs unnoticed by anyone else.

"Monster". GMA*B.

[anigbrowl]

45. Why not go all the way and pull a quote for 'Liberal Fascism'

Outrage over protocol violations seems to be a specialty on the right side of the aisle.

Doesn't matter whether other people notice it or not. That's how it's going to work out.

[Lucinda]

42. I seriously doubt Hillary is furious at all. Obama campaign handed her a present.

[anigbrowl]

46. Yes, like this:

though I don't think it was deliberate. The more they fuss about it, the more she ends up owning the word.

[Lucinda]

47. LOL. Funny!

But I think it's wishful thinking on your part!

[leftstreet]

37. Friday news dump. Won't be an issue by Monday n/t

[anigbrowl]

38. Won't be an issue, but you'll see the word 'monster' a lot more from now on.

And the more the Clinton campaign vents about it today, the more people are going to associate the word 'monster' with pictures of Hillary. Every cloud has a silver lining.

[WinkyDink]

40. Yes, that little "off the record wink wink" comment had its effect, no?

[anigbrowl]

43. The newspaper had a long defense....

of why they were publishing an 'off the record' comment. The short answer is greed: they knew it would sell a shitload of papers. That's pretty tacky, but there you go. Power's biggest mistake was that thinking a fairly obscure Euro newspaper would have the same standard of ethics as an American one. It was obviously an off-the-cuff remark - who would dream of saying 'we fucked up in Ohio' in a formal interview? She was being interviewed because she was promoting her new book, not as an Obama surrogate.

"You cannot think to bribe or twist, thank God, the British journalist;
But seeing what the man will do, unbribed, there's no occasion to."

[Lucinda]

49. MSNBC is saying it wasn't off the record. She tried to take it back after the fact.

[DefoliateBush]

44. Monsters

Hitler and Stalin are examples of real-life monsters. For someone who is running on judgement rather than the value of experience, it seems that Obama is showing why he shouldn't be President by associating himself with a top foreign policy advisor who doesn't have the judgement to distinguish between Hillary and Hitler. Or a science advisor who can't answer science questions at a science debate and refers reporters to the Obama web site. Or an economic advisor who creates NAFTA-gate. The office of President is not the place for neophytes.

[anonymous171]

48. gb2 Clinton campaign

[Catherina]

55. Only a monster votes for this and throws cluster bombs on top

If Hillary really wants to answer the phone at 3am, maybe President Obama could give her a job at the switchboard on the night shift she claims she's worked before but I'd recommend she be under constant supervision because she has a historical record of lacking in judgement.