Corp. Media strategy: Really bad McCain Gaffes to report? Then report Worse Gaffes by Obama

[NattPang]

I didn't used to watch Cable News,
until I became interested in these elections.

I have noticed a pattern emerging in the news reporting.
when there is some negative occurrence to report about McCain,
the media immediately finds something equally as bad or worse to report about Obama.

I call it "The Media's Equalizing Situation Strategy", aka, The MESS.

Often, the Barack Obama gaffes are not gaffes at all,
but are reported as if there were.

This past week, John McCain made so many mistakes and gaffes,
we needed score keepers just to keep track.
Here's one list:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x6491012

and another: http://www.motherjones.com/mojoblog/archives/2008/07/8973_john_mccain_bad_week.html

But what was covered by the cable news much more than:
McCain's inane statement on Social Security;
his ridiculous promise to cut the deficit in 4 or 8 years;
his lies on veteran organization endorsements;
his non vote on FISA;
his attacks on Obama's non-vote on a bill that McCain also didn't vote for;
his adviser, Dr. Phil's statement that we are a nation of whiners;
his denial by stating that Dr. Phil wasn't speaking for him when he was;
his incorrect spanish language television ad,
his lies about his POW story and the Pittsburgh Steelers,
or revelations of the circumstances surrounding how McCain left his first wife,
etc...(yes, there were more),

was Jesse Jackson's comments that he wants to get at Obama's nuts
for talking down to Black people,

the (sound-byte) report
that Obama wants all American children to learn Spanish

the so-called gaffe
that Obama forgot to beg timely for Hillary donations,

The gross joke by a comedian at an Obama function,

and Michelle's out-of-context comment about earrings and the tax rebate.

So by the end of the week, accordingly,
Obama didn't look any better
than McCain for the wear.

Anyone looking can see this treatment of the candidates.

What we have to figure out is
how we are going to call the media out on The MESS?

At DU, we energetically discuss holding our politicians accountable,
but we often resign ourselves to acceptance, helplessness, and/or near apathy,
when it comes to taking action against the media for their tactics.
We sit by the sideline and mention the media's culpability,
read Media Matters, or watch You Tube Videos,
but we rarely activate to really try to 'do' something.

Maybe if we strategize, we can make our voices as strong over media coverage,
as we have for the past 21 days on the FISA vote.

Is it possible that we could begin by demanding that
Cable News televise candidate events in full?

If voters got to see candidate events on television,
they'd be more able to form their own opinions.

This is a bipartisan request that is reasonable by most standards,
and something the Cable News did consistently during the primaries.
But since Obama has become the nominee,
such coverage has virtually disappeared.

If the media can dedicate 9 days of broadcast on the life and death of a colleague,
perhaps there is a way that they could find the will to provide voters with needed information
for the very important upcoming election; by letting the candidates speak for themselves.

Thousands of requests made by activists and sent to cable media on a daily basis
might persuade them to consider it.

Could this be a project for the New Activist Corp here at DU?

[NattPang]

1. A small kick for this post now and then

would be appreciated.

Thank you.

[dionysus]

2. ok

kick

[NattPang]

10. Thank you!

:hi:

[glowing]

3. Kick..

yes, this is the reason why all of a sudden Obama doesn't look so "Presidential".. they aren't airing anything he has to say, yet take many more minutes of McCain looking like an idiot sitting on a plane.. and saying finally "I'm not answering that question" or "I'll have to look into that, I'm not sure why Viagra is covered my insurance and Birth Control is not".... If you've noticed, those pics make him seem like he's sitting on Air Force One and is already the President.. while they make Obama look like he's scattered and scramping all over the country.. they try to make Michelle seem like this Elite out of touch woman that cannot relate to the avg person, even though she grew up in meager surroundings and worked and shops at the freaking Gap. AND now all of a sudden his children are "too smart" and "act too grown up" and Obama seems uncomfortable around his family.. blah, blah, blah...

The media is spinning.. we knew it would.. and we need direct assault on it.. everyday blogging their websites, sending e-mail, and mass spaming our own lists with the pertinent info.. along with youtubes imbedded of Obama's speaches.. We all know he's still inspiring and when he's in town, he draws a crowd like a Rock star..

[Kdillard]

4. I noticed the same thing.

kicking and recing

[NRaleighLiberal]

5. Yes. Because TV hates a sure thing - eyeballs, advertising - they hate the prospect

of a landslide....people wouldn't watch, so the sponsors couldn't push their needless snake oil and fear at the public. I just wish that everyone in the world would turn off their TV! Forever!

[smoogatz]

6. You make a good point.

The one report I saw about the Phil Gramm thing--which was a really classist, despicable quote--they compared to (get this) Gen. Clark's suggestion that getting shot down and taken prisoner wasn't necessarily a qualification for the office of president. I think it was on ABC: they described both as "gaffes" by "supporters." Wrong on both counts: Clark's statement was not a "gaffe"--it's arguable, but has basis in fact: McCain's military record is not the stuff of which great military strategists are made. Gramm is not a "supporter"--he's actually on McCain's campaign staff, in the position of chief economic advisor. His views on the economy have been coming out of McCain's mouth. Yet the media insist on equating the two.

Which just goes to show you: TV makes people stupid.

[NattPang]

7. I have posted at DU HQ Activist and I have given contact information.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=106x32181

Let's do something about this! :patriot:

[smoogatz]

8. I admire your spirit.

But I doubt there's much that can be done. The media are committed to maintaining the fiction of "fairness" and "balance." If they run a negative story about McCain's chief economic advisor calling Americans a nation of whiners, then they have to have to HAVE to, within the same piece, mention something some supporter of Obama said that may have been slightly off the reservation. It is false and biased reporting, of course, because it equates that which isn't equal. But that's all they know, at this point, I'm convinced. This is how political journalism is done now in this country, because any other approach would be "taking sides." Unless it's a hit piece on the Democrat, of course, and then it's perfectly fine.

[NattPang]

9. I am asking only that we pressure them into televising

the campaign events held daily by each candidates,
in full, just like they did during the primaries.

I am not asking for them to correct themselves,
as I know that they won't.

[NattPang]

11. I sent a "story idea" to CNN

I wrote:
I would like for CNN to televise the Presidential candidates campaign events live, with almost no interruption from commentators.

How can voters make up their minds if we aren't allowed to see the campaign events, but only hear from news commentators? It is not enough to see video footage of the presidential candidates mouthing words while anchors talk over them. Selective short outakes does not provide the kind of insight that voters, most who are quite bright, could gather themselves by watching the candidates state their own case. Also, round table discussion from News reporters are boring. They have no expertise on most of the issues important to voters, and the "candidate Gotcha Gaffe Clinton this...Jesse Jackson" trivializes the entire election.

Programming the campaign events live (like you did more of during the primaries) would increase viewership and you would be rendering a public service to the electorate. I watch events on CNNlive, but many voters don't have access to the Internet, so it is not the same thing. CNN would be informing many, and could then merit the title "Best Political Team on Television", a title that it has bestowed itself.

Thank you for your consideration

I emailed this message from their feedback site called "sent us story ideas":
http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form11b.html?2

[creeksneakers2]

12. I post on the NBC Nightly News blog

Some others make similar posts on the blog I post on, The Daily Nightly. Many others post on another NBC blog called First Read. Its hard to be sure if one thing causes another but I've noticed that after receiving complaints NBC quits committing some of its offenses.

The right wing was able to get control of the media partly by having their supporters complain constantly. The left could at least neutralize that.

You have a great idea and I'd love to join in any effort to complain to the media. They are letting McCain get away with murder and attacking Obama for things he hasn't even done. Perhaps media behavior will change if they sense a big enough hostile reaction to their propagandizing.

[Kool Kitty]

13. If Obama made half the statements

that McCain and his surrogates have made, they'd be calling for his head. McCain is NOT fit to be President. He makes statements, gets called on them, and then he LIES to their faces, swearing he never said it. Then the newsmodels show both tapes, and just chuckle about it. The shit that was flung the past few days alone should take him out of contention. The so-called Democrats that will vote for him in a fit of pique are really playing with fire here. John McCain should not be anywhere near the Oval Office.

[Puzzler]

14. Remember too...

... that it's not just the reporting that's the problem, it's that many of Obama's "gaffes" seem to get endlessly repeated by the MSM. As I said in an earlier post, if the MSM repeats the McCain Viagra/birth control bit as much as they repeated the Rev. Wright segments, then McCain's candidacy would be OVER.

[NattPang]

17. Yes, repetition is part of the key.

[depakid]

15. That's been the pattern for quite some time now

At least 20 years.

Since there're no Fairness Doctrine or equal time & personal attack rules, Democrats and their surrogates- 527's and the like, have to buy time and MAKE news in order to expose Republicans, their statements and their records their policy failures for exactly what they are.

The corporate media isn't going to do it- they'll simply run cover for the far right, while seeking out every minor point to attack progressives with.

[NattPang]

16. Well I think that it is still worth a try.

If the blogs were abuzz about it,
they would have to cover it,
or at least know that we know.
After all, it is the politically active,
who make up a large part of the viewing audience.
I remember that reporter on MSNBC being suspended
for something he said about Chelsea Clinton.
Obviously someone had to pressure MSNBC to do it,
so I don't consider it an impossible feat.