Morning Show Framing: Axelrod vs. Davis on the "Race Card" and "Celeb"

[jefferson_dem]

If you're interested in how these "dust ups" are being framed on the morning shows, Halperin's summary is below.

Morning Show Summary



various networks

Shows offered packages on the ongoing “race card” quarrel between campaigns.

McCain Campaign Manager Rick Davis, Obama adviser David Axelrod appeared on the three broadcast shows.

On CBS’ “Early Show”:

Davis said Obama was suggesting McCain is a racist, and “we’re not going to allow anyone to define John McCain on those terms.” Resisted attempt to liken McCain’s “Celeb” ad to Obama’s comment— “it’s certainly a lot different than being called racist.”

Axelrod denied Obama was calling McCain racist, noting that no reporters at the events interpreted the comments that way. Said Obama was making the point “he’s not exactly from central casting for presidential candidates.” Said McCain “has completely subjugated himself to the Washington hit-machine philosophy.”

On NBC’s “Today”:

Davis said “we felt it was time to protect our candidate… We’re not going to lay down for these kinds of tactics.” Added, “we’ve seen this before, and we’re not going to allow this to happen to us.”

Axelrod said Obama’s original comments were “self-mocking,” though he acknowledged race was one element he was referring to.

On ABC’s “Good Morning America”:

Davis called furor over “Celeb” ad “much ado about nothing.” “It’s a great ad, and… we’re having a great time with it.” Said NY Times editorial finding a racial element to it is “a low blow.” On Obama’s “dollar bill” comments, said “we are not going to allow the Obama campaign to put this on the table,” said they have “yet to put out a plausible explanation” for the comment. Called for a town hall meeting next week.

Axelrod said “Celeb” ad is “ridiculous,” beneath McCain, and “insulting to the American people.” Repeated “central casting” line.

Report on NBC’s “Today” quoted a McCain insider acknowledging its strategy is risky, but “the campaign is no longer in a position to be cautious.”

On CNN’s “American Morning,” former Ohio Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell said Obama’s “dollar bill” comments were “a very sophisticated injection of race.”

Rep. Clyburn said Obama was merely “trying to inject some levity into the campaign,” called on McCain to “lighten up his personality.” Claimed McCain has stood on stage with Paris Hilton, and noted her parents have given him the maximum donation. Said “they ought to ask for their money back.”

http://thepage.time.com/2008/08/01/on-thursdays-morning-shows-5/

[Triana]

1. DISTRACTION. Pure and simple. Instead of talking about the differences in their policies...

...they blather on about this bullshit.

ANY THING to distract from REAL issues affecting people every day. Unemployment, high fuel and gas prices, high food prices, foreclosures, no healthcare, etc.

WHAT THE SAM HELL does "who played the race card, etc." have to do with anything?

BESIDES DISTRACTING the voting public from the REAL issues and the differences between the candidates on those issues?

(answer: NOTHING)

[phrigndumass]

4. Distraction is correct :)

Obama is experiencing a bounce from his trip overseas, as yesterday's polls show, and they want to distract us from that. McCain's ads are meant to do the same.

It's working so far :puke:

[annabanana]

2. What?. . NONE of them noticed all the friggen SYNONYMS

for "uppity" being tossed around all last week?? (presumptuous, arrogant, overreaching)

[ErinBerin84]

3. Rick Davis is a piece of shit.

On the phone with Andrea yesterday, he said that the Obama campaign has been "feeding" to journalists and "liberals blogs" that the McCain commercial has racial implications...all bc Talking Points Memo theorized that it was Harold Ford-esque, and ABC dickweed Jake Tapper picked up on it. Oh yeah, I'm sure the Obama campaign is really "feeding" stuff into TPM, jack ass. As Chuck Todd said, the campaign that benefits when race is brought up is THE MCCAIN CAMPAIGN.