The inertia of lying and a Bridge too far
Most of the press now seems to be hitting the McCain campaign over the "Bridge to Nowhere" lie and some of the other questionable statements.
(There is also second thread developing among some fairly respected and insider read people (Josh Marshall, Joe Klein, for example,) who are beginning to question McCain's "honor" in the kind of campaign that he is running.)
If this trajectory continues, does it does it add a dead weight to McCain's image? Is there beginning to be a narrative shift away from McCain's "honorable" biography to the man he is today? Is there an inertia to lying?
It's clear the McCain campaign is beginning to feel some pressure from the media coverage. The campaign is beginning to try to shift its statements on the "Bridge to Nowhere."
On the other side, the Obama camp is trying to catch this wave of backlash against the McCain campaign. Today, on the stump, Obama made his clearest indictment yet of the McCain tactics. "Enough is enough." (Notice also that the Obama camp is directly invoking the Swiftboaters to try and lever the media's guilt on their now recognized culpability in 2004.)
Sarah Palin was a "narrative pick" and now the battle for narrative is truly on. The McCain campaign has pushed his image of honor, reformer, and legacy all into the center of the table in this gamble.
Now everyone is looking to the media referees for a judgment.
Later: I don't want to run through all the context, but check out the latest McCain video "Lipstick" which clearly (and I mean CLEARLY) distorts the comments including a Katie Couric cameo also out of context.
They're betting it all here. They're betting they can win against the media.
Later: The McCain camp had to pull the ad mentioned above.
Later: Add Andrew Sullivan to the disgusted by McCain list.
(There is also second thread developing among some fairly respected and insider read people (Josh Marshall, Joe Klein, for example,) who are beginning to question McCain's "honor" in the kind of campaign that he is running.)
If this trajectory continues, does it does it add a dead weight to McCain's image? Is there beginning to be a narrative shift away from McCain's "honorable" biography to the man he is today? Is there an inertia to lying?
It's clear the McCain campaign is beginning to feel some pressure from the media coverage. The campaign is beginning to try to shift its statements on the "Bridge to Nowhere."
On the other side, the Obama camp is trying to catch this wave of backlash against the McCain campaign. Today, on the stump, Obama made his clearest indictment yet of the McCain tactics. "Enough is enough." (Notice also that the Obama camp is directly invoking the Swiftboaters to try and lever the media's guilt on their now recognized culpability in 2004.)
Sarah Palin was a "narrative pick" and now the battle for narrative is truly on. The McCain campaign has pushed his image of honor, reformer, and legacy all into the center of the table in this gamble.
Now everyone is looking to the media referees for a judgment.
Later: I don't want to run through all the context, but check out the latest McCain video "Lipstick" which clearly (and I mean CLEARLY) distorts the comments including a Katie Couric cameo also out of context.
They're betting it all here. They're betting they can win against the media.
Later: The McCain camp had to pull the ad mentioned above.
Later: Add Andrew Sullivan to the disgusted by McCain list.
posted by mikevotes at
8:35 AM
13 Comments:
So McCain really, really wants to make this about destroying Obama's character by any means necessary. The man has no shame.... and no honor.
By
-epm, at 11:15 AM
Interesting article on the BBC...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_7600000/7600592.stm
Not sure if it's relevant or not.
By
Anonymous, at 11:19 AM
Well, they are Roving it and seems to be working.
If they can come up with a swift boat moment in about a month's time, it will be all over but the crying.
By
Praguetwin, at 11:48 AM
EPM, No shame, no honor is exactly the message defense the Obama camp wants out there.
They can't call him dishonorable, but they would love for other people to do so.
.....
Anon, yeah, a little bit.
Part of this slime politics is also about the "bitch slap." The idea being the one doing the hitting is more manly. (I know that's disturbed, but it is out there.)
....
Praguetwin, hard to say. The key to this sort of politics is that the media has to unquestionably carry the attacks, and that's kinda what this post is about.
For three days, they have been airing the McCain stuff as straight coverage, but that's only three days. We're starting to see a little backlash.
But, that's the whole question here I'm trying to write on. Whether or not the media grant the McCain claims credibility the same way they did the Swiftboaters. They would have been nothing without the media granting credibility through airtime and the appearance of an equal footed debate.
So, the question is, does the media grant the McCain campaign credibility when it's lying or not.
Yes, it's worked for three days so far, but if it breaks down, it will be over.
By
mikevotes, at 11:57 AM
I think the media are useless when it comes to actually shining a light of reality based objectivity. Objectivity is not about treating each side of a debate as if they have equal merit, it's not even about reporting each sides accusations against each other.
Objectivity is reporting the veracity of each sides arguments against historic fact, reality and with the application of reason.
In stead, the media talking heads feel the need to the roll of "but wait a minute, isn't there some truth to the claim the earth is flat?"
By
-epm, at 12:17 PM
This comment has been removed by the author.
By
-epm, at 12:17 PM
EPM, agreed. That "treating each side equally" is how we got the swiftboaters.
On the other hand, if you're expecting to go hardcore just facts, I think that's pretty unlikely.
I think the best likely outcome from my position is for the coverage to carry the narrative that Obama wants to talk issues, McCain wants to run a dirty(and ethically dicey) campaign.
I think that's probably what we should shoot for.
By
mikevotes, at 1:03 PM
Thanks for the thoughtful comment. I see a bit of backlash coming, but in the end, if McCain can keep up this pressure with the smear ads, I don't think the media will even have to endorse like they did with the swiftboaters.
I hope I'm wrong, but I see the GOP slime machine kicking into high gear, and the Democrats, once again, floundering for a response.
McCain just passed Obama on Intrade for the first time today. It was 70-30 Obama just a month ago.
By
Praguetwin, at 1:28 PM
Heard an reporter covering a McCain rally on NPR who sounded pretty tired and disgusted. While people cheered and chanted in the background, the reporter said, "And Sarah Palin re-emphasized her stand against the Bridge to Nowhere, as she will continue to, despite all evidence to the contrary."
By
MarcLord, at 1:32 PM
You see, THAT'S objective reporting. That's giving American's necessary, factual context.
By
-epm, at 1:36 PM
Praguetwin, it definitely is in high gear. All they're going to try to do is keep the campaign off anything that might actually matter to the country.
....
Marc, glad to see it in another source.
It's definitely out there, but it's still pretty small as the major narratives go.
The thing that I'm noticing is that it's appearing alot of places I know the political reporters go, so, it's at least reached the radar.
...
And, just as a general note, let's remember that we also have three debates out there where McCain will be forced to answer some questions on issues, and likely at least one on tactics.
By
mikevotes, at 1:41 PM
Some of the primary debates were farces. (ABC Gibson/Stephanopoulos). It remains to be seen if these debates will bear a greater resemblance to News or "Reality" entertainment.
By
-epm, at 2:05 PM
True, but even if they're reality shows, don't you think they'd be drooling to ask about the bridge to nowhere?
Or maybe ask McCain if he's running an "honorable" campaign?
By
mikevotes, at 2:36 PM
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