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News media bias toward Palin wakes up the snoozing GOP
The Florida Times-Union ^ | September 7, 2008 | Matt Towery

Posted on 09/07/2008 3:33:43 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet

Those who say there's no media bias aren't saying anything right now. They're laying low.

First, my own minor mea culpa: A week ago, I wrote that Barack Obama had enjoyed little or no bump in the polls from the first nights of the Democratic National Convention. Then came a bump after all, thanks mainly to his high-flying acceptance speech and ringing endorsements from Bill and Hillary Clinton.

Now on to the latest epidemic of media bias.

Obama and David Axelrod, his chief strategist, are privately furious over the endless attacks, snide comments and second-guessing about John McCain's choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his vice presidential running mate, and about her unwed daughter's pregnancy.

Obama's team is smart enough to know this open faucet flow of condemnation and vitriol has sprouted sympathy - and additional name ID - for Palin among a significant bloc of undecided voters.

The furor also has whacked the sleeping hornet's nest known as the Republican Party voting base, which until now had been moodily snoozing inside the hive.

Many of them recall Dan Quayle, who was mercilessly and unfairly pilloried by the same kind of media barkers when he was George H.W. Bush's running mate in 1988. Bush and Quayle won anyway.

But there's a difference in Quayle's and Palin's situations, and it's a big one: Bush's handlers took the baton of condescension from media and Democrats and used it to effectively spank their own VP candidate as if he were a naughty kid.

But McCain has circled the GOP wagon that holds the women and children - Palin and her daughter.

(Excerpt) Read more at jacksonville.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Editorial; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Alaska
KEYWORDS: 008; 2008; 2008veep; backlash; biden; election; elections; mccain; mccainpalin; media; obama; palin; propagandawingofdnc; sarahpalin; undecidedvote
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Stupid is as stupid does.
1 posted on 09/07/2008 3:33:43 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

2 posted on 09/07/2008 3:37:36 PM PDT by Gator_that_eats_Dems
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Obama and David Axelrod, his chief strategist, are privately furious over the endless attacks, snide comments and second-guessing about John McCain's choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his vice presidential running mate, and about her unwed daughter's pregnancy.

...and if you believe this, see my ad below for a great deal on a bridge for sale in Brooklyn.

3 posted on 09/07/2008 3:39:08 PM PDT by Cementjungle
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Being familiar with Illinois politics, it's an open question whether Axelrod saw the potential for backlash, or not. But assuming that he did [giving him the benefit of the doubt--that he understood in advance that this isn't (Illinois) "politics as usual"], he should have forcefully come-out and told people to back off.

And he didn't.

4 posted on 09/07/2008 3:39:45 PM PDT by 1rudeboy
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Obama and David Axelrod, his chief strategist, are privately furious over the endless attacks, snide comments and second-guessing about John McCain's choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his vice presidential running mate, and about her unwed daughter's pregnancy.

Well, yeah. Because they pushed the nuke button but didn't get to the fallout bunker fast enough.

The blowback reminds me of that final scene in the movie "Tora! Tora! Tora!" in which Admiral Yamamoto looks forelornly out over the Pacific after being toasted by his fellow officers for his tremendous success at Pearl Harbor and says:

"I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve."

5 posted on 09/07/2008 3:41:41 PM PDT by Texas Eagle (What do Barack Obama and a bowl of chili have in common?)
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To: 1rudeboy

Yup


6 posted on 09/07/2008 3:43:53 PM PDT by traderrob6
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
The furor also has whacked the sleeping hornet's nest known as the Republican Party voting base, which until now had been moodily snoozing inside the hive.

They also under estimated the stirring of a conservative Moma's bear den protecting her cubs with their attacking lies. This even upset ALOT of mom's that are Democrat or Indepentent.
7 posted on 09/07/2008 3:45:59 PM PDT by Ugot2Bkidding
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Mau-Mauing is very noisy.

So the Mau-Mauing MSM have awakened the GOP.

It's about time.

I remember Henry "Scoop" Jackson, Hubert Humphrey, Harry Truman -- I knew the Democratic Party. The Democratic Party was a friend of America. The Rat Party is no Democratic Party.

8 posted on 09/07/2008 3:47:02 PM PDT by WilliamofCarmichael (If modern America's Man on Horseback is out there, Get on the damn horse already!)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I wish they’d shut up already about “when is she going to answer reporter questions”. Give me a break. It has only been a little over 48 hours since the convention ended, they jumped on a plain to rally’s in WI, PA, CO and now NM (I think) and more tomorrow and Tuesday. I certainly wouldn’t be jumping through hoops for the media this soon out the gate after the way they treated her. I like Bill Kristols idea of a town hall meeting or two or three for her and let REAL PEOPLE ask her questions and let the media stew a little longer.


9 posted on 09/07/2008 4:01:52 PM PDT by Qwackertoo
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
"Obama and David Axelrod, his chief strategist, are privately furious over the endless attacks, snide comments and second-guessing about John McCain's choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his vice presidential running mate, and about her unwed daughter's pregnancy."

Give me a break.

Obama and Axelrod could have stopped the media feeding frenzy with a few well placed calls to his friends at CNN, CBS, NBC, ABC, NYT, LAT and the WP. They chose instead to ride the white horse and play good cop to the media's bad cop. Well, that was last week's strategy. They only have two options left: Ignore Palin (a loser) or Treat Palin Nice (also a loser.) Which explains their current confused look.

This election is starting become real fun. Pass the popcorn.

10 posted on 09/07/2008 4:19:31 PM PDT by InterceptPoint
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To: Texas Eagle

yes! Well said and wonderfully written. Thanks for the post.


11 posted on 09/07/2008 4:31:04 PM PDT by GOP Poet
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To: Cementjungle

I was going to post something similar to yours. You are absolutely right, the Obama campaign led the charge against Palin, and only when it didn’t work did they back off. For now. They hit her with the kitchen sink of what they had available on short notice, and none of it worked. Now they are digging a little deeper and laying low until they get it. If they don’t get it, I guarantee they will make something up, late in the game and in hopes it won’t be debunked in time.


12 posted on 09/07/2008 4:33:03 PM PDT by Defiant (I prefer a Lewinsky in the White House to an Alinsky. The first blows, but the latter really sucks.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

“Obama and David Axelrod, his chief strategist, are privately furious over the endless attacks, snide comments and second-guessing about John McCain’s choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his vice presidential running mate, and about her unwed daughter’s pregnancy.”

THEY LET IT GO FOR SEVERAL DAYS!!! Let’s get one thing clear, they first wanted to see if the attacks would work - when they figured out that it backfired, only then did they start trying to call off the dogs.


13 posted on 09/07/2008 4:36:17 PM PDT by BobL (http://www.brusselsjournal.com/blog/4556 (here is where the real Europe is going))
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To: Qwackertoo
I wish they’d shut up already about “when is she going to answer reporter questions”

They all want a shot at taking her down with a Dan Quayle moment. The more they can be in her face and harassing her, the more chance they think they have of getting something they can use. I think she can handle herself, but there is no need to give the media a chance to make something up, or blow something out of proportion. McCain is smart to keep her limited to appearances, speeches and occasional media interviews.

14 posted on 09/07/2008 4:37:11 PM PDT by Defiant (I prefer a Lewinsky in the White House to an Alinsky. The first blows, but the latter really sucks.)
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To: Defiant

I guess we’ve all seen the same thing. They are now trying to provide cover for Obama.


15 posted on 09/07/2008 4:37:49 PM PDT by BobL (http://www.brusselsjournal.com/blog/4556 (here is where the real Europe is going))
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To: Qwackertoo

Given the flagrantly demonstrated proclivities of “The Media” and the spread of alternative media, Mrs. Palin doesn’t have to make time in her schedule or these folks at all All she needs to say to them publicly is hey, I am campaigning for us- I am not going to help you in your campaign for your guy.


16 posted on 09/07/2008 5:28:30 PM PDT by ThanhPhero (di hanh huong den La Vang)
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To: InterceptPoint
Ah, but this comes from Matt Towery, who likes to remind us that he is a Republican (GOP legislator, at one time). Surely he has as much credibility here as . . . all the LifeLong Republicans Who Love Obama???
17 posted on 09/07/2008 5:31:06 PM PDT by madprof98 ("moritur et ridet" - salvianus)
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To: 1rudeboy

There is something about a used car salesman with a mustache!! Axel you look sleazy. LOL


18 posted on 09/07/2008 6:19:08 PM PDT by phillyfanatic
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To: 1rudeboy
I saw the di@k that is Axelrod today, being interviewed by Chris Wallace. He kept harping on the fact that McCain wanted Lieberman or Ridge but his handlers insisted that he chose someone else, hence Sarah Palin. I, even as a Republican, can't verify whether this is true or not! How in the “H” would this dumbass know? He certainly didn't sound as if he was “outraged” at her treatment. He didn't even mention it!

McCain certainly hasn't acted as if she was his second or third choice! Thank goodness. He seems genuinely proud of his choice-—and I am too.

19 posted on 09/07/2008 6:28:15 PM PDT by singfreedom (Obama's solution to the energy crisis: check the air in your tires! Why didn't we think of that?)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
We're rednecks and proud of it!

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

20 posted on 09/07/2008 6:29:24 PM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
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