Posted on 12/10/2008 5:23:49 PM PST by lewisglad
The media is ruthless. There's no getting around it. No matter how diligently we argue that a certain candidate was unfairly attacked, there is no denying that any candidate, whether black or white, liberal or conservative (especially conservative), male or female, will experience the wrath of the media's brutal assault.
I read the last issue of the Spectator about Sarah Palin and I have several issues with it. The first is his claim that the media was overly harsh when ridiculing her policies and behavior. Yes – I'll admit that the media was unnecessarily critical when it scrutinized almost every aspect of her appearance. A man running for office would probably not be subject to this kind of superficial nit-picking. However, we need to keep in mind that the media's ideological attacks were not out of the ordinary, and often portrayed her in a kind of satirical manner which helped citizens view her in a different light.
The media also acted this way towards her because of conditions the McCain campaign imposed on her. For weeks, they bottled her up, fearful that she would say or do something wrong. She was excluded from press conferences and interviews for quite a while, and the McCain campaign claimed they did this to keep her in line before briefing her completely about these situations. In part, Palin's lack of experience caused the media's criticism, so she is not entirely at fault. On the other hand, her past indicates that she may not be as well-versed in politics as she should be, and therefore the media may be justified in its observations.
In addition, if we say that Palin received unwelcome remarks, then we must also accuse her of the same thing. Isn't that what politicians do? They attack their opponents. What difference does it make who it comes from? The fact of the matter is that while the media may have made Palin look incompetent, Biden and Obama did the same thing, only perhaps in a way that was slightly more subtle but no less derogatory. Palin also attacked the Democrats, and what was worse about her commentary was that some of the things she said were outright wrong. For example, "Palin also told those gathered that Obama doesn't like American soldiers," reported Dana Milbank in the New York Times. She backed up her claim using quotes that were out of context. Moreover, a statement like this does not command respect because it is so obviously futile and inconsequential.
This is the most important distinction that Molfetas failed to make between Geraldine Ferraro's historic nomination and Palin's significantly less historic one. Geraldine Ferraro commanded respect. I don't care whether you are male or female: a candidate needs to have a certain aura about him or her, and if this is missing, the media will be on the prowl 24/7.
Molfetas wrote that "for elites, social mobility is disturbing." It may be true that elites are afraid of falling to a lower socio-economic status, but Palin's ordinary background and ascendance to political power are certainly not "threats" to the higher class. The fact that Sarah Palin went to a public school and grew up in a working class family is not why the media feels the need to attack her – her folksiness and casual demeanor, unfortunately, come across as unprofessional, and this is why we might feel wary about her.
Should we dismiss our uncertainties? We should want them to be so many times smarter than we are that it's embarrassing. I cannot understand why Molfetas would say that the elected officials do not "need to know whether Africa is a country or a continent." Shouldn't we desire for our country a well-informed leader with a sense of the world so we can make progress? Not knowing fifth-grade geography is a serious problem.
In accordance with this point, I'll point out something else Molfetas wrote: "Palin, like Obama, understood what it meant to be growing up in an ordinary family making ends meet." If this is so, then why didn't the media crusade against Obama for his background? Palin's nomination and subsequent exposure to the media's microscope was not due to a fear of social mobility but rather, other traits which could apply to any candidate given the cunning methods of the media. Palin's nomination may have been controversial, but it was not historic, simply because she lacked the experience and knowledge required for a serious vice-presidential candidate.
yeah it is unfair.
Cant these libbies just ‘move on’ and get over it!
She did not deserve to be questioned over whether she was indeed the mother of her baby. Alaska was bombarded by requests for DNA proof.
Does a fish know he’s wet?
Don’t ask a media person if he’s objective. He assumes he is; he in actual fact has no clue.
not historic ? wtf.
she came closer to the White House than any woman in our nations history.
Like Barack Obama's birth certificate? Like Michelle Obama's giant pay raise?
Unless it is about protection the Zero.
He was supposed to call in sick today or something.
“The first is his claim that the media was overly harsh when ridiculing her policies and behavior.”
We all know that was hardly brought up, instead without even introducing her to the people they just started immediately dumping vast loads of rumors, lies, labels, accusations, humorous labels and inaccurate caricatures and false images and burying her name and face in negativity.
LLS
Obama's precise, television newsreader style of speaking comes across as highly professional, even though he has zero qualifications for the the job he just won. Is that what prevented you journalists from feeling wary about him?
Obama has experience?! - These effete, liberal snobs are in for an education in what they have wroght by just giving Obama a pass because he was “black” and talked pretty from a - uh - teleprompter. “Uh - uh - uh - uh - uh . . .” Get used to it, cause we gonna hear enough of it for the next four years. You betcha!
"Up here in Alaska the landscape is littered with the bodies of those who crossed Sarah" - Pollster Dave Dave Dittman, who worked for her gubernatorial campaign.
The rest of the world cannot understand how after bitter election campaigns American politicians can return to reality. For Instance, Sarah Palin has invited to her great state of Alaska the men who defeated her, Barack Obama and Joe Biden. She has provided a moose hunting trip for their enjoyment and has hired two other prominent men to assist them. Dick Cheney will instruct them in safe gun handling and Ted Kennedy will drive them back to their cabins in the evening....
I wonder what planet this dumb broad Allison is from. We Americans sure wish that her “media” had given their boy, Obama, some of their “fair” treatment. Even a little of the “fair” treatment that Governor Palin got would have been okay.
“her folksiness and casual demeanor, unfortunately, come across as unprofessional, and this is why we might feel wary about her”
That is funny, really, because she was the only professional in the running. The only reason she came across a certain way was because the MSM was writing, producing, and directing the show.
Do you think they ever, in their heart of hearts, feel sorry for hiding Biden’s gaffes and Obama’s inexperience (not to mention everyone else’s clothes)?
GIBSON: You said recently, in your old church, “Our national leaders are sending U.S. soldiers on a task that is from God.” Are we fighting a holy war?
PALIN: You know, I don’t know if that was my exact quote.
GIBSON: Exact words.
Actual transcript of Palin's comments that Gibson is referencing:
PALIN: "pray for our military men and women who are striving to do what is right. Also, for this country, that our leaders, our national leaders, are sending [U.S. soldiers] out on a task that is from God. That's what we have to make sure that we're praying for, that there is a plan and that that plan is God's plan."
That's just one of many leaps far beyond the normal subtle or at least tolerable bias that we expect. Unfair? It's so far beyond unfair that the word seems absurdly mild, and anyone who doesn't see tha is too biased to be worth talking to.
Works for me!
Think I’ll spam that one, with your permission of course. ;)
When the hell did she ever say that? She never said any such thing! What a liar! These people are shameless!
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