This reminds me of 1948. The media was in the tank for Dewey. Everyone thought Dewey was the certain winner.
Yet weeks before the election my dad was front man for Ohio’s democratic goveror. The governor did not want to snub truman but he didn’t want to be photographed with him either.
So the Governor told Truman he would get on the whistle stop train in Ky and get off after Cincy. Well the crowd was huge at cincy. Pictures taken show the governor about 8 feet away from Truman.
But the crowd was so big the Governor decided he would at least stay on the train until Dayton. The dayton crowd was even biger and the governor was standing about 4 feet from Truman in the pictures.
Teh next stop was springfield and the crowd was huge. The governor was standing next to truman. AT Columbus a huge record crowd was on hand and pictures showed the Governor holding up trumans hand in a joint victory salute.
AT mansfield, Canton and Akron as well as toledo it was hard to get a picture of truman with out the governor.
The governor got off the truman train as it entered New York State. The media said the huge cheering crowds were only people wanting to see a president of the USA in person.
They found out on election day.. those same crowds went to the polls.
Good post. Hope history repeats. -:)
Thanks so much for that story!
Now as then, the media thinks we’re so stupid and common, and that they’re vastly superior to us. They don’t get the popularity or electability of a habadasher, or a hockey mom. Their hubris blinds them, whether the story is about a Truman, a Palin, or a Mr. Smith who went to Washington.
The media doesn’t get how we don’t fall for the slick and prepackaged, and how it’s related to an innate American intellegence, a profound sense of patriotism, and a firm grip on our God given freedom.