Kurtz: McCain’s ‘cozy’ press relationship image is ‘rooted in reality.’
Kurtz: McCain’s ‘cozy’ press relationship image is ‘rooted in reality.’
Today, Washington Post reporter Howie Kurtz talks about the press’s infatuation with Sen. John McCain (R-AZ):
This approach contrasts sharply with the popular image of McCain as enjoying a cozy relationship with media organizations that he has jokingly called “my base.” That image is rooted in reality: McCain allows reporters to question him for hours at a time, is a frequent talk show guest and mingles easily among the media elite. On the trail, journalists enjoy his sarcastic sense of humor and have provided him with generally favorable treatment.
In fact, most Americans agree with Kurtz. A recent New York Times/CBS News poll found that more people believe the media have been “easier” on McCain than both Sens. Barack Obama (D-IL) and Hillary Clinton (D-NY). Perhaps there’s a reason. Many mainstream news reporters have acknowledged that thus far in the campaign, they have yet to put McCain under tough scrutiny.
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The old coot would not recognize reality if it bit him squarely in the ass.
May 20th, 2008 at 1:00 pmBuckie Boy, can you do that McIIIrd thing again? After all, laughter is the best medicine.
May 20th, 2008 at 1:00 pmSo when is the vetting of candidate McIIIrd going to replace the nuzzling up to goodoleboy McIIIrd ?
May 20th, 2008 at 1:03 pmNot to mention the complete pass the press gives him on being a “no-pork, lobbyists are bad, m’kay” candidate running a campaign managed almost completely by lobbyists!
May 20th, 2008 at 1:05 pm…..and Carly Fiorina, whose business credentials rival those of our Chimperor.
Many mainstream news reporters have acknowledged that thus far in the campaign, they have yet to put McCain under tough scrutiny.
Because they’re waiting for what ?
As if they haven’t neglected their jobs enough the last 7 + years ?
May 20th, 2008 at 1:05 pmyou really need to read the linked story to find out just what
“approach contrasts sharply with” that image…
talk about manipulation…
does TP get those “rebuttal letters” from salter?
May 20th, 2008 at 1:10 pmor just the usual suspects…
If journalists would give the democrats even half of the “generally favorable treatment” voters would hear more about the issues than inflammatory statements. Oh My God, what a concept.
If they turned all that scrutiny in the proper direction the public would actually learn how John McCain will not be taking care of them if elected President. The huddled masses would finally realize that mainstream media is not so liberal after all.
May 20th, 2008 at 1:11 pmOr are the media people just afraid that McCain might go postal on them?
May 20th, 2008 at 1:12 pmPatrioticLiberalChristian Says:
——————————————————————————–
Or are the media people just afraid that McCain might go postal on them?
May 20th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
And do what ?
Beat them with his scars ?
May 20th, 2008 at 1:16 pmI remember that in the military I had been taught not to get too close to my men. You had to be able to make hard decisions about how to spend them.
The press has a duty to this nation to serve as a dispassionate, nonpartisan view into the candidates. As we have seen from the election of Bush over two far better qualified candidates. The press failed to treat Gore and Bush with the deference and favoritism that they treated King George.
Our country stands on the brink of losing its precious liberty, its international reputation and the American Dream for so many of our citizens. Yes, this is the time for the press to get cozy with McCain and perpetuate the Straight Talk image, his cool temper and his Maverick personality – all of which have been proven to be myths. After all, which is more important, settling back on a bus to frat humor or participating in a real democracy.
May 20th, 2008 at 1:17 pmsad sad bad news… ted kennedy… it’s a brain tumor…
May 20th, 2008 at 1:18 pmas i feared… damn…
The media thinks that by looking like they’re finally doing their job with Bush and revealing some of the crap, they can get away with the SSDD that they’re pulling with McCain.
May 20th, 2008 at 1:20 pmDid anyone ask him why Cindy McIIIrd won’t release her tax statements? Hillary did. Obama did.
Cindy says she keeping them private to ‘protect her children’.
Uh huh…we’ll buy that, won’t we, press corps?
Press are supposed to press for answers, not sit around wolfing hot dogs and laughing at tired, old jokes.
May 20th, 2008 at 1:21 pmwell, maybe the press is figuring it out…
McCain lobbyist controversy intensifies, Obama piles on
By: Steve Benen @ 9:50 AM – PDT
When the McCain quietly acknowledged on Saturday that Tom Loeffler, the national finance co-chairman of the presidential campaign, had resigned over his lobbying ties, advisors probably hoped it would go by largely unnoticed. Newsweek’s Michael Isikoff ran with the story, and blogs picked up on it, but would five key campaign resignations in a week become a major headache for the McCain gang?
It sure looks like it. The Washington Post ran a front-page item this morning, with a headline the campaign won’t like at all: “A Fifth Top Aide To McCain Resigns; Finance Co-Chairman’s Lobbying Ties Are Cited.”
May 20th, 2008 at 1:33 pm[...]
http://www.crooksandliars.com/
The MSM in this country would rather eat hot dogs and sit at the feet of McCain looking adoringly into his eyes than actually do their jobs. Its easier and they get free meals. That’s a pretty good deal – and all McCain asked is that you write nice stuff about him and bad stuff about democrats. Free meals for being a whore to McCain? That’s a good deal.
May 20th, 2008 at 1:34 pm#8 PatrioticLiberalChristian Says:
Or are the media people just afraid that McCain might go postal on them?
He does have a bad temper and he likes to call his wife names, you just never know.
May 20th, 2008 at 1:35 pmThis old codger has sold out the office before he has been elected. The best government that money can buy. Funny behavior for a guy who favored electon/lobbyist reform. Guess it all depends on which side of Mycane’s mouth he is using.
May 20th, 2008 at 1:41 pmThe MSM has canceled any hard hitting journalism about seven years ago, when Bush took office. Could there be a corelation to the fact that corps like GE, who profit handsomely from the wars, who own media corps hold back on ol’ John?
He does have a bad temper and he likes to call his wife names, you just never know.
Like most on the right side, McCain is a coward. Two pre-teen girls could beat the snot out of him. He’s all talk and little action (sorry, Cindy). He is the typical passive-aggressive; tough on the outside, a wuss on the inside. He left his wife on her death bed, for goodness sakes!
May 20th, 2008 at 1:45 pmI figure the press is easy on republicans because they are republicans. Since ‘free’ press is inherently ‘liberal’, the idea that some forced balance needs to be maintained undermines the ‘free’ part.
May 20th, 2008 at 1:50 pmA perspective heard on the radio:
May 20th, 2008 at 1:57 pmJohn McCain was released from POW captivity
only after the U.S. negotiated with the enemy, North Vietnam … so he owes his freedom to “the appeasers” as they would be called today …
Speaking of Cindy and John, this column from Joe Conason highlights the hypocrisy of the media.
May 20th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
The press looks gullible and easy to manipulate when they pander to the panderer.
May 20th, 2008 at 2:22 pmif the democrats arent smart enough to learn that the first thing you do is make sure that candy crowley is FED, then they deserve to lose.
May 20th, 2008 at 2:31 pmMcCain: a three-time war criminal. 1. war criminal in Vietnam: he bombed Vietnamese peasants from 30,000 feet (a cowardly act of aggression; hardly “heroic,” no matter what Obama or anyone else says…), 2. Iraq: voted for the Bush war of aggression on the Iraqi people and 3. cheerleads for murdering Iranians, which is senile “bomb, bomb, bomb Iran.” What a creep.
May 20th, 2008 at 2:49 pmI guess Cindy McIIIrd’s unwillingness to release tax returns can best be summed up as…
IOKIYAR
May 20th, 2008 at 3:01 pmTake Katy’s advice and read the linked articles.
May 20th, 2008 at 3:19 pm