Right Wing Charges ‘Media Bias’ On Obama Trip Coverage Despite McCain’s Decision To Limit Press Overseas
Right Wing Charges ‘Media Bias’ On Obama Trip Coverage Despite McCain’s Decision To Limit Press Overseas
Last week, the New York Times reported that the three major network news anchors — Brian Williams, Charles Gibson and Katie Couric — would be accompanying Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) on his current trip overseas. Immediately, the conservative Media Research Center screamed “liberal bias,” calling it “slavish adoration” of Obama, adding that it is “outrageous” that Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) didn’t get the same treatment.
Naturally, the right wing media latched on and have continued their outrage. Some examples:
– Glenn Beck: And there’s no media bias with the three anchors that are following [Obama] …John McCain has gone to foreign countries three times in the last four months. I don’t remember any of them being there. [CNN, 7/21/08]
– Mort Kondracke: Look, you would think that that the media would at least try to demonstrate a little balance by having sent at least one anchor off with McCain when he made one of his foreign trips. [Fox News, 7/23/08]
– Sean Hannity: Karl, I want to get your thoughts on the media bias, and that is that, you know, John McCain’s been there eight times. And we don’t have the big three network anchors, the stars going with him. [Fox News, 7/23/08]
Watch the compilation:
But Newsweek’s Holly Bailey recently noted that McCain “chose not to take reporters” on his trip abroad because he “was on official Senate travel” and aides worried about stories “questioning whether he was improperly using his Senate office to benefit his presidential campaign.”
Bailey added, “In contrast, the Obama campaign is inviting reporters on its tour, handling all the logistics — including transportation.” Reporters would have faced “a logistical nightmare…keep[ing] up with McCain as they flew commercially from stop to stop. (McCain traveled by a military aircraft).”
So as it turns out, McCain decided, not the media, to have limited press on his trip. But as Bailey notes, this decision may have actually benefited McCain: “McCain made a big time gaffe confusing Sunnis and Shiites… [and] it didn’t create nearly the stir it would have had Brian Williams, Katie Couric or Charlie Gibson been reported their evening newscast from the scene.”
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mcCain says “Pay attention to me!!! but not to what I say.”
July 24th, 2008 at 5:27 pmTo the Fauxies, media bias only applies to news outlets not founded and operated by GOP operatives
July 24th, 2008 at 5:28 pmGuess “media bias” doesn’t extend to when one of the major networks purposely removes a glaringly stupid gaffe by McMoron , though………
July 24th, 2008 at 5:33 pmAlthough there is a marked media bias in favor of McPain, there is still the concept of a “free” press in this Country. Reporters are free to choose what they say and free to choose about whom they say it. The mouthy fools that blather all this crap are doubly guilty of what they accuse others. They are following the bushco motto: Play ball with us or we will shove the bat up your (bad TP word equating to wrectum).
July 24th, 2008 at 5:37 pmIt really makes no difference that McCain decided not to take the press along. That won’t be reported. All that will be reported is their whining that McCain is being ignored. If I was on the McCain campaign, I would be grateful that McCain is being ignored because every time he isn’t ignored he sticks his foot in his mouth.
July 24th, 2008 at 5:37 pmMcCain will clear up this egregious error in 3…2…1…
July 24th, 2008 at 5:37 pmSht Head and rover on fox talking about media bias: that’s funny. There’s a pot and a kettle, but no one’s calling anyone ‘black’, no.
July 24th, 2008 at 5:38 pmLoved Ole McCopycat’s bold move by having lunch in a German restaurant in German-Villege, Columbus, Ohio. That should show the Obama-loving media a thing or two…
July 24th, 2008 at 5:38 pmI think these pundits have a point. After all, CBS displayed major bias when they refused to air all of McSame’s interview, and in the proper order.
I think the Republican candidate for the presidency deserves better.
July 24th, 2008 at 5:39 pmHaving caught part of Obama’s speech in Germany today, I was very impressed with his down to earth comments and feeling that Europe wants what we all want, clean environments for our families, no more senseless war. Realizing that we can find common ground to work together. Do conservatives ever consider the improvements that can be made in every facet with the money spent in useless war ? Powerful people rule by dividing citizens not uniting them. And see what the last 7 years have done to America ?
July 24th, 2008 at 5:40 pmJim Wilke Still Says: Nothing Much
July 24th, 2008 at 5:44 pmIs anyone else sick to death of how everyone in the media refers to the media as if they aren’t in the media?
July 24th, 2008 at 5:46 pm10. Jim Wilke
July 24th, 2008 at 5:49 pmJust to clear things up a little for you, TP was referring to McCain’s only trip to the Middle East after clinching the nomination.
Jim Wilke Says:
——————————————————————————–
So as it turns out, McCain decided, not the media, to have limited press on his trip
Note the singular as TP gives one example and expects you to apply them to ALL his trips.
The audacity of deception.
What? TP used the singular because they were talking about ONE TRIP, you buffoon. How can you pretend to read someone else’s mind when you can’t even use your own?
July 24th, 2008 at 5:49 pmUh, wouldn’t they have just edited it for McCain to make him look good?
July 24th, 2008 at 5:49 pmJim Wilke Says:
So as it turns out, McCain decided, not the media, to have limited press on his trip
Note the singular as TP gives one example and expects you to apply them to ALL his trips.
The audacity of deception.
jimmy read that back to yourself,
it makes no sense.
*
jimmy, we want you to soar,
soar like you’ve never soared before.
:)
start by reading the link.
&
good luck.
@
July 24th, 2008 at 5:51 pmQuick, somebody!!
Call the WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAmbulance!!!!!
July 24th, 2008 at 5:52 pmRandomChaos Says:
——————————————————————————–
Jim Wilke Still Says: Nothing Much
Oh, I disagree. Jim Wilke’s posts always say something. They scream, “I am a complete fu(king idiot!”
July 24th, 2008 at 5:52 pmJim Wilke, the audacity of self-deception.
July 24th, 2008 at 5:52 pmhttp://mediamatters.org/items/200807240001
July 24th, 2008 at 5:53 pm(On yesterday’s Glen Beck) Stein on Obama’s convention speech: “Seventy-five-thousand people at an outdoor sports palace, well, that’s something the Fuehrer would have done”
You don’t think the MSM is following some ‘real news’ now, do you?
July 24th, 2008 at 5:53 pmNot filling a 75 seat town hall meeting, that’s something John McCain would do.
July 24th, 2008 at 5:55 pmIt’s called the FREE MARKET, as you idiot repukes scream all the time, the PEOPLE love Obama and well, your guy McSame is….well, old, and lame, and not interesting, there by Obama generates revenue for the networks, McSame does not, easy to understand, uh.
That’s why 200 thousand Germans showed up to hear him speak…because he is NOT McSame.
Plus he can shoot a 3 pointer…and that gets my vote…LOL.
July 24th, 2008 at 5:55 pmHmm, must have used a bad word. Let’s try again:
If McCain wishes to revisit the region, fund the media’s travel and take care of logistics as Osbama’s campaign did on this trip, I have no doubt the networks will follow. Seeing how well McCain’s staff handles logistics (cite for authority yesterday’s offshore oil platform fiasco) you may see Brian, Charlie and Katie broadcasting from the “Iraq-Pakistan border” which would be fine with me.
Next up: McCain whining that the cameras were all on Obama’s speech instead of watching Johnny wolfing down bratwurst at a German restaurant in Columbus Ohio (seriously, that is the best he could do).
July 24th, 2008 at 5:56 pmSay JIm Wilke, do you have enough points for a McCain baseball cap yet?
I bet those are cool.
July 24th, 2008 at 5:56 pmJim Wilke Says
July 24th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
Note the singular as TP gives one example and expects you to apply them to ALL his trips.
The audacity of deception.
_________________________________________________________
Grasping at straws, are we?
How many other trips did McCain take as a presumptive nominee for President (not a Senator on Senate business), where he invited the press to come along, and he took care of their travel arrangements?
If McCain has been doing this and the press has been snubbing him, that’s one thing. But we’re not comparing apples to apples here.
July 24th, 2008 at 5:59 pmJim W., Why, the audacity of the pomposity; If I was your mother I’d spank your bombassity!
July 24th, 2008 at 6:00 pmAnd once again, the wingnut pundits go off half-cocked…
July 24th, 2008 at 6:00 pmLet me make the obvious comment:
McCain goes to Iraq and has press taking pictures of him in the market buying rugs (another Neocon bought 2 rugs at $5 each). McCain is surrounded by a rather large military force. Press passes along comments on how safe it is in Iraq.
Obama goes. Obama is surrounded by cheering people.
Obviously, the press has bribed the people to cheer Obama.
July 24th, 2008 at 6:01 pmMapleStreet Says:
Let me make the obvious comment:
McCain goes to Iraq and has press taking pictures of him in the market buying rugs (another Neocon bought 2 rugs at $5 each). McCain is surrounded by a rather large military force. Press passes along comments on how safe it is in Iraq.
Obama goes. Obama is surrounded by cheering people.
Obviously, the press has bribed the people to cheer Obama.
it’s called
“the audacity of deception”
(jimmy made it up himself, cute no?)
#
good luck.
!
July 24th, 2008 at 6:06 pmMaybe McSame could have feted the press in his wife’s private jet? Oh wait, we’re not supposed to know about that….
July 24th, 2008 at 6:08 pmJim Wilke Says:
——————————————————————————–
The audacity of deception.
July 24th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
Jim Wilke , the audacity of delusional self arrogance and worth…….
July 24th, 2008 at 6:09 pmJim Wilke, a paucity of conceptions.
July 24th, 2008 at 6:11 pmThe Obama speech is clearly a turn in American policy toward ineffable fatigue. I find myself wearied at all the coverage that continues to oscillate between fear and hope. Why so serious? Get Your War on! Stop reading the serious news, and lift yourself up with a bit of comedy news at 236.com http://www.236.com/ video/ 2008/ get_your_war_on_promo_7897.php
July 24th, 2008 at 6:12 pmIt’s interesting that for all the conservative objection to the fairness doctrine when it comes to talk radio, they seem to be crying for equal time for their geriatric standard bearer.
July 24th, 2008 at 6:13 pmraynman Says:
Maybe McSame could have feted the press in his wife’s private jet? Oh wait, we’re not supposed to know about that….
July 24th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
And how would the Muslim World react to his arrival in a “beer wagon”?
July 24th, 2008 at 6:19 pmI think Republicans and their media talking heads and their news outlets are all frustrated to see over 200,000 Germans coming to listen to Obama,and when he is not yet even a president.
When McCain made trips, he made them personal ones..he went to Scotland and Canada to raise money,then he went surprisingly to Colombia,still nobody knows why, then few times to Iraq,surrounded by soldiers for photo opportunity.
After all McCain was the one who started it all…attacking Obama for not traveling abroad…
July 24th, 2008 at 6:25 pmSo Obama did; now Republicans are mad because he got world attention.
Mr. McCain : you asked for it , now you got it…
you asked Obama to travel..and he did..now you are not happy.
What’s the biggest crowd that McCain ever attracted…so far…?
When McCain came last month to speak in Colorado, his handlers did not allow anybody who is not invited. Remember when the police arrested a librarian 61 years old woman for trespassing because she was carrying a sign saying McCian = Bush in the building.
So, McCain and the media should not be mad..
It is about two different styles of two different candidates..and with two different appeals.
The funny thing is Beck, Kondrake and Hannity are ALL part of the media they’re criticizing.
Where were they on the McCain trips?
July 24th, 2008 at 6:42 pmTarazan just hit the nail on the head with that spot-on post. I think, no..I know that the repugs and their enablers in the Media wanted and expected Mr. Obama to fall flat on his face, especially while in Iraq or Israel. And guess what? It didn’t happen! Now they’ve got a major problem on their hands. Obama LOOKS and ACTS Presidential.
July 24th, 2008 at 6:55 pmThey asked for it, they got it.
How can the media be expected to go on McCain’s ego trips?
July 24th, 2008 at 6:59 pmThe all-powerful right wing is about to lose power for the first time since 1994 . . .
July 24th, 2008 at 7:48 pmCue the whining.
#40 Zooey, with respect to Right wing telivision talking heads.
Where were they on the McCain trips?
———————————-
Good point.
July 24th, 2008 at 7:49 pmHAHAHAHAHA
Whiners! Whiners! Whinerrrrrrrssssss!
Losers!
July 24th, 2008 at 8:27 pmOval12345678 aka James K. Sayre Says:
Loved Ole McCopycat’s bold move by having lunch in a German restaurant in German-Villege, Columbus, Ohio. That should show the Obama-loving media a thing or two…
HAHAHA
July 24th, 2008 at 8:36 pmHow silly mcchimpy is. he has no agenda. he has no vision.
“McCain made a big time gaffe confusing Sunnis and Shiites… [and] it didn’t create nearly the stir it would have had Brian Williams, Katie Couric or Charlie Gibson been reported their evening newscast from the scene.”
One would think that if Brian Williams, Katie Couric and/or Charlie Gibson were doing their jobs properly, it would have created about the same amount of stir whether they personally witnessed it or not. It’s not as if it happened in secret.
July 24th, 2008 at 8:46 pmMedia bias is a shame created by the neo-conservative movement. If these so called conservatives really wanted fair and balance coverage then they would of ONLY reported the news, instead of injecting 24/7 opinion into the public. They don’t care about opinion, they only care about their ideology.
You see….this is where they get you…they call everyone else biased so that people will only watch Fox News. It’s a scam to get viewers to listen. Any real journalistic institution wouldn’t need to keep alleging media bias, because their reputation would speak for itself!
Fox Noise is simply a propaganda outlet for Neo-conservative ideology. Plain and simple.
July 24th, 2008 at 9:41 pmi’m sure it’s been pointed out how happy the fright-wingers were about all the crazy-pastor and bitter-gate coverage…
i wish i wasn’t so worried that i can’t enjoy the hypocricy…
July 24th, 2008 at 9:48 pma most excellent short read, historical background of the media…
July 24th, 2008 at 9:53 pmfound via C&L:
A Lamentation on the Media–Part I
http://cabbageskings.blogspot.com/ 2008/ 07/ lamentation-on-media-part-i.html
Phil Graham speaking in behalf of McCain and his campaign as a top economic advisor said, “We are a nation of whiners and the recession is a mental recession (all in our minds)”.
Well, Phil was in part correct.
As I see it, McCain nor his surrogats complained when Obama was on 24/7 over his pastor Rev Wright. McCain sat back and enjoyed it. So as long as the media is bashing Obama, McCain is swell with it.
So Phil was right about Whiners. He was speaking about those inside McCain’s camp. And this media love fest McCain decries is really a mental thing. Its just McCain’s camp having a terrible nightmare. Only after they woke up.
July 24th, 2008 at 10:13 pmWhat I’m really surprised by is how, to almost anything Obama does, McCain’s camp releases a statement on why he can’t do that. He can’t speak out of the USA because he’s not president yet (ignoring McCain speaking outside the USA). He can’t go to Iraq because he’s not president yet (McCain has never been to the mideast ?)
It would be one thing if McCain were running a successful campaign. But as bad as he’s doing, you’d think he’d concentrate on his own campaign and stop trying to run Obama’s.
Of to put it in the Biblical - something about pulling the speck out of your neighbor’s eye while ignoring the beam in your own.
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July 25th, 2008 at 6:54 amI love it!!! Obama avoids the trap in Berlin by being “vague” if he had be specific the MSM would have skewered him for usurping the presidents role Not that role wouldn’t bear some usurping. At least Merkel was not subjected to a most inappropriate laying on of hands. The german people let the world know where they stood Insane McCain couldn’t draw flies let alone a crowd of 200K
July 25th, 2008 at 7:45 amThis while McCain was canceling a news conference because he didn’t want reporters around– and not long ago snubbed reporters from another meeting. Amazing that he can do all that while they whine about lack of coverage. Two-faced.
July 25th, 2008 at 10:44 am