The consolidated media is going to follow the money - always. Whoever will keep the cash cow milking will get the headlines. The advertisers pay the bills and feed the profits. It is an incestuous relationship. Even public broadcasting is no longer a truth teller since they were defunded and had to go out for corporate dollars. It became patently clear to me when Dennis Kuchinich was running for president in a full field and his name was never mentioned on public radio. With decades of consolidation, gerrymandering, and profiteering, this debacle is difficult to watch. A full reset is needed and I, sadly, don't see a path forward...
You are right that the media should have made it explicit that there was no evidence but I bet they assumed that just saying Trump was making the claim was enough. I seriously doubt that the media will play along. For the most part they did not do this to Obama because he was a media fave. After all he gave them a “thrill up their leg”. They could have gone ballistic over his Tony Rezko connections but they didn’t. If it had been Gore, Kerry, or either Clinton I am convinced it would have been a potential scandal they wouldn’t have dropped for months.
The media really play favorites based on which candidates they feel are the coolest dudes - and I do mean dudes. Bush and Obama met their criteria: Kerry, Gore and the Clintons did not.
Howard Fineman once wrote about how politics was like high school and Obama was the cool exchange student. Hillary was the not cool, book clutching student aspiring to student government. The only thing he got wrong was that it is the media that acts like this is a high school popularity contest, not the politicians.
I just found the article Fineman wrote. He described Hillary as the student running for student Senate “... the worthy but puffed-up Miss Perfect....” and Obama as “mysterious” and “cool” then asks “Who would be the leader of the pack?” as if there would be any question about that. Of course the cool dude would win.
The problem is the MSM tendency to feel they need to be "fair to both sides," or to treat political stories like "both sides do it." Now, don't get me wrong: I abhor intentionally biased reporting, no matter where it comes from, and sometimes, yes, politicians from both sides do exaggerate or even lie. But sometimes, it's only one side that is causing the problem, and this is a fine example. Few folks know how to "work the refs" better than Republicans, and they are masterful at getting reporters to overcompensate for the myth that "the media are liberal!!!" This often results in the media reporting on stuff that doesn't really deserve anyone's attention, including wild claims from GOP partisans, and/or this president. We often see the MSM tendency to treat GOP outrage with more seriousness than it deserves: should Chuck Todd have had to fall on his proverbial sword and apologize for telling the truth about Attorney General Barr's "history is written by the winners" comment? And yet, under pressure from GOP sources, that's what happened. I watched that segment of Meet the Press and did not find it to be biased at all. But hey, if GOP partisans are upset, then what's a reporter to do but back down and say sorry? SMH.
Hey Eric, I'm going to segue my comment into a story idea that I've been hoping you'll do.
The underlying problem, IMO, is that every news organization continues to abide by the Goldwater rule, which strips every news story of context. If they covered him honestly -- as a textbook malignant narcissist -- we wouldn't have to be amazed every day that he "makes it all about him." He doesn't plan and calculate, as so many believe; he explodes when something triggers the voices in his head telling him what a loser he is. The only time reporters discuss this is when they're interviewing a psychologist. But it needs to be part of their everyday reporting or we're constantly missing the story. Whenever I watch a panel of political analysts on CNN, I think how much more accurate the analysis would be from a panel of abused women.
Please accept PayPal and you would be surprised how many subscribe to Press run. Many, including me, dont like to put credit card number onlione but Paypal will lure me everytime. Great work!!!!! Wish you success.
PayPal should be an option I believe....I can’t view subscription box right now. but look for small print at bottom and see if there’s “other option” language
Rules of objective journalism are going to have to be tweaked for literally the future of the nation but heartened by media that already call out lies during or after made.
I’d only add that the accuracy, legitimacy, existence of the “scandal” alleged is irrelevant. The mere discussion or “investigation” of the bogus claims are enough to give them legitimacy to many.
Do you remember Newt Gingrich’s smart of then Speaker Jim Wright? It worked then and many times since.
Though the game existence of Right Wing Media; ready to flog the scandal horse, no matter how dead, complicates things.
For amusement though; imaging Fox Programming if Hillary were President. I imaging an ever-changing chryon With the US COVID death toll 24/7.
But please remember “Obamagate” doesn’t need to be real. It only need appear real enough to create an odor of scandal around President Obama and VP Biden.
And to that end; the more convoluted the story the better. Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham, et. al. need neither consistency nor coherency in their attacks.
The consolidated media is going to follow the money - always. Whoever will keep the cash cow milking will get the headlines. The advertisers pay the bills and feed the profits. It is an incestuous relationship. Even public broadcasting is no longer a truth teller since they were defunded and had to go out for corporate dollars. It became patently clear to me when Dennis Kuchinich was running for president in a full field and his name was never mentioned on public radio. With decades of consolidation, gerrymandering, and profiteering, this debacle is difficult to watch. A full reset is needed and I, sadly, don't see a path forward...
also, public broadcasting today seems to pull its punches bc its so terrified that Trump will cut funding
You are right that the media should have made it explicit that there was no evidence but I bet they assumed that just saying Trump was making the claim was enough. I seriously doubt that the media will play along. For the most part they did not do this to Obama because he was a media fave. After all he gave them a “thrill up their leg”. They could have gone ballistic over his Tony Rezko connections but they didn’t. If it had been Gore, Kerry, or either Clinton I am convinced it would have been a potential scandal they wouldn’t have dropped for months.
The media really play favorites based on which candidates they feel are the coolest dudes - and I do mean dudes. Bush and Obama met their criteria: Kerry, Gore and the Clintons did not.
Howard Fineman once wrote about how politics was like high school and Obama was the cool exchange student. Hillary was the not cool, book clutching student aspiring to student government. The only thing he got wrong was that it is the media that acts like this is a high school popularity contest, not the politicians.
omgosh yes, the Beltway is viewed just like HS. and Dems are the no-fun kids who get things done!
I just found the article Fineman wrote. He described Hillary as the student running for student Senate “... the worthy but puffed-up Miss Perfect....” and Obama as “mysterious” and “cool” then asks “Who would be the leader of the pack?” as if there would be any question about that. Of course the cool dude would win.
https://www.newsweek.com/potomac-high-98601
It doesn’t get more sophomoric than that. (How’s that for a high school metaphor?)
The problem is the MSM tendency to feel they need to be "fair to both sides," or to treat political stories like "both sides do it." Now, don't get me wrong: I abhor intentionally biased reporting, no matter where it comes from, and sometimes, yes, politicians from both sides do exaggerate or even lie. But sometimes, it's only one side that is causing the problem, and this is a fine example. Few folks know how to "work the refs" better than Republicans, and they are masterful at getting reporters to overcompensate for the myth that "the media are liberal!!!" This often results in the media reporting on stuff that doesn't really deserve anyone's attention, including wild claims from GOP partisans, and/or this president. We often see the MSM tendency to treat GOP outrage with more seriousness than it deserves: should Chuck Todd have had to fall on his proverbial sword and apologize for telling the truth about Attorney General Barr's "history is written by the winners" comment? And yet, under pressure from GOP sources, that's what happened. I watched that segment of Meet the Press and did not find it to be biased at all. But hey, if GOP partisans are upset, then what's a reporter to do but back down and say sorry? SMH.
so true, GOP faux outrage has launched so many pointless news cycles
Hey Eric, I'm going to segue my comment into a story idea that I've been hoping you'll do.
The underlying problem, IMO, is that every news organization continues to abide by the Goldwater rule, which strips every news story of context. If they covered him honestly -- as a textbook malignant narcissist -- we wouldn't have to be amazed every day that he "makes it all about him." He doesn't plan and calculate, as so many believe; he explodes when something triggers the voices in his head telling him what a loser he is. The only time reporters discuss this is when they're interviewing a psychologist. But it needs to be part of their everyday reporting or we're constantly missing the story. Whenever I watch a panel of political analysts on CNN, I think how much more accurate the analysis would be from a panel of abused women.
completely agree. mental health experts should have been part of the Trump coverage for last 3 yrs....I mean 126 tweets last Sunday??
p.s. I forgot to mention that I liked your piece! :)
Thanks;)
Please accept PayPal and you would be surprised how many subscribe to Press run. Many, including me, dont like to put credit card number onlione but Paypal will lure me everytime. Great work!!!!! Wish you success.
So do you take PayPal?
PayPal should be an option I believe....I can’t view subscription box right now. but look for small print at bottom and see if there’s “other option” language
Rules of objective journalism are going to have to be tweaked for literally the future of the nation but heartened by media that already call out lies during or after made.
How threatened the only one that can "FIX-it" is suddenly; kitchen gettin' hot?
Well put Mr. Boehlert.
I’d only add that the accuracy, legitimacy, existence of the “scandal” alleged is irrelevant. The mere discussion or “investigation” of the bogus claims are enough to give them legitimacy to many.
Do you remember Newt Gingrich’s smart of then Speaker Jim Wright? It worked then and many times since.
Though the game existence of Right Wing Media; ready to flog the scandal horse, no matter how dead, complicates things.
For amusement though; imaging Fox Programming if Hillary were President. I imaging an ever-changing chryon With the US COVID death toll 24/7.
correct, the media's pursuit of Obamagate signals that it's an actual story. but it's not.
But please remember “Obamagate” doesn’t need to be real. It only need appear real enough to create an odor of scandal around President Obama and VP Biden.
And to that end; the more convoluted the story the better. Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham, et. al. need neither consistency nor coherency in their attacks.