The Media Giveth and the Media Taketh Away

[JCMach1]

Obama's bid for the WH had been almost exclusively based on his media presence and the play and spin his story has received in the press over the last 18 months or so. Over much of that time, there haven't been a lot of hard questions asked of the Senator from Illinois.

Instead, the story and debates have focused on the horse race. I think everyone would admit up until quite recently the media was much more anti-Hillary.

In last night's debate, Obama showed some weaknesses. Unfortunately for Obama, debates have not been his strong point in the campaign. He is a very good speaker and excellent on the stump. However, that doesn't seem to completely translate to question time. He is a great story teller, not such a good spinner. It might also be important to note that Hillary has done best after significant debate performances for her (NH and TX/OH are the prime examples). Remember that in those wins, she got the last minute deciders and people who thought the debate was important (I don't think that bodes well for Obama in PA).

But, I don't want to talk about Hillary. Obama became quite off-balance in the debate (fair or not) the tougher the questions got. The Umms and the uhhhs were frequent and noticeable. While I don't believe McCain is a scintillating debater, I think the media will give him the lowered expectations thing vs. Barack the communicator (remember that has been the storyline).

The media is going to echochamber every single thing (plus the kitchen sink) that ABC threw at him tonight and that is really going to hurt going into Fall.

I fear we are stepping well beyond the Hillary vs. Obama thing. We are staring at the end of a process that has given us TWO weak (and now wounded) candidates for the General Election.

Thank you so much MSM... brought to you by ABC, MSNBC, CBS, CNN, ad nauseum...

[cali]

1. another weak, quivery dem weighs in

once we have a nominee, that person, with a lot of help from 527s, the, DNC and dem leaders, will go after McCain, and that person, stands an excellent chance of winning, despite the MSM. In a catastropic economy- yes catastrophic- where people can't afford to feed their families or keep them warm, the odds that the dem candidate will win, are excellent.

[Skidmore]

2. Which is exactly why Obama supporters need to maintain their stand

and watch. Now is the time when a corrupt political system and a corrupt media can be set back on its heels. Time to beard the lion in its den. I stand with Obama.

[SunsetDreams]

3. I stand with Obama period

[Mezzo]

20. I respect that. Hope you'll understand those who stand with Hillary. nt

[shayes51]

4. You are correct.

[jobycom]

5. No kidding. He got a fraction of what the big boys face, and blew it.

Can't wait to watch him against McCain, when every debate, press conference, article, editorial, interview, radio commentary, news headline, sermon, email, flyer, Republican bumper sticker, letter to the editor, late night comedy routine, and swiftboat commercial is ten times worse than what he faced tonight.

[JCMach1]

7. Exactly... not saying he can't do it...

But he has to start now.

[jobycom]

8. Maybe he can, but have you ever looked at his campaign history?

He won his first election by getting his opponents kicked off the ballots--including the incumbent, by challenging petition signatures (ironic, given how much his supporters whined when Clinton challenged Texas caucus signatures). He won his first senate election because both of his opponents--one in the primary, one in the general, melted down with sex scandals. He's like a fighter who's opponents have stumbled in the first round, and were knocked out by the third. This one is going fifteen, and I'm not sure he can handle it. It's a little late in the game to begin training.

I still hope he loses to Clinton, but if not, I hope he learns really, really fast.

[JCMach1]

21. While all is this is true-- It doesn't mean he can't grow as a candidate

A prime example of someone excelling as they take the heat would be Bill Clinton himself. It happens.

[GoesTo11]

9. Which big boys faced debate questions 10 times worse? When? Thanks.

[jobycom]

10. Clinton, every other debate. Gore, every time he was asked a question.

Bill Clinton, in 92, when every press conference and debate started with some variation of "How bad a person are you for cheating with Gennifer Flowers (or dodging the draft, depending on the mood)." The usual followup was "How can you win if everyone keeps asking you these questions?"

They took the ball off the tee for Obama, that's all. He made contact anyway, but he didn't slap it out of the park as easily, did he?

[GoesTo11]

11. Oh yeah, remember Gore's treatment? (both Clinton & Obama supporters should like this)

http://www.toostupidtobepresident.com/shockwave/jeopardy1.htm

[olkaz]

13. So you want Obama to lose in the general, eh?

Wanting to see him do badly is not going to end the Iraq war or fix the economy.

[caseycoon]

6. The media giveth us..

a load of shit & taketh away all dignity.
:grr:

[futureliveshere]

12. Its the Bias the public abhors. NOT the tough questions

If both the candidates had been subjected to a similar level of VETTING then no one would complain. Barack is a very decent person and sincerely wants to help Americans. The people are INCREASING their support to him after yesterdays debate because they see that he was unfairly treated. The SAME thing will happen if he is unfairly targeted by the MODERATORS of future debates.

[grantcart]

14. and the media just fired up Obama's base

[Bensthename]

17. yup, every time falsely attacks he gets more money and comes out better then before..

So keep it coming MSM.

[JimGinPA]

15. Actually His Bid Has Been Based On Winning Contests & Earning Delegates...

Through a grassroots network of supporters. The play in the M$M is that no matter how much better he does than her in every conceivable way, it's just not enough because she says so and, "ha ha, you can never count out a Clinton, ha ha."

[Bensthename]

18. egg-zactly

[Cha]

22. Yeah, I don't where people like the OP

get off on Obama being a media creation..makes me wanna tell him to please get his head outta the sand before he turns into an ostrich.

[JCMach1]

23. Yeah, but those roots don't include the other 2/3 of the electorate

the pond gets a lot bigger in a few months.

You are right grassroots and $$$ have been what has sustained Obama until now.

However, the media will focus as it will...

grassroots becomes cult... Rev. Wright, weatherman, Hussein, flag pin ;(

And as much as we like to bitch about it on DU, the negative stuff takes a toll

[SoCalDem]

25. and he's been "fighting" against the wife of a former president

bash her, and he's a meanie..an upstart with no manners..

he's been restrained, in his reactions to her..

It;s like when my son's soccer team used to scrimmage with the coach's daughter's team.. they were girls 3 years older than my son's team..and they were good..

when the boys beat them, they were told (by some) ..well sure.. you noys beat a GIRL's team..and when they lost..it was "wow you let a bunch of GIRLS beat you..

either way it can be spun against you.. Obama has tried valiently to stay above the fray, and of course, she felt no reason to do likewise.. she is more concerned with tearing him down, so somehow she's the last one standing..even though not many people even want her..

[Bensthename]

16. You don't think the MSM has overplayed Wright and Bitter? WTF EVER..

That is all I hear when I turn on the TV. They love tearing Obama down. Keep dreaming guy.

[JCMach1]

24. After how many months??? and how many other candidates dropping out...

Imagine if all of this came out the 3 weeks leading into Iowa? Obama would have been finished after NH, or SC and lost Iowa.

No, we would probably be screaming at the set as they characterize Edwards as ANGRY! Jeebus, imagine if it were Hillary and Edwards going at it right now. That might even be uglier than Hill and Barack for DU! So, maybe we should count our blessings about some things.

Having my behind stuck in PA at the moment, I think Hillary is going to win here. I also think it may be in the neighborhood of 10%. Having said that, I don't think she will gain enough momentum from it to take the nomination. Party officials and superdelegates will broker this thing themselves by June. At that point, you will see a unity ticket with either Hillary... or a Hillary approved surrogate with Obama. Most likely, this would be Wesley Clark.

[SeaLyons]

19. The media's free pace to Obama

and daily bashing of Clinton has not served our candidates well. Obama failed last night. He failed big time. This is what happens when supporters get swooped up in the hype of the MSM, and don't look at the big picture and think for themselves.

[wowimthere]

26. Please stop yourself. You must still be asleep.

[Buzz Clik]

27. "almost exclusively based on his media presence". Another one of these calls me fucking stupid.

I grow weary of these assholes assuming that I am somehow brainwashed by the media. I'm not.

Get the fuck over it.

That being said, I will no longer tolerate the media attempting to manipulate this goddam country into whatever serves them.

It's on.