The press: Are they finally starting to target McCain because they don't want to back a loser?

[Franks Wild Years]

While it appears to many of us here that the American media giants would, in an ideal world, like a Republican President, if it's simply not going to happen there will come a point in which they begin to veer away from their intended course, for they base their credibility on being in touch with the average person. They have to be able to speak to the archetypal 'Everyman'. The Everyman tunes in, the Everyman consequently keeps their pockets lined with silver & gold. It does not pay to go against Everyman when he has displayed a certain pattern, a certain way of thinking for a prolonged period of time - It will ultimately only serve to alienate and to narrow the consumer base for your outlet.

Now, I think it's fair to say that the major US news networks operate, in this day and age, very much in the Rupert Murdoch style of presentation, all flashy graphics and in-your-face sound effects with the news delivered in the most sensationalist way possible, usually with a bias - whoever that is towards - clearly descernable by many of us. Murdoch pulled a masterstroke in Britain in 1997 - his awful (but very popular with Everyman) 'The Sun' rag, always a Conservative paper under his ownership, endorsed Tony Blair & the Labour Party in the '97 election. Everyone new that a big Labour win was coming, but by abandoning the party he'd fought tooth and nail for in previous elections (with The Sun going so far as to claim its editorial the day of the 1992 general election pushed the Conservatives over the edge to win a battle many polls suggested they would lose) the credibility of his flagship publication among its considerable base was maintained. Britain's biggest selling daily wasn't suddenly at odds with its carefully contrived populist image.

Is this type of effect why we are slowly but surely beginning to see McCain's lapses in judgment examined more closely? Afterall, no one wants to be the odd one out.

[monmouth]

1. And those e-mails by the thousands may have made a point.. n/t

[ErinBerin84]

2. someone floated this here earlier.

There were some writings this week about how the McCain campaign is granting less access to reporters, so this may be payback?

[mrreowwr_kittty]

5. If true, it's further proof that journalism has deteriorated beyond all recognition

Into a junior high game where it's all about popularity and getting in the right cliques.

[anonymous171]

3. The McCain campaign has restricted reporter access.

Because he's no longer the "straight talker" that he used to be their campaign cannot afford to have too many journalists around in case he screws up.

[Vinca]

4. In the back of every reporter's mind is a seat on the plane (Air Force One).

Apparently it's a fine line deciding who to suck up to. This week it would seem obvious Obama will be handing out the seats.

[Thrill]

6. No they can no longer ignore his many gaffes.

[muryan]

7. Nope

they are because the mccain campaign has now cut off access to reporters unless they write glowing articles about him. The idea on their part was to encourage writers to put forth more favorable stories, but they failed to realize that they already were. And now the reporters whose access has been lessened are angry and deciding to actually write honest articles.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

8. If McCain starts really imploding

the Republicans and their many corporate allies in the media will have no choice but to cut him loose. Their only option becomes one of handing over the worst possible international situation and economy to Obama and then criticizing him during the next four years for not being able to improve on the Bush disaster he's been given while tryng to re-invent themselves as the Republican Party of old.

But before this election is through, I expect the Republican Party to still have a few things up their sleeves before they give up the fight and switch gears to trashing Obama once elected.

[skooooo]

11. I think the implosion is well underway.

This was an *awful* week for McCain.

[Hutzpa]

9. They have finally found out

he is a PLEB in the highest order....

:evilgrin:

[NattPang]

10. No, they are still his base.

They just don't want to look too obvious.
McCain should be 20 pts down due to many misteps,
but they have protected him as much as they could,
under the circumstances.