MSM Mindlessly Repeating McCain Lies - Obama Hasn't Offered A Specific Plan? Where's McCain's?

[Median Democrat]

The MSM has once again returned to mindlessly repeating McCain lies. Obama offered a detailed description of plans to regulate the financial industry in March of this year in a speech, as well as a plan on his website. On Monday, Obama offered additional points that were consistent with his March speech.

Yet, the MSM has once again repeated McCain's talking points about Obama failing to offer a plan without questioning McCain's daily contradictions on the crisis. McCain has offered very specific lies and contradictions, and that is a plan? Heck, since McCain has been simply copying Obama's speeches, does that mean that McCain is admitting that he has failed to offer a plan.

Once again, the McCain campaign tells the media to jump, and the MSM asks, "How high?"

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/23/campaign.wrap/index.html

/snip

McCain's campaign released a television ad Tuesday that builds on McCain's argument that Obama is not ready to lead.

"In crisis, experience matters. McCain and his Congressional allies led," an announcer says in the 30-second spot.

"Obama and his liberal allies? Mum on the market crisis," the announcer says.

Words beside a picture of Obama read "no leadership" as the announcer says, "A risk your family can't afford."

In response to the ad, the Obama campaign charged that McCain is the candidate who has not shown leadership.

"This ad is laughable. If you believe John McCain, George Bush and the Republicans in Washington have led on reforming Wall Street and restraining CEO pay, I've got a bridge in Alaska to sell you," said Obama-Biden spokesman Bill Burton.

/snip

[ellacott]

1. It's so frustrating to have such a stupid media

They refuse to earn their paycheck.

[Median Democrat]

2. Example: What's McCain's Position On Requiring The Government To Also Get Equity For Bailout?

Obama has made this a key demand, which is consistent that of his "liberal ally" Chris Dodd. Is John McCain willing to back this, or will he demand that banks get all the upside while the taxpayers bear the downside.

McCain, oh McCain? What's your position on taxpayers at least getting some equity interest for their risk?

[ReadTomPaine]

4. Oh they earn every penny...

You forget why they are paid and who's writing the checks.

[ellacott]

6. Good point

Touche :)

[sui generis]

3. actually that is partially true

but there is a valid reason "detailed" plans aren't offered before an election.

Merely stating we will regulate is not a detailed plan.

Having said that, McCain campaign has ZERO influence over the media. It's quite fashionable now for the media to disassociate itself with support for political weakness and irrelevance to prove their cub reporters have journalistic "teeth", regardless of what party delivers that impression.

Claiming that republicans have some magical influence over the media is claiming that we're helpless to do the same ourselves. THEY need to be worried.

Now let's talk about the most real issue of all that nobody's even mentioning: How Bout Them Electronic Voting Machines? Same ol' same ol'?

Hmmmm. It's inter-electoral amnesia. Everyone was so busy scratching eyes and pulling hair over Hillary and O that the important stuff just sort of got ignored once again.

[Median Democrat]

8. Actually, You Have It Backwards, Corporate Media Generally Supports The GOP

The myth about liberal media bias is spread to obscure this fact. The GOP is not really dictating to Corporate Media, rather Corporate Media uses the GOP as its lackey to promote the monopolization and consolidation of media. Disagree?

This is detailed in this thread below, along with graphs. To assume that media does not have a direct economic interest in the outcome of the election is naive as discussed in this post:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x6671688

[sui generis]

9. I'll reiterate, in my naive way

if we're running around squawking about how the sky falling we look pretty stupid. It's not falling, there are sharks in the ocean, but there are enough sky, ocean, charts, and graphs for everyone.

Yellow Fake was presented with charts and graphs by people who had a vested interest in adoption of it's allegations.

Yes, as a CFA myself I understand the nuance of economics in this case, especially related to how information (or rather "perception" of information) disseminates across media. Having said that, the world of journalism is NOT black and white. People hear what they want to hear, and right now they're not wanting to hear that the republicans are the best thing for their wallets, and that's a fact on the ground.

Oh and about "the myth of liberal media bias", I did not even remotely say anything of the sort. Metaphorically, sharks eat the weak (and the stupid). What I said was, it really doesn't matter who is being weak or stupid, republicans or democrats.

Finally, even Fox news has to sell advertising. Once the fourth estate is purely entertainment it will do whatever it thinks it needs to do to sell advertising slots to interested eyes, including pandering to disparate social groups. Television and media does not exist for the performing arts.

It's just a medium to sell products, and that is why Rupert Murdoch is where he is. Of course there is bias, like there are sharks, it's part of the eco-culture of media.

[Median Democrat]

11. You Mention Advertising, But Draw The Wrong Conclusion...

You state:

"Finally, even Fox news has to sell advertising. Once the fourth estate is purely entertainment it will do whatever it thinks it needs to do to sell advertising slots to interested eyes, including pandering to disparate social groups. Television and media does not exist for the performing arts."

However, where does this get you? Are you saying that the objective pursuit of advertising profits will keep the MSM neutral? If so, the answer is wrong, as this ABC memo showing advertisers blacklisting liberal programming demonstrates:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/josh-silver/air-americas-abc-blackli_b_33123.html

The profit motive is exactly what gives media a right wing bias.

[sui generis]

12. if I'm drawing the "wrong" conclusion

then there must be a plethora of conclusions to choose from.

I do agree with you, for common sense reasons, but advertisers don't just blacklist liberal programming.

I work in capital markets and it is "pretend" selective, just like advertisers and their blacklists. Southern Babtist Administration and CalPers don't like to invest in "sin" businesses, such as liquor sales and are selectively redistributed in their tranche participations in diversified funds to avoid "profiting" from liquor. Just the same, the money is all in the same pot for the whole fund, and it all performs. By shuffling paper the right way those companies can pretend that the dollars they're realizing come from all the "other" producers in that fund, by getting paid a smidge more from the non-sin investments. It's a complicated way to pretend that they're being above board with their internal moral police, while taking advantage of target markets and funds EXACTLY like everyone else.

color me cynical, not naive.

[Ganja Ninja]

5. I can almost hear Wolf Blitzer's voice.

He is such a right wing tool.

[ailsagirl]

7. "mindless" is right... I can't stand CNN anymore

Blocked it out of my channel lineup

[OwnedByFerrets]

10. Now thats just blantantly unfair.....he offered

to fire the head of the SEC.:rofl: :rofl:

www.wearableartnow.com

[No Elephants]

13. McCain came up with something similar to Paulson. What a coincidence.

[Median Democrat]

14. McCain Is Temporally Challenged Too, Says Obama Is Taking His Lead...

Even though Obama gave speeches and interviews on the subject of financial regulation in March 2008 at Cooper Union, the Financial crisis yesterday, and a press conference today. As of two weeks ago, McCain was still a deregulator, before he became a populist late last week.