David Corn: The MSM Weighs In - McCain Is The Liar In The Race

[Hissyspit]

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/davidcorn/2008/09/the-msm-weighs-in-mccain-is-th.html

The MSM Weighs In: McCain (As of Now) Is the Liar in the Race
By David Corn | September 13, 2008 5:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)

It's as close as it gets to the most MS of MSM outfits declaring, McCain's lying!

I'm referring to a news article on the front-page of Saturday's New York Times that starts:

Harsh advertisements and negative attacks are a staple of presidential campaigns, but Senator John McCain has drawn an avalanche of criticism this week from Democrats, independent groups and even some Republicans for regularly stretching the truth in attacking Senator Barack Obama's record and positions.

Though the piece uses the usual framework of he said/he said--that is, others are saying that McCain is lying--it does present the evidence that McCain's recent assertions about Obama are outrageously false. It also quotes prominent Republicans saying that McCain and running mate Sarah Palin have vigorously mugged the truth in recent days. Though the article was, no doubt, in the works for a day or two, it seems as if comic Joy Behar of The View has pushed the media along. At least, she can claim credit for beating the Times to an obvious point.

Meanwhile, the "Factchecker" column of The Washington Post has awarded McCain four Pinocchios--that's as high as its lying scale goes--for claiming Friday on The View that Palin, as governor of Alaska, did not seek federal earmarks. That's an outright falsehood. But the column felt compelled to go a step further:

Some readers have complained that I have been soft on the Democrats over the last week, while awarding a string of Pinocchios to the McCain campaign. I would like to think that this simply reflects the current state of the campaign: the McCainites have been on the offensive over the last week, tearing into Obama with a series of questionable TV ads. If you think it reflects bias on my part, there is a simple remedy: send in specific examples of Pinocchio-esque statements by Obama and the Dems, and I will check them out.

Both newspapers are essentially saying that at this stage McCain is the liar in the race. (The Post's "Factchecker" gave Palin a pass on her first week--and did not score several of her facts-challenged assertions.) No wonder the Republicans and the McCain campaign are trying to whip up a war against the so-called "Eastern media elite"--for a campaign narrative is close to being born: the fall of the Straight Talker. For the Obama camp, the question is, how best can it exploit this twist-in-the-making?

[eshfemme]

1. I love the Factchecker's response.

Because it's so true. Don't blame the fucking victim of the lies-- blame the liar. If you're so hell bent on making sure Democrats are accused of lying just as often as the Republicans, then uncover their lies rather than trying to force someone to further deceive the public just for the sake of some "fairness doctrine."

[firedupdem]

2. I don't remember one lie on the democratic side! Not One!

We have run a very clean campaign.

[eshfemme]

3. Yes, hence the absolute brilliance in Factchecker's reply. It was a smackdown of the highest order.

[Mari3333]

4. The Rovian tactics , however

are to get the lies out there over and over again until it becomes set into people's minds. How many people read the NY times in middle america? It took a longggggggg time to get it out of people's mindsets that
Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11. The lies are pounded into people's brains as truth, and a lot of people get their information via TV soundbites. They dont question it, and then they go about their day.
Its typical Rove..just keep showering and pounding people with lie after lie after lie and before anyone has a chance to counter it, throw more at them.

[calimary]

8. Mari? Is that you?

Have you returned?

If so - YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:bounce: :patriot: :woohoo: :party: :toast: :applause: :hug:

[pleah]

5. K&R

[Olney Blue]

6. I'm still worried. Look what Bush did to Kerry.

[MindMatter]

7. "The fall of the straight talker"

That is the key point in all of this. Remember, it was only a couple of weeks ago that the media was peeing all over themselves raving about the shiny new "straight talk express" airplane. They were giving him a free ride. He could say anything and they would cover for him. If his facts were "a little off" they would just chalk that up to "straight talk".

That was a huge advantage for McCain, and he is at risk of losing that advantage.

The whole "straight talk" branding thing could take on a very ironic twist. If a large percentage of the undecided voters out there come to understand that these guys are lying -- a whole lot -- a whole lot more than we normally expect politicians to lie -- lying gratuitously on the big issues as well as inconsequential issues -- then every time people see the "Straight Talk express" it could become somethng of a joke.

I'm looking forward to a big batch of political cartoons that make fun of the "straight talk express"

[jazzjunkysue]

9. The bigots and fundies can't read the NYTimes.

They stick with cereal boxes and sports scores.

That's why they think Iraq took down our towers.