These 'Stories' Don't Exist In A Vacuum

[babylonsister]

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2009_09/019786.php

THESE 'STORIES' DON'T EXIST IN A VACUUM.... NBC News' Chuck Todd seems amazed by the "controversy" surrounding President Obama encouraging kids to do well in school.

Finally, here's one more thought about the entire controversy over Obama's education speech on Tuesday: Since the White House has said the text of the speech will be available for 24 hours before he delivers it and since they altered the lesson plan language, why is this still a controversy?

The ability of the conservative media machine to generate a controversy for this White House is amazing. In fact, this is an example of a story that percolates where it becomes harder and harder for some to claim there's some knee-jerk liberal media bias. (Does anyone remember these kinds of controversies in the summer of 2001?) The ability of some conservatives to create media firestorms is still much greater than liberals these days. How effective is the conservative media machine? Just ask Van Jones...

To a certain extent, I'm amazed by a lot of this, too. The outrage surrounding the president's message is truly insane, and the right's ability to manufacture "controversies" out of nothing is almost impressive, in a brain-numbing kind of way.

And while I don't mean to pick on Chuck Todd -- indeed, his point is to rebut the silly notion of a "liberal" media -- I'd love to see him consider this in more depth. He realizes there's no longer a genuine, newsworthy story here, and expresses amazement that the right can "create media firestorms" whenever they want. What's more, Todd realizes the left can't do the same thing.

But here's the key: Chuck Todd and his colleagues help decide what does, and does not, become, a media firestorm. More to the point, the only "controversies" that gain traction are the ones Chuck Todd and his colleagues give attention to.

Todd's post seems to argue, "Wow, can you believe people are talking about this crazy, nonsensical story that conservatives cooked up out of nothing?" It fails to acknowledge Chuck Todd's role in helping promote the crazy, nonsensical stories that conservatives cook up out of nothing.

—Steve Benen

[YOY]

1. The problem is waking up people to realize they are being used.

n/t

[maxsolomon]

2. the problem is, people don't want to wake up

truthfully, they want the blue pill, per the matrix. they want their beliefs to go unchallenged, because change hurts.

[redqueen]

7. Doing so might jeopardize those big, fat paychecks. (nt)

[benld74]

3. CHOOSE NEO, Which pill do you choose?

[OHdem10]

4. I am fast reaching the conclusion that Todd and Pundits missed out

in their education as Journalists. At one time in this country
we valued education and the reward for your hard work would
be recognizing and valuing your opinion.

For the past decades, the Media put down people with education
who might make a rational decision and instead give us the
opposite for our Television Fair. Is it any wonder we have
such high drop out rates in this country. The Message
is "you do not need education." If you can parrot some
radio talk show hater and follow their direction this
is all the education you need.

Anyone who watches those town hall meetings, for example,
the screamers did not come up with their so called message
on their own. I have lived a long life and observed people
too long perhaps. Yet the country is supposed to lie down
and roll over to the demands of these people. The Media
constantly create a moral equivalency where there is none.

[PDJane]

5. I am reading 'The Age of American Unreason'

by Susan Jacoby.


I recommend it.

[spanone]

6. the cable 'news' channels are no more informing than the national enquirer

you're right. they decide which controversies to exploit and which to ignore....

they have elevated all the right wing kook stories that should have been shoved down the ridiculous hole .

[madokie]

8. The problem is chuckie boy believes his own bullshit

At first I thought he might be alright up until he started talking and then it was obvious what chuckie boy is all about.