May We Suggest Some Cheese With That Whine?
The Clinton campaign is whining like mad about how unfair all the press coverage of Hillary is. There is just something hysterically funny about all this. Of all people to complain about the media, Hillary is about the least credible person I can think of.
DES MOINES, Dec. 18 — After weeks of bad news, Hillary Clinton and her strategists hoped that winning the endorsement of Iowa's largest newspaper last weekend might produce a modest bump in their media coverage.
But on Sunday morning, they awoke to upbeat headlines about their chief Democratic rival: "Obama Showing New Confidence With Iowa Sprint," said the New York Times. "Obama Is Hitting His Stride in Iowa," said the Los Angeles Times. And on Monday, Clinton aides were so upset about a contentious "Today" show interview that one complained to the show's producer.
Clinton's senior advisers have grown convinced that the media deck is stacked against them, that their candidate is drawing far harsher scrutiny than Barack Obama. And at least some journalists agree.
"She's just held to a different standard in every respect," says Mark Halperin, Time's editor at large. "The press rooted for Obama to go negative, and when he did he was applauded. When she does it, it's treated as this huge violation of propriety." While Clinton's mistakes deserve full coverage, Halperin says, "the press's flaws — wild swings, accentuating the negative — are magnified 50 times when it comes to her. It's not a level playing field."
Newsweek's Howard Fineman says Obama's coverage is the buzz of the presidential campaign. "While they don't say so publicly because it's risky to complain, a lot of operatives from other campaigns say he's getting a free ride, that people aren't tough enough on Obama," Fineman says. "There may be something to that. He's the new guy, an interesting guy, a pathbreaker and trendsetter perhaps."
Obama spokesman Bill Burton says the accusation of softer treatment is untrue but "the Clinton campaign whines about it so much, it becomes part of the chatter. No candidate in this race has undergone more investigations and examinations than Barack Obama has," he says, citing lengthy pieces in the Chicago Tribune and New York Times. "As Obama says, running against the Clintons is not exactly a cakewalk. Their research operation has ensured that if there's any information about Obama to be had, it's been distributed to the media."
Yeah, its so unfair that they actually get some of the press to agree with them. Too funny. At least the Obama campaign is having non of this little whine-tasting. They call it for what it is. Frankly, I think the press has been unusually kind to Clinton in the way they have been reporting her problems. They played along with the fiction of Hillary 'apologizing' to Obama after Shaheen set the smear up - then ignored it when Mark Penn reemphasized it and amplified it. Clinton gets her talking points into the media so often, the press ought to be acknowledged as campaign sponsors.
Oh, for the cheese? We'd suggest Limburger. That's what this complaint smells like.
By Maggie, Wednesday, 19 December , 2007 @ 5:13 pm
Considering the MSM, in general, have completely ignored Hsu-Gate, Clinton Library Gate, and any other number of “I’ll respond to that question with my signature cackle and you WILL know to move your sorry ass on back to the softball questions …” Gate I’d say Hill’s gotten off pretty good with the MSM.
By NortonPete, Wednesday, 19 December , 2007 @ 6:13 pm
Hillary has gotten a free pass until lately. One needs to know the so called “enemy”. The Democratic base is fickle and capricious. They will turn on a dime. Suddenly stories are appearing mentioning her vulnerability, the word on the street is “she stinks”.
By liee, Wednesday, 19 December , 2007 @ 10:56 pm
You’ve both taken the words out of my mouth. She’s gotten a free ride since 1992 - cattle futures, billing records, travelgate - hell, even Bill didn’t get asked about his big “Bush 41 is going to travel with me to fix our relationships overseas” lies.
Crybabies.
By Mockin'bird, Thursday, 20 December , 2007 @ 5:16 pm
I have observed that the Democrat candidates are all pointing fingers and the MSM is trying to determine who is the “survivor to be”.
It’s Marxfest!