Blue Crab Boulevard

Bashing The Media As A Campaign Strategy

Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, looks at John McCain’s apparent willingness to take on the media as a campaign strategy. He also hints that it is the right time for McCain to do so. The public mood sees the media playing favorites.

One of the clichés of American elections holds that getting into a fight with the folks who buy ink by the barrel or beam television pictures into voters’ living rooms may be emotionally satisfying but politically risky.

But among the more significant things that we learned at the Republican convention last week is that John McCain and Sarah Palin have decided that running against the news media will help them beat Democrats Barack Obama and Joe Biden. And, they are betting that although their frontal assault on the press might not go down so well in the Hamptons and in Hollywood, which are Democratic strongholds anyway, it will play in Peoria.

The harshest commentary about Alaska Gov. Palin came from East Coast columnists and commentators, including some Republicans, who saw her as insufficiently qualified by D.C. standards. The GOP is hoping to capitalize on resentment of those news media elites, particularly in the heartland.

Moreover there is a belief in the McCain campaign – one that seems to reflect the public’s perception — that the news media has been giving Sen. Obama much more coverage and more favorable coverage. A Rasmussen Poll this summer found 60% of voters said Sen. Obama was getting better treatment from the news media than Sen. McCain. Nearly half of voters — 49% — said reporters would help Sen. Obama while only 14% felt they would help Sen. McCain.

I’ve pointed to those facts and others like them recently. So, yeah, I agree that it is time to hit back at the media who has been trying relentlessly to drag Obama across the finish line. Will that strategy alone be enough for McCain. No, it will take a lot more. But it is not a bad start. It also appears to be bearing fruit. MSNBC has removed Matthews and Olbermann from the anchor chairs for political coverage.

Media, Politics | Gaius Monday, 8 September , 2008

By Quilly Mammoth, Monday, 8 September , 2008 @ 11:32 am

Newsbusters has this quote from the NYT’s David Carr:”In the press galleries at the convention, journalists wrinkled their noses in disgust when Piper, Ms. Palin’s youngest daughter, was filmed kitty-licking her baby brother’s hair into place.”

In the rest of America moms smiled. The Press doesn’t connect with Real America.
By Rich Horton, Monday, 8 September , 2008 @ 12:12 pm

Yeah QM there has been a little bit of “OMG she’s *touching* the retard!” in the media lately.

But remember, these are our moral betters.

Gaius, I agree with you post, but I’d be hesitant to say the Matthews/Olbermann thing counts as bearing fruit. Their behavior (especially Olbermann’s) should always have been unacceptable…not just when people complain about it.
By Gaius, Monday, 8 September , 2008 @ 4:59 pm

Oh, I quite agree. The thing is that MSNBC thought they could get away with it and were already cheerfully announcing an even harder veer to the left. I suspect there is quite a bit of connection.
By Gaius, Monday, 8 September , 2008 @ 5:01 pm

Oh, QM, and you surely know what my feelings for the media are about that little tidbit.
By Quilly Mammoth, Tuesday, 9 September , 2008 @ 6:26 am

Yes I do. My niece Mia and her mother are coming from Australia this spring for the first time in three years. Mia’s dad is a Pastor in Queensland (which I may have mentioned before). Mia is a Down’s child and is _very_ excited about flying.

I can’t wait to see her again.
By Ropelight, Tuesday, 9 September , 2008 @ 12:01 pm

Obermouth and Matthews might try their luck as
“community organizers” or Ward Heelers, as they were once called. Positions are open and experience gained on the job has been known to qualify for elected office.