Fox News’ Criminal Pundits

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• Reader Comments (7)

  Page 1 of 1 pages

  The sensationalist media inquest into Sen. Barack Obama’s associations has cheapened the national debate. It has also exposed the hypocrisy and double standard of the conservative media.

  Not to worry the liberal media is keeping up with them. (As evident in this article.)

  In ancient times (BTV) radio reports were generally of two types:
  News Reporters
  News Commentators

  Now everyone seems to think we care what he thinks and very little news is adequately documented.

  The rush to be first trumps all. The grab for attention is its only competition.

  Posted by whattheheck on May 20, 2008 at 12:48 PM

  OK whattheheck I’ll bite. How is the liberal media keeping up with FOX and the conservative media?

  Posted by Baraka on May 21, 2008 at 2:02 PM

  Baraka,

  Nearly all reporters (and the writer of this article) of either liberal or conservative stripe are rather blatant in their slanted evaluation of candidates.

  “The sensationalist media inquest into Sen. Barack Obama’s associations has cheapened the national debate. It has also exposed the hypocrisy and double standard of the conservative media.”

  Double standard and hypocrisy:

  Hypocrisy in this article… “Bill Ayers, a distinguished professor of education at the University of Illinois at Chicago.” (The guy was with the Weathermen, for Pete’s sake!)

  The double standard as applied in the McCain/Rev. Hagee association. NewsWeek & TIME/Obama and FOX/McCain coziness.

  To express outrage or disgust at the conservatives using the same tactics in defending the liberals is just silly.

  Posted by whattheheck on May 27, 2008 at 12:01 AM

  I agree, although the Bill Ayers connection is a canard. An association with anyone doesn’t make you a supporter. When the association is as tenuous as Ayers then it just muck raking. On the other hand I see McCain seeking the support of Hagee as somewhat duplicitous. depending on your political point of view I can see both as fodder for the same weapon.
  Baraka

  Posted by Baraka on May 27, 2008 at 5:41 AM

  Baraka,

  Although I voted to put Obama on the ballott for the US Senate, I really didn’t know much about him. I am not sure if what I’m seeing is a real change in his style of campaigning, but I think so.

  I think he has learned that to give a open, honest, possibly long held opinion on any subject is to invite an opponent or media clobbering.

  Obama’s statement on clinging and bitterness, his wife’s first time pride, Iran as a tiny nation (small threat), etc.

  Since he is relatively new at national scrutiny, it is taking a while to become adept at spotting these pitfalls. Occasionally a veteran will slip, but eventually successful candidates can develop a meaningless kind of Greenspanish style of using the camera/mike exposure without any definitive commentary.

  As voters we want someone who will say only what we wish to hear, but be honest and forthright. To have a political history we like without exhibiting human weaknesses. He/she must express an opinion which differs sharply with a previously stated one, but must be open to change.

  The longer the campaign, the more difficult I find it to vote for anyone. As a voter this usually leads me to vote against the person I dislike the most.

  Posted by whattheheck on May 27, 2008 at 1:44 PM

  What the Heck
  First of all I hope you will find a way to vote for the person who best fits your views and ambitions for the country you (hopefully) love.

  next, experience doesn’t always lead one to wisdom. Simple and well expressed intelligence is not always what we get when we vote for the least offensive candidate. If there is any better example of simple ignorance wrapped in the cloak of familiarity it is Geo. Walker Bush.

  I can’t think of one expert on national security currently living that I would vote for or take advice from. They have all sacrificed our children in wars that did nothing to protect or promote our national security. In this regard I see your experience at least as good as theirs. Although the pitfalls you mentioned certainly doesn’t encourage me to vote for you or your sense of insight and wisdom.

  I wish you wouldn’t say “we” with such authority. I understand that you mean “I” in as much that you are talking about your opinions and observations not as an authority of the American Zeitgeist.

  I sense that you can see beyond the frills and falsehoods of American journalism so give your fellow citizens more credit in understanding the form behind the shadow. Many critics and racists were quick to attach Sen. Obama to Rev. Wright and predict that his candidacy was doomed. Fortunately many more (perhaps millions) were able to see past the scurrilous effort to sell racial hatred and see the man for who he is. Why don’t you take another look

  Hate and fear are a part of the undercurrent of American life and I hope we can all raise above these instincts and act out of our best interests and the beast interests of our society and the world community.
  Baraka

  Posted by Baraka on May 27, 2008 at 3:51 PM

  Baraka,

  There really isn’t anyone who comes close to very many of my views and, yes, I love the US. (I just covered my ambitions re candidates in the new discussion question of why we need to elect a Democrat.)

  When I said, “As voters we want someone who will say only what we wish to hear, but be honest and forthright. To have a political history we like without exhibiting human weaknesses. He/she must express an opinion which differs sharply with a previously stated one, but must be open to change.”  I was expressing what I see as the dichotomy a candidate faces as he/she dodges through the media gauntlet in our election process.

  Hate and fear have always been a part of life here and elsewhere, we just get to hear about it sooner and in larger doses in today’s instant reporting.

  Some is real, some not, but since it gets attention we can hardly escape it.

  Posted by whattheheck on May 28, 2008 at 4:22 PM

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