Media double standards
Bookworm on Sep 02 2008 at 8:24 pm | Filed under: Media matters
From the National Review editors:
This shameful but predictable media performance [obsessing about Bristol's sex life and manufacturing debased rumors] stands in marked contrast to the rigorous “hands-off” privacy policy dutifully honored by the press throughout the Clinton years for the president’s then-teenage daughter, Chelsea. Indeed earlier this year, though Miss Clinton was now well into her twenties and an impressively poised surrogate for her mother’s campaign, NBC News suspended reporter David Shuster for asserting that Sen. Clinton’s campaign was “pimping” her daughter — a classless formulation, to be sure. But where’s the hyper-sensitivity about a candidate’s child now?
When Al Gore’s son was arrested on narcotics and speeding charges in 2007, moreover, the national press was a model of sympathetic restraint. The muted coverage was devoid of calls for a national “teaching moment” on drug abuse or responsible driving. The message was plain and correct: No news here, move along.
The Republican base and other people of good will are angry over this grotesque display. It is obvious what the media and Democrats are up to here. They want to define Sarah Palin as a failure before she even has a chance to succeed. Hence the speculation that McCain will dump her from the ticket. How absurd. All we know about Palin’s performance as a candidate so far is that she gave polished performances at her unveiling in Ohio and at a rally the next day in Pennsylvania. The supposed embarrassments — about her alleged membership in the fringe Alaskan Independence Party and her woefully incomplete vetting — are concoctions of a media stumbling over itself to prove a conclusion it has already reached.
Related posts:
- Double standards
- The London Times calls out the New York Times for double standards
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sorry book,
if you campaign and govern as a family values, abstinence-only, creationism-in-the schools type of ‘murican……AND, hide the fact that your 17 year old, unwed daughter is 5 months with child (after the nominatation btw)…..well then, you’ve got some ‘splaining to do.
if the shoe was on the other foot, you would be jumping through the ceiling. the obama campaign has exercised astonishing restraint.
still no comment about todd palin being a secessionist huh? figures.
peace
dagon – How exactly did she “hide” the fact that her daughter was pregnant? It already has been reported that everyone in their hometown knew she was pregant.
Seriously – how did she hide this?
Deana
Palin doesn’t owe it to the public to reveal the contents of her child’s womb.
But Republicans, who have gone on and on about Obama’s middle name, (given to him as an innocent baby), now cry, “This isn’t fair.” What goes around comes around. It’s the Republican’s turn to be grilled over every little nit-picky thing. Remember, they weren’t nit-picky when you did them. LOL
deana,
gee, i dunno. the fact that she had bristol in a slimming black dress with a blanket over her belly carrying baby trig at her acceptance. (prior to the bristol announcement).
OR it might be the fact that gov. palin admitted that the only reason she came forward with the truth was because of those mean bloggers.
peace
if the shoe was on the other foot, you would be jumping through the ceiling. the obama campaign has exercised astonishing restraint. – dagon
I’ve thought about that since the moment I heard. First the Evangelicals spun the pregnancy as a blessing. And then the GOP started blaming the media..
They’re going to have to keep hammering the media, because it looks like Ms Palin has her own Jeremiah Wright.
From Andrew Sullivan.com:
Yes, Sarah Palin sat in a church where this message was given. Two weeks ago. The karma in all this is just amazing:
Brickner also described terrorist attacks on Israelis as God’s “judgment of unbelief” of Jews who haven’t embraced Christianity.
“Judgment is very real and we see it played out on the pages of the newspapers and on the television. It’s very real. When [Brickner's son] was in Jerusalem he was there to witness some of that judgment, some of that conflict, when a Palestinian from East Jerusalem took a bulldozer and went plowing through a score of cars, killing numbers of people. Judgment — you can’t miss it.”
Palin was in church that day, Kroon said, though he cautioned against attributing Brickner’s views to her.
How does Hannity deal with this? After what he said about Jeremiah Wright?
dagon –
Oh. I see. She should have come out after McCain introducd her and said “Hi! Thanks for your support. My daughter is pregnant.” That’s totally reasonable.
Whatever, dagon. Like I said, her daughter’s pregnancy was not hidden. Hiding something means nobody knows about it and people in her hometown knew and the McCain team knew.
Deana
deana,
apparently, the mccaine team didn’t know jack.
once again, what do you think about her husband being a member of a secessionist party?
peace
The funny part about this is that it has nothing to do with the personal circumstances. McCain picked Palin for VP and the base became electrified.
Why we can’t have that, it might change the election dynamic. Some of y’all are pathetic, I know you think you know what will resonate with us ‘wingers. But, no you don’t, you’re just sliming people.
allen,
huh?
I’m not sure you’ll get it Dagon, no worries. Its kind of like the difference between Mulholland and the LA DWP. Oh and that touchy western thing.
OK, OK, Sierra water, go Bookminnow!
This is what happens when you let the ad hominem attacks run wild: blow back. The idiots on the right, who think that Obama is a terrorist and America-hater, because his pastor made expletive-laced, negative comments about his country or served on a board with a man who protested the Vietnam War by exploding bombs in Federal Buildings, should really ask themselves how that VERY SAME LOGIC should apply to Palin, whose much stronger “association” (i.e., marriage) to a secessionist, would call into question her judgment and patriotism. As I have been saying for weeks now, one should judge Obama on his actions and his decisions and his policies (and I would welcome a policy debate gladly) rather than on his associations, because that latter one is a dangerous game for everyone.
I agree with dagon that Obama’s campaign has shown incredible restraint. He has said that children are completely off limits in the campaign (although Palin had no problems highlighting to the media the positive implications of her eldest son’s military service). Instead, Obama’s campaign has focused on what this says about McCain’s decisionmaking process, which McCain himself has described as “hasty” and has admitted has often created problems for himself. The Palin pick, like a hail mary pass, was likely hasty and not well coordinated. We’ll see whether it wins the game, but right now the ball is not bouncing well…
Uh, Helen…we remember different things, apparently. I recall that it was the Hillary campaign that was making an issue of Obama’s middle name. The Republicans were pretty hands-off during the primary.
As far as Dagon and DG….go at it! It’s fun to sit back and simply read the rhetorical contortions you go through to dig yourselves in deeper and deeper. You really, really don’t get it, do you?
dg: I agree with dagon that Obama’s campaign has shown incredible restraint.
The stormtrooper shout-them-down tactics Obama supporters used against Kurtz’s radio appearance on WGN illustrates “incredible restraint?”?
Obama’s playing the race card shows “incredible restraint?”?? That to me is rather low level, especially in the sneaky way that Obama did it, saying not that his opponents had made racist statements, but that they were GOING to say it. Perhaps you don’t agree.
Here is an example of Obama’s playing the race card in Springfield Missouri.
Obama also played the race card in Rolla, Missouri.
Obama also played the race card in June in Florida.
Here are THREE examples, where Obama states that his opponents will bring up the issue of his race to make voters afraid of him. He did NOT cite any example where they actually HAD DONE SO: they were going to. Also note that Obama is putting words into McCain’s mouth.
Yes, so much restraint.
>>You really, really don’t get it, do you?>>
“Agent provocateur” is such an elegant sounding name for trolls, don’t you think?
Danny, don’t get what? That associations with a “terrorist” count but a “secessionist” do not? That two year’s is light for Obama but not for Palin? That one man’s logic is another’s “rhethorical contortions”? Please, enlighten us!!!!
When cranky so-called “secessionists” start talking about killing people and blowing things up, like the Weathermen did (that is “did” as in “did do”, not just talked about it), instead of just grousing about the heavy hand of the Federal government in their respective states, then I will take them seriously. So, keep it up guys/gals…you’re doing just great!
Ozzie said…
Ozzie, I went over to AndrewSullivan.com and followed the link to the original post about this message and Sarah Palin’s attendance there. The way I read it, the most that can be reliably stated is that she attended the service, and that the preacher was a guest for the day, and that this purported leader of “Jews for Jesus” made questionable, controversial statements regarding Israel and God’s judgment.
For the record, I do not agree with, endorse, or otherwise condone the statements made by this guest “preacher”. “Silly” is the word that I’d use to describe the statements, because “wrong-headed” or “mistaken” would be showing too much respect.
But, Ozzie, are you arguing that her attendance at a service where the speaker made questionable statements is the philosophical equivalent of Barak Obama’s 20-year membership at Rev. Wright’s church? That actually sitting through ONE message shows that she is obviously in full accord and agreement with the stated ideas and ideology?
Care to back away from that line of reasoning?
By the way… has Gov. Palin claimed this guest speaker as a spiritual mentor? I seem to recall that at one time Sen. Obama made that claim regarding Jeremiah Wright…
But, Ozzie, are you arguing that her attendance at a service where the speaker made questionable statements is the philosophical equivalent of Barak Obama’s 20-year membership at Rev. Wright’s church? That actually sitting through ONE message shows that she is obviously in full accord and agreement with the stated ideas and ideology? – Bob K
The media kept playing Rev Wright’s “God damn, America” clip over and over – as if that was his only message for more than 20 years. And then implied that perhaps, Obama held a “God Damn, America!” view, too.
I don’t think anything said in Palin’s church should be used against her.
And I dont believe she shares this pastor’s extreme views any more than Obama shares Wright’s extreme views.
But this, combined with the Palins’ links to AIP, makes me realize that people who decry the other side’s double standards either can’t — or won’t — see them in themselves.
Not just the media, unfortunately…
http://directorblue.blogspot.com/2008/09/hilarious-palin-slime-chain-mail.html
HOWDYBOY!
tell us what you really think peggy noonan:
Peggy Noonan, Mike Murphy Caught On Tape Disparaging Palin Choice: “It’s Over,” “Political Bullshit,” “Gimmicky”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/03/peggy-noonan-mike-murphy_n_123647.html
peace
Not just the media, unfortunately- suek
I’ve gotten so many bizarre e-mails about Obama, it’s made my head hurt.
Propaganda is everywhere.
Which reminds me:
Did you read Peggy Noonan’s latest article?
And did you like it?
Did it fire you up?
Do you believe she was being honest?
Or was she just being a hack?
Turns out her mike was on, and despite her latest propaganda efforts, she actually deems the Palin pick “Policitical bullshit” and thinks “it’s over” for the GOP.
http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/09/peggy-noonan-un.html
HOWDYBOY!
tell us what you really think peggy noonan- dagon
Damn. you beat me to it.
The thing is: People read Noonan and thinks she’ leveling with them. And then cite Noonan to spout off on why Palin is the best VP pick EVER.
ozzie,
yeah, so much for that “liberal media” tag eh?
peace
ozzie,
yeah, so much for that “liberal media” tag eh?- dagon
I love it when we get to see the man/woman behind the curtain.
>>I dont believe she shares this pastor’s extreme views >>
Guest pastor, one occasion.
>>any more than Obama shares Wright’s extreme views. >>
Pastor, mentor for 20 years.
No no…no difference there….
suek,
the jews for jesus pastor was the guest. the other comments were attributed to gov. palin’s regular pastor.
i told you to read the entire piece.
peace
Helen Losse
Palin doesn’t owe it to the public to reveal the contents of her child’s womb.
But Republicans, who have gone on and on about Obama’s middle name, (given to him as an innocent baby), now cry, “This isn’t fair.” What goes around comes around. It’s the Republican’s turn to be grilled over every little nit-picky thing. Remember, they weren’t nit-picky when you did them. LOL
As you can see, Book. The Left never believed in justice to begin. All they believed in was chaos, destruction, misery, evil, death, killing, and sacrificing other people for their entertainment. (Vietnam, Ted Splash Kennedy)
And, I know you are not surprised, Book, that dagon chooses to show his as yet unbanned face here, when Palin was the pick for VP.
hey y,
i pick my moments. also, why should i be banned?
peace
RE: “As you can see, Book. The Left never believed in justice to begin. All they believed in was chaos, destruction, misery, evil, death, killing, and sacrificing other people for their entertainment. (Vietnam, Ted Splash Kennedy)”
Y., Huh??
Ozzie,
Perhaps I didn’t state my point explicitly, or I didn’t understand yours sufficiently to reply properly. In the post I replied to you wrote:
You seem to claim that I don’t see my own application of a double standard. What I intended to state was that the two situations are *substantively different*. Apples and Oranges. Day and Night.
There is no indication in the Politico article which is the root of this matter that the position stated by Brickner is shared by Pastor Kroon, Wasilla Bible Church, or Gov. Palin. Can you point me toward some documentary evidence of such support, beyond the fact that a free will offering was taken for the “Jews for Jesus” organization during the service – as is customary in many Christian churches when there is a guest speaker from an outside organization?
On the other side, we have Rev. Wright’s repeated denunciations of America, Trinity United Church of Christ’s own stated adherence to black liberation theoloty, and Sen. Obama’s 20 year commitment to and support of that church (until it became a political disadvantage).
Yes, the media hyped the G– D— America clip without end. But the situations are truly not analagous. Gov. Palin an anti-Semite? Based on this sermon/situation, there simply is no ‘there’ there.
errrr…. that’s “theology” not “theoloty”. Apparently my fingers runneth over…
“There is no indication in the Politico article which is the root of this matter that the position stated by Brickner is shared by Pastor Kroon, Wasilla Bible Church, or Gov. Palin” – Bob K
Maybe not in the article, but further research shows that Bricker was not a first time guest and that Pastor Koon had a relationship with “Jews for Jesus.”
“If it were not for Jews for Jesus, I would not be standing here,” the pastor [Kroon] announced. “And here is their executive director, who has come to speak to us this morning.”
http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/09/palins-pastor-a.html
What I intended to state was that the two situations are *substantively different*. Apples and Oranges. Day and Night.” – Bob K
Well, we differ on that. I see them as the esentially the same thing, as does Jeffrey Goldberg of the Atlantic.
I thought this was both excellent and concise:
Andrew gets it: Where is the coverage of Sarah Palin’s church? If Jeremiah Wright is fair game — and he should be — then what about this lunatic “Jews for Jesus” preacher and his vile sermon at Palin’s church? I’ve been writing about Jews for Jesus for years; it is a Southern Baptist front organization that uses deception to convince Jews to convert to Christianity. It’s a nasty outfit, and good church people know it’s a nasty outfit. . . .
http://jeffreygoldberg.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/09/andrew_is_right_palin_has_a_je.php
Gov. Palin an anti-Semite? Based on this sermon/situation, there simply is no ‘there’ there.- Bob K
I dont think Palin is an anti-Semite or that she shares every one of her pastors’ views.
I feel the same way about Obama, as well. I dont believe for a second that he’s eager to damn America, regardless what Rev Wright says or thinks.
I thought the media would pick on this story and run with it the way they did with Rev. Wright.
Turns out, I was wrong.
Perhaps Governor Palin should make a speech addressing the issue stating that Rev Koon brought her to Jesus and that she was never present in church when these controversial remarks were made and that while she may not agree on every point of theology with him, she could no sooner repudiate the rev than she could disown her teenage daughter.
Of course, if Koon becomes too much of a liability, she could always quit the church.
Perhaps Governor Palin should make a speech addressing the issue stating that Rev Koon brought her to Jesus and that she was never present in church when these controversial remarks were made and that while she may not agree on every point of theology with him, she could no sooner repudiate the rev than she could disown her teenage daughter.- Zhombre
Perhaps if the media droned on and on about Rev. Koon for days on end she would be forced to issue a statement.
And then “the left” could yap and on about her “guilt by association” for months.
Don’t forget Edward’s love child and how the media protected him. Or journalists taken hostage by terrorists.
Ozzie wrote:
Fair enough, Ozzie. For the record, I don’t think Sen. Obama seeks to d— america either. He and I are polar opposites (Alaska pun, there?) on policy issues, but I have no personal basis on which to doubt his patriotism or love of country.
I do question Sen. Obama’s attempts to disclaim knowledge of Trinity UCC’s basic philosophies and tenets. Twenty years of attendance and claims that Rev. Wright was a mentor really show how hollow his efforts were.
With regard to media coverage of this ‘issue’, you quote someone saying:
Andrew raises a very good question: where is that coverage? Are the media simply waiting to drop the big one? Is the mainstream media, already trying to portray Gov. Palin as trailer-trash, in the back-pockets of Jews for Jesus?
Or perhaps it’s because there’s no ‘there’ there.
“I do question Sen. Obama’s attempts to disclaim knowledge of Trinity UCC’s basic philosophies and tenets. Twenty years of attendance and claims that Rev. Wright was a mentor really show how hollow his efforts were.” – Bob
I do, too. It’s called “Pandering.” I’ve yet to see a politican who doesnt do it, though.
” Andrew raises a very good question: where is that coverage? Are the media simply waiting to drop the big one? Is the mainstream media, already trying to portray Gov. Palin as trailer-trash, in the back-pockets of Jews for Jesus?” — BobK
My sign-in screen is USA Today, and just tonight, there was question as to whether or not Palin’s preacher would get the Wright treatment.
Last Night, the Daily Show mentioned the “carzy preacher” who could be part of the Palin “sh*t storm” that’s approaching.
I never know what will be highlighted and what will be overlooked.
Peggy Noonan’s “bull sh**t gaffe shows that there is often a split between what pundits write and say and what they really think.
I predict that after Palin’s speech tonigt, the paid pundits will be saying that she hit a “home run!
Propaganda rules.
Larry Brickner, the executive director of Jews for Jesus spoke August 17 at Wasilla Bible Church, the only time in the last three years.
Anyone interested can read his talk (it’s really not a sermon, but more of a report on his ministry) here:
http://www.wasillabible.org/sermons.htm
I disagree with this statement:
I don’t know God’s mind on this and I believe neither does Pastor Brickner.
This is earlier in the talk:
Now if you want to criticize him for wanting to ‘convert’ jews, that’s certainly your right. Christians are given the command to “Go into all the world and make disciples.” That’s not going to stop anytime soon.
If you’re an orthodox Jew, you are going to disagree with Christians that Jesus is the Messiah.
But I don’t think anything Brickner said or the ministry he leads is a threat to Jews or is anti-semitic.
Jews may disagree with the message of the Gospel, and may think it’s silly to pay any attention to a convenent made thousands of years ago, but there is no group in America more committed to the safety and stability of Israel than Evangelical Christians.
Politics makes for strange befellows.
Don’t take my word for it. Go on the website and download the talk (it’s a work doc.) I think you’ll agree that he is neither a racist or a hatemonger.
Ozzie said:
Pastor Brickner is not one of her pastor’s. He was a guest speaker, booked three years ago.
Pastor Kroon does know David Brickner: “Our connection with them goes back to the 1970′s when I first heard a music group from Jews for Jesus called “The Liberated Wailing Wall”, in Seattle. And they had an impact on my life. They’re one of the reasons I’m here now.
About four years ago or so..I forget how long ago it was…we had David here. And that’s when he connected with us as a congregation. And now we have him back again today.”
This is just silly.
It’s not silly. IT’s just designed to get your attention off of making a better world and spreading the virtues of Palin. If all you are doing is defending, are you really doing anything productive at all, in the end?
No.
Hey Danny, secessionists want to split off to keep the oil money for themselves. They are selfish parochialists, albeit harmless ones (to date). Ayers blew up empty buildings to protest a war that he thought immoral and unnecessary. While I greatly abhor the tactics, I have no problem with the cause. And I understand why Ayers the terrorist is not like Al Qaeda the terrorists, which is why he is allowed to live a life of respectability.
I reject the domino theory and the necessity of the Vietnamese conflict. In the end, Vietnam fell to communism, and now it is accepting capitalism and coming into the fold on its own. In the interim, it posed no grave threat to the US. Historians can already see that this was a war of choice that cost hundreds of thousands of lives. That may not outrage many on this site, but it certainly outraged millions of Americans, who saw this 40 years ago. A few, unfortunately, carried that rage too far. It does not mean that they are still bent on fighting our way of life, just imprudent exercises of American power.
In the interim, it posed no grave threat to the US.
You call conservatives self-centered, dg. Yet you dare to celebrate the deaths and torture of millions of Vietnamese by the communist regimes you supported and propped in Vietnam, for… the personal convenience of not having to worry about a ‘grave threat to the US’ from the region?
How self-centered of you.
Not self-centered. I am a realist and expect my government’s foreign policy to be the same, as it has been under most Republican and Democratic Presidents for much of the 20th century. There are millions starving in North Korea and in the Sudan, so pack your bags, buy your gun and take up the fight. “Self-centered” guys like me will stay home and feel bad and even perhaps contribute money to Oxfam and other non-profits, but not risk our lives on problems that are not ours.
This is just silly. — Brain
Of course it is. Just like the Obama/Wright stuff is silly.
The whole thing about Palin saying that Iraq Is God’s plan?
That was said at a different church, and the video is making the rounds.
(Although in this case, Evangelicals really DO believe that the war in Iraq is
is part of God’s End Times scheme).
Ozzie
I’m curious how you came to that conclusion.
Although in this case, Evangelicals really DO believe that the war in Iraq is part of God’s End Times scheme). – Me
I’m curious how you came to that conclusion. – Brian
There were several newspaper articles that discussed this back in 2003, such as ” Direst of Predictions For War in Iraq:End-Time Interpreters See Biblical Prophecies Being Fulfilled” by Bill Broadway, of the Washington Post, but sadly, they’re not avaiable any longer.
But GOP strategist Kevin Phillips wrote a book called “American Theocracy” and delved into this issue.
(And before you Google, I realize that David Brooks did a hit piece on Kevin Phillips to which Phillips responded quite forcefully)
In a Washington Post article Phillips wrote:
” Unfortunately, more danger lurks in the responsiveness of the new GOP coalition to Christian evangelicals, fundamentalists and Pentecostals, who muster some 40 percent of the party electorate. Many millions believe that the Armageddon described in the Bible is coming soon. Chaos in the explosive Middle East, far from being a threat, actually heralds the second coming of Jesus Christ. Oil price spikes, murderous hurricanes, deadly tsunamis and melting polar ice caps lend further credence.” . . .
Phillips’ book was also the basis for a question posed to George Bush in Cleveland in 2006 when a reporter asked, “Do you believe this, that the war in Iraq and the rise of terrorism are signs of the apocalypse?”
It took Bush five minutes to answer. With 45% of Americans now believing that the Antichrist is already on earth, Bush risked alienating voters, regardless which way he answered.
“He can’t answer the question weather or not he believes in Armageddon or it’s happening in the Middle East,” Phillips stated. “He’s damned if he does and damned if he doesn’t.”