Comments on: Press Takes a Harder Look at Obama - and Itself http://www.mediachannel.org/wordpress/2008/03/04/press-takes-a-harder-look-at-obama-and-itself/ As The Media Watches The World, We Watch The Media Sat, 17 May 2008 17:46:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.5 by: Bev http://www.mediachannel.org/wordpress/2008/03/04/press-takes-a-harder-look-at-obama-and-itself/#comment-12122 Fri, 07 Mar 2008 00:43:34 +0000 http://www.mediachannel.org/wordpress/2008/03/04/press-takes-a-harder-look-at-obama-and-itself/#comment-12122 The only difference between the media examining itself for prejudicial reporting and a baboon examining itself for fleas, is that the baboon will actually find fleas. The only difference between the media examining itself for prejudicial reporting and a baboon examining itself for fleas, is that the baboon will actually find fleas.

]]> by: Paula Truthseeker http://www.mediachannel.org/wordpress/2008/03/04/press-takes-a-harder-look-at-obama-and-itself/#comment-12037 Wed, 05 Mar 2008 02:58:55 +0000 http://www.mediachannel.org/wordpress/2008/03/04/press-takes-a-harder-look-at-obama-and-itself/#comment-12037 Yes, with careful manipulation of public opinion, another election has been stolen. This may not actually meet the technical definition of vote fraud but the truth remains self- evident as seen in the results. Now the complicit media has the audacity to pretend to question its own role and motives. Its high time the American public demand the reinstatement of the Fairness Doctrine and Equal Time Rule from the FCC and Congress. The alternative, which has already begun, is that the public stops depending on mainstream media moguls to present their own versions of reality and bias, and will, for the sake of genuine truth, turn instead to other avenues of information. (Good riddance to bad rubbish.) Wake up America and reclaim your lives and liberties! Yes, with careful manipulation of public opinion, another election has been stolen. This may not actually meet the technical definition of vote fraud but the truth remains self- evident as seen in the results. Now the complicit media has the audacity to pretend to question its own role and motives. Its high time the American public demand the reinstatement of the Fairness Doctrine and Equal Time Rule from the FCC and Congress. The alternative, which has already begun, is that the public stops depending on mainstream media moguls to present their own versions of reality and bias, and will, for the sake of genuine truth, turn instead to other avenues of information. (Good riddance to bad rubbish.) Wake up America and reclaim your lives and liberties!

]]> by: Aminah Carroll http://www.mediachannel.org/wordpress/2008/03/04/press-takes-a-harder-look-at-obama-and-itself/#comment-12035 Wed, 05 Mar 2008 02:54:26 +0000 http://www.mediachannel.org/wordpress/2008/03/04/press-takes-a-harder-look-at-obama-and-itself/#comment-12035 What a bunch of entitlement cry-babies are the Clinton machiavellites. When Howard Dean's presidency was DELIBERATELY derailed by the press leading directly to Bush's win of the last election, did any of the media pundits recant? No, having committed unpardonable, yellow journalistic sins of hubris they blamed the victim.And many still hate him for their own culbability_ often folks hate others whom they have wronged! Barack Obama was completely marginalized by the press for months upon entering this campaign. One NEW YORK TIMES blog after he got a terrific endorsement (from Oprah) did not even mention the endorsement but focused on his bad morning breath. Godd Gad! what is the problem here? He has earned his good press and Billary is billious. i pray to God she loses so this country can win. why would we want another bout of sexaholic co-dependency and polarized politial gridlock emanating from the office that is supposed to be the grandest and the finest source of leadership in the world? no more lies b-jobs, secrecy and machinations. Rather Barack Obama's authentic leadership. A BLESSINg for our nation.and the tired war torn world. What a bunch of entitlement cry-babies are the Clinton machiavellites.

When Howard Dean’s presidency was DELIBERATELY derailed by the press leading directly to Bush’s win of the last election, did any of the media pundits recant? No, having committed unpardonable, yellow journalistic sins of hubris they blamed the victim.And many still hate him for their own culbability_ often folks hate others whom they have wronged!

Barack Obama was completely marginalized by the press for months upon entering this campaign. One NEW YORK TIMES blog after he got a terrific endorsement (from Oprah) did not even mention the endorsement but focused on his bad morning breath.

Godd Gad! what is the problem here? He has earned his good press and Billary is billious.

i pray to God she loses so this country can win.
why would we want another bout of sexaholic co-dependency and polarized politial gridlock emanating from the office that is supposed to be the grandest and the finest source of leadership in the world?

no more lies b-jobs, secrecy and machinations. Rather Barack Obama’s authentic leadership.
A BLESSINg for our nation.and the tired war torn world.

]]> by: Bill Brucato http://www.mediachannel.org/wordpress/2008/03/04/press-takes-a-harder-look-at-obama-and-itself/#comment-12030 Wed, 05 Mar 2008 01:52:07 +0000 http://www.mediachannel.org/wordpress/2008/03/04/press-takes-a-harder-look-at-obama-and-itself/#comment-12030 Oh for Pete's sake! The media is finally looking into whether it's biased? C'mon, you should be ashamed of the blatant pandering to and coddling of one candidate over another. If Sen. Obama is the "Golden Child" and present media darling after having less than one third of a US Senate term under his belt, I'd like to offer my services as Secretary of State. I'm guessing I'd be just as qualified. Sen Clinton may be a bit strident and eliciting a knee-jerk anti-Clinton reaction, but she has earned the right to be where she is and should not be diminished by the bias being practiced by the mainstream media. So much for fair and impartial reporting, it's sickening. The idea that a black man can run for president is not a new idea, and I agree he's the best prospect I've seen in all my voting years, but I don't see how he should be fawned over and Sen. Clinton lionized. Get real, if the media has any credibility left, let it prove it by showing an equal amount of critical questioning and issue related reporting. Enough of the love fest for Obama, you're all making me sick. Oh for Pete’s sake! The media is finally looking into whether it’s biased? C’mon, you should be ashamed of the blatant pandering to and coddling of one candidate over another. If Sen. Obama is the “Golden Child” and present media darling after having less than one third of a US Senate term under his belt, I’d like to offer my services as Secretary of State. I’m guessing I’d be just as qualified. Sen Clinton may be a bit strident and eliciting a knee-jerk anti-Clinton reaction, but she has earned the right to be where she is and should not be diminished by the bias being practiced by the mainstream media. So much for fair and impartial reporting, it’s sickening. The idea that a black man can run for president is not a new idea, and I agree he’s the best prospect I’ve seen in all my voting years, but I don’t see how he should be fawned over and Sen. Clinton lionized.
Get real, if the media has any credibility left, let it prove it by showing an equal amount of critical questioning and issue related reporting. Enough of the love fest for Obama, you’re all making me sick.

]]> by: Phyllis Kornicker http://www.mediachannel.org/wordpress/2008/03/04/press-takes-a-harder-look-at-obama-and-itself/#comment-12028 Wed, 05 Mar 2008 01:31:50 +0000 http://www.mediachannel.org/wordpress/2008/03/04/press-takes-a-harder-look-at-obama-and-itself/#comment-12028 Hurray for Winkley for her substantial jab at all those people who would like to see Hillary Clinton disappear down some hole. This country, today, has no better female, candidate or not, really qualified to be Chief Executive of America. All those women who keeping finding fault with her cannot understand that she believes in keeping families together -(Why she didn't divorce Bill) that she voted with many other Democrats in the Senate to allow Bush (better known as the Idiot) more leverage at the time - that Obama wasn't anybody that anyone was listening to when he came out against the war. Had he been in the Senate, who knows what pressures my have driven him to agree to the vote. That her years of service on the Armed Service Committee has made her considerably smarter than many others on that committee. How dare so many women denigrate this woman who is able to run rings around most men - including Obama, when he isn't reading from a teleprompter. He's an interesting candidate - but electing him president after 2 years in the Senate ( the 3rd year has been spent trying to be president)??? C'mon now, that's chutzpah! Hurray for Winkley for her substantial jab at all those people who would like to see Hillary Clinton disappear down some hole. This country, today, has no better female, candidate or not, really qualified to be Chief Executive of
America. All those women who keeping finding fault with her cannot understand that she believes in keeping families together -(Why she didn’t divorce Bill) that she voted with many other Democrats in the Senate to allow Bush (better known as the Idiot) more leverage at the time - that Obama wasn’t anybody that anyone was listening to when he came out against the war. Had he been in the Senate, who knows what pressures my have driven him to agree to the vote. That her years of service on the Armed Service Committee has made her considerably smarter than many others on that committee. How dare so many women denigrate this woman who is able to run rings around most men - including Obama, when he isn’t reading from a teleprompter. He’s an interesting candidate - but electing him president after 2 years in the Senate ( the 3rd year has been spent trying to be president)??? C’mon now, that’s chutzpah!

]]> by: Cissie http://www.mediachannel.org/wordpress/2008/03/04/press-takes-a-harder-look-at-obama-and-itself/#comment-12025 Wed, 05 Mar 2008 00:38:50 +0000 http://www.mediachannel.org/wordpress/2008/03/04/press-takes-a-harder-look-at-obama-and-itself/#comment-12025 My blog today generated some strong responses - here it is: The railroading begins With Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama facing a crucial day in their campaign to win the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination, organised labour is having its day in the limelight. With no viable or independent alternative on the horizon, US union leaders still hitch their wagon to the Democratic Party in the hope that they will have some influence when and if their nominee occupies the White House. In Ohio, one of the industrial heartlands of the country now hit by the impact of globalisation, just 14% of workers are organised in trade unions. The division is between the older, skilled and white collar unions like the American Federation of Teachers and the machinists’ union who support Clinton on the one side, and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) which draws considerable support from African Americans on the other. Unions like the SEIU, the powerful Teamsters Union, Unite Here (hotel workers) and the United Food and Commercial Workers broke away from the AFL-CIO [TUC] in 2005 to form the Change to Win coalition. With a few exceptions most of the Change to Win unions support Obama, with some key industrial unions like the United Steelworkers and the United Auto Workers remaining neutral. Most of the Change to Win unions see Obama’s ability to rise from obscurity and mobilise large numbers as an inspiration to breathe life into union recruitment, which, as in the UK, has been in general decline. Surprisingly large numbers of Americans have become involved in political debate through the Clinton-Obama battle. Obama’s rhetoric, however empty most of the time, has given some expression to the underdog in American politics. Obama has cleverly crafted his politics to tap in to the disenchantment with the politics of the old establishment. In many states, Obama’s campaign seems to have come from nowhere to challenge Clinton’s veterans. Young first-timers as well as older volunteers are staffing offices in obscure towns, using laptops and the Internet to co-ordinate the campaign and mobilise support. But we’d better not get carried away by the image-makers. Despite his claim to being a new broom that will sweep clean, there is no way Obama will truly challenge the real power behind the presidency in the United States. He has no intention of overturning the military-industrial complex behind Bush and his global wars. Yet we can already feel the railroading into supporting the Democrats coming on. It’s sobering to observe how an anti-corporate campaigner like author Naomi Klein takes it for granted that Guardian readers will back Obama, making bleating pleas that he should use his campaign to stand up against “islamophobia” and take seriously his mission to “repair the world”. The one candidate who has consistently challenged the corporations, Ralph Nader, is already under fire from liberals like Joshua Holland of the AlterNet Independent Media Institute. After demonstrating that – counter to Democratic Party propaganda - Nader was not responsible for handing over victory to Bush in Florida or elsewhere in 2000, and that he has the right to run, Holland then goes on to say that he won’t be voting for him, on the grounds that as an “independent liberal”, he needs to “beat down the reactionary right”. Another supposedly independent thinker, Timothy Noah of Slate takes a similar stance, saying that he disagrees with Nader that the Democrats and Republicans are too similar. To say that we know the Democrats are grim but the Republicans are even grimmer is a truly hopeless political perspective. It seeks to force voters to remain within the two-party cycle, where Tweedledum and Tweedledee take turns in running the country on behalf of corporate power. After all, it was the Clinton presidency that opened the door for Bush and it is the Democrats who in Congress, despite their majority in both houses, sit on their hands and allow Bush free rein. As Nader once said, if the Democrats are indeed the lesser of two evils, they are still evil! Corinna Lotz A World to Win 4 March 2008 My blog today generated some strong responses - here it is:
The railroading begins
With Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama facing a crucial day in their campaign to win the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination, organised labour is having its day in the limelight. With no viable or independent alternative on the horizon, US union leaders still hitch their wagon to the Democratic Party in the hope that they will have some influence when and if their nominee occupies the White House.

In Ohio, one of the industrial heartlands of the country now hit by the impact of globalisation, just 14% of workers are organised in trade unions. The division is between the older, skilled and white collar unions like the American Federation of Teachers and the machinists’ union who support Clinton on the one side, and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) which draws considerable support from African Americans on the other.

Unions like the SEIU, the powerful Teamsters Union, Unite Here (hotel workers) and the United Food and Commercial Workers broke away from the AFL-CIO [TUC] in 2005 to form the Change to Win coalition. With a few exceptions most of the Change to Win unions support Obama, with some key industrial unions like the United Steelworkers and the United Auto Workers remaining neutral. Most of the Change to Win unions see Obama’s ability to rise from obscurity and mobilise large numbers as an inspiration to breathe life into union recruitment, which, as in the UK, has been in general decline.

Surprisingly large numbers of Americans have become involved in political debate through the Clinton-Obama battle. Obama’s rhetoric, however empty most of the time, has given some expression to the underdog in American politics. Obama has cleverly crafted his politics to tap in to the disenchantment with the politics of the old establishment. In many states, Obama’s campaign seems to have come from nowhere to challenge Clinton’s veterans. Young first-timers as well as older volunteers are staffing offices in obscure towns, using laptops and the Internet to co-ordinate the campaign and mobilise support.

But we’d better not get carried away by the image-makers. Despite his claim to being a new broom that will sweep clean, there is no way Obama will truly challenge the real power behind the presidency in the United States. He has no intention of overturning the military-industrial complex behind Bush and his global wars.

Yet we can already feel the railroading into supporting the Democrats coming on. It’s sobering to observe how an anti-corporate campaigner like author Naomi Klein takes it for granted that Guardian readers will back Obama, making bleating pleas that he should use his campaign to stand up against “islamophobia” and take seriously his mission to “repair the world”.

The one candidate who has consistently challenged the corporations, Ralph Nader, is already under fire from liberals like Joshua Holland of the AlterNet Independent Media Institute. After demonstrating that – counter to Democratic Party propaganda - Nader was not responsible for handing over victory to Bush in Florida or elsewhere in 2000, and that he has the right to run, Holland then goes on to say that he won’t be voting for him, on the grounds that as an “independent liberal”, he needs to “beat down the reactionary right”. Another supposedly independent thinker, Timothy Noah of Slate takes a similar stance, saying that he disagrees with Nader that the Democrats and Republicans are too similar.

To say that we know the Democrats are grim but the Republicans are even grimmer is a truly hopeless political perspective. It seeks to force voters to remain within the two-party cycle, where Tweedledum and Tweedledee take turns in running the country on behalf of corporate power. After all, it was the Clinton presidency that opened the door for Bush and it is the Democrats who in Congress, despite their majority in both houses, sit on their hands and allow Bush free rein. As Nader once said, if the Democrats are indeed the lesser of two evils, they are still evil!

Corinna Lotz
A World to Win
4 March 2008

]]> by: Richard M. Connelly http://www.mediachannel.org/wordpress/2008/03/04/press-takes-a-harder-look-at-obama-and-itself/#comment-12024 Wed, 05 Mar 2008 00:27:51 +0000 http://www.mediachannel.org/wordpress/2008/03/04/press-takes-a-harder-look-at-obama-and-itself/#comment-12024 Got the feeling like we are living in the Soviet Union or Nazi Germany during their days of "spoon fed" propaganda for the masses?????? Those of us Freedom Loving Americans who support Ron Paul know this so well. It is glaringly obvious. My friend who lived in Communist Poland says the system of mind control and manipulation has moved here....same crap...different country...different time. AMERICAN WAKE UP!!!!! Got the feeling like we are living in the Soviet Union or Nazi Germany during their days of “spoon fed” propaganda for the masses?????? Those of us Freedom Loving Americans who support Ron Paul know this so well. It is glaringly obvious. My friend who lived in Communist Poland says the system of mind control and manipulation has moved here….same crap…different country…different time. AMERICAN WAKE UP!!!!!

]]> by: Tommye J. Winkley http://www.mediachannel.org/wordpress/2008/03/04/press-takes-a-harder-look-at-obama-and-itself/#comment-12022 Wed, 05 Mar 2008 00:15:05 +0000 http://www.mediachannel.org/wordpress/2008/03/04/press-takes-a-harder-look-at-obama-and-itself/#comment-12022 John Q. Public, unless you are an Obama supportor, also believes the press, both print and TV, have failed the US public. You have caricatured one candidate about her hair, her ankles, her laugh, her voice, her marriage--all personal attacks that are subjective and more reflective of a still backward and dysfunctional society that believes women can be demeaned. You could have done the same with Mr. Obama's big ears, skinny body, stuttering when not repeating a rehersed, memorized speech, muffled voice, and public blowing of his nose. If you engage in this type of coverage, it should be across the board. Since you are not covering facts or disseminating objective information with which the public can make an informed decision, I find it difficult to place my belief in the Fourth Rail of Democracy, the free press. This woman commands respect. If you cannot respect her because you have a mother complex or you do not like her, you need to treat her with respect because a huge number of Americans who are making this race so close respect her and by disrespecting her, you disrespect all of us. Thusly, having pissed off 1/2 of the population, what worth or credibility do you have in "reporting" anything? You have turned your once noble profession into a third rate Public Relations Firm. John Q. Public, unless you are an Obama supportor, also believes the press, both print and TV, have failed the US public. You have caricatured one candidate about her hair, her ankles, her laugh, her voice, her marriage–all personal attacks that are subjective and more reflective of a still backward and dysfunctional society that believes women can be demeaned. You could have done the same with Mr. Obama’s big ears, skinny body, stuttering when not repeating a rehersed, memorized speech, muffled voice, and public blowing of his nose. If you engage in this type of coverage, it should be across the board. Since you are not covering facts or disseminating objective information with which the public can make an informed decision, I find it difficult to place my belief in the Fourth Rail of Democracy, the free press. This woman commands respect. If you cannot respect her because you have a mother complex or you do not like her, you need to treat her with respect because a huge number of Americans who are making this race so close respect her and by disrespecting her, you disrespect all of us. Thusly, having pissed off 1/2 of the population, what worth or credibility do you have in
“reporting” anything? You have turned your once noble profession into a third rate Public Relations Firm.

]]> by: O.C. http://www.mediachannel.org/wordpress/2008/03/04/press-takes-a-harder-look-at-obama-and-itself/#comment-12021 Wed, 05 Mar 2008 00:11:00 +0000 http://www.mediachannel.org/wordpress/2008/03/04/press-takes-a-harder-look-at-obama-and-itself/#comment-12021 Millions of people have now been made aware of the complete and total corruption of our fifth estate thanks to their 100% blackout of Ron Paul. The world is turning away from the MSM as a source of information, and that's a good thing. Millions of people have now been made aware of the complete and total corruption of our fifth estate thanks to their 100% blackout of Ron Paul. The world is turning away from the MSM as a source of information, and that’s a good thing.

]]> by: tim, minnesota http://www.mediachannel.org/wordpress/2008/03/04/press-takes-a-harder-look-at-obama-and-itself/#comment-12019 Tue, 04 Mar 2008 23:04:37 +0000 http://www.mediachannel.org/wordpress/2008/03/04/press-takes-a-harder-look-at-obama-and-itself/#comment-12019 7 weeks of no Ron Paul coverage. I could cry conspiracy but then I am branded a nut case. The truth is statistics do not lie. Media coverage (0) is not related to the voting results of the last 7 weeks. Super Tuesday Ron had 15% to 27% of state votes. 7 weeks of no Ron Paul coverage. I could cry conspiracy but then I am branded a nut case. The truth is statistics do not lie. Media coverage (0) is not related to the voting results of the last 7 weeks. Super Tuesday Ron had 15% to 27% of state votes.

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