The Honeymoon Is Over
By Mitch Berg
Second law of the major media when covering politics; the Republican that acts the most like a Democrat (and gives the best interviews) gets treated well.
First law: When that Republican actually has to compete with a Democrat, disregard the Second Law.
As I predicted the moment Mac became the front-runner, the Times has broken out the slime against McCain. Read it for yourself; past the resurrection of “The Keating Five” as an issue, it’s thin gruel as smear jobs go.
Especially given what Ed notes:
Well, you have to read past the rehash of the Keating Five scandal of the mid-1980s, past a strange accusation involving McCain’s use of direct flights from Washington to Phoenix, and past his crusade to clean up Washington through the BCRA (which I adamantly opposed and still do) to get to the Slimes’ sourcing. It turns out that they talked to two anonymous former staffers — neither of whom allege that the relationship actually became romantic — and who describe themselves as disgruntled.
Great sourcing there, guys. Way to corroborate a non-story. I guess Lucy Ramirez must have been hard to find this time around.
Gateway Pundit adds:
f there was ever a moment that clarifies the grotesque bias of the media leading New York Times it is this moment.
Their fair-haired Republican is the front runner for President. And, suddenly after years of kissie-kissie there appears a Maverick hit piece.
The love affair is over.
Done.And, there’s only one way for the Maverick to bring back that loving feeling…
…Lose in November.
That, indeed, is the Prime Directive of media coverage of Republicans; the only good one is a retired one.
UPDATE AND BUMP: Via Ed – the Times report appears to be baked wind. John Weaver – a former top Mac aide – states to the WaPo:
“The New York Times asked for a formal interview and I said no and asked for written questions. The Times knew of my meeting with Ms. Iseman, from sources they didn’t identify to me, and asked me about that meeting. I did not inform Senator McCain that I asked for a meeting with Ms. Iseman.
Her comments, which had gotten back to some of us, that she had strong ties to the Commerce Committee and his staff were wrong and harmful and I so informed her and asked her to stop with these comments and to not be involved in the campaign. Nothing more and nothing less.
I responded to the Times on the record about a meeting they already knew about. The campaign received a copy of my response to the Times the same day, which was in late December.
In other words, Ms. Iseman’s claims – the basis for the most “damning” part of the Times’ story – was a bit of influence-peddling gone awry.
Ed:
Iseman had bragged about her connections to the committee in order to expand her client list. Weaver heard about it and told her to knock it off, or she’d get frozen out. Lobbyists collect clients by making themselves appear influential, and apparently Iseman got a little too hyperbolic about her connections.
That’s the extent of the supposed “intervention” — and the Times knew it.
It’ll be interesting to see how the Times – the unofficial paper of record of the party of Marc Rich, of Harry Thomasson, of Senator and Mrs. Daschle – respond to this. To say nothing of the babbling hordes of the Sorosphere.
February 21st, 2008 at 9:22 am
Hoooold on a minute there, pardner. This makes absolutely no sense. As Flash will tell you, only Republicans own a “smear machine” with which they “smearboat” their enemies. Only Republicans smear. Therefore, this smearing of McCain must be an inside job! Why would the GOP smear their own guy? Smear smear smear.
February 21st, 2008 at 9:34 am
“” McCain’s former top political adviser, John Weaver, told the newspaper that he met with Iseman at Washington’s Union Station during McCain’s first presidential bid. He asked her to stay away from the senator, the paper reported, because McCain was running on a platform of political reform and shunning special interests.””
Iseman has confirmed the meeting took place, however, has disputed Weaver’s version.
Come on, the Romantic relationship is the strawman here. The electorate has shown that they can be very forgiving of that. At issue is the derailing of the ‘straight talk express’ A campaign “centered around taking on special interests and placing the national interests before either personal or special interests” Mac hopes this escapade centers on the rumor of a romantic relationship so that the real issue jeopardizing his integrity is ignored.
To LFoot “only Republicans own a “smear machine”” I’ve never said that. I just think they are better at it. They have to make stuff up and twist the truth, which is a fine art they have mastered. the Left is sloppy and when they try to embellish they get busted and the whole ‘fake but accurate’ argument is played out.
February 21st, 2008 at 10:00 am
I *told* you, Mitch, that Maverick was a bad move!
Rudy would NEVER have flown on corporate lobbyist jets. Judy would never allow it. Where would her Luis Vuitton bag go?
It’s not too late!
/jc
February 21st, 2008 at 10:06 am
Interesting how you have all the talking points ready to go, Flash.
Soros has done his work well.
February 21st, 2008 at 10:09 am
To LFoot “only Republicans own a “smear machine”” I’ve never said that. I just think they are better at it. They have to make stuff up and twist the truth, which is a fine art they have mastered. the Left is sloppy and when they try to embellish they get busted and the whole ‘fake but accurate’ argument is played out.
I’m sorry, Flash. For some reason, I again confused the Party itself with its surrogates (Media Matters, MoveOn, the NYT etc.).
Why do I keep doing that?
February 21st, 2008 at 10:21 am
I think we all called it….the “Maverick Republican”. the one that so many Democrats said “McCain is one Republican I would vote for”….as soon as he became the nominee (sorry Huck, it’s long over), the attacks would start. I’d love to see some before and after commentary….compare quotes.
Hey, you all see todays St Paul paper? Normally I don’t read the A section because…well, it sucks. But anyway….they run a peice on “right wing bloggers” and Rush Limbaugh. Kind of a weird rant.
February 21st, 2008 at 10:24 am
“”Interesting how you have all the talking points ready to go””
WOW, in a 10 minute rambling post on a half cup of coffee I got the talking points right. That has go to be a first. My Soros Mail doesn’t come till after Noon and I could wait on this one. Are you on a different super secret list?
I told you they were sloppy. ScaifeNet is always one step ahead. Do they actually send the complete text to you for posting, or do they allow some license? Just curious.
LF: “”Why do I keep doing that?”
Because it is the will of ScaifeNet. It has become such a habit that you don’t even realize you are doing it. You really need to have that Chip removed. *grin*
February 21st, 2008 at 11:14 am
WOW, in a 10 minute rambling post on a half cup of coffee
I bet Soros told you to say that!
ScaifeNet is always one step ahead.
“I know you are, but what am I?”
February 21st, 2008 at 11:25 am
Why would the GOP smear their own guy?
Because they loathe him more than any Democrat could?
February 21st, 2008 at 11:54 am
they loathe him
Well, let’s be accurate; SOME Republicans do loathe him.
February 21st, 2008 at 12:08 pm
I finds it interesting that while Tom Daschle was Senate majority leader his wife was a Congressional lobbyist for the airline industry. The NYT expose has yet to be published.
There’s a word for that…
February 21st, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Kermit-
The NYT expo on Daschle’s will have to include info on Gore watering down airline security req’s at the request of airline indusr\try lobbyists.
http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=24638
February 21st, 2008 at 12:52 pm
I would like to see a chart on who votes down or otherwises takes action to block tort reform, and who gets how much money from Big Law. I think you will see a very strong tie.
February 21st, 2008 at 1:48 pm
“o LFoot “only Republicans own a “smear machine”” I’ve never said that. I just think they are better at it. They have to make stuff up and twist the truth, which is a fine art they have mastered.”
You don’t have to smear political opponents who boo the boy scouts. They do it themselves.
February 21st, 2008 at 3:47 pm
This doesn’t seem to be much of a scandel. I wonder if they are working on something bigger for late October.
February 21st, 2008 at 4:44 pm
This doesn’t seem to be much of a scandel. I wonder if they are working on something bigger for late October.
More likely the day before the election.
February 21st, 2008 at 5:35 pm
It’ll run like this:
McCain broke his arm bailing out over North Vietnam. His captors brought prostitutes to him in the Hanoi Hilton. He once got on stage with Frank Zappa and stomped baby chicks in time to the music.
But he’s not really a closeted homosexual (wink,wink).
February 21st, 2008 at 6:58 pm
It’s an open secret that John McCain shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die. He also has a drunk driving arrest in Maine in 1976 and was caught swimming around the Tidal Basin with Argentinian stripper Fanne Fox.
In our next report, how McCain was really mean to the server at Cracker Barrel who forgot that he had ordered the Early Bird Special, and McCain’s fascinating but little-understood role in the Teapot Dome scandal.
All the news that’s fit to print, baybee!
February 21st, 2008 at 8:45 pm
All you need to know about McCain is that he can make Jack Bauer cry like a little girl.
February 21st, 2008 at 8:55 pm
There is nothing that can rally the conservative base around a candidate, any candidate, like getting cheap-shotted by the NY Times.
February 21st, 2008 at 8:58 pm
There is nothing that can rally the conservative base around a candidate, any candidate, like getting cheap-shotted by the NY Times.
Keep telling yourself that. It’s the conservative base that will hang McCain, not the left.
February 21st, 2008 at 9:08 pm
It’s already happening.
February 21st, 2008 at 10:30 pm
All you need to know about McCain is that he can make Jack Bauer cry like a little girl.
Wait, you mean McCain is Chuck Norris? I thought Norris was for Huckabee. We really need Bill Keller to sort this out for us, no?
February 21st, 2008 at 10:59 pm
Oh, do let’s get into it. We can talk about how horrible that the polity spent years discussing Clinton getting orally serviced by Monica, but how reasonable it is to make a front page story over some admittedly disgruntled anonymous former McCain office workers worrying that a decorative lobbyist was spending too much time around the Senator.
Pfui. Disfuckinggusting.