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Angry Amateurs - Swampland - TIME

time-blog.com — The story of the day out here in Minneapolis is the McCain campaign's war against the press. This has been building for some time. Those of us who have criticized

Who dugg this? Made popular Sep 4, 2008

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  • inactive, on 09/03/2008, -6/+126Hooray Joe! Don't stop or get bullied by the McCain campaign - this is the money quote:

    There is a tendency in the media to kick ourselves, cringe and withdraw, when we are criticized. But I hope my colleagues stand strong in this case: it is important for the public to know that Palin raised taxes as governor, supported the Bridge to Nowhere before she opposed it, pursued pork-barrel projects as mayor, tried to ban books at the local library and thinks the war in Iraq is "a task from God." The attempts by the McCain campaign to bully us into not reporting such things are not only stupidly aggressive, but unprofessional in the extreme.
  • rawg, on 09/03/2008, -7/+98The whole Palin situation has definitely made the McCain campaign look like a bunch of petulant amateurs over the last few days. Until now, John McCain has enjoyed the luxury of being coddled by the press and pulling out his POW experience as a "get out of jail" card whenever things go too hot.

    Now we see how his campaign handles the kind of hostile media scrutiny that Obama has had to endure for the last 18 months. Watch closely because this is how McCain would run his administration if he became President.
  • kingUssop, on 09/04/2008, -5/+77McCain's losing so he's sliming the press. You know who told him to do this, Rove. We don't need this anymore! America is better than that.
  • elf202, on 09/04/2008, -4/+74Amateurs! That's the right word! I hope the media doesn't buckle. Media people, please continue to fulfill the mandate of your calling as journalists and reporters.
  • jennyhiero, on 09/04/2008, -4/+67Finally!!! Someone with the actual BALLS to say it. Thank you, Joe Klein.
  • AfroPonix, on 09/04/2008, -4/+60About time! You are part of the only non government entity that has a responsibility mentioned in the constitution and as an American i demand you to plant your feet in the right spot and stand firm! heh, seriously though, thanks so much. I believe it is worth mentioning that all this coverage the past few days could've been avoided if the McCain campaign had the leadership to vet their V.P. and do the sort of research that citizen journalists are able to do with Google. The #1 v.p. rule is "do no harm", its hard to believe there were no better choices in all of the republican party but a 20 month right wing governor under investigation. To have the McCain campaign complain of sexism in the media when i saw an ocean of buttons at the Republican Convention saying "the hottest v.p. from the coolest state" is absurd. GOP hypocricy at its worst. Its obvious that this v.p. pick was nothing but an act of tokenism designed to rally the conservative base, insult any Hillary voter that isnt intelligent enough to understand that a vote for any woman isnt a vote for all women (i think they are all smart enough to know that), and create a straw man to attack in the media.
  • jdefloris, on 09/04/2008, -4/+51Noonan, Murphy and Todd said what they really think last night, only off-air on a hot mic. They told us "It's over." It's time for an independent media so that journalists can get back to doing their job, like Joe Klein has had the courage to do in Time, like Keith Olbermann never fails to do regardless.

    Like JoanDark said, we've got your back; this is being passed around everywhere, and we've learned how to write to the editors and owners! Now, get the rest to follow suit, because like the government is Our government, the Press is your media. Take it back!
  • liberD, on 09/04/2008, -4/+49Go Joe!!
  • MindyB, on 09/04/2008, -4/+45Yeah but it appears by the type of coverage he and his campaign get vs the coverage that Obama and his campaign get, the McCain bully tactics are working! It is very disappointing to find out that the media no longer has a spine and many don't even have integrity. Most members of the media seem to be parrots rather than journalists. They repeat word for word what the McCain camp says about Barack Obama, despite the fact that all they say about him are lies and exaggerations_-and the media just perpetuates those lies rather than finding out what the truth is.
    This is good that one person is standing up to the McCain bullies but I doubt that will make a dent at this point.
  • JoanDark, on 09/04/2008, -6/+41Go, Joe! We've got your and all honest MSM's back!!
  • Lynx55, on 09/04/2008, -3/+29Joe Klein - My new hero!
  • lancelotcq2, on 09/04/2008, -5/+30Hopefully the press realizes how serious this situation is and how truth must trump partisan politics. Sarah Palin is dangerous because she's outright lying about so many things, well... if she isn't called on it, then the press is complicit in the lies.

    The press should be talking about Tod Palin's affiliation with the Alaska First Independence Party. They should be talking about her earmarks. They should be talking about the fact she was clearly for the bridge to nowhere until it became unpopular.

    We're talking about a dangerously unstable candidate for v.p., someone with exteme radical views that hasn't been vetted.

    At this point, the only ones that can vet her are the press, and if they fail in this job they fail America.
  • gmhopkins, on 09/04/2008, -3/+25Would be good if you tagged it with Time and Joe Klein, so that people can find this more easily.

    Thanks for posting!
  • jennebarbour, on 09/04/2008, -3/+23Palin decided to thrown down with the Fourth Estate last night, and the response warranted is to simply tell the truth. Constantly. Over and over. To ask the questions she doesn't want to answer, that the McCain camp doesn't want to answer, and not to back down in the breeze of spin.

    The American people will be heard on November 4, but those that have chosen true journalism as a profession owe it to all of us to speak the truth in the open, not just on mics thought turned off. Let all the truth be known, and let the people decide.
  • coolwhip86, on 09/04/2008, -2/+22The reporting on Palin has renewed my respect for SOME of the media and it's really great to see
  • MindyB, on 09/04/2008, -2/+21Yeah, that is why the McCain and Palin team go so well!
    McCain pulls the POW card to get out of dodge
    Palin pulls the "I'm just a poor little hockey mom" to get out of dodge.
    They are soul mates as he said!
  • Echota, on 01/05/2009, -5/+22Goooooo Joe!
  • LemonHerb, on 09/04/2008, -1/+17 Joe Klein, ***** yeah.
  • henrikakselsen, on 09/04/2008, -2/+18That's not Joe Klein on the thumbnail, but still dugg.
  • DeadFox1, on 09/04/2008, -4/+19Joe hit the nail on the head with this article. The Mcsame campaign counted on this vetting by the media to boost his polls. They saw it happen with Hillary's campaign during the primaries.
  • ChessPieceFace, on 09/04/2008, -1/+15Thats why we are here. We know the facts. Keep writing, keep talking, Keep the faith.
  • DeadFox1, on 09/04/2008, -4/+18btw-- wrong picture..... that's Jay Carney, not Joe Klein
  • kaydkay, on 09/04/2008, -3/+17Am not an american but this year's election has captivated the people all over the world. The Republicans are perceived by other nations of the world as military adventurists bullish.
    The Republican candidates (Mcain and Palin) make a very wrong tagteam and dont pretty much have an idea of what is at stake.
  • OfNumbers, on 09/04/2008, -4/+15Q: A lot of people know about your service from your books, but most people don't know that you have two sons currently in the military. Can you describe what it means to have Jack and Jimmy in uniform?

    A: We don't discuss our sons.

    That's some elitist ***** right there.
  • sb66, on 09/04/2008, -1/+12Repugs can't handle the truth, so they play shoot the messenger. Anyone with a brain can see through it. Which means their supporters probably buy right into it.
  • bmaggiemay, on 09/04/2008, -2/+12You are no ordinary Joe....Rock On!!!!
  • frankidadio, on 09/04/2008, -1/+11Exxxxxcelllleent!!..... the press seems to have finally located and reattached their balls.... Mr. McGoo needs to hear it
  • Jaffy, on 09/04/2008, -2/+12I second, third, and damn well fourth Klein's sentiments here. The responsibility for vetting now falls to the press, since it's quite obvious the McCain campaign abdicated from their duty in this regard. And surprise! The press is actually doing a decent job of it!

    Petulant stonewalling, and exaggerated accusations of media bias/sexism/racism are hallmarks of what we've put up with for the past 8 years. I want to know what Sarah Palin has been up to before she hit the national stage - good and bad.

    Obama supporter.

    PS Why post a pic of Jay Carney if Joe Klein is the author?
  • BXRWXR, on 09/04/2008, -1/+11Because they already came out in the primaries.

    This is all new for Palin.
  • YodaJones, on 09/04/2008, -1/+10Awwwww, Did McCain get his depends in a bunch?
  • boulderomen, on 09/04/2008, -2/+11I for one am not surprised, this is just the type of hairball maneuver the McCain camp would pull. I knew it was a matter of time till America found the real person McCain is behind the sea of advisers and faux news *****.
  • thomasoa, on 09/04/2008, -0/+9Really? Where have you been, in a cave?
  • normalkid0615, on 09/04/2008, -3/+12FTA: it is important for the public to know that Palin raised taxes as governor, supported the Bridge to Nowhere before she opposed it, pursued pork-barrel projects as mayor, tried to ban books at the local library and thinks the war in Iraq is "a task from God." The attempts by the McCain campaign to bully us into not reporting such things are not only stupidly aggressive, but unprofessional in the extreme.
  • normalkid0615, on 09/04/2008, -1/+10Just had to say it twice it is so true!

    Republicans have yet to face reality. Plummeting Home Prices, Attacks on Pakistan, Crime, Weather, Ice Shelfs melting away..

    Who wants the leader of the free world to be someone who only listens to his gut and goes against his party and politics? Shouldn't McCayne be listening to a MAJORITY of the people like in a democracy?

    I am totally agaisnt Huckabee now. he lost 100% of my support. "Obama is right, the election is about you, now let me steal his speech.

    CHANGE - from Obama
    ELECTION IS ABOUT YOU - from Obama
    FIX WASHINGTON - from Obama

    Republicons have nothing new for themselves except we love this country, we worked our way up from nothing and deserve tax cuts

    BTW - What are all these handouts that Democrats have been reciecing? I NEVER receved a handout in my life and Im a Democratic 22 yr old with NO health insurance struggling to finish school...He Palin, can you ask the federal govt for $24,000 this year for my tuition? I need it :)
  • IphtashuFitz, on 09/04/2008, -0/+9And here's a link to the Noonan/Murphy/Todd recording if you haven't heard it yet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrG8w4bb3kg
  • tewstep, on 09/04/2008, -0/+8some branches inevitably will - hopefully not all.
  • adamh227, on 09/04/2008, -3/+11Quoting Bob Cesca on not vetting Barack Obama :

    " Are you kidding me? We just came through 20 months of reporters asking Senator Obama if he's really a Christian -- asking Senator Obama about Louis Farrakhan -- asking Senator Obama if his wife really, seriously, honestly loves America -- asking Senator Obama if he went to a Muslim school -- asking Senator Obama if he'll reject his Christian pastor -- and all the while accidentally calling him Osama Bin Laden. Not vetted? Idiot"
  • Angostura, on 09/04/2008, -1/+9I'm not American, and I'm not affiliated with any party, but I suspect that the press loved McCain when he used to be the sort of straight-talking politician who said what he thought. The Klein blog is (partly bemoaning) that change in the candidate.
  • wild, on 09/04/2008, -6/+14As great as this thought is, I feel like the media is going to back off anyway.
  • DougChristian, on 09/04/2008, -0/+7Hahah. Why? Because they smell a rat. Because everything about her is lies. You can't understand because you live in a fantasy land that is based on faith and argument. There is such a thing as objective truth and reason. You have flow in the face of it for so long and got away with it because you had the sense not to completely assault it. Now your true colors have been shown.

    Palin is an amazing pick. She will do what no one else ever could: Finally show the America people just what the Republicans are.

    AHAHAHA!
  • newsheatdotcom, on 09/04/2008, -1/+8You know what, the media has had ample time to dig up stuff on Obama/Biden and they have. The reason it seems the media is attacking Palin so harshly is because we only have a couple months to learn everything we can about her. The only people that seem to know anything about her are her friends they keep showing from Alaska.
    Biden has been around since McCain, so most everything about the man is already known, just do some research if you have questions. Obama has been in this campaign for presidency since the beginning, and if you'll remember has had quite a bit of stuff dug up and turned into dirt by the media.
    This is the public's chance to find out about Palin, if the Republicans don't like it, then they should have picked another choice for VP that was better known.
    I personally don't want to vote either way without knowing as much as possible about the candidates, their stances, and yes, even their families.
  • diggduggDOOM, on 09/04/2008, -0/+7Every time I see someone suggest that the media gave Obama a pass, I can only think of the three straight weeks (or more for some networks) of solid Rev. Wright coverage.
  • Slungsolow, on 09/04/2008, -1/+8You can't have it both ways here. You can't complain about how the press is so kind to one candidate, while the other is being closed to the media in order to protect his candidacy. If McCain was as media friendly as he used to be, and yes he was, then he'd be up on the cover of time every other week.

    Now, let's not forget that Esquire has been all up in McCain's ass for the last 18 months. He's been hailed there quite a bit more than Obama has.
  • Chuckanut, on 09/04/2008, -0/+7Perhaps you're spending too much time on Digg. Or, turn the 'Mute' off on your television. Read any Republican blog or publication. Take off the rose colored goggles. Where do you think the enlightened phrase, 'terrorist fist bump' originated? Remember the Delightful Reverend Wright? His years attending Muslim Preschool? Google to find the conversations that came out of Bush's Holocaust speech in Israel. Or search for the Obama cover of the New Yorker magazine. Certainly these items didn't come to our collective consciousness through telepathy or divine inspiration. They came from the main stream media.

    The 'Publicans seem to be bent out of shape because the old-skool way of manipulating the public doesn't work anymore. Palin stories have legs, whereas the mud they've been flinging has been recognized for what it is: desperate and sad.
  • Slungsolow, on 09/04/2008, -2/+8I'm pretty sure Obama and Biden were vetted by the press during the primaries. You don't get a free pass just because you're added to the spotlight late in the game. Every single thing you bring up about Barack and Joe was brought up, discussed and discarded months ago. Everything about Palin is new, newsworthy and absolutely on par with what was dug up on the previous candidates.

    Your argument is baseless and along the lines of a smokescreen to cover what deserves to be looked at. Obama has been vetted, by the US Government no less, since he has the security clearance needed to get daily briefings as a presidential candidate. He was vetted for the last 4 years after his keynote at the 04' DNC. Biden has been vetted for the last 30 years. He was never low key in the senate. The guy has been in the national spotlight since the 80s.

    Palin is new, that is why this is all news. The press and america are getting to know her. Until they do, her record needs to be looked at. It isn't sexist, it isn't elitist, and it sure as hell isn't unfair. Welcome to the big stage Sarah, now do your part and stop complaining about attention.
  • sindex, on 09/04/2008, -3/+9I guess you have a really short memory. The media already ran Obama through the wringer in 2007 and early 2008, and he stood up to it and survived. Palin will too, if she can stop crying about being picked on and just deal with it.

    Maybe answering some of her critics would help, instead of hiding behind official campaign talking points and Fox News' pointless banter.
  • Diggnabbit, on 09/04/2008, -1/+7The idea that Obama has been given a "free pass" is the most laughable claim to come out of the Republican spin-machine this whole campaign. Obama has been dragged through the mud with accusations about his patriotism, his experience, his acquaintances, his policies, his race, his religion, etc..

    You act like the fact that the press has been writing about Obama like crazy means that he's getting a free ride. But it means the opposite just as much. The more articles there are about Obama, the more questions are asked about him, the more journalists look into his past/record/character/whatever. That's not getting a "free pass."
  • Diggnabbit, on 09/04/2008, -1/+7What? I'm not sure you understand the role/responsibility of the press. They are supposed to question and attack politicians. When an unknown person is nominated by a major party for Vice President, they aren't supposed to ignore it, even (especially) if it is a ridiculous choice.

    Why would the media be scared of Palin? The media does just fine whoever wins the election.
  • ironhide, on 09/04/2008, -2/+8So people who's daily lives revolve around seeing the world as it is would vote for a Democrat. Gee, I wonder why that is.
  • nicc, on 09/04/2008, -0/+6you must have been sleeping back in Feb/March...
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