"Clinton speaks at convention. The press concocts a story." - Media Matters MUST READ

[greeneyedboy]

Hillary Clinton speaks at convention. The press concocts a story

by Eric Boehlert
<http://mediamatters.org/columns/200808260005>


"....At the Democratic National Convention in 1992, Jerry Brown, who finished a very distant second to the party's nominee, had his name placed into nomination and addressed the assembled convention. After seconding his own nomination (true story), Brown delivered a fiery speech that thrilled his unruly supporters inside Madison Square Garden. Brown's ill will toward nominee Bill Clinton was so legendary that The Atlanta Journal-Constitution considered it newsworthy that Brown's convention address "avoided a direct attack" on the nominee, while the Los Angeles Times noted Brown "did not specifically endorse presidential nominee Bill Clinton."

Indeed, for weeks leading up to the convention, Brown refused to back his party's nominee, complaining to The New York Times in June that supporting Clinton was like buying a ticket for the Titanic.

Four years earlier, the Democratic convention in Atlanta witnessed even more tumult from the second-place finisher when Jesse Jackson, furious at being passed over for the vice-presidential slot by the party's nominee, Michael Dukakis (who failed to call Jackson and tell him the VP news), threatened to withhold his delegates' support from the party's nominee. In fact, just hours before the convention began, Jackson's supporters threatened to place the candidate's name into nomination for the vice presidency, which would have created a massive floor fight between Jackson and Dukakis' pick, Sen. Lloyd Bentsen of Texas. . . .

End of history lesson. Now, take those historical nuggets from 1992 and 1988 and transport them to Denver this week, and try to imagine what the press reaction would be (not the political reaction, but the press reaction) if Hillary Clinton delivered her address Tuesday night and did not endorse the Democratic Party's nominee...."

<http://mediamatters.org/columns/200808260005>

[IndyOp]

1. Just a little history provides a lot of perspective. Thanks. (n/t)

[Captain Hilts]

2. DUers swallow RNC Anti-Clinton meme whole!

Here's a key excerpt:

Actually, the real credit goes to CNN polling director Keating Holland (figures, he doesn't work in the newsroom), who posted a lengthy analysis at CNN.com. Holland's piece not only put Clinton's role in Denver into historical perspective ("Overall, between 1972 and 1992, 10 Democratic candidates who lost the nomination in the primaries went on to have their names formally placed in nomination at the convention."), it also pointed out that Clinton represents the only runner-up to speak at the convention who formally endorsed the party's nominee months before the convention; i.e., all the others grudgingly held out on endorsing their rivals.

But not Clinton. Yet she's the one slimed by media venom.

Even after all these months, I still don't completely understand why Clinton's essentially centrist campaign for the White House ginned up so much open contempt from the press corps, which has felt completely comfortable addressing her in an openly derogatory and condescending manner. The issue of her convention involvement simply allowed the press to whack her around like a piñata one more time, regardless of the facts.

[greeneyedboy]

3. they're cowards who love to imitate their right-wing bully big brothers and suck up to the bosses.

and it sells papers to boot

[Demeter]

4. Hillary's Less Than Thoughtful Primary Antics Are Already Attack Ads on Fox News

She's done the party a lot of damage, and to go to such pettiness now would be most impolitic.

[greeneyedboy]

5. not really relevant to the coverage of the conventions. n/t

[yurbud]

6. she not only said the winner was less qualified than other party's candidate, she sucked up to right

wing bigwigs.

In effect, she didn't just insult the eventual winner, she insulted her party's base, essentially saying "fuck you" to most of us, stepping over us, and prostrating herself before the right's corporate masters.