End of the Affair - The New Republic

[Kber]

Basically all about how Obama and the press have a stinky relationship.

http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=6e9f4a42-9540-4d99-aba2-25adc276c25d

[RaleighNCDUer]

1. Bullshit article. nt

[Frank Booth]

2. So now we know part of the reason that the press favors McCain -- Insecurity.

Wow, is this article pathetic. The media is concerned because Obama is not kissing up to them enough?? Are they the stars of the show? Shouldn't they be more worried about doing their job right than harping over petty, perceived slights? It's like these people never left high school. Here are a few gems:

Nagourney had not heard the complaints from the Obama camp and had no idea they were so steamed. "I'm looking at this thing, and I'm like, 'What the hell is this?' " Nagourney recently recalled. "I really flipped out."

Later that afternoon, Nagourney got permission from Times editors to e-mail Sargent a response to the Obama memo. But the episode still grates. "I've never had an experience like this, with this campaign or others," Nagourney tells me. "I thought they crossed the line. If you have a problem with a story I write, call me first. I'm a big boy. I can handle it. But they never called. They attacked me like I'm a political opponent."

Still, the campaign hasn't helped itself, approaching reporters with a sense of entitlement. "They're an arrogant operation. Young and arrogant," one reporter covering the campaign says. "They don't believe in transparency with their own campaign," another says.

At the same time, McCain has demonstrated a longstanding ability to deftly manage the press. After all, it wasn't long ago that McCain, short on cash and trailing in the Republican primaries, re-launched his campaign in New Hampshire by courting the press, "my base," as he once proudly put it. In June, the McCain camp unveiled its redesigned campaign plane, a Boeing 737 that recreates the Straight Talk Express bus, so reporters can assemble with McCain and shoot the breeze.

My advice to the media: grow up and do your job.

[Hamlette]

3. they emailed Nagourney but didn't call him....is that his beef?

I love the part where they say Obama's people are like Bush's people. Since the media fawned over Bush for 8 years, letting him do anything, maybe Obama is taking the cue.

Someone ought to tell the press that.

[otohara]

6. Not Playful Like W

this sounds like 2000 all over again.

[highplainsdem]

4. The most interesting bit is on page 2, quoting a reporter saying the campaign is "terrified of

people poking around Obama's life." I've believed all along that they were worried about his Chicago background in particular, and for that reason, the GOP's silence about this during the primary season has been ominous (I expect them to focus on it after the convention). I believe the real reason Ryan Lizza wasn't along on Obama's world tour was his article on that Chicago background, rather than the New Yorker cover. The Obama campaign is aparently trying to warn journalists away from that subject.

[Alter Ego]

7. Not rehashing the primaries, but Hillary did all the digging there was

to be had on Obama's Chicago life.

I had to give her credit--she was merciless on that front. If there was something to find, she'd have found it.

Ain't nothing there, folks--spineless, butthurt reporters chasing ghosts.

[Alter Ego]

5. Can you blame Obama for wanting to tighten up on the press

considering they savage him at every opportunity, warranted or not?

[Indenturedebtor]

8. Yes any complaining about "press rights" would only be valid if they actually behaved like objective

Journalists. Since they're essentially a branch of the Repuklican party - screw em says i!

[seasat]

9. The article claims the press built up Obama?

That has to be the most ridiculous point, I've seen. They've accused Obama of being a Muslim, elitist, and a inexperienced. They've insinuated that he has problems with white voters, Jewish voter, Hispanic voters, liberal Democrats, and former Hillary supporters. They've dissected every utterance from Obama looking for gaffes or flip flops. They accused him of flip flops on Iraq while ignoring the fact that his position on Iraq was unchanged from previous statements. They've accused him of moving to the center when he mentions positions that he and the Democratic party has supported for years. If this is supposedly a "love" for Obama, I'd hate to see hate.

Basically, the press wants a horse race since it'll keep viewer and reader interest so they can sell advertising. They're using their supposed problems with Obama's campaign as an excuse to give negative coverage so the race stays closer and holds viewer interest.

As long as the press isn't too biased towards McCain, it may help in the short run by encouraging donations to the Obama campaign. Donations would probably decline if it became clear that Obama was way ahead of McCain. This could leave the campaign with low funds to guard against a late smear attack that will come from the McCain campaign.

[Doctor_J]

10. Press, including all the big-shots and reporters, are Repukes

When the revolution comes, they are really going to dread the sight of rope.

[Orsino]

11. Whistling in the dark. n/t