The mainstream media need to get their heads out of their backsides. Seriously.
If the national media is supposed to be liberal, it’s sure not doing much for liberal causes. At least that’s the opinion of this registered Democrat.
Most Americans, the average kind who work long hours trying to feed their families, pay their mortgages and fuel their vehicles, don’t have the time to surf the Internet ad nauseam in pursuit of information about the candidates for president. Instead, they rely on the ABCs, CNNs and assorted major wire services to do that job for them.
Unfortunately, the major news outlets aren’t doing a very good job, that is, unless you’re the type of voter looking for softballs to be thrown John McCain’s way and relishing in the coverage of the dirty, protracted and ultimately party-fracturing dogfights between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.
The liberal media’s priorities are out of whack. While they focus their sights on the bloody battle for the Democratic nomination, Republican Party lock McCain is getting a free pass as he dodders around the country looking nothing like the beloved moderate John McCain of 2000.
McCain was a pretty appealing character in his first go-round for president. But those moderate stances are all but history, as he pimps himself out in an effort to appeal to the lunatic fringe of the Republican Party.
Issues he has stood for that made him a palatable candidate for voters who don’t carry a rifle on a rack in their pickup or have a copy of the Bible in their glove box are things he has turned his back on this time out.
This is a man who cannot raise his arms above his shoulders because they were broken so badly while he was being tortured as a prisoner of war, yet in February he endorsed torture with his vote against the Intelligence Authorization Act of 2008, which would have held intelligence agencies to the same standards as the military, meaning no torture. It was a move counter to the rest of his career in public office.
This guy’s out of control and dishonest.
McCain would keep the U.S. in Iraq for “100, 1,000 and 10,000 years,” he’s reversed course on tax cuts and voted against the only sensible, meaningful piece of immigration reform legislation to come through the Senate … and he co-authored it.
Since announcing his bid for president, he has done nothing but move closer to the right — whether it is what he really believes or not; his record doesn’t reflect that — in an obvious attempt to cuddle up to George Bush’s core constituency.
But it’s not just the media making President McCain more of a possibility with each passing day, it’s also the Democratic Party itself, a seemingly self-loathing lot shooting and subverting itself at every turn.
Even with the help of ABC, that smug Charlie Gibson and former Bill Clinton defacto press secretary George Stephanopoulus, Hillary Clinton hasn’t been able to overcome Barack Obama in delegates and verbally pledged superdelegates.
As moderators of the primetime Pennsylvania debate on ABC, Gibson and Stephanopoulus served up home runs for Clinton and came off as rude, snarky and petty against Obama, delving into the nasty and the baseless rather than the substantive issues. Score for Hillary.
Sure, this is all one-sided, too; you’re reading a column from an Obama supporter. But more important, you’re reading a column from a Democrat fearful that the infighting, vindictiveness and pride of Clinton and Obama (mostly Hillary) will ultimately drive the record number of primary Democratic voters to stay home in November, giving us four more years of the GOP.
This is a sad time for the Democrats, who last summer looked like they were assured the White House.
Former Clinton allies are not turning on her because they don’t like her. They’re turning on her because she’s damaging the party. Clinton friend and former national chairman of the Democratic Central Committee, Joseph J. Andrew, recently put his eggs in Obama’s basket in a cry for party unity. He and others like the vocal Howard Dean know the Democrats are just playing into the GOP’s hands with this protracted process.
Clinton is behind, she’s not going to catch up and she needs to drop out.
Meanwhile, the liberal media needs to start acting liberal and ramp up their coverage of McCain, the former commonsense good guy who has now morphed into the worst kind of vacillating politician who has been blinded by the stars in his eyes.
" McCain, moving to the right?? LOL! What delusion. And liberals wonder why we think they are stupid. McCain is responsible for the suppression of free speech along his friend Democrat Rus Feingold with the McCain-Feingold Act. McCain is pro abortion like democrats. McCain voted against Bush's tax cuts. McCain, like Democrats and Islamic terrorists want to close Guantanamo Bay and give unlawful enemy combatants Constitutional rights. McCain is in favor of giving amnesty to illegal aliens.McCain opposed the appointment of conservative judges to the bench. McCain is clearly a leftist. It just goes to show how stupid people can be about their allegiance to a party. If your so amped up about getting some real criticism about McCain you are not going to get it from the mainstream media. You have to go to a conservative news outlet like Free Republic. "
abelito wrote on May 6, 2008 9:41 PM:
" Trivia Question: What do "The Liberal Media" and "The Moral Majority" have in common? Answer: They are "Neither." "
aesco1 wrote on May 6, 2008 10:29 AM:
" What is Mike Ding Dong Gino talking about the IV Press is not serving it's contituency? Is he implying that only robots Ops,I mean rightee's read this paper. "
holtville1 wrote on May 6, 2008 8:52 AM:
" That would make Romney second generation. "
abelito wrote on May 6, 2008 7:31 AM:
" You have to give the Repubs credit for being at least, somewhat "diversified" in that they had two Latinos going for Prezz. You had one First Generation Mexican American in Willard Mitt Romney, (papa and tata were born in Mejico), and you have Juan McCain who was born in Panama. (lol) "
abelito wrote on May 5, 2008 10:33 AM:
" Burn, You go with the candidate you have, not the candidate you wish you had. The "extreme righties" are not too happy with "Panama Jack" McBush either. But it's all they have. "
burn33 wrote on May 4, 2008 10:53 PM:
" I still cannot believe that the democratic party, that had such a huge following at the beginning of this election cycle, riding (for right or wrong)the anti-bush, anti-republican wave, decided to front these two lame horse candidates. Neither Hilary or Obama have legs to stand on as president, WHY O WHY did they not get Gore up front again? I lean farther toward the republican side of things but I really think Gore could have done some good in our nation. McCain is going to be our next president, and while he is infinitely better than Hilary or Obama, I really don't care that much for him. "
farmallalfalfa wrote on May 4, 2008 7:07 PM:
" Our economy was great under the leadership of Newt. Look what's happened since the Dems took back over. Gas has gone up over $1.50/gallon. Is this the good for the economy??? "
abelito wrote on May 4, 2008 5:34 PM:
" The Repubs have managed to do more damage to our economy in twelve years than the Dems in forty. "
holtville1 wrote on May 4, 2008 4:47 PM:
" rico, the Democrats had the presidency, house and senate from 1992-94. The Dems lost several seats in the 1992 election but still retained a majority. Billary's problem was he/she thought they would have that power for a much longer period of time. "
farmallalfalfa wrote on May 4, 2008 4:39 PM:
" Rico - You're wrong again. Both the House and Senate were dominated by Democrats for the first two years of Clinton's presidency. Rather than trying to do something to better the U.S., he tried to raise taxes and ban guns. Low and behold, he lost both the House and the Senate the next election. FYI. The corruption filled House had been controlled by the Democrats for 40 years up until this point. "
ricocafe99 wrote on May 4, 2008 2:44 PM:
" Holtville 1 - Bill Clinton did not have the house
Mikegino - McCain had the "Keating 5"..whats up with the reference to Vince Foster, he shot himself, end of story. So she made a little money, isnt that what we all as Americans/capitalists are supposed to be doing? The fact that Hillary is still in the race fighting tenaciously politically and financially to win the nomination when everyone else has dropped out including on the Republican side shows you what kind of person she is. A tough one who is showing Presidential qualities who will have the respect of the rest of the world as well because they will not want to upset her. "
holtville1 wrote on May 4, 2008 1:57 PM:
" Why would anyone vote for Obama? Did anyone know who he was six years ago? How about six months ago? What is he offering besides claims of change? Will he be able to accomplish all those changes if one of the houses is Republican? What if they are both run by Democrats? Clinton didn't get much done when he was pres and had both houses, did he? There has been so much infighting in the party that I don't think they could agree on anything if they do win everything. And we're back to my original question: Why would anyone vote for Obama? What is he offering? "
abelito wrote on May 4, 2008 7:02 AM:
" Bill Clinton was right when he told Fox's Chris "Cabbage Patch" Wallace that he was "nothing more than a right wing hit job." "
dudeski wrote on May 3, 2008 11:31 PM:
" I love to read these exchanges between alfallfa and abelito! Abelito, I'm sure you're a good man, but sorry to say you're delusional if you can't see the liberal media bias that has persisted for decades. Fox News was the first to give voice self-described conservatives, that's why liberals hate Fox. The only good thing about Montenegro's article is that early on, he disclosed his bias, unlike most liberal media (i.e. NY Times, Washingtgon comPost) who hide behind a veil of suppossed neutrality. "
mikegino wrote on May 3, 2008 7:56 PM:
" Its very sad to conclude that the IV Press clearly does not serve its constituency. "
abelito wrote on May 3, 2008 7:33 PM:
" Alfalfa, Some probably 'went with the flow' because they 'believed.' Not so with others who, as they said, "we weren't 'drinking the kool-aid'." Regarding McCain he should LIKEWISE be put 'on the spot' as to whether he supports or denounces the support of these controversial "religionists." No more "hardball" for the Left, while, at the same time, they play "Tee-ball" with McCain. Meantime the notion of a "Liberal Media" continues to be just a MYTH. "
farmallalfalfa wrote on May 3, 2008 7:23 PM:
" I'm surprised that Brad even let this go to print. Maybe Richard snuck it in late yesterday after Brad had already left... "
marygb wrote on May 3, 2008 7:00 PM:
" "McCain is getting a free pass as he dodders" "as he pimps himself out in an effort to appeal to the lunatic fringe of the Republican Party" "softballs to be thrown John McCains way" "This guys out of control and dishonest" "voters who dont carry a rifle on a rack in their pickup" "youre reading a column from a Democrat fearful that the infighting, vindictiveness and pride of Clinton and Obama" Richard Montenegro Brown writes like a, bitter, frustrated, wannabe!! Brown, you could not even shine McCain's shoes. Go take a chill pill, lighten'up..and check yourself out. You sound way out of control, perhaps a little R&R will help. Will somebody please give Brown a little hug, glass of milk and a cookie. Prop his feet up..inhale..exhale.. "
farmallalfalfa wrote on May 3, 2008 6:22 PM:
" A- Are you seriously trying to argue that the vast majority of the media isn't liberal? Wow. To answer your question in regards to the retired generals. Maybe they actually BELIEVE what they're saying. Maybe, just maybe, there's no huge conspiracy behind it as you were hoping. Sorry that your media compadres let you down.
In regards to your question about Obama/McCain, you answered it yourself. You stated McCain's "religious backers" and thats exactly what they are. McCain can't help who supports him. He didn't sit in these guy's churches for 20 years and listen to them spew anti-American rhetoric. Robertson, Dobson, and Hagee didn't baptize McCain's kids, let alone perform his marriage ceremony. There's no comparison between the two and the media might actually realize it. Left or right, you can't argue with that. Well, I'm sure you can make something up... "
mikegino wrote on May 3, 2008 6:03 PM:
" As I said earlier after two cups of wake-up Joe, "Any sad time for the Democrats is a good time for America." After two beers, my refrain is "Ding dong, the witch is almost dead." "
abelito wrote on May 3, 2008 4:57 PM:
" Then if the media is so "liberal", how come we don't hear more about all those retired generals and colonels posing as "unbiased" Military Analists,having had their "talking points" given to them by "Rummy and da boys" on the lead-off to war and the successes of the "surge" etc. They were to "toe the line" or risk losing their vested interests in military contracts or access to priviledged info if they didn't. Yeah, we hear all this ruckus about Rev. Wright, but "not a peep" about the MORE scandalous remarks of McCain's religious backers, Robertson Dobson and John Hagee's equally bad, if not worse controversial statements. When did THESE GUYS "corner" the "God" Market! It is clearly evident that the Left's "molehills" constantly get turned into "mountains" while the Rights "mountains"-GET SWEPT UNDER THE RUG by this "liberal media". "
farmallalfalfa wrote on May 3, 2008 2:30 PM:
" The liberal media is a myth?? What a joke. Have you tuned in to ABC, NBC, CNN, BBC, or CBS lately? If they're not liberal, I don't know what is. Just because there's ONE station that doesn't constantly complain about the GOP, definitely does not make the media "fair and balanced". It also just so happens that this one particular station has better ratings then all of the others combined. Why you ask, because criticizing, crying, complaining, and whining get old after a while. That is why Air America is about to go off the air. Sorry George Soros.
As for Mr. Brown. There's no need to get mad at the media just because your candidates consist of a liar and a racist anti-American. Aren't you part of the media? I.V. Press is starting to show its true colors... "
abelito wrote on May 3, 2008 1:50 PM:
" Monty, in essence "hit the nail on the head". The "Liberal Media" is a myth, a smokescreen. Just like the assertion that Fox is "fair and balanced." Gimme a break!. It's really no secret that it has been "in the pockets" of corpofascists, just like "the new" McBush. "
isurdoc wrote on May 3, 2008 12:54 PM:
" RICHARD MONTENEGRO BROWN, Assistant Editor McCain was a pretty appealing character in his first go-round for president. But those moderate stances are all but history, as he pimps himself out in an effort to appeal to the lunatic fringe of the Republican Party.
Comment:
As assistant editor, I would presuppose that you did attend or take some college or university level courses before being hired by the IVP.
However, your poor choices of words to describe fellow American citizens are cause for great concern.
Pimps...hum, great choice of a degrading word used mostly in the hood to describe how a gang banger defines his line of work or what he does to his car.
Is your biased and somewhat inane views the Imperial Valley Presses' opinions or did you think this article up all by yourself.
Admittedly, McCain has problems but they are far less than those of an individual who has sat for twenty years soaking in the twisted hatred, race baiting, and Black Liberation Theology views of a Reverend Wright.
Can you inform the non-airhead American voter what changes Barracks Hussein Obama stands for other than higher taxes, capitulating to America's enemies and a demoralization of America?
Obama is an unknown glib clown pimping (in you words) for Black Liberation Theology and it looks like you Mr. Montenegro Brown have taken the bait hook line and sinker.
"
farmallalfalfa wrote on May 3, 2008 12:50 PM:
" I think Mr. Brown has officially overdosed on Kool-Aid... "
abelito wrote on May 3, 2008 12:03 PM:
" The "problem" with the Democratic Congress is that there 'aint' enough of them....yet, to override Bush's vetoes or the obstructionist Repubs' filibusters. It probably wouldn't be THAT BAD if "Panama Jack" McBush got elected, (seems he just might if the Dems don't cut out this "sibling rivalry" soon), as long as the Dems are able to garner enough seats to "end the madness." "
gymjunkie wrote on May 3, 2008 10:12 AM:
" Abelito - "FOUR MORE YEARS!" down this road and we'll all be sitting on the curb selling pencils. "
I agree. We need to get rid of the do nothing democratic Congress. Otherwise McCain will just be spinning his wheels. "
abelito wrote on May 3, 2008 9:25 AM:
" gymjunkie, That's a good one regarding "Panama Jack": " McCain..at least has a plan that doesn't bankrupt America." You forgot to add-"...anymore". Yeah, "FOUR MORE YEARS!" down this road and we'll all be sitting on the curb selling pencils. "
gymjunkie wrote on May 3, 2008 8:54 AM:
" ricocafe - source please. We are close to it but no cigar. Two years of a democraticly controlled Congress and what has been done to stop the road to bankruptcy? Nothing, Nada. Bunch of inept idiots. They are more interested in prosecuting sports figures and dissing our military than actually doing something about the economy.
If you want to see bankrupt vote Democrat this year. "
mikegino wrote on May 3, 2008 8:46 AM:
" rico: Let's start with Shillary's "I ready to lead from Day One!!!" This witch has never led anyone or anything anywhere but now she's ready to lead 300 million Americans. McCain may have had some marital issues (don't we all) but he doesn't have Vince Foster, Cattle Futures, or Whitewater in his resume. Obama is really nothing more than a blow-up anti-Clinton jumper. Lots of words but no fire and no plan. His 20-year association with Reverend Wrongway Wright tells me all I need to know about his capacity to lead anything other than a latrine(head)detail. If the Femocrats had any brains (and they don't), they would have recruited Mr. Global Warming as their standard bearer. As much as I don't like Al (walk around Nam with a bodyguard) Gore, he would have been a cinch to win after the eight years of moribund Junior Bush. "
godseymail wrote on May 3, 2008 8:43 AM:
" It comes as a total shock that Mr. Brown is a Democrat. After reading his column each week I never would have guessed it! Seriously, now that he has coime out so forcefully for one side and one candidate in a column how can he claim a lack of editorial bias? I do think it funny that someone in the media felt that Gibson and Stephanapolous were unfair for doing exactly what he wants them to do to Sen. McCain. They asked the hard questions that needed to be asked. I personally believe that the Jeremiah Wright issue is huge for Sen. Obama, as it goes to character and what his view of America is. It is ridiculous to call Wright a mentor then say you have no idea that he had these views and you find them repugnant. Sorry, that dog won't hunt... "
ricocafe99 wrote on May 3, 2008 8:37 AM:
" gymjunkie...guess what? We are already bankrupt. "
ricocafe99 wrote on May 3, 2008 8:36 AM:
" Mike Gino...What are Hillary's stale ideas? What are McCain's fresh ideas? "
gymjunkie wrote on May 3, 2008 8:33 AM:
" Half of what Brown says is so far from true I'm amazed he is even allowed to write for a paper. The thing is a lot of people will fall for his tripe. When the choice is between two idiots like Hillery the leg and Olabama there is no contest. They are killing themselves off without the help of McCain. The sooner the Democrats and the liberals have their socialist policies shoved back down their throats the better. McCain isn't much better but at least he has a plan that doesn't bankrupt America and he does favor some democrat policy, the good ones, if there is such a thing. "
mikegino wrote on May 3, 2008 7:57 AM:
" Any "sad time for the Democrats" is a good time for America. The so-called liberal media is in a self-inflicted downward revenue spiral and is desperately seeking ways to compete with the so-called conservative media, which has developed multiple personalities that appeal to a much broader and more loyal audience. I'm no great fan of McCain but he's got more of the Right Stuff than either Democrat pretender. Hillary the Cobra and Barrack the Mongoose are locked in a death struggle that will have no survivor. Good riddance to Hillary's stale ideas and Barrack's immaturity. "
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wesley wrote on May 8, 2008 6:53 PM: