(Jake Turcotte)
McCain aide blows gasket, rips New York Times
By Jimmy Orr | 09.22.08
There are many ways to get things done in the world of diplomacy. You can kill ‘em with kindness, or you can just try to kill ‘em.
On a conference call today with reporters on the topic of the New York Times, John McCain strategist Steve Schmidt chose option B.
It’s not as though Schmidt and the New York Times were once like Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston – the two never took long walks in the park, giggling about ponies, gumdrops, and having kids. There’s a festering history. And today marked another chapter.
The wheels fell off
The call started off fine. Then came a question about a story in the Times this morning about McCain campaign manager Rick Davis’s former high-paying job as a lobbyist with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. It’s a particularly touchy subject, in light of the recent government takeover of the two mortgage firms and the subsequent hard-hitting McCain campaign ads attempting to tie Obama to the mess.
Schmidt spotted the opportunity to take a swipe at the Times like a running back sees a hole in the defensive line.
“Let’s be clear and be honest with each other about something fundamental to this race, which is this: Whatever the New York Times once was, it is today not — by any standard — a journalistic organization,” Schmidt said. “It is a pro-Obama advocacy organization that every day attacks the McCain campaign, attacks Senator McCain, attacks Governor Palin and excuses Senator Obama.”
And another thing
Schmidt said the New York Times has basically given Barack Obama a free pass in regards to the Senator’s records, statements, and any of his “deceitful” campaign spots.
“It is an organization that has made a decision to has cast aside its journalistic integrity and to advocate for the defeat of one candidate … and advocate for the election of another candidate,” he said.
Sports
Why’d he do it? Everyone seems to be using the sports analogy of “working the refs.” If he complains enough, the other media organizations will back down and play equalizer. You know, like a bald Phil Jackson.
Or maybe more like a bald Lou Pinella. Former Bush Press Secretary Ari Fleischer compares it to baseball anyway.
“I think Steve was accurately reflecting the views of his campaign,” Fleischer wrote in an email to The Vote blog. “Just about every Republican campaign feels that way about the media from time to time. Dealing with the press is sometimes a little like pitching in baseball – everyone once in a while you have to throw high and inside and hope it results in better coverage next time. Sometimes it does, most often, it does not.”
John Kerry
The Huffington Post’s Sam Stein summons the ghost of the 2004 campaign in a piece titled, “McCain was for the NYT before he was against it.”
For a party that rails against the New York Times, the Republicans sure depend on the Grey Lady to score political points. Since the end of the primary, John McCain’s campaign has sent at least 60 emails to its rapid response list that reference the New York Times.
NYT responds
By the way, the Times – not surprisingly – hasn’t cowered and apologized. Instead, the executive editor released a standard statement.
“The New York Times is committed to covering the candidates fully, fairly and aggressively,” Keller wrote. “It’s our job to ask hard questions, fact-check their statements and their advertising, examine their programs, positions, biographies and advisers. Candidates and their campaign operatives are not always comfortable with that level of scrutiny, but it’s what our readers expect and deserve.”
<< New polls show Obama and McCain tied everywhere (almost) | MainComments
2. 4Heavenssake | 09.22.08
To use another sports term, do you think the media is finally “stepping up to the plate”?
Dear MSM: Please, please take the gloves off and call a spade a spade when you know the facts of what you’ve heard. We need you to tell us the truth, the unvarnished version.
3. David McCann | 09.22.08
For Steve Schmidt to “whine” about NYT coverage is a joke. He is the ex Karl Rove operative, who has brought lies and distortion to the McCain campaign. McCain stood for some level of integrity, until Schmidt took over. Now, it is just another republican lies campaign. NYT just calls it out.
4. michael | 09.22.08
Shall we take this as a tip off? Any time an advisor blows his/her lid, that they are a little too close to the truth for comfort? I think so.
5. twiggy | 09.22.08
mccain and his operatives are not always comfortable - when you lie and then accuse the other side of lying it get’s hard to track what’s going on!
7. Everyman | 09.22.08
What is not covered in the article is that it was true. Davis worked as a lobbyist. Forget the smoke and mirrors thrown up by the McCain campaign. The fire is hot.
8. Melissa | 09.22.08
Has anyone heard of a channel called Fox News… wait, let me correct that, Republican News?
9. TJWebb | 09.22.08
Yet another McCain team attempt to side-step the serious issues in this election with smear. And here MSM is buying into it again. Pathetic.
11. Philip Taugher | 09.22.08
The Republicans are so fearful and so angry. They seem to think, “Will no one rid (us) of this meddlesome (press)? If they win this election they may just manage to pull that off.
12. Martin Friedlander | 09.22.08
Every time the NYT publishes the truth about McCain’s paid backers the McCain camp threatens the media. Well folks, the media beats out McCain every time. McCain is an evil man without principles. He did not love his country until his captors beat the **** out of him andhe was saved by his fellow prisoner. McCain loves himself not his country. He and Bush are both devils that will wind up in ****.
Martin S. Friedlander, Esq.
13. Al | 09.22.08
The New York Obama Times
Soft shoe Obama on questions
Aggressive questions to McCain
We all know most newspapers mags & news media our in the Obama tank
Wow how can anyone trust what they read or watch
As for Hollywood one big joke
14. Jerry Ulibarri | 09.22.08
Let me get this right: If the NYT writes something favorable about McCain, they are a journalistic outlet. If they write something NEGATIVE, they are not. Okay, I can agree with that as long as the real issue is accuracy.
In other words, if they file an accurate piece that happens to be negative, that is good journalism. If they file an accurate piece that happens to be positive, that is good journalism. If they file a piece that is a pack of lies, that is not any kind of journalism.
So my question has to be: Did McCain campaign manager Rick Davis ever have a high-paying job as a lobbyist with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac? If yes, NYT is exonerated of all charges. If no, NYT is a lying rag.
Next?
15. Palo Alto - Paul | 09.22.08
Listen…. all candidate (politicians) have one thing in mind; getting elected and re-elected and pretty much one will find that they will sell their soul to do so (the nature of the beast); the journalistic question has to be, “which one is more hypocritical?”, and then truly examine the facts; also, which one has lined their own pockets, and/or their friends pockets? the story, therefore, is not that every pol is hypocritical or hyperbolic, the stroy is to expose the truth (about each candidate) by more carefully examining each and then publishing the findings. Journalistically, this often doesn’t come across as ‘fair’ or balanced, especially to those that want to perceive favoratism, but I feel the process is. And, yes, I am voting for Obama (and believe their is an objective and fair basis for focusing in more on McCain). One must only look to what hypocracies each side asks the press to investigate (to find the truth). The right wing points to hyperbole and irritating rhetoric, with very little substance for the NYTs or any other paper to, with a serious face, go after. On the otherhand, McCain…..
16. cta | 09.22.08
So, is this the future of the next Republican administration: every time something goes wrong, it’s the fault of the NY Times?
OK, makes sense to me.
17. Tanner | 09.22.08
I just have to say that the McCain/Palin campaign needs to shut up and drop any line of attack against the New York Times. Afterall the coverage presented by the New York Times is miles ahead of other news agencies (*cough* FOX NEWS *cough*) when it comes to fair and unbiased coverage of both candidates.
18. Mark | 09.22.08
God bless the NYT! It’s about time that Sen. McCain be called out for his b.s. regarding deregulation and his choice of a Fundamentalist Christian know-nothing for a V.P.
Who would have ever thought that this race would be this close? Two candidates could not be more different than Obama and McCain are.
The hardest lesson in life is also sometimes the simplest to state, Sen. McCain: “You’re entitled to your own opinions, but you aren’t entitled to your own facts.” ‘Nuff said?
19. Sue | 09.22.08
Email your Senator/congressman about having the following stripped out of the bailout Act
Section 8;
Decisions by the Secretary pursuant to the authority of this Act are non-reviewable and committed to agency discretion, and may not be reviewed by any court of law or any administrative agency.
Are you sheep to Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Wall Street, Bush and Rick Davis above?
Welfare for the Rich!
20. m tobias | 09.22.08
Well, Schmidt is angry abouta the real NEWS that his fellow McCain campaign advisor took over $2 million in lobbying fees to prevent regulations on Freddie and Fannie, over five years.
THAT IS NEWS.
No one has disputed that.
Only trying to discredit that PAPER OF RECORD, like the CSM.
21. jason okonski | 09.22.08
now how about a comment to the original fair question mr. schmidt? typical republican smokescreen. never answering direct questions asked, and feigning shock, expressing outrage when they are asked. as for ari’s blog comment on the “democratic media”, who’s in charge of the fcc? am radio? fox news? give me a break! these guys have been running the world for 8 years. wake up america, especially you southern states. turn off oreilly and look at your town these days. these folks are not carrying the cross for you, only bleeding us dry! jesus hates war.
24. Frank Gold | 09.22.08
I think the Republican Party has tried to use the Times as a whipping boy, rather than try to be factual in their information. They have a long history of blaming the messenger, rather than the message.
25. pekopper | 09.22.08
Hey, this guy Schnidt is on top of the heap of fascit thugs. They use every menas necessary to prop up theirdisgusting party and their prop candidate. If I were responding to these jack-boots, I would come back hard and strong on them and identify them for the slime-balls they are.
26. Richard | 09.22.08
The actual truth is, the NYT has herald Obama as if his being some sort of god, and can walk on water, while in actual truth, the man has a very questionable background, and with very little experience in government, and actually a snake oil peddler.
27. Andy | 09.22.08
Steve Schmidt, your lies are catching up with you and you are trying to accuse them of spreading distortion? We have seen political candidates sling mud and stretch the truth…this is commonplace in a political campaign, but stretching the truth and plain bold faced lies are very different. Your campaign has lied repeatedly about Senator Obama, on a wide range of issues, and even after getting called out on those lies, you continue to spread those very same exposed lies…because you know repetition will result in message retention with the electorate…and you know some of us in the electorate will not bother to check the facts…you are exploiting our ignorance and now you want to sway our trust of the media?
It’s all clear to us Schmidt. These charges of “media bias” are simply ploys to strike at the very institutions of truth, so you can create an environment of doubt - “i said versus he said”, without the accountability that the media provides. We know that by charging “media bias”, you are merely making an attempt at innoculating the lies of the deceitful campaign you’ve been running. You are merely attempting to manipulate the media and the electorate to believe whatever you say. We KNOW that your next volley following this media bias charge is going to be another round of questionable press releases and ads filled with questionable “McTruths”. You are getting too predictable Schmidt.
28. Fairbro | 09.22.08
What a joke.
McCain campaign manager Rick Davis was once a lobbyist with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. (I am not sure how true this is, given the source - New York Times)
Franklyn Raines, CEO of Fannie Mae, who rewarded himself with $100,000,000 in taxpayer-funded salary, and is responsible in large part for granting mortgages to millions who would not qualify if they were white, probably has the most blame for creating the whole current financial mess. OH, BTW, he is a campaign manager for Obama.
So the New York Times ignores the latter and has a cow about the former.
NYT does even rise to the level of a joke.
29. JakeD | 09.22.08
Don’t worry, McCain will probably change his mind in a week or so like he does about everything else.
30. Sylvia | 09.22.08
The New York Times has turned into a TABLOID-TRASHY. IT IS NOT committed to covering the candidates fully, fairly and aggressively. It is clear to the reader that you are pro Obama so as far as I am concerned, the NYTimes has ZERO credibility. Keller describes what fair and balanced reporting is but does not practise what he says. SHAMEFUL AND INEXCUSABLE!!!!
32. Ken | 09.22.08
It appears appropriate that Steve Schmidt works for McCain/Palin as he follows their lead by allowing ignorance to fall out every time he opens his mouth.
33. KMC | 09.22.08
Anybody that does not firmly believe that the NY Times and every other msm outlet is not in the tank for Obama probably believes that listening to Wright for 20 years had no effect on Obama’s view of America either.
Obama, the most left-wing and inexperienced candidate in America history is benefiting from a number of factors (Bush, the Wall Street mess, and the War) but probably mostly media bias and pro-obama spin.
34. Michael | 09.22.08
Steve Schmidt and Rick Davis are such slimebags. Just seeing them should be enough to make you want to vote against McLame.
What about Faux News you whiners?
35. Pat Frank | 09.22.08
If the Times were so objective it wouldn’t be so regularly roasted by its own ombudsman that it actually changed the job title to “public editor”.
36. Jason | 09.22.08
Republicans and facts to not go well togehter. Make it worse by pointing out the lies and they get all crybaby like. It’s funny to see adults act like this.
37. R Eddins | 09.22.08
New York Times has not been for along time a trusted member of the third Estate! But that is a rare award these days. For Shame!
38. King | 09.22.08
KMC you sound a broken record is debunked Republican nonsense….
blah blah blah Wright……blah blah blah liberal…..blah blah blah blah Rezko……blah
Idiot
39. tdub | 09.22.08
Get Schmidt a crying towel. EVERY time the McCain camp gets anything other than the usual softballs from the media, they play the “liberal media is out to get us,” card. How about calming down and refuting the allegations, the evidence? Usually that means sullen silence from the McCaim camp, followed by an outrageous, unsubstantiated smear job from the Rove-ian staff that McCain has hired. They just can’t play it clean.
40. BP 008 | 09.22.08
He filled the air with Schmidt
Schmidt successfully changed the subject from Freddie,Frannie and Rick Davis to Schmidt.
41. Jason Pardue | 09.22.08
How true. The NY Times isn’t like old Times at all. It, and the general media, bash anything Republican or thought provoking. They would like to spoon feed misinformation to the hungry instead of the truth. As long as their bellies are full, the so called Liberals feel satisfied when in fact it is just Headlines fluff and nothing more. They just want to be different… like everyone else.
42. KMC | 09.22.08
If you do not believe me, just compare media interviews of Obama and Biden to Palin or McCain. Compare the headlines, compare the reaction to ads. No doubt the media wants Obama to win.
43. susan | 09.22.08
This is good. Finally, someone is sticking it to the NY Times. This liberal fish wrapper needs to be taken down by advertisers. Remember, NY Times pays zero taxes on their product. How much do Americans pay? We can’r afford to have some businesses taking a free ride while others pay their fair share. Tax advertising and watch how fast these ******** become fair and balanced.
you and I are paying their freight!
This has to end….
44. marlene rubain | 09.22.08
Finally the is an interest in the truth. Have you looked into this, regarding his running mate?
To my republican friends:
“As for Governor Sarah Palin’s involvement in the African American community, the Governor’s office hasn’t participated in any of our Alaska Juneteenth Events. All previous Alaskan Governor’s have traditionally attended and participated in our annual Juneteenth Celebration. Gov. Palin was the first governor not to send out a congratulatory letter or assist us in any way with our Juneteenth activities.
I didn’t have the courtesy of receiving a reply when I asked for a representative from the Governor’s office to come and speak at our Juneteenth Celebration if Governor Palin was unable to attend. I never even heard of Gov. Palin until she was elected Mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, in Mat-Su Valley.
Governor Palin is a very energetic and spontaneous woman. With some of the things being said and going around this state right now, I’m surprised none of the national media have bothered to come here and get the words directly from the mouths of the people who have lived with her all of these years instead of ’surfing the net!’
My other opinion is why would an individual who, to my knowledge, has not hired any African Americans on her gubernatorial staff, insist so passionately on being on a television show owned and operated by an African American, Oprah Winfrey?
While meeting with Black leaders concerning the absence of any African Americans on her staff, Gov. Palin responded that she doesn’t have to hire any Blacks and was not intending to hire any. What kind of attitude is this toward African American for who may be the first Vice-President of the United States?
I understand Oprah did have Senator Obama on her show a few times and was the main person raising funds for him “before” the presidency race was in full swing. However, the key point here is that it is Oprah’s prerogative not be used as a pawn to tilt the vote one way or another. Oprah has stated repeatedly that she wasn’t going to have one side or the other on her show by choice. I thought that was what the Civil Rights Movement was all about, a persons right to make their own choices. I guess this isn’t a Democracy at all anymore.”
Gwendolyn Alexander, President
African American Historical Society of Alaska Juneteenth Celebration
P. O. Box 143105
Anchorage AK 99514
(907) 884-6860
45. nights | 09.22.08
expecting the truth from the new york times is like the man said “going to war with yur accoring and being surprised when yuo lose.
46. Terry Gault | 09.22.08
Notice that Steve Schmidt successfully avoided actually ANSWERING THE QUESTION.
It’s an effective tactic when your campaign is completely corrupt and the truth only hurts your cause.
47. Jason | 09.22.08
Republicans are SO ANGRY when their lies are exposed in a matter of hours. Their last line of defense that won them elections…lying….is going the way of the dodo.
Republican lies are so easily proven wrong and documented now, its only a matter of time.
48. Pragmatus | 09.22.08
That’s a good one. Let’s compare how the talk shows and press conferences treat Sarah Palin vs. Joe Biden.
Ooops! Sorry, I forgot Palin is being kept in the “Cone of Silence”. Guess we can’t compare how she answers ANY questions….
49. TimL | 09.22.08
Oh poor McCain… Does the feeble OLD man need handouts?
I thought he was this Tuff guy who has “Beaten better opponents”. What it looks like to me is he is the little boy who starts it gets punched in the face and runs off crying to tell teacher.
This man, his campaign, and all of his choices up to this point are under scrutiny. I am sorry that your man has WAY more skeletons than the minor ones our candidate has. I am sorry that you are loosing on the “Social, Smear” campaign. But the point is. Your candidate is weak, old and senile. Otherwise… He would have stuck to his guns and ran the campaign like he said. He started the smears… Obama’s followers are just crushing him.
50. Jason | 09.22.08
@KMC, yuo are not the only one who sees these interviews. The bias is all in your mind.
How about addressing the question and facts, lime Obama does?
McCain doesn’t do that.
Blame the media? At least thing of something new to claim victim about. You Republican cry too much.
Debates will destroy McCain…..I can alreayd see the neocon posts….liberla media…blah lbha blah…liberal medai…blah lbha blah…as sson a a fact is presented to john mcCain for him to defend…..
You can’t make this stuff up.
51. John Quimby | 09.22.08
Today, the media and his own party were wondering if Senator McCain was for free markets or socialism. Since he’s been for both in the last 72 hours, Schmidt had to pull the pin and jump on his own grenade just to change the subject.
Way to take one for the team dude.
52. angusj | 09.22.08
Is the NYT any worse than Fox News?
Fox News is Republican propaganda under the guise of journalism.
53. Glen Donnelly | 09.22.08
Here’s an alternate hypothesis to Steve Schmidt’s narrative of bias: perhaps the Times is accurately reporting the story and the McCain team has no good answer for why Rick Davis, their campaign manager, accepted almost $2 million dollars as an advocate for relaxing regulation of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What does it say about the character and judgment of John McCain that he would appoint this individual to be at the center of his campaign?
And, why did the assembled media allow Schmidt to divert their attention with a tantrum rather than press him on this issue?! Schmidt is just being the low-life sleaze that he is, doing anything necessary to get his candidate elected; the press is abrogating a contract they have with their audience to get at the truth. Infuriating!
For anyone who hasn’t been paying attention, lax regulation of the financial sector - a policy which McCain himself strongly supports - is precisely why we are in our current crisis.
Four more years like the last eight? Not a good idea.
54. brock matthews | 09.22.08
Sen. Obama says he will change the practice of banks and oil companies ripping off the people and he will give tax breaks to the middle class (sounds like a familiar Clinton lie) instead of companies taking jobs overseas and he will fix health care.
Where are the stories about the Times calling for Obama to outline in detail how he is going to do these things. Why hasn’t Sen. Obama been challenged on these claims. Clinton was not challenged on his lies during the campagine and neither is Obama. And if McCain needs to be challenged on his statements by all means do so but not just McCain.
55. American | 09.22.08
In response to comment 28 by Fairbro:
Raines is not a “campaign manager” for Obama, nor was he ever. Check your facts, he isnt even an advisor. He was quoted in the Washington Post as saying he fielded ONE phone call from an Obama Campaign staffer, during which he answered questions on the economy, housing, etc…. What were those questions, we’ll never know.
Rick Davis, on the other hand, IS McCain’s campaign manager, and was a lobbyist for Fannie Mae/Mac… The reason you are confused on this, and the idea of journalistic integrity, is because you watch FOX news, the most biased and inaccurate source for political news and facts.
56. todd | 09.22.08
if the media, abc,cbs, msnbc,ny times, washington post to name a few are not biased then explain why any picture showing both presidential candidates almost always shows obama in the left-hand spot and mccain in the right possition and obama in a favorable shot and mccain in a not so favorable picture. also why if obama is ahead in a pole, it is represented something like “obama maintains lead in critical state” and if mccain is ahead in a pole then “mccain temporarily bounces ahead of obama in early or in one pole or barely hanging on to lead.” i understand that reporters or writers have a natural bias for one side or the other, but if you take the last say 100-200 headlines or opening lines from these sources and you did not know either candidate it would not be hard to tell which was favored by the writers. this is the responsibility of the organizations themselves to report the news. i lived in africa for 3 yrs and i learned a valuble lesson there. if i wanted to know the truth about an issue around the world i would have to read the us paper the russian paper and the british paper and maybe i could get at the truth. i should not have to do that in the us for the us presidential election. signed disappointed
57. Gavin | 09.22.08
@ Fairbro:
Franklyn Raines is Obama’s Campaign manager? Are you serious? They had a conversation at some point, awhile ago. That’s all been cleared up. He is not affiliated with the campaign whatsoever. David Plouffe is the Obama Campaign Manager.
That was a seriously pathetic attempt at a spin, ‘Fairbro’.
Meanwhile, the article brought up a perfectly good point. McCain’s *actual* campaign manager really WAS a grossly-overpaid lobbyist for those failed firms! So McCain actually does have some fairly serious ties to them! How shocking that the painful truth has to be wrapped by the Repubs in screams of ‘liberal biased media’, simply because they can’t handle the truth.
All they’re doing is trying their best to keep the voter’s eyes and minds away from the actual facts, which happen to be horribly piled against them.
Oh, and by the way, I’m a Canadian living in the U.S. and can’t even vote. I side with Obama because he’s what your country actually needs, and DESPERATELY needs. Maybe some media outlets are ‘biased’ because they see this too?
58. Rob | 09.22.08
Steve Schmidt is a Karl Rove loser. Awwwww…..my violin is playing for you and your dishonest McSame campaign. The NYT is the best rag in the country and here in the northeast, we are very proud of it.
In November, we will send Steve Schmidt, Fannie Freddie Rick Davis, McSame, and Sarah “I can see Russia from my doorstep” Palin packing. Good riddance to all of you and the GOP.
OBAMA-BIDEN 2008
59. ed vatterott | 09.22.08
I have a friend who is so far left he thinks CNN is the Conservative News Network. Everything I have heard or read over the years from the “mainstream” tells me they see things the same way. “The emperor has no clothes” could be an analogy of their leadership.
A prime example was ‘60 minutes’ yesterday. The nuclear Iran threat is a concern for everyone, and we should all know what the next president’s philosophy regarding the matter. Gov. Palin during another interview, and Senator McCain on that show, were both asked if they would consider a pre-emptive strike against Iran if our country was at risk. In fact they were both pressed on the issue. None of them, to my knowledge, have ever asked Senator Obama that same question. After all, isn’t he trying to get the same job??? It seems pretty clear to many of us who watch politics closely that it is over concern that Senator Obama would lose support over the issue. Why would they avoid asking such an important question to both of his opponents but not him???
We would all like honest and objective reporting, and we are not getting it. It’s as though the “old boys” media networks have decided what we the people should think, and what we need to know, and that we are incapable of drawing our own conclusions based on the facts presented from both sides of the arguments.
60. Vic | 09.22.08
The McCain’s camp is talking about integrity. They threw that out of the window a long time ago.
61. Michael Hurst | 09.22.08
It was a sad for Seattle when Sweet Lou left, It will be a much sadder day if McCain’s lies work.
62. Robert Castle | 09.22.08
Is there such a thing as a reborn journalist? Mr Keller’s remarks makes me hope so. Of course being reborn does not always work. Bush interpreted his experience as a license to violate his oaths to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution. We, the People hope Mr. Keller and his staff will adhere to his stated commitment.
63. no facts from GOP | 09.22.08
I am interested in what Republicans consider to be a news publication of repute since everything is “liberal media”
You uneducated fools don’t even know what liberal means, get your tongue out of Rush Limbaughs ****.
64. no facts from GOP | 09.22.08
I am interested in what Republicans consider to be a news publication of repute since everything is “liberal media”
You uneducated fools don’t even know what liberal means, get your tongue out of Rush Limbaughs ****.
65. Bruno in TX | 09.22.08
This is not a nation of whiners. It is just the Republicans who are whiners.
66. erik | 09.22.08
The McCain ticket is a absolute joke. Really, do you see a future with that one? The politics that Karl Rove and GW Bush brought to the table are continued with them and god knows why some people actually believe them? I just hope we never have to see anyone from that ticket again in my life. “other than interviews on fox news”
side note… why do bumpkins have such a problem with education? I guess it conflicts with American Idol or something….
69. TommyF | 09.22.08
Eh, who cares? Everyone knows that newspapers have been one side or the other for years. My beef with Schmidt is not that he’s lying (he’s not), it’s that he thinks he’s saying something interesting (he’s not).
If Obama gets favorable pieces from MSNBC and various newspapers, there is Fox and other newspapers favoring McCain. It’s a non-issue.
The only “strategy” I see is that he WANTS the backlash! Which is weird.
70. MoJo | 09.22.08
Must be listening to too much Rush. Quick, ****** out his radio before he shots a church full of liberals!
73. Steven Wilson | 09.22.08
Both parties are a busnch of liars. They all were in bed with the Sub Prime debacle except Sarah Palin. She’s the only one of them that wasn’t sitting around watching….while the steam built up in this steam kettle economy.
They all gave the bankers a pass. Clinton encouraged the bankers to ease regulations to get everyone into a home. They created the sub prime loan, to boost the level of interest they could collect, after three years of the loan had taken place. They could have sold a fixed rate loan….but they got greedy and sold Alt-A loans until they were blue in the face.
Resets caused the whole ballfield to fill up with hardballs. Now no one wants or needs a baseball anymore.
They let the banks borrow money at 100 to one and 30 to one. The banks used Stealth AIG insurance…as well as MBIA and Ambac to hide the loans that they made over the monies that the bank actually had to loan out.
When the stealth loans, that were insured, had a chance at being uncloaked by the crash of the Stealth Bomber AIG….all heck broke loose.
Banks and brokerage firms would suddenly have loans appearing out of nowhere that were not insured anymore. The banks would be responsible for the debts. The banks don’t have enough assets to cover the losses.
Some of these money market funds were invested in these bundled mortgages and companies that went down like the Titanic. They broke the buck and lost money because of it.
When everyone found out they could lose money in their money market account…..the bank run commenced last Wednesday.
This didlly dallying that is occuring in congress over funding this cluster ****……is only going to bring the economy to it’s knees. A Depression with lots of job losses.
Three of these candidates stood by and watched from the Senate. They are just as responsible, for lack of paying attention to what was going on in the banking industry.
74. Peto | 09.22.08
Am I missing something? Isn’t this a legitimate question? You can call the messenger a scum-bucket or liberal trash, all that may be true, but it is still a legit question that deserves a true answer, not an attack for asking the question. How can a candidate publicly ridicule another candidate for having close ties to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac when the accuser’s top adviser was a top lobbyists for those organizations? If he wasn’t a top lobbyist or isn’t the campaign manager or if you feel his position as a top lobbyist is irrelevant, then say so, but please stop these absurd attacks. They defy reason and logic and confuse the electorate.
76. Inkfingers | 09.22.08
McCain’s campaign aides are frantically doing whatever they can to distract attention from the candidate. After watching him on “60 Minutes” Sunday, I can see why: He appears frighteningly addled, clueless and out of step.
77. gary brown | 09.22.08
if the republicans get in again, i’m heading for canada.
then again maybe china.
point made!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
78. Kelly | 09.22.08
Everybody and there dog knows that PMSNBC and new york times, and FOX have there own agenda. Watch CNN for truley fair and balanced news
79. JR | 09.22.08
Oh Gosh, McCain’s whining again. He sure doesn’t like fair play does he? After all, he thought the Times and ALL News Outlets were fine as long as they gave him slack and the benefit of doubt on all his GAFFES and DECEPTIONS.
McCain’s campaign seems as “sound” he says our economy is, at least in what’s left of his mind.
80. Barb | 09.22.08
Why do all you disgusting Liberals just want to stand there and get free handouts. If you people would stop having babies, quit protesting, have some personal responsibility, and get a job this country would be much better off. Liberals are a stain on society and offer no good solutions to any problems.
81. David Nichols | 09.22.08
Geez -
What a shocker!
The New York Times biased toward the dems - what will happen next? Will pigs fly?
Okay everyone back to your corners and let’s, at least, give the appearance of fairness.
82. Willy | 09.22.08
Interesting that Lexis-Nexis research shows significantly more coverage in the MSM (1/3 more) for Obama over McCain. No big surprise.
83. Johan | 09.22.08
The New York Times is the worst propaganda outlet in history. If it was not for them Castro and the USSR would never have came to be. They love socialism, this has been their M.O. for over 50 years. To show how socialist they are, they won’t even let people comment on their articles on their website. Its easy to implement that feature, they just don’t want you getting the opinion of the public, they want to decide the opinion for the public, and if you don’t agree with them they will ignore you or lambast you in their paper. Their economics ‘expert’ Paul Krugman is a weekly advocate of the Marx style of government.
85. Chuck | 09.22.08
Fairbro - the accusation - ie. Raines advisor etc. to Obama - published in the Wash. Post and quoted from the Post by the McCain campaign has been corrected by the Post. It was not true. Look it up if you care to - I suspect you don’t and won’t.
Of course this has not stopped the McCain campaign from continuing to repeat the story - even after the correction. So whats new?
I’m not sure all the lying and crazy conspiracy theory is such a bad thing - maybe it will swing some gullible voters to McCain, but probably those folks would have voted for him anyway - Independents and truly undecided voters have had, and will continue to have an opportunity to see what McCain tolerates or instigates in terms of the worst kind of negative campaigning. They can decide whether this is the kind of maverick they want for president.
McCowboy learned his political campaigning strategy in Vietnam - just keep dropping bombs - doesn’t matter what you do - so long as you win - classic “the end justifies the means” philosophy made famous by tyrants throughout the entire - what was it - oh yes, the entire 6000 year history of the world.
86. Timothy | 09.22.08
I wish all the cry babies in Hollywood and all you other left thinking idiots would actually leave the country instead of just promising it every 8 years. I heard North Korea’s nice this time of year.
87. Helen | 09.22.08
Typical liberal media, right there with msnbc and nbc, they should just call themselves the campaign headquarters for Obama.
88. TommyF | 09.22.08
Nah, I find CNN to be biased a lot of the time. However, I like Lou Dobbs and Glenn Beck.
About the “question” - I think the point is that if both candidates have dirty hands, then neither has the right to take the high ground. However, not being able to be superior does not mean that one cannot point out the wrongdoing of another. The problem is when neither will admit to dirty hands but point with dirty fingers. Then, we have not lying so much as children.
89. Once a Conservative | 09.22.08
Did any of you see that “hard hitting interview” that FOG NOISE did with Sarah Piglin? The questions were like “Don’t you think it’s terrible that your opponent is lying about you?” I didn’t hear the Repuglikins complaining about that. This would all be funny if it wasn’t going to work and put another witless ***** at the head of the most powerful government in the world.
90. Steve Bonser | 09.22.08
Have you noticed how often Republicans complain about too much “bias” in the media? What they’re really saying of course, is that they object to too much “scrutiny” and “truth”. It’s not a coincidence that pundits like Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, Sean Hannity and Bill O’Reilly make a habit of attacking journalists and investigative journalism in particular. One of the first tenets of the KoolAde drinkers of the Right is that as full-blown authority worshippers they hate anyone questioning the ruling party, provided its Republican. That’s how fascism generally works — shut down the media and prevent good honest news reporting. Fox News = Pravda.
91. D L Ennis | 09.22.08
The whole of the MSM has sacrificed their journalistic integrity for Obama for almost two years now. It’s time to hit them where it hurts…their pocketbook…boycott the MSM!
92. Jill Again | 09.22.08
When McCain abandoned his principles, which appears to be a progressive illness, he brings this on himself. When he’s caught in his lies and distortions, he displays his famous angry man temperment. He’s quite simply unfit morally and ethically for high office.
93. John Quimby | 09.22.08
Uhh, Ed - didn’t you see Steve Croft ask Obama his position on Iran and nuclear weapons?
Republicans are asked specifically about “first strike” because
George Bush fatefully established it as a pretext for invading Iraq.
What’s the Bush Doctrine again? - anyone?
At that time the major media and the Senate (thank you Hillary Clinton and John McCain) failed to question the legality of Bush’s call to war. They
rolled over on their job of protecting us from an over-reaching executive.
It’s going to take time for the Senate and the FOURTH estate to work its way back to journalism that people can trust.
94. Lampshade111 | 09.22.08
“This is not a nation of whiners. It is just the Republicans who are whiners.” History says the opposite. The Dems are the ones constantly whining.
I heard the New York Times is better in it’s original Arabic.
95. pat | 09.22.08
This is a classic case the Republicans “shooting the messenger”.
But why on earth do editors think it is the Republican reaction that should get the headline? Surely, it is far more newsworthy that McCain’s campaign manager received nearly $2 million from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. This is the surprising fact. The Republican ranting reaction of “faux rage” is (yawn. yawn) more of the same stuff we’ve been reading for some time now. And of course the Republicans love to see their side get the major play. Editors, what were you thinking?….Perplexed.
…Perplexed.
96. joe | 09.22.08
Who is at fault for the current economical crisis?
Wouldn’t it be a news worthy question to ask. Who
signed the law deregulating the banking industry?
Answer:Rresident Clinton in 1999
Did John McCain vote for the final draft?Answer no
Did Joe Biden vote for the final draft ?Answer yes
I think these facts are a lot more important than
information that one of John McCains aides lost their
temper.
97. Richard | 09.22.08
It’s about time someone undressed the NYT. Don’t look for this story (or the one about John Edward’s *******, or the one about Obama speaking about his “Muslim faith”, or the one about Obama’s relationship with Tony Rezko, etc., etc. But the times did do an interesting piece of fiction on McCain’s relationship with Iseman.
“Let’s be clear and be honest with each other about something fundamental to this race, which is this: Whatever the New York Times once was, it is today not — by any standard — a journalistic organization,” Schmidt said. “It is a pro-Obama advocacy organization that every day attacks the McCain campaign, attacks Senator McCain, attacks Governor Palin and excuses Senator Obama.”
Right on the money!
98. JohnnyG | 09.22.08
The NY Times is only taken seriously by the Left wing of America; the other half of the country know what their agenda is. They should change the name to Obama Times or Left wing Times. It’s not just that liberal rag but the next time you look at Google News or pick up a newspaper, count the number of positive Obama headlines vs. positive McCain headlines…it’s l0 or 12 to 1. The headlines begin with “Obama says…” “Obama accuses…” “Obama rips McCain..”
This election period is different from any I’ve seen in the last 40 years and the liberal media bias is sickening !
99. Brian Sims | 09.22.08
Schmidt knows the McCain campaign can’t beat Obama head to head, so he’s decided they should run against an easier opponent, “the liberal media”. This tired refrain started five minutes after McCain nominated Sarah Palin and the first media-type dared to ask her a question, and it continues with this mock-tirade. McCain wasn’t complaining when the NYT shamelessly shilled the Iraq War, though.
Hey Schmitty–the “liberal media” tag doesn’t work in 2008. You’re at least 8 years behind the times, dude. The new name for the media is Corporate Media, and we all know that whatever it is, it sure ain’t liberal.
100. mich | 09.22.08
A free press is the hallmark of democracy. It cannot be bullied, bought, or blackmailed. We criticized the USSR and other countries for having “bought” the press. The press (all media) has done a poor job of policing the politicians because it has been bullied and blackmailed by the Republicans since Ronald Reagan first started calling it the “liberal media.” The New York Times is trying to maintain its original mission, the mission that all the press should have, to report the news and it shouldn’t matter whether someone likes it or not. Shooting the messenger is the first step toward authoritarianism.
101. Anne | 09.22.08
Once again, Schmidt calls a spade a spade and all of you commie liberals predictably start your usual cry-baby whining. Everyone knows the NY Times is a bias left-wing propaganda machine and not an objective journalistic source. This is nothing new - been like this for years. Wake up and smell the coffee people.
102. James | 09.22.08
You can say the same thing about FOX news and the conservative bias. Obama’s campaign manager might as well get this upset about the “reporting” on FOX. Notice he didn’t deny any affiliation between Davis and Fannie/Freddie. He just got upset because the NYT drew attention to it.
103. Mark | 09.22.08
“When he’s caught in his lies and distortions, he displays his famous angry man temperment.”
He displays his faux, senile, entitled, holier-than-thou angry man temperament.
104. Nadine Kasparian | 09.22.08
The media is too soft on Obama. He is an empty shell and inexperienced. Obama failed at every thing he did prior to becoming a senator. His record as a community organizer is pathetic. I pray that he will never step in the oval office.
105. TommyF | 09.22.08
Don’t we have better things to discuss… like what about Russia having ships in the Caribbean, and Hugo Chavez crowing about how the US is a bunch of wusses.
106. PaulDuvane | 09.22.08
For JR and all his fellow liberal wimps. McCain has no problem with tough questions. On the other hand, it would seem that a newspaper with a modicum of journalistic integrity would proceed to hand Obama the same treatment.
Oh, but were it true that many of you wimps are moving to China, Canada, etc. I will ask Brother Wright to pray for your safe passage.
107. dbecher | 09.22.08
The article and the comments here are not even dumb. This publication and the readers fall into teh categories it accuses others of being.
108. Tim | 09.22.08
Obama Baby, you are a good public speaker, but you are also the most liberal candidate that is the product of Chicago Southside Political Machine which has a long and rich history of political corruption of the first magnitude. You are indeed a child of that system and I don”t want you anywhere near the Oval Office…have a nice day.
109. Ad nauseam | 09.22.08
Journalistic neutrality…or fair treatment… what a circular argument. This NY rag has been a haven for those whose agenda reeks of take from those who have and give to those who might deserve… if you dress them right. With Molly and other liberal OP Ed on the staff supported by a fist full of want a bee pencil bitters racing round trying to get a word in edgewise what do you expect? What argument are you folks trying to pump up? There is no bigger example of wasted tree pulp and ink than the Times. Get a life… better read some real history before you open up full tilt on the rest of your cronies. You just might learn that the Times is leading you like the Pied Piper… over the hill and through the woods to the wolf. Good grief what a waste of bandwidth.
110. hobbesfan | 09.22.08
Ref :ed vatterott
Obama was asked the question about Iran, and also about crossing the border into pakistan if he had actionable intelligence about Osama bin Laden. He responded that he would cross the border to kill bin Laden, and the Right Wing SCREAMED about how naive he was. Then just a few days ago Bush crosses the border with a missile attack. That was of course all right because it was a Republican doing it. Hipocracy is the GOP’s middle name!
111. Fheargaile | 09.22.08
Ah the sound of a republican pig squealing as the hounds close in for the kill, l love it. Lipstick is optional.
112. christopher | 09.22.08
Well, not to defend the NYT or the MSM either, or even to spout praise for the big O, which I will probably reluctantly vote for in the end, but McCain is a liar, a traitor, and a relic. Talk about a flip-flopper - he’s worse than Kerry for heavens sake. He’s not the hero his image handlers would make him out to be. Tons of Hanoi Hilton ‘guests’ can’t stand him and say he was a collaborator. Worse than Fonda even. If being a POW is sufficient credentials to being the President of the _United_ States, then why not consider Bubba from cellblock ‘C’? Seriously, look at the current state of affairs: insane tensions the world over, wall st. meltdown, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Russia, Gas prices, job losses, China rising at our expense, NAFTA, CAFTA, corruption, republican pedophiles getting off scott free, pardoning of scooter libby, ad infinitum. We need something else bad. Honestly - I’m pretty much willing to gamble on Obama. How could he possibly f it up more than what’s gone on for the last 8 years? I can’t feature it’s possible.
-C
113. JDW | 09.22.08
The thrust of Schmidt’s rant is true, the NYT is not an unbiased media outlet, nor for that matter is the CSMonitor. But they do not need to be unbiased. Both are businesses and each have the right to conduct themselves as each sees fit. If Schmidt’s point is that 90-95% of the Times newsroom is in the tank for Obama then he’s right about that. If this leads to a larger point that 90-95% of the print media, television media and entertainment industry is in the tank for Obama he may be close to dead on there too. Schmidt himself says it’s the Times prerogative to be in the tank for Obama. Seems he’d merely prefer they drop the pretense rather than continue the farcical portrayal of the best, unbiased news in the world. It clearly is not.
114. Webwatch | 09.22.08
McCain camp has adopted a standard republican tactic of bashing the “liberal” media. Its time the mainstream media to return the favor and agressively expose McCain’s lies and deception.
This is not the time to cower to these sleazy tactics. They have already let the people down by toeing the Bush propaganda on Iraq.
115. mta | 09.22.08
Don’t let lies become a so call TRUTH!
ENOUGH, if a Political ad isn’t the truth, all media should pull it.
OUR VOTES need to COUNT ON THIS!!
116. tizzyfit | 09.22.08
Have any of you demo **** read the NYT? From your comments, it’s abundantly clear you haven’t. So what’s the big deal anyway? He disagrees with the idea the NYT is nonpartisan. WOW, there’s a news flash! NOBAMA has gotten a free ride. Any questions, re-read the editorials and front page articles for the past 6 months. If you still don’t get it, talk with Hillary and her people, they will explain it to you.
117. Eugene | 09.22.08
Thought this article was worth the look. Stopped midway then scrolled up. Christian Science Monitor. Seriously, the question of what came first, the chicken or the egg, in regards to liberal media on one hand and the ‘innocent’ conversatives on the other, seriously, the entire argument if not based on a foundation of absolute truth is exactly what the debate has become, an opinionated and far-from-the-truth argument. Seriously, most liberals don’t get it because most liberals are sadly so far from the absolute truth of God. And yes, Republicans are greedy but most Republicans argue with this foundation. Question is the, are you liberals just arguing for the sake of arguing? Is life a joke? Your arguments are SO [fill in blank].
118. peabody3000 | 09.22.08
well we do see a pattern dont we… which is to say that the lies steve schmidt writes for mccain dont sound any better than the ones he doles out himself. at least the rove BS could fool some of the people most of the time
119. Hector | 09.22.08
Franklyn Raines was not and is not affiliated with Obama’s campaign.
That’s a fact. Not a fantasy, not a lie, a fact. I know many people hear lies over and over again through the liberal or conservative biased media and journalists, but it is not true. The fact is McCain HAS SOME OF THE MOST POWERFUL LOBBYISTS AS HIS SENIOR STAFF, including many from Fannie and Freddie. They are desperately trying to tie Obama to FM so that McCain looks better, or at least the same, when people judge this huge financial mess we’re in.
Obama’s ties to Franklyn Raines consist of a single phone call, months ago.
YES- it is also a fact that both candidates received donations from FM employees, however McCain’s donations totaled over 160,000 and were from senior executives while Obama’s FM donations totaled ~16,000 and were mostly from low level employees- people like you and me.
Please, my fellow Americans….. Don’t fall for the lies. McCain’s campaign is NOT conservative, and is desperately trying to drag everyone down into the mud, where they are most comfortable. Try to stay objective, for the sake of our country. We all have to share it. If you fall for the lies, we will go down in flames just like Wall Street.
120. BARBARA | 09.22.08
I guess I’m missing something. The article is about blowing a gasket? All I read was he stated how he feels about NYT. It’s his opinion. By the way, look up “Bush Doctrine”, it doesn’t exist…never did.
121. Chris | 09.22.08
I’m still waiting for the part where he “ripped” the NY Times. Sounds to me like a lucid, though perhaps forceful, description of the beleaguered publication’s practices.
122. onchu | 09.22.08
Whoa. Hold on a minute. You’re telling me that in a profession where 80% of the people are registered democrats there might be a little bias?!?
Next you’ll be telling me that the US military is largely conservative and not all tenured professors are completely objective.
123. blatherful | 09.22.08
Not to be too general, or disparaging, but is it telling that the majority of McCain-positive comments I read here are rife with bad grammar, misspellings, hack accusations and little relation to facts?
Or maybe it’s just the same, sad, lone supporter writing numerous comments…
I am stunned by the shallowness of the rhetoric. “Empty suit.” “B. HUSSEIN…” Name-calling, implications that Arabic = universally bad. A new era of bigotry and mindlessness?
If these few represent the majority of Americans, I would have to declare my country hijacked by morons! Oh, wait…. Two terms of G.W. Bush, the 19% President… that’s right…..
Make no mistake. I’m voting Obama on Nov. 4, with or without the NY Times. And for all the right reasons…. Reason being one of them…?
Thank you for reading.
peace.
124. rfg2 | 09.22.08
Steve Schmidt is a flaming Dbag that blames everything on the ‘liberal media’. Let’s be honest withoutselves and admit the McCain campaign is grasping at straws as it’s rhetoric is ill received. So far as i’m concerned the whole McCain campaign should suck a fat one.
125. Dan | 09.22.08
Should the NYT point out that Rick Davis was a lobbyist for Freddie and Fannie? Absolutely. But note that Schmidt argues that the NYT needs to do due diligence and do just as much investigation on Obama and his campaign staff and associations. The NYT has clearly lost its journalistic integrity in recent years and clearly biased reporting is not uncommon. Where’s the evidence? How about the NYT printing an Obama op-ed piece, but when McCain subsequently submitted an op-ed piece, they refused to print it. Is that blantant enough? Do you want to be spoon fed news with a slant or do you want some assurance that the reporter did a through investigation of the story and presented it with integrity and balance. If you want opinions, go to the op-ed page or find whatever makes you feel good on the net - just don’t expect it to be true and accurate.
The left likes to point out that FoxNews lends to the right, but the evidence is just as clear for the NYT and MSNBC. Having Olberman alongside Brokaw and Brian Williams was an attempt to drum up ratings without regard to journalistic integrity. Fortunately it failed miserably. Unfortunately, the idiot that made that decision is still heading MSNBC.
126. D. Smith | 09.22.08
Wow, it’s about time that somebody with a voice that could be heard calls the New York Times what it really is. Journalism used to be a presentation of the facts. Now it is whatever the media claims the “facts” to be. The New York Times is merely leading the rest of the media in brainwashing the minds of the weak and non-thinkers in this country. And believe me brainwashing is putting it mildly.
127. the republican mess | 09.22.08
Bush, 3 Trillion War and 1 Trillion bailout of walstreet later, is he still around. If I were Bush, I would just resign right away and go back to Texas. Then go on a self imposed exile to Venezuela and beg mercy from Chavez.
Republicans bankrupted America. Because they created this mess, they want another chance to clean this for us?
Republicans should all go home, look at the mirror, and should ask, IF I THE REPUBLICAN IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS COUNTRY’S MESS a little.
They really should check their inside and look for any conscience that is still there.
128. Graniteman | 09.22.08
Is there any doubt that the NY Times is a publicity unit for the Obama campaign? Several Sundays ago, they had op-eds by Maureen Dowd, Tom Friedman and some other liberal pundit blasting Senator McCain. The NYT doesn’t even pretend to offer editorial balance, just “all the liberal opinion that we deem fit to print.” Even though I am a lifelong Democrat, I’ve started watching Fox News because I no longer trust the NYT, CBS News, etc. to provide all the news coverage that I need to make my own judgments about politics.
129. RCA | 09.22.08
The NYT and CSM don’t have a liberal bias. The truth has a liberal bias and the mainstream media more often than not gets the story right.
130. JR | 09.22.08
Barb, the moron says, “Why do all you disgusting Liberals just want to stand there and get free handouts.”
Don’t look now idiot, but it’s the neo-cons with their hands out and we liberals are expected to pick up the tab for the last 8 years of Republican incompetence.
131. martin | 09.22.08
……………………………
if you have not voted for a democrat since the depression it is that time again.
……………………………
132. tac | 09.22.08
Makes sense - blame the NY Times to deflect from the story about Wasilla charging women for rape exams.
133. Jasper Ballbaggins | 09.22.08
Where conservatives have a genuine beef is not merely the reluctance to cover stories that might be harmful to Obama, but the refusal to do so. There are some juicy stories out there - widespread voter fraud being conducted by ACORN in various states for one - where no major media outlet cares to investigate. This and so many other potential stories not being covered invites the “if it had been a conservative they’d cover it” refrain. It’s not that conservatives are or think they are perfect. Rather, they’d simply like to see the ills of the other brought to light as often as their own ills. One could aloofly state the democrats have less ills, but that’s disingenuous and untrue. Douche bags are douche bags are douche bags are douche bags.
The most telling example, though, of recent media bias is the harshness aforded Palin versus the kid gloves given Obama. Many here hate to hear it, but the woman really does have more political and executive experience than Obama. Moreover, she’s hardly the fool she’s portrayed as. While Obama is hardly the savant is been made into. Both people off script aren’t nearly as impressive. But you’d never reach that conclusion via the media. The clearest example of collective media bias was displayed when Gibson and Stephanopoulos brought up Jeremiah Wright. It was perfectly legitimate to do so. But it was THE MEDIA, not the democrats, that gave them **** for the question. It was an admission by the MSM that there are certain things about Obama that one must never touch.
134. curious orange | 09.22.08
Take the muzzle off the “pit bull” Let her answer to We The People.
Hopefully she won`t start speaking in tongues.
135. Jim | 09.22.08
McCain should be ashamed. Going after Obama for having “ties” to Fanny/Freddie when all along his own guys are advocating lobbyists for these two companies….unbelievable.
I’ve been a life-long Republican but I can’t take this any longer. America needs a major shift in its thinking. If I have to vote for Obama (not my first choice), then I will. My party needs to rethink its platform and focus on Americas future and not short term gains.
I feel the Dems are the better choice this time around.
136. shpilk katz | 09.22.08
Maybe one needs to ask, if this is the way John McCain and his surrogates respond to what they perceive to be ‘unfair treatment by the media’ how effective they will be dealing with foreign trade and security issues.
I don’t think John McCain and his inner circle is capable of standing up to the heat.
137. Lucas | 09.22.08
Hehe, Pro-Obama Journalism that unfairly attacks McCain?
Here’s something to think about, what if, just what if, The NYT is in fact TRUE?
No surprise there.
138. frank burns | 09.22.08
He’s just upset that McCain can’t peddle lies and half-truths almost exclusively.
139. curious orange | 09.22.08
BushCo LLc have bought over 1 million acres in Paraguay so he can take his booty and split leaving America a 3rd world slum
140. Marq Goldberg | 09.22.08
Only conservatives could be deluded enough to believe that a media that is owned by a handful of republicans and paid for by multinational corporate advertising is “liberal”. It used to be said that the conservatives had the money but the liberals had the press. Then the conservatives figured out that since they had the money they could just BUY the press. And thanks to Republican leadership a half dozen right wing mega corporations have been allowed to buy out the other 40+ over the last 35 years. The MSM has long supported the GOP because the deregulation has meant more profits.
“There goes the last DJ who plays what he wants to play and says what he wants to say.” - Tom Petty
141. Mugsy | 09.22.08
Oh the poor little Republicrats…always so picked on and maligned by the press. Perhaps they ought to just pick up their marbles and go someplace where the media is a bit less “liberal” (which to them means…any press that questions them)…like Russia
142. KJ | 09.22.08
The idea that John McCain and his band of professional liars and smoke screen generators would attack Obama saying Fannie’s Raines was an advisor - not to mention the uncountable verified lies his campaign has kept coming for the last month — and then attack the NY Times for finally, at long last, being the one main stream media outlet to point out that one of McCain’s major advisors got millions working for Fannie and Freddie is an outrage. The media has no guts at all to go after these Repub frauds in a manner proportional to the scandal. Dems deserve blame, too - But McCain and his economic sidekick and advisor Sen. Phil Gramm truly helped create this historic financial disaster by bending over at every opportunity to take money from and deregulate every financial institution on the face of the planet. Bush and the Repubs are the party of deregulation, and we’ll be living with the disaster they created for the rest of our lives.
McCain’s campaign is pure filth and distortion. His soul clearly is crawling down to the deepest political gutter he can find in the hope that by shouting lies loudly, he can get himself and dangerous new hocky mom VP elected. If American’s can’t sort this one out, prayer will be all we have left.
143. WakupAmerica | 09.22.08
I grew up in a dictatorship society, during the past eight years,I have never seen any news media controlled so much by an incumbent government like Fox does for the republican party. Fox is nothing but pure cover up for the Republican party. For anyone on the republican side to complain about media bias is just simply non-sense. I am having nightmare if we the american people will let this party take over the white house again. After creating all that mess. They do not deserve to be rewarded. During the past eight years,the republican party has been the biggest spender ever. They have failed on moral and family values they keep telling the rest of us that they are the champion of. The have failed on any type fiscal responsibilities. They have ruined our reputation around the world. They have enriched themselves from contracts created through the war.They complained about Obama’s experience and they bring along one million times less qualified as vp.Can you imagine Dan Quayle complaining about Murphy Brown show compare that with what is going on now.. Every thing that comes out of the mouth of these people are lies. The economy is basically sound….. a few days later we $700 billion dollars to bail them out. I could go on and on. Please America Vote OBAMA this november!
144. Eric | 09.22.08
Something interesting that I noticed.
Click on each of the following Snopes.com links. One lists all the stories appearing on the site for Obama and the other for McCain.
http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/obama.asp
http://www.snopes.com/politics/mccain/mccain.asp
Which candidate has had more untrue stories circulated?
I’m guessing the candidates (and/or their supporters) don’t circulate untrue stories about themselves.
So which campaign is running more honestly?
145. Norm | 09.22.08
I am just stating the obvious, but integrity is laughable for both parties. So where does one find some simblance of truth in this whole ordeal? I feel cheated as a Vet who would give his life for these lying, double-minded *****. I fear what turmoil lies ahead of us - I dont think any of these self serving schemers will do anything to help us out. I guess having an inaccurate press (the collective media) is par for the course.
We are benefiting from the labors of the Greatest Generation; dollar hegemony, a serious work ethic, values, concern for the welfare of others, etc… We are in a new era where truth is relative, so I go back to my original question - where can one find truth? How can anyone make an educated decision? Do I vote for the snake or the pig?
146. Nathan Ward | 09.22.08
In the first 30 or more comments I forced myself to read I noticed that republicans don’t seam to like having their last name in what they are writing. Just like republicans don’t like to tell people who they vote for. I’ll just stop there. I hate Nazi Republicans, and that’s what republicans are whether they know it or not.
148. AshKetchum | 09.22.08
While normally I would be for an unbiased media, in the present situation, I think that the media not only should, but must be biased. The media is one of the few things that can determine an election, and the editors and writers at the NY Times and other news outlets must use their power to prevent McCain/Palin from being elected. It is not only their job… It is their patriotic duty to use their influence to stop the forces of ignorance and greed. The fact that McCain is even close in the polls says a lot about the American people… That almost half of them are idiots/ignorant/backwards. I know this sounds elitist, but the people who wrote the Constitution also thought that your average American was not intelligent enough to decide who should be their leader… hence the electoral college. If McCain were to win, America’s position in the world would plummet even further… We would be the laughing stock of the world… Anyone with a SAT score higher than 1000 can see the necessity of stopping McCain and the Republican forces that now control him. Don’t get me wrong… I used to like McCain… until he sold his soul to the GOP. He is not a maverick now… he is a puppet. Don’t even get me started on Palin. Does anyone even realize that she could be the President of the United States? She has absolutely no experience… no credentials… I hate to see McCain degrade himself by “choosing” her as his running mate. Even the Republican party knows that she is a complete idiot, that’s why she has had almost no exposure to the “liberal” media… I’d be surprised if she even knows how many states there are. The only reason the leaders of the GOP chose her was to attract overzealous Christians who don’t believe in evolution. It is the duty of every intelligent American to work to stop McCain/Palin. The NY Times is just fulfilling this duty, and for this, I thank them.
149. Morton Redner | 09.22.08
I have never in my lifetime heard more persistent baldfaced lies in a Presidential campaign than I’ve heard this election year from Steve Schmidt and John McCain. Once upon a time, John, I thought of you as a maverick leader with principles. Not any more. Whether or not it is clear to you, I’ve watched you sell out those principles, one by one, in the last year or two. You’ve remade yourself in an entirely new image: shabby, sleazy, cheap, easy. I’m sorry for you, John, but you no longer have the right to wear that maverick mantle that once was yours. Don’t blame the New York Times. The only one to blame is you.
150. n8whit | 09.22.08
Study after study by researchers at such places as UCLA have shown that the media in general is leftist and that the NY Times is among the most tilted. The press decided long ago that they were going to get Obama elected at all costs.
151. jon | 09.22.08
Shall we put race aside? If we put race aside, we have two senators running for president. One hasn’t even finished his first term yet. One has been in the senate for many years.
you could just vote on that info.
Or you could say, that as a young man, one dedicated his life to the service of the United States of America. One attended a school where HONOR was the order of the day. Another became a Lawyer and a community organizer.
You could vote on that info.
Someone on this forum indicated concern that a VP candidate didn’t hire an african american for her staff. Shouldn’t we be more interested in hiring the best person for the job? Or aren’t we that far along.
You could vote on that info.
JFK has been compared to one of the candidates. JFK, a senator, and a naval war hero. When you think about who he is compared to, except for age, what is the comparison?
Obama simply doesn’t have the chops to be president. McCain does.
And I grew up in the most diverse city in the country. So don’t call me a racist. Call me someone who actually would like someone older than me to be president.
Ask McCain where he was when JFK was shot. Ask Obama the same question.
Ask Obama where he was during the cuban missile crisis? Ask Mccain the same question.
152. kevinnn | 09.22.08
I have come to the conclusion that republicans only want to read news that has a right slant to it. Any other form they dismiss as liberal nonsense. The NYT is just calling it as it is: a dis-information campaign.
153. chris | 09.22.08
McCain is just mad he’s being called out for the truth. It actually amazes me how much the “liberal media” hasn’t reported on his flip-flops and outright lies. I used to respect McCain but I really can’t anymore. Its time America knows exactly what McCain and his truly incompetent VP stand for- more of the same.
Obama/Biden 08!
154. Jasper Ballbaggins | 09.22.08
I’m fine with people blasting McCain and Palin. But, really, how can one reconcile Palin’s “lack” of experience being 2nd on a ticket with Obama’s “lack” of experience being 1st on a ticket? In law school we were always instructed never ask a question unless you have a pretty damn good idea what the answer will be. Well, I’m violating that easy maxim because I have no idea how anyone so down on Palin for her experience can be so high on Obama. How is it Obama is qualified for President if Palin isn’t qualified for Vice President?
155. James Bearhill | 09.22.08
Look everyone in America knows that the New York Times is the official publication of the Peoples Republic of New York, a quasi Marxist state. Therefore, you would not expect anything other than lies and more lies in support of their candidate Senator Obama. After all Obama is at least
Marxist tainted. Just listen to his tax proposals, i.e, in so many words: From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.
156. JimL | 09.22.08
Spiro Agnew started the whole “Blame the Press” thing years ago, and the Republicans have been yelling it ever since. Unfortunately, some people in this country are stupid enough to believe it. Is what they reported true? Yes! And that’s the issue here. Wake up people!!
157. Saxxon Domela | 09.22.08
Al, #13, if your knowledge of politics matches your knowledge of the English language, you’d better keep quiet.
158. Black Sheep | 09.22.08
Oh, I’m sorry. I thought this was a centrist blog. If I’d known this was a Left Wing Liberal Democrat pulpit I would have left sooner.
I’m a blogger, I have several and I read many, and I can tell you from years of blogging experience that centrist and Right-wing blogs all refer to the NYT as the New York Treason. It’s only Leftists who support it. It is in fact an outspoken advocate for Barack Obama and an unabashed critic and attacker of John McCain.
One of the above commenters calls another one an idiot for mentioning the fact that 20 years of listening to supposedly “reverend” Wright had to have affected Obamas view of America. Isn’t the reverse true? Wouldn’t you have to be an idiot NOT to see that? Obama kept coming back for more. His wife is known for her anti-American attitude, not just because of a few gaffes during the campaign but for years on back. Barack once called blacks who hung out with whites “Half breeds”. That tells you nothing?
I’m not in love with John McCain, either, but of the two choices, he’s the safest one for the security of our country because he openly loves America. Obama does not. McCain/Palin is a strong team that will very likely keep us safe and bring our economy back to life. Obama has no experience at all in governing and has openly said he’ll raise our taxes to fix the economy. That will make it even worse, isn’t that obvious? The more taxes you have to pay, the less groceries and shoes for your kids you can buy.
Lastly, shouldn’t it mean something, too, that so many of Obamas friends and associates are criminals, that his relatives in Kenya are Muslim Fundamentalists and that he campaigned in Kenya for Raila Odinga to take over their presidency? If you don’t feel like looking up who Raila is, just know this: He said that Islam is “The only true religion” and that he wanted to throw out the Kenyan democratic constitution and institute Sharia law. Sharia law is what the terrorists go by when they chop off heads, hands and feet, stone women to death for minor crimes and so forth.
You sure you want someone like that to be our president?
159. Knickerbocker | 09.22.08
Schmidt didn’t go far enough in his criticism. I stopped reading the NYT after they published the name of a CIA interrogator of captured Al Qaida for no apparent reason. We do not need to know the names of CIA interrogators. Period.
160. gnoordman | 09.22.08
I have read the articles about the McCain guy blowing his stack because the Times reported another McCain guy was a lobbyist. What I have not read is a clear denial by the McCain camp.
So, did he or did he not work as a lobbyist for Mae or Mac?
161. Mary Porter | 09.22.08
Jimmy’s main point is well taken: the real target of this silly attack isn’t the NY Times. It’s the other weaker-kneed media who might now feel pressure to “correct” the supposed media bias - we’ve certainly seen that work for EIGHT YEARS now.
Something seems to have shifted now, though. I really think people have started noticing it’s the same old hucksters pulling the levers.
162. Mike | 09.22.08
Unfortunately, Mr. Schmidt is correct. It is like a genetic trait, and the NYT will never see or understand their bias and lack of objectivity.
163. elizabeth h. | 09.22.08
Hi - the free pass, like the one GWB has been getting his whole presidency? They didn’t mind when no one pressed too hard about his qualifications, his lack of experience, his cronyism… because all the media corporations are so involved with the other big time corporations … they can’t go up against them. But now that most ppl in the Carlysle Group are out of the white house, and mostly out of the administration, maybe we can actually get something done. Finally… perhaps it is dawning on everyone what happens when you elect your drinking buddy president.
164. Eddie Zalez | 09.22.08
Steve Schmidt as a disciple of Karl Rove should know better. His problem, like McCain, is that he wants to attack and lie and expects to get away with it. They think is funny when they do it to other people, but hate being on the receiving end.
166. moeursalen | 09.22.08
Schmidt should realize the natural affinity the New York Times would have for an urban metrosexual like Barak Obama. This goes beyond journalistic bias–it’s the attraction of like molecules. McCain-Palin…doesn’t that reek of snowshoes, the forest, and fighter jet fuel? Who can relate to that? The New York Times should not be so reactive, understanding that its obsequies meet with the approval of the sniveling Arugulati who use its learned and effete pages to justify their adulation of Jeremiah Wright’s best-known protege.
167. David | 09.22.08
It’s always interesting to hear the “party of personal responsibility” blame everyone else for all the world’s troubles: the press, liberals, foreigners, illegal immigrants, etc.
168. Brady | 09.22.08
you think the NYT is bad read the Chicago Tribune, once a middle of the road paper. Clarence Page is wearing an Obama pin on his lapel and has annointed him the chosen one for months. I can’t even open the pages any longer because Obamamania has taken over Illinois. What the world does not need is Obama and his Illinois insiders ruining this country. I say NOBAMA…..Try being a Republican from Illinois we are the silent majority in the outskirts of cook county and the collar counties…..the city democrats have ruined our state….don’t let them ruin this country
169. Irritated voter | 09.22.08
I am John McCain…and I approve this lie. McCain is/was so much better than this. I want to discuss issues - not grocery store Enquirer issues.
Forget lipstick, hockey moms, finger-pointing and other bologna. This is a critical time that needs honest discussions about serious issues.
Have you read the 700 billion bailout legislation from Bush - “W”?? I quote, “Section 8. Review. Decisions by the Secretary pursuant to the authority of this Act are non-reviewable and committed to agency discretion, and may not be reviewed by any court of law or any administrative agency.”
Huh? President took an oath to uphold the Constitution and says 700 BILLION dollars is controlled by the Secretary of the Treasury? No oversight?? No court review? No agency review? The only thing missing is “Trust Me”. Bull. Americans deserve and require better than this.
The existing Bill should be harshly placed in the Round File.
170. NOTSOFAST | 09.22.08
AIf the NYT say they are checking the facts about the race, maybe they should check the facts about the stories they run befor they are in print. if the NYT is not a one of the many arms of the Dems in am Obama
171. Jim | 09.22.08
I did a random look at headlines over a couple week period that showed up in my Google list. It was amazing - nearly any headline about McCain had negative implications, nearly every one about Obama had positive or, occasionally, neutral. It is newsworthy that McCain’s top aid once lobbied for Fannie Mae. But it is also newsworthy that Obama is the SECOND HIGHEST recipient of contributions from Fannie Mae and Freddie mac. Is that not newsworthy??? The press makes me want to barf. Instead of covering what either candidate thinks about issues, they cover any scandal they can dig up for the candidate, anyone on their staff, their next door neighbor, or pet dog. Then they cover how the candidate campaigns. And, of course, they cover their own coverage.
172. Sam | 09.22.08
where are the evidences to prove your case? Are you really out of ideas, besides scaring the Americans about Obama? This is pathetic. I need a beer.
173. Fixed Election | 09.22.08
I am real concerned about all the PROBLEMS we’ve seen with Voting Machines. Are you?
A new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO- http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/18/voting.problems/index.html?iref=werecommend ) notes that the Election Assistance Commission hasn’t bothered informing election officials around the country about all of the problems associated with e-voting machines. And, to make matters worse, a separate report from Common Cause claims that 10 states that had problems in the last election haven’t done anything to fix those problems. Given all of the stories we’ve had recently about e-voting problems, this is hardly a surprise, but one more reason to wonder who’s actually in charge on these sorts of things?
174. KJ | 09.22.08
Norm - It is really hard to know the truth if you just listen to the news McCain said this, Obama said that. And it’s also true that the press is biased, and in reality both parties are to blame for the mess this country is in, as I said earlier. But if you pay attention, you’ll see that, as has always been true, the Republicans were and still are the party of the rich, in spite of the smokescreen that Limbaugh and the rest try to generate. They have favored unnecessary wars and enriched their friends in the defense industry. They’ve tragically refused to make new energy policy, destroying the US auto energy and enriching their friends in big oil. They have fought tooth and nail against social programs like national health care that the entire rest of the developed world takes for granted by saying that people that favored it wanted government handouts. Is social security a handout? Don’t we have a right to organize ourselves to have for our people a minimum wage and the same basic benefits that Canada, England, Germany, every other civilized country has? Americans have been fooled for so unbelieveably long now by these people while the rich have gotten richer and the poor poorer. I hope this country comes to its senses and stops believing the very effective propaganda that Republicans have been generating for so long, through people like Limbaugh and Fox. Republicans are the party of the rich. The concept that “free markets can regulate themselves” is the lie told by the thieves that won’t be believed after the last week, and the idea that taxcuts to the rich trickles down has been proven untrue to anyone paying attention. The damage that Republicans have done to this country will take a generation to repair.
If you pay attention and look at facts, Obama isn’t perfect but he and Biden are light years better than McCain and the same republican thievery that has run this country for much too long.
175. Jack | 09.22.08
The top three recipients of campaign donations from Freddie and Fannie’s PACs and employees are all Democrats. From 1989 through today, Sen. Chris Dodd received $165,400, Barack Obama $126,349, and John Kerry $111,000. The Washington Post in an article concluded: “Blessed with the advantages of a government agency and a private company at the same time, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac used their windfall profits to co-opt the politicians who were supposed to control them.”
John McCain, May 25th, 2006: (it’s boring reading but while Obama was getting paid by these guys McCain was writign legislation to stop them)
“Mr. President, this week Fannie Mae’s regulator reported that the company’s quarterly reports of profit growth over the past few years were illusions deliberately and systematically created by the company’s senior management, which resulted in a $10.6 billion accounting scandal. The Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight’s report goes on to say that Fannie Mae employees deliberately and intentionally manipulated financial reports to hit earnings targets in order to trigger bonuses for senior executives. In the case of Franklin Raines, Fannie Mae’s former chief executive officer, OFHEO’s report shows that over half of Mr. Raines’ compensation for the 6 years through 2003 was directly tied to meeting earnings targets. The report of financial misconduct at Fannie Mae echoes the deeply troubling $5 billion profit restatement at Freddie Mac. The OFHEO report also states that Fannie Mae used its political power to lobby Congress in an effort to interfere with the regulator’s examination of the company’s accounting problems. This report comes some weeks after Freddie Mac paid a record $3.8 million fine in a settlement with the Federal Election Commission and restated lobbying disclosure reports from 2004 to 2005. These are entities that have demonstrated over and over again that they are deeply in need of reform. For years I have been concerned about the regulatory structure that governs Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac-known as Government-sponsored entities or GSEs-and the sheer magnitude of these companies and the role they play in the housing market. OFHEO’s report this week does nothing to ease these concerns. In fact, the report does quite the contrary. OFHEO’s report solidifies my view that the GSEs need to be reformed without delay. I join as a cosponsor of the Federal Housing Enterprise Regulatory Reform Act of 2005, S. 190, to underscore my support for quick passage of GSE regulatory reform legislation. If Congress does not act, American taxpayers will continue to be exposed to the enormous risk that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac pose to the housing market, the overall financial system, and the economy as a whole. I urge my colleagues to support swift action on this GSE reform legislation.”
176. Randy Bollinger | 09.22.08
Republican this! and Democrat that! Forget it all. Make a flat tax with
no tax dedutions. Everyone pays there share, fine them or deport them out of the U.S.A. if not. We do not need your Gread. All tax’s will drop for everyone If all will just pay. Im over 50 never voted and never will! Far to much gread and no trust. Sorry!
I can see your hart, and it is not true. Ask the Native Americans. Time did
not change for them. They said, the white man will destroy himself by his own gread. The time has come. Stand fast! Thay do not lie.
177. tdub | 09.22.08
And what does the Rove understudy Schmidt say about the objectivity of Fox News?
Thought so.
Open your eyes righties. Not everyone is willing to throw softballs at your boy and girl. So stop whining like schoolkids when they actually have to speak to their record.
178. Pat Fox | 09.22.08
There are certain facts that cannot be questioned:
1. NYT is very Liberal- this can be proven over and over again
2. Obama is very Liberal - this can be proven over and over
There should be no surprise then that the NYT is in the tank for Obama, along with most other Liberal media outlets.
What you need to decide then is do you side with the Democratic platform or the Republican platform and then be prepared to state your reason why.
For me, my family, faith, and Country are most important. There is one overriding issue that clearly makes the decision on what party to chose very easy, abortion.
Anyone who believes in God should clearly vote for a candidate who is Pro-Life. Anyone who is Catholic is required to vote for a Pro-Life candidate. According to Catholic doctrine, life begins at conception. Christian doctrine also states that we all have souls. When does God give us our souls? One can try and argue when life begins(child has a heartbeat within 2 weeks, brain and all body parts are present within 8 weeks), but can anyone pretend to know when we are given our souls.
Please really do your homework and study the issues. Don’t take shortcuts like listening to sound bites or just reading the newspapers. Search out the truth.
Also, name calling and comments like: idiot, just makes you sound bad.
180. Richard Brodie | 09.22.08
Jim says: “I wish people would stop supporting the Yew York Time.”
Shouldn’t that be the “Hew York Times”? (as the Spanish would pronounce it)
181. saddened | 09.22.08
All you have to do to know that Schmidt is right on the money is to read the follow on comments. NYTimes is so in the tank for Obama it’s pathetic. Luckily last time Dan Rather got the ax but unfortunately this time the liberal journalistic behemoth is just too big. I just can’t wait till they get what they want — an Obama presidency (shudder) — and I will laugh my butt off watching as they then turn on him. Get real people. Journalism is dead. And the Liberal media killed it.
182. Omidal | 09.22.08
That is all they know how to do, blaming others and run the country to the ground, and tell lies. Remember how bad a job The Media did before and after the Wars. It was not the media’s fault. It was the greatest Scheme ever created by a government. How they did it? They questioned anyone patriotism and labeled anyone an appeaser, or terrorist, and they played with our fear to advance their agenda.
“If you are not with me you are against me” was not meant solely to the other countries they wanted to bully into wars, it was also meant to any American dissent. So everybody followed the crowd, including the Media. I, too, was afraid after 911 and expected something to be done. I believed the leadership while at the same time had doubt of the war. I finally agreed and I remember that only one of my friend did not agree we should go to war.
How sad Dan Rather, one of the finest journalist lost his job for bringing a legitimate question about Bush military service. While Jhon Kerry service was question vehemently by the Hard Right. Where were our Humanity? Now I see we revere Jhon McCane. The same players who ran Bush Campaign do not want the media to scrutinize McCane intentions and service.
183. mwf | 09.22.08
The hypocrisy of the Republican party and specifically McCain this election year is astounding and blows me away that people can’t see him and the party for what they are.
184. Bo | 09.22.08
“The New York Obama Times
Soft shoe Obama on questions
Aggressive questions to McCain
We all know most newspapers mags & news media our in the Obama tank
Wow how can anyone trust what they read or watch
As for Hollywood one big joke”
And there we have it ladies and gentlemen,. A prime example of republican intelligence. I don’t know how democrats are going to side step a verbal barrage such as that.
185. Jack | 09.22.08
An example of media bias might be that no one in the MSM will care or dare to mention Obama received the third largest payouts from Fannie and Freddie Pacs. And in just a few years service.
187. saddened | 09.22.08
tdub… at least with Fox news, we know they are slanted (not as much so as CNBC or MSNBC, but they definitely lean right.
The nauseating thing about the NYTimes and the Wash Post is that they still have everyting thinking that they are objective, and by any fair analysis, anyone who thinks about it can see that they are not. Same goes for the broadcast media outlets NBC CBS ABC.
So now I’ll let you go back to your name calling.
188. Den Gran | 09.22.08
Black Sheep, please do leave this forum. Don’t tell us that Obama doesn’t love this country and McCain does. You act like you’re a centrist, but you’re nothing but one of those ‘bloggers’ on a ‘quick response’ list that goes to any article that exposes McCain for what he is - a power hungry idiot who wants to get us into another war. He has consistently voted against the American worker during his career. Hopefully, thinking people will see through your tactics and embrace the truth, and reject your lies. Yours are the same old lies I’ve been reading for weeks. You must get your ‘blogging’ points where every other McCain propagandist get theirs. You must really hate the fact that McCain is being beaten to a pulp with the truth. Your lies won’t change that. A McCain presidency would be a disaster.
189. Gordon Illan | 09.22.08
Side stepping a hard question is a standard technique. In this case it means that RNC doesn’t have an answer that will favor them. This is not to say all news outlets are fair and balanced. Just tune into Fox for a minute and you’ll see.
190. Pete K | 09.22.08
I hope the majority of the American people can see through the lies of the McCain campaign and the candidate. The problem is not the NY Times.
I’m disgusted with the level he has stooped.
…and seriously, to those who are not seeing this you should check yourselves into an institution.
191. John Ryan | 09.22.08
The real problem for the Republicans is that in an age when there are many sources of news to choose from they feel that too many Americans choose the wrong one.
192. McGreen | 09.22.08
What is this gnashing of teeth and sobbing into the crying rag? I would say we can all recognize the fake outrage. Schmidt is nothing but a partisan hack that trys to twist or market news that casts his employer in a favorable light… nothing more.
193. JoeJ | 09.22.08
Actually, it seems to me that McCain is the candidate getting the “softball” treatment from not only much of the MSM, but also much of the public. It seems to be accepted - without question - that his years of military service make him more qualified than his opponent on “national security.” How come? From World War II on through Korea, Viet Nam and both Iraq campaigns we’ve had millions of vets - most still living. Are they all qualified as authorities on national security? Personally, I’d think more of the qualifications of a former naval aviator who DIDN’T get shot down. Sure, honor him - and all those other millions - for their military service and their courage. But we’re choosing a president, for heaven’s sake, not a reality TV show hero. On the most recent major decision he’s been called on to make - selection of a vice presidential running mate - he made a “gut instinct, maverick” choice and proposes to put a political and intellectual lightweight a heartbeat away from the Oval Office.
194. Joe DeLuca | 09.22.08
Liberals aren’t backing down. The New York Times isn’t backing down. This is our election. The truth about McCain and his party is ugly. They have no game plan other than mud slinging.
195. Jason | 09.22.08
Yeah, right. The liberal media killed journalism. And what time yesterday were you born?
196. Boogar | 09.22.08
You guys are all nuts…………how about a little journalism on what each candidate thinks about the issues being published in all media fairly and let the voters decide. This nursery school bickering is stupid and just shortens the amount of time each side can change its mind. Politics!!!!!!!!!Lets grow up!!!!
197. John Reed | 09.22.08
Dear Mr. Martin Friedlander Esq. - Are you so sure of your judgement? How dare you question what is in John McCain’s or any man’s heart. I sincerely believe Obama has good intentions in his heart, I just do not happen to agree with them. So you are comfortable with condemning someone to H*** because they do not agree with you. Did you learn that at Harvard or Yale? Might I remind you McCain was never respected much by his own party because of his “maverick” views, who Rush Limbaugh strongly warned the GOP against nominating? I will vote for McCain because he is an independent thinker. Let me pose this. Men’s decisions are usually driven by their philosophy. And quite often their religion has extreme impact on their philosophy. If for years Obama sat under his former preachers rants and sermons exactly what type philosophies do you suppose will drive his decisions in office?
198. christopher | 09.22.08
Obama: Valedictorian at Harvard.
McCain: 5th from the bottom of his Annapolis class of almost 600 students.
Obama: Mom was on welfare for a period - earned everything he has.
McCain: given every opportunity on a platter.
Obama: Married to one woman for 17 years.
McCain: leaves his kids and wife after she’s disfigured in a car accident, and marries an heiress to a fortune in a state he has political designs on.
Obama: an eloquent, inspiring and thoughtful speaker.
McCain: a belligerent, hot tempered and compulsive ‘maverick’ (whatever that is).
The NYT actually caters mostly to more worldly, intelligent people. Is it difficult to understand who the majority of them would relate to?
-C
199. debreuil | 09.22.08
I think they do it so that instead of other papers covering the fact that this guys is in up to his fanny with freddy, the cover the fact that someone else doesn’t like someone else. The key word being someone else.
So what is the second opinion on the piece? Is it true? Thanks for all the journalism.
200. grr | 09.22.08
I wonder if the democrats made enough noise as well, they could create a “conservative media bias” illusion. By all logical accounts, a “conservative media bias”, makes far more sense. Republican rule greatly benefits large media outlets with lax FCC regulation, not to mention what media outlet owning companies like GE have benefited from the war in Iraq. Oh well, if it works, might as well just go with it…
201. Bob B | 09.22.08
Poor Stevie, he is so upset. Is he going to take his ball and run home to Daddy McCain and Momma Palin? Boo hoo hoo! Don’t cry.
202. Dan Nyseth | 09.22.08
I’m unclear why the Republicans (or Democrats for that matter) would compete to hold the reins of a failed state, which is what the Bush administration has bequeathed. Talk about a legacy! If Republicans could rouse themselves from the comfort to which they’ve become so accustomed, they’d surely recognize that this administration and its supporters owe sincere, abject apologies to the U.S. electorate, our allies, and the world in general. Mr. Cheney famously spoke of death throes. And famously misread. Countries that behave imperially suffer the fate of empires - overextended abroad, corrupted at home, they implode. Rome, the UK, and USSR all come to mind - and in the case of the US, not with a bang, but with a Witless Whimper. Poetic injustice unfolds before our eyes. The perpetrator-in-chief and the boys grimly abandon the public, weakest first, into the maw of the beast he raised up from just a pup. Within the course of 2 or 3 weeks, the administration’s magical, mysterious mind has bent and spun big government all the way from a Problem to The Solution. Voila! [Reminds me of a joke, but few can afford to laugh these days.] Too bad Bush couldn’t have flipped before he flopped the whole country. Of course, that would be contrary to his principles, which clearly do not include going down with the ship. We owe him a debt that just might be impossible to repay. The “issue” of the Times’ purported failure of objectivity is a transparent, but nonetheless shameless, diversionary gambit. Hey, everybody! Look at the pig. And fire it!
203. Dino | 09.22.08
The issue really comes down to, Has the NYT exposed Obama’s significant connections to Freddie and Fannie? If it has, what’s the beef McCain. If it hasn’t, that’s the beef NYT. Personally, I haven’t seen much focus on Obama’s involvement with Fannie and Freddie in the NYT but I don’t do much recreational reading anymore.
204. Citizen Voter | 09.22.08
The truth hurts - McCain’s campaign IS sponsored by lobbyists, they were the ones that gave him money when none of the republican base would.
I am so fascinated at the pious free market republicans who admonished citizens to toughen up after job losses in the global market, who extolled the benefits of creative destruction. They are now all lining up for their bailouts, their money from the public dole - are they going to call themselves marxists now? It’s a shameful time to be a republican.
205. goldieluck | 09.22.08
To Tim, You are so freaking pathetic, ignorant and stupid. You are probably un-educated, jeolous, selfish man many reasons why you didn’t like Obama in the White House. Guess what! Obama is our next President, so what ever color you may have, hang yourself after election. STUPID! You were like McCain and Sarah the pig, you are thinking about your personal and selfish agenda instead of our country.
206. Elizabeth | 09.22.08
Regarding Comment #28:
Your comment is a joke right?
1) The tie between Franklyn Raines and Obama is dubious at best. By Raines admission there were a couple of phone calls with someone from Obama’s staff about general housing and economic issues. That hardly qualifies him as a campaign manager.
2) Campaigns have one manager. David Plouffe is the campaign manager for Obama. Look it up, it is not a secret.
The sad thing is that lots of people will read your comment and think it to be fact. Are you tied to the McCain campaign?
More lies from the right.
207. LG | 09.22.08
When the fourth estate starts to actually report UNBIASED news on the candidates, then people may actually buy newspapers. The slant is so far to the left that it leaves me speechless. I can’t watch NBC because of it’s agenda to promote Obama. My local newspaper ditto. All I want is HONEST reporting on both candidates without the varnish and the slant. What has happened to this country?
208. PAK | 09.22.08
Some of you people need to really relax a lil. Get a grip. Most of the fanatics around here are the Obama fans. I am an independent from AZ and I am teetering right now. Unfortunately, while I like Obama, a lot, I can’t stand most of you people that support him. What a dilema? I am not a huge McCain fan, but I can relate to his supporters more. Good thing for me, I am voting for my own reasons and not for yours, theirs, or the lame duck press. For the record, FOX & NYT = ****. Both are in the same toilet full of **** for me, equally spaced from the hole on both sides, going round and round. I just want unbiased down the middle news. Is it too much to ask for?
209. goldieluck | 09.22.08
So many reasons not to elect McCain and Palin, one is We all going to live in Imaginary World with full of lies and deciets. Wake Up Americans, don’t let these liars manipulate you. We are Americans and stand up for what is rigth. Vote Obama and Biden.
210. Hank | 09.22.08
This is obviously a smoke screen distraction for when all the skeletons start surfacing from the Palin closet It’s a political preempted strike, if you will. After all…. they’ve already established that the NYT’s are prejudice! How do we know….? cause Steve Schmidt, had a **** fit, fit to be tied! At a press conference of course….he never did answer the question about Rick Davis 2 million $ lobbying deal!!!!
211. Robert Zandt | 09.22.08
Steve Schmidt, AKA Karl Rove Jr., hates it when he gets caught in what he perceives as his kind of game, except, he does it so much he can’t tell the truth from his style of trash talk. And a temper too - wow, that helps him make good decisions. Is this a style of leadership that represents the McCain Campaign? Makes you wonder who is running the ship for the Republicans? Poor ole John has become a mere figure head for the same ole gang that has bankrupted this country over the past 8 years, and anyone who questions that is the enemy - worse, a liberal enemy. I am a humble middle class person who has raised his kids to be able serve the public and humanity with pride and not with division and fear mongering. I guess, if I listened to the McCain Camp rhetoric that I should say shame on me and my family for trying to bring people together and helping people help themselves. Signed a former Republican and hoping to be a proud American once again.
212. Getitstraight | 09.22.08
My, my, my…look who is second on the list of campaign contributions from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. And only 4 yrs in the Senate too…he’s done well hasn’t he? Go ahead…look up the entire list of contributions for crime. See where McCain is…then let me know k?
Dodd, Christopher J S CT D $165,400 $48,500 $116,900
Obama, Barack S IL D $126,349 $6,000 $120,349
Kerry, John S MA D $111,000 $2,000 $109,000
Bennett, Robert F S UT R $107,999 $71,499 $36,500
Bachus, Spencer H AL R $103,300 $70,500 $32,800
Blunt, Roy H MO R $96,950 $78,500 $18,450
Kanjorski, Paul E H PA D $96,000 $57,500 $38,500
Bond, Christopher S ‘Kit’ S MO R $95,400 $64,000 $31,400
Shelby, Richard C S AL R $80,000 $23,000 $57,000
Reed, Jack S RI D $78,250 $43,500 $34,750
Reid, Harry S NV D $77,000 $60,500 $16,500
Clinton, Hillary S NY D $76,050 $8,000 $68,050
213. Henry Finck | 09.22.08
Got an email the other day that describes the proper way to clean the toilet. When Mr. Steve Schmitt, adviser to anyone who hires him, gets back into his natural environment, perhaps he can give the cat some salient pointers.
214. WOI | 09.22.08
It appears from Mr. Schmidt’s words (and from several readers’ comments) that the McCain camp wants to change the meaning of the term “objective” from “undistorted by bias” to “flatly blind”. If person A kills a cat and person B does not, you cannot grill both of them for the death of the cat, can you? If McCain surrounds himself with documented sleaze bags like Davis and Phil Gramm and Obama does not, is the press still supposed to treat them the same way?
Throughout the 1980s McCain liked to spend holidays in the Bahamas with Charles Keating, one of his major fundraisers. McCain himself was one of five senators who lobbied for a more lenient government oversight on Keating’s American Continental Corporation and Lincoln Savings and Loan Association. The companies went bankrupt in 1989 (and the government had to cough up $3 Billion to cover the damage), and it became known that Keating had committed massive fraud; the only responsibility McCain accepted with regard to his personal political involvement was for “poor judgment”. Well, be that as it may, it is only natural (and rather advisable!) that the electorate (and the press) remain on the lookout when evidence of “poor judgment” keeps popping up.
Schmidt may be Rove’s stellar student, but he surely can’t expect the same old dirty little tricks to work forever.
215. JP | 09.22.08
The problem is that NYT claims journalistic purity when they are partisan liberals driven by agenda - and their line is picked up and dutifully carried by virtually every media outlet for days. No one shoves a mic in Obama’s face on a daily basis and demands he answer to Sean Hannity research regarding his relationship with Ayers or any other number of tidbits(not that I care - its just an example)…unless its to invite a witty insult at which we will all snicker at those **** at Fox.
This is why Republicans have to hire Swift Boat organizations and Dems can be satisfied with the media. NYT et al are nothing but Swift Boat organizations - and they claim, with all the arrogance that they can muster, the same high road that the Swift Boat organization claims.
I don’t want Fox to dictate events just like I don’t want NYT to dictate events. I want people to decide based on coverage that comes with full disclosure.
216. captbilly | 09.22.08
I think the question that was asked was whether or not it was true that Rick Davis got $2,000,000 to lobby for Fanny Mae and Freddy Mac. Did the McCain campaign answer this question in any way? When I ask my son a question about his grades or whether his homework is done, I can always tell the true answer by how much he complains about the question. If he acts really insulted and angry about the question then I know I have struck a nerve (the homework isn’t done or he got a bad grade on the test). If he simply answers the question, I am pretty sure he is telling the truth.
The McCain people were mad because they don’t want the question asked at all, they never even addressed the facts stated by the NYT.
217. goldieluck | 09.22.08
Thumbs Up NYT! Don’t let these stupid people intimidate you all. They are so desperate and trying to get out of the issue about the economy again. They know they are losing their grip because their candidates are lack of knowledge. They are trying to redirect the American people’s attention with non-sense issues. You were for the truth. Keep it UP! True American people are with you all the way through out election day. Keep publishing the thruth and you all be bless at the end. Vote for Obama/Biden!
218. MaBaker-she-handled-the guns | 09.22.08
What a yawn!! How totally predictable.
SCARE TACTICS!! BOO,. NYT. That is what the Republicans have been best at… Scream and yell… distract and remove from the main issues.
Is the screaming not why the self proclaimed Country Bumpkin/peasant Palin has not been vigorously investigated? Once a story breaks on the Republican side.. everyone is cautioned to back off. Can you imagine in it was one of Biden or Obama’s daughters that was unwed, pregnant and had been impregnated by a dolard high and coarse school drop out-???
BTW, Palin has destroyed her unwed, pregnant daughters life by accepting a role which basically outed the kid as some sort of strumpet, and put her under the worst scrutiny a child in that situation can imagine. She basically Monica Lewinskied her own daughter… “without blinking”… how awful.
That is not to say the NYT is not biased. I think that they favor Republicans and NEVER come out forcefully against acts by Republicans which they know are WRONG AND MORALLY REPREHENSIBLE… why? Because the NYT is SCARED of Rove and his Schmidt.
Democrats should rush Fox news and vigorously challenge their BRAZEN AND UNAPOLOGETIC..SKEWED AND MOSTLY DISTORTED NEWS REPORTING which all and sundry know is utterly partisan REBUBLICAN.
And to top it all Fox news adds salt to the insult by describing themselves as “Fair and Balanced”. How they must bellow in laughter at that one, when alone with those of their ilk.
The sad thing is that these lily livered NYT journalists will shriver all the way back to their caves and stop seeking the truth because Rove/ Schmidt have railed. The write ups will become mild and sketchy. Watch and see. Its the Republican game. Scream and yell foul, and frighten the truth seekers into apathy.
Let me say.. Shame to the NYT in advance in they do so.
What a mess…
219. ken wolff | 09.22.08
You call that blowing a gasket?! Sounds like he voiced his opinion, which is not acceptable today. The Times wouldn’t last an hour where I work!
220. McTired | 09.22.08
I used to respect McCain, but now only the Republican faithful, racists and idiots are sticking with him. How long can he hide behind Palin’s skirt? And talk about biased coverage in the media, can anyone explain to me how McCain managed to keep his name in the news all summer while doing absolutely nothing besides whining about Obama’s press coverage?
221. 212. Getitstraight | 09.22.08 | 09.22.08
I like to check sources…but if that is true, it should be noted and open for scrutiny as well. We have to put aside the junk - I would rather see a few extra of my tax dallors added to programs to keep desperate people from robbing me!
222. John | 09.22.08
Let’s call it “advocacy journailsm” and claim responsibility for it as American Citizens. The answer to restoring lost values is to restore them within ourselves first.
IF YOU WANT RESPECT - SHOW RESPECT, for yourself and everyone around you. Our our family, our neighbors, our media, our leaders will reflect our expectations. This is a Government “by the people and for the people”, meaning, Americans must set the standard for our leaders, not the other way around. No leader will save us, we must save ourselves.
Let’s call it the “duty of citizenship”.
223. getagrip | 09.22.08
Hey TommyF #69
Right On. This seems to be a feint, and Schmidt may have been kamikazee.
224. chris | 09.22.08
Nice bit of detective work there ‘Getitstraight’ #213. Now if you could just break that $126K down into who in the company gave the donations, that’d be great. Yeah, that’s the problem with data that’s all rolled up neat and tidy - it can be a tad misleading. You state that ‘Fannie’ gave Obama $126k, as if Fannie were a person. The fact is, when donating, individuals must state their employer, and a database aggregated on employer tallies everyone in an organization that donated. That, my Friend, is where that big number comes from, and I’ll bet you McCain’s last nut it’s from a boatload of different people.
226. Bias4Ever | 09.22.08
Anything reported anywhere is biased at some level or another. This is why we must all dig through the layers of bias and attempt to extract the facts. When someone attacks media for being biased rather than disputing the claims they present, it is often because the claims are spot-on accurate and exposes the attacker for what he is.
227. RR | 09.22.08
To some of you who can’t spell, write complete sentences, and sounds like you listen to nothing but Rush Limbaugh:
Look at the last 8 years. Enough said! Don’t be foolish and learn your lesson.
228. Rod House | 09.22.08
#96 Joe asks if it would be newsworthy… that Clinton signed the law deregulating the banking industry. Good question…. The law he signed was the Gramm-Leach-Bliley bill. It was Phil Gramm, McCain’s “economic guru” and co-chair of McC’s campaign (until Gramm called us a nation of whiners and called the current situation in its early days a “mental recession.”) Who’s responsible for the laws that Congress writes? A president facing a Republican majority in the House & Senate is responsible? Seems to me Gramm gets all the credit (& probably more money than I can imagine) and most of the blame.
McCain chose his long time buddy Gramm to run his campaign and as his economic guru. That’s enough for me, I’ll choose Obama for his intelligence (I read his book.) and his work with poor people.
229. RR | 09.22.08
224. chris | 09.22.08
Nice bit of detective work there ‘Getitstraight’ #213. Now if you could just break that $126K down into who in the company gave the donations, that’d be great. Yeah, that’s the problem with data that’s all rolled up neat and tidy - it can be a tad misleading. You state that ‘Fannie’ gave Obama $126k, as if Fannie were a person. The fact is, when donating, individuals must state their employer, and a database aggregated on employer tallies everyone in an organization that donated. That, my Friend, is where that big number comes from, and I’ll bet you McCain’s last nut it’s from a boatload of different people.
Reply:
I agree completely, Chris. Why must people push themselves to be so ignorant. Hey over there–Getitstraight’ #213!! What is the real reason you want another Bush to bend you over for his own benefit??
230. tmsailor | 09.22.08
To Mr. Martin Friedlander,
As someone who puts his life on the line everday he goes out to sea on a second rate submarine because the leftists of the nation feel it is okay to send their troops out without the proper tools to protect the people of this country, I am completely and utterly disgusted to have to do it for someone like you. To call any one person evil because of their beliefs and convictions is wrong and downright ignorrant. You stand up in your ivory tower and believe that because he doesn’t see things the way you do, he is “evil”? I hate to break it to you, but you aren’t that much different than the right wing’s, “You’re either with us, or against us,” mentality.
You like many other people that stand outside the gates of my base and protest and say, “I didn’t ask for you to protect me” obviously don’t seem to have their thoughts in order enough to make sound choices and will end up leading us down a road that will neither benefit this country, or harm it.
Open your eyes people. Its not the government that is wrong…No matter what the party is that is in power. It is the American people in their “righteous might” who can’t figure out that credit doesn’t mean free and that we are so caught up in our own selfish lives that we can’t make decisions that will benefit the nation.
Give it up for the “Me Generation”! You have managed to ruin this country and everything it was supposed to stand for.
231. Billw | 09.22.08
“Got an email the other day that describes the proper way to clean the toilet.”
Well… does Obama’s pottie need cleaning often then?
232. warren | 09.22.08
It’s silly to debate whether the New York Times is fair and unbias. All one needs to do is read it and keep score for a week. I even noticed a liberal bias and jab at some conservative policy once in the NYT sports section a few years ago. I can’t make this stuff up. If you are honest and truly keep score with no agenda you will see a 85/10/5 bias in reporting (85 liberal, 10 neutral, 5 conservative).
I will go as far as to say that at least in part the greatly reduced earnings, sales of papers and readership at the NYT is in part due to the fact that the Times starts out each morning with a universe of potential readers that is roughly about half of the newspaper reading population (democrats). Yes, the internet is grabbing readers from a variety of publications but it is nowhere near the whole story with the Times ongoing demise. Many intelligent individuals I know never read it and actually feel a little self conscious about reading it in front of obvious non democrats.
The public relations arm of the democratic party has a limited future; if you don’t agree, check out the stock price (only part is due to the overall market being down, NYT has been going down for years, bull or bear markets).
233. getagrip | 09.22.08
Go Joe #96
You hit the nail on the head. What are the issues, not what are the personalities.
It is repugnant language from the liberal left supporters who write trash, like that is really going to influence the mind of a thinking person?
My apolitical wife is going to vote this year for a change, for independent candidates just to be counted against both parties. She almost has me convinced, and after the garbage talk from all the Obama supporters, I am even closer, and I have relatives living in Kenya. What does that have to do with anything?
About as much as any of the rest of this rant and rave.
I feel better now, do the rest of you?
234. GOP08_DOA | 09.22.08
The internet and political bloggers are like a gigantic, super fast fact checking machine. Steve Schmidt and the McCain campaign are stupid idiots to think they can get away with the lies and distortions that made republicans successful in past campaigns where the internet was not as prevalent. Times have changed. McCain/Palin are stuck in the past. These people deserve to lose.
235. Getitstraight | 09.22.08
Chris…. here is where you find the complete list of recipients. It list’s the total from individuals, total from PAC’s and Grand Totals.
http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2008/09/update-fannie-mae-and-freddie.html
BTW… Jim Johnson raked in millions from his CEO job at Fannie Mae. Is that name familiar to you? Or maybe Franklin Raines? He only got $50 million. Or maybe Jamie Gorelick? 26 million. Something starting to smell bad here yet?
236. Mike | 09.22.08
Of course the New York Times is in the tank for Obama. Comer on people–by any objectyive standard you can determine for yourself this is trus and has been throughout this campaign. Like MSNBC the New Yrok Times has made a business decision to pander to the left and far left. Its called business.
If you want news anymore you have to read everything. Just google any news story currently in play and compare the differences in reporting. Conclusion–we don’t have news reporting–we have the news business.
Be very careful where you get your “news” in this country.
Its just business–like Wall Street, where greed and political beliefs trump transparency and integrity.
Sad, very, very sad.
237. Barbara Roberts | 09.22.08
#80. Barb | 09.22.08 writes: “Why do all you disgusting Liberals just want to stand there and get free handouts. If you people would stop having babies…”
Whoa, Girl–I don’t think Bristol reads this forum
238. whattheydo | 09.22.08
“168. Brady | 09.22.08
you think the NYT is bad read the Chicago Tribune…snip…blah, blah,blah…snip…the city democrats have ruined our state….don’t let them ruin this country”
Telephone for Mr. Brady…Telephone for Mr. Brady…
“Uhm, Hello?”
“This Brady?”
“uhm, yes, who’s this?”
“This is your brain. You left me in a new jersey turnpike rest stop bathroom”
“AHH! who have you told about that night!?”
“No one - really. look you need me back or what?”
“I guess not, I’m a republican now.”
239. getagrip | 09.22.08
#207 and #208
Ditto for me.
I can’t believe I let myself get sucked into this this discussion when I think about it!
#227 RR
What are you talking about. You must be the illiterate person you are describing!
#230 tmsailor
I salute you and your totally coherent thought.
Thank you for making this freedom possible.
240. tom | 09.22.08
McCain and Palin are deperate fools propped up by the GOP. They’re all about the big bucks and couldn’t care less about everyday Americans. The campaign they run should tell you everything you need to know, unless you’re one of them.
241. Norm Cimon | 09.22.08
The same old ****. Questions are never answered, glaring contradictions are ignored, half-truths passed off as fact, it never changes. There is only one mode, it’s attack, and one strategy, ignore the question while changing the subect. DO OR DO NOT THE PEOPLE NAMED IN THE ARTICLE WORK FOR MCCAIN AND HAVE THEY BEEN LOBBYISTS?
At a time when we’ve watched the so-called free market socialize all the risk and privatize all the profit there are no straight answers to be had about who got us here. Lobbyists currently on your staff work for FNMA and Freddie? “The Times stinks and they’ve got it out for us.” Never mind that just a few days ago the McCain campaign was trumpeting a supposed connection between Obama and a fellow who had to be reminded of when and where they met.
Hypocrisy and open-ended attacks, that’s it. These are the same jokers who blather on endlessly about “civility” in politics while they twist the knife at every chance.
242. Brad | 09.22.08
Oh great, I see McCain has skinheads working for him. Of course they have a problem with the truth or common sense.
245. David W. | 09.22.08
It cracks me up that Republicans feel Obama is being treated like a god! I’ve been trying to figure out where that comes from. All I can assume is that, when compared to the **** we’ve been through under their Satanic leadership, they naturally see him as a Savior!!!
Seriously, if you don’t understand the appeal of Obama, you haven’t been paying attention. How many trillions of dollars of debt have the Republicans given us? How many American casualties have they brought about in a failed war waged on false pretenses? How many lost allies overseas, lost jobs here at home, not to mention lost homes and lost futures? We saw how much they cared about “America” when New Orleans drowned; that wasn’t their America. And with our financial system on the verge of total meltdown, we now see whose interests they are looking out for. Anyone who votes Republican and isn’t a white, multi-millionaire should seriously check themselves into a mental institution. Even Warren Buffet votes Democratic!!!!
246. Getitstraight | 09.22.08
Barb.. you’re right about the handouts. Only problem is they haven’t figured out they’re not free. Nothings free. Oh..wait…that is unless they have no job, own no property and just lie around thinking they have the god given right to have the rest of us that actually do work support their worthless lives.
247. curious orange | 09.22.08
Elephant or donkey they both are corrupted by lobbyist
The elephant just costs twice as much
248. Steve Faulkner | 09.22.08
154. Jasper Ballbaggins
I read quite a few comments before I ran across the above post and I don’t know why more of you haven’t mentioned this incontrovertible fact. Is Obama the right person for this job? I know the answer…NO!!! But I’m not sure McCain is either. The only reason for me commenting on this particular matter is I am very disturbed about all the name calling and such. We are all human beings on a very small planet trying to make it from start to finish and I’m close to the finish line. In all my years I find the blame can be laid at the feet of the greedy people who run, try to run, this country. Be it Republican or Democrat! Please, lets all play nice in the sand box and be friends. If we can’t be exactly friends let’s have a little respect for each other.
249. getagrip | 09.22.08
#186 Bo
How sad you must be, to not allow another their beliefs.
And your implied lack of God is a basic tenet of communism. There was a famous USSR Primier who stated that the USSR would destroy the USA without firing a shot, and it is happening, from within, much as the fall of the Roman Empire.
If Christianity were a state religion, the country embracing it would deteriorate after a few hundred years. OH! Wait! That is the history of mankind, all the selfish bickering of all the self-absorbed people, who find they can tax the people to make themselves rich! Hence kingdoms fall.
250. mike | 09.22.08
dont McCains people know that baby jesus cries everytime they lie… why would they do such a thing?… vote Bob Barr he dosent make baby jesus cry.
251. erik | 09.22.08
You know things are going really wrong when McCains people start calling out FOX… Thou shall not bite the hand that feeds the sheep….
FYI… yep some lean left some lean right.. If that is news to you then shoot yourself in the head or dont vote because you are dumb and nothing can be done about it… If you took a cross section the slight majority would be leaning left.. Why you ask, well that comes with a college education… elitists I swear thinking they are smarter, we will show them… lets vote for the bumpkin! Glad everybody is thinking about country first… you people are a crock….
252. ed vatterott | 09.22.08
re: # 110 hobbesfan | 09.22.08
I believe I may have seen the interview you mentioned. He was asked about getting Bin Laden, and he said that Bin Laden was “in the mountains between Pakistan and Afghanistan”. Unless the maps I see are all wrong, there is nothing between the two countries since they border each other. The mountains he is said to be hiding in are in Pakistan. I felt the Senator side stepped the issue of attacking a sovereign country.
That still does not address the question I had regarding Iran. I would like to know how he would handle it. I think it is an important and newsworthy question.
253. Ron | 09.22.08
You didn’t hear from me first, but why is everyone making excuses for Sarah Palin’s stupidity. She would have a hard time getting a job as a cashier at Wal Mart. Tomorrow she will do a meet and greet with 9 world leaders in 20 hours. I bet that she could do more.
254. wolf | 09.23.08
Considering all of the most-blatant lies coming from McCain and Palin, I think, this whole idea of indignation is ludicrous. If they held themselves to the same measure, that they hold others to, they’d have a coronary.
255. Al | 09.23.08
McCain camp’s state of delusion: Once you give up integrity, rest is a piece of cake! Thank you for making that clear, but it will not work.
The only good advice that came from McCain campaign is ‘Country First!’, which we should follow and make sure that the country’s fate doesn’t fall in McPalin’s hands.
256. Strummer | 09.23.08
Typical b.s. from the so-called “right”. How dare the press report or question anything? Never mind answering the question, just be indignant that you are being questioned at all. The same tactics got us into Iraq. If you question the President, you are anti-American. The Dems backed down because of this, and so did the press. After reading the conservative take on this and other issues, I have one question. How did the “right” become associated with Christianity? If the leadership of this country was truly Christian there would have been at least a certain level of guaranteed health care long ago. Our military would be used only for self defense, if that. There would be no such thing as the “golden parachutes” that already wealthy execs get when leaving their companies, particularly when they have run those companies into the ground. There would be no tax cuts for the wealthy. There would be no arguement about abortion or gay marriage, because everyone would have actual faith that if those things are wrong, judgement will happen. Legislated morality means nothing, people. A choice must be made. I think that we’re in trouble as a nation. Personally I believe that the two party system is holding us back. “Change” is the buzzword, and change is greatly needed but I don’t think much will, no matter who is elected. Of the two, I think Obama has the greatest chance to at least try and change some things. For this reason, McCain will most likely win. Those in charge don’t want change. They’re doing just fine the way things are. Obama is the very personification of The American Dream, and McCain is the very personification of how that dream has been corrupted. The rest of the world is supposed to look at our democratic process and want to emulate it? Give me a break.
257. Van | 09.23.08
I have heard Sarah Palan has not had an abortion. This is the major accomplishment of her life, praise the lord! Thankfully she believes in the Trickle Down Theory of economics championed by our great Ronny Reagon! Praise the lord. She has not made public her views but I am certain she hates the nonchristians to include the Catholics, Jews, women, Mormons, and homosexuals! Praise God, and thank you for Republicans to save the nation!
258. lamont cranston | 09.23.08
Notice that Steve Schmidt successfully avoided actually ANSWERING THE QUESTION.
No need to mention Fox News as a counter example of partisan reporting, or to try to explain the insult, logic is not involved in this, it is a smokescreen - just resubmit the question, and insist, politely but firmly, in a rational answer.
waiting……
259. gdgarant | 09.23.08
If there is anyone out there that would deny the NY Times is in the tank for Obama that they are they are either completely incapable of thought or they are blatant liars.
Of course they are a disgrace to the journalism .. you can’t sink much lower.
260. Marilyn | 09.23.08
Is the NYT finally trying to atone for the Judith Miller embed yarns on WMD and the refusal of the US media to ask real questions about the Bush/McCain attack on Iraq?
261. Ambersand | 09.23.08
“The New York Times is committed to covering the candidates fully, fairly and aggressively”
Yep.
Fair for Obama.
Aggressive for Palin.
Sweet.
262. John | 09.23.08
John McCain and his people have completely lost their minds! If you’re going to base so much of your campaign on lies about your opponent, then you will get questioned by the media on it. Be more truthful in your campaigning, and you won’t get called out by the media! McCain’s people are trying to intimidate the media, and I hope it doesn’t work. They are trying to control the media, so they can keep lying in their ads and campaigning, without getting questioned about them. Steve Schmidt is just as big of a *** as Rove.
263. rohit | 09.23.08
As a centrist who supports Obama, I completely agree with the criticism coming from the McCain campaign. The NY Times has essentially abandoned journalistic honesty (as have some other parts of the media). How many readaers of the Times know that governor Palin, her husband and their two children are registered organ donors or that under Palin, Alaska became the first state where more than half of the adults are so registered? I suspect very few, because the Times is not going to report on something good about Palin. Palin does have some defects. But the defects are all that the Times will ever tell us about. I do wish the Times had not become a rag sheet, but alas, my wish has come to nought.
264. Microtek | 09.23.08
How much does Obama’s house cost?
How does Obama pay for his house?
How Obama’s relations to his spiritual leader effect his mind?
Why does Obama have so many terrorist friends who want to bomb America?
Why Hamas and Iran President want Obama to be president?
…
…
None of the above questions addressed by the New York Times. WHY???? WHY????
Shame on The NEW YORK TIMES.
265. Gerry | 09.23.08
Seems like everyone here forgets that McCain was part of the “Keating Five” scandal…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keating_Five
McCain is no saint. If anything, McCain is George Bush III…
266. Jo Farr | 09.23.08
I wonder if this will ever get publised here..
I have a greater concern than the antics of political aids.
If we do not elect a President that can handle national security, then we will not have to worry about the economy, politics, or anything else but war here. Do you not think for one minute that the destruction of the US is still the number 1 thought of terrorists? I have watched all the reporting on both candidates, and personally I support McCain…not that he is the greatest choice…but he has the experience. Has anyone else ever though that George Bush was only in office a very short time before the worst foreign terrorism attack ever to happen on American soil was thrust upon him.
I would rather have someone with WAR experience. It is not a pleasant experience. Nor it is it one that will ever be forgotten.
267. American | 09.23.08
IN response to Barb’s comment : “If you people (liberals) would stop having babies, quit protesting, have some personal responsibility, and get a job this country would be much better off.”
I have no children, I dont protest (yet), have a job, and don’t whine either. It’s that last one you seem to have trouble with. As for personal responsibility, I believe the only relevance that has here is toward the democratic process, which I am obviously active in. Stop generalizing and judging people you dont even know.
268. PulSamsara | 09.23.08
After years of complete republican failure - even reality has a Democratic bias.
What should we expect after utter failure ?
John McCain - your party deserves to lose - and lose bad.
269. Brian | 09.23.08
266. Jo Farr | 09.23.08
I would rather have someone with WAR experience. It is not a pleasant experience. Nor it is it one that will ever be forgotten.
Actually, Adolf Hitler was a decorated soldier in the German Army of WWI. However, I would not say he served his country well as a leader.
OTOH, there a lot of good Germans in today’s United States…
You can stop “yelling” the word war, BTW. We get it.
270. adelle | 09.23.08
I believe the McCain campaign is at a loss as to how to manage the campaign. They’re being outwitted by the Obama camp and the media is NOT going to allow this McBush/Palin camp to do what they did with the Iraq war. The media is going to stay focused on the issues and ask the tough questions that voters have a right to have answered.
271. Eric | 09.23.08
@266. Jo Farr
And what did Bush do after “the worst foreign terrorism attack ever to happen on American soil was thrust upon him”?
He invaded a country that had nothing to do with the attacks, without UN support, without an exit strategy, and without adequate troop support to sustain the occupation and maintain order. All the while, virtually ignoring the hunt for the person who was responsible for the attacks.
Which of our two current presidential candidates opposed the war?
272. Claudia | 09.24.08
So happy to see that AP has picked up the McCain aide/Freddie Mac connection story this morning.
I am so damn sick of McCain/Palin getting a free pass. Hardly anyone except NPR covered the story that Palin’s operatives decided at the last minute to ban written press coverage of her meetings with foreign leaders yesterday, effectively trying to turn it into a photo op.
273. John | 09.24.08
This McCain aide Goldfarb comes off as hysterical. It’s it’s a typical neocon strategy to give a tongue-lashing to reporters whenever news surfaces that they don’t like. McCain is a politician and he would like to control the flow of information in the media. But the way he and his coterie go about it shows an extremist tinge. Please, keep these people far from the White House.
As the article points out, Obama has also been investigated many times by the Times.
The only party in the USA with its own pet (and major) news outlet is the Republican party, with Fox News.
Ayhers, Rezko & Wright have all been investigated by the Times and many other news media. That is how you all know about them. They have recieved extensive coverage, even on TV. But a single article into Rick Davis’ background is somehow unfair. McCain and Co. simply want a free ride. But they’re happy about media attacks on their opponents.
By creating needless hysteria regarding mainstream news media, the McCainites recklessly undermine one of the pillars of democracy, the fair and independent press. Goldfarb’s is an extremist, radical diatribe.
When the New Yorker published an offensive cartoon on its cover, featuring Obama (and his wife, for cryin’ out loud!!) as terrorists, he complained, but he didn’t claim it was part of a “media conspiracy”!
The last thing we need is another president rubbing elbows with the lunatic fringe radical neo-Con wing, wearing away at the cornerstones of democracy.
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Jimmy Orr has worked in politics for the majority of his professional career working for two U.S. Senators, two Governors and one President. Most recently, Orr served as White House Spokesman and Internet Director for President George W. Bush and Special Advisor to Governor Schwarzenegger for Internet Communications.
David Cook is Washington bureau chief of The Christian Science Monitor and host of the Monitor's newsmaker breakfasts. He was the Monitor's editor from 1994 to 2001. Cook is a graduate of Principia College, served in the U.S. Army, was a Bagehot Fellow at Columbia University, and is a member of the Gridiron Club, Washington's oldest journalistic organization.
1. jhonny | 09.22.08
I am shocked.
You mean questions like “How does it feel to be a winner?” aren;t hard hitting journalism?