Today there is a story in the Washington Post, discussing the McCain campaign’s fundamental tactic of just lying. Lying about McCain, lying about Palin. If their lips are moving, they are lying. But while the fault does largely lie with McCain and the Republican party for making outright lies one of the legs of the conservative stool, they have an accomplice in this act.
The Washington Post.
And all the other media outlets who write thumbsuckers like this where the dominant theme is “what to do?” The press has what amounts to a simple enough job: Evaluate claims, research them, and provide the readers and viewers with the results of the investigation. Instead, if the mainstream press were a detective it would say “Well, a lot of people commit crimes” as John McCain walked past with his hands covered in blood.
The mainstream press in this country has decided for a long time now to abdicate their role as a watchdog of democracy. I think that this is just basic laziness, but as others have noted it may be out and out malfeasance or bias. Whatever it is, if outlets like the Post devoted half the resources they do to thumbsucking pieces like this one that throw their arms up in confusion, there wouldn’t be the need for these pieces in the first place.
John McCain is a liar. Sarah Palin is a liar. And the Post should say so. If they find that the Democratic candidates are lying they should say so too. But don’t just sit there with your thumb jammed up your rear wondering where truth went when you helped to do the crime.
MORE: God, these people hate our democracy.
My favorite part (emphasis mine) -
“The more the New York Times and The Washington Post go after Sarah Palin, the better off she is, because there’s a bigger truth out there and the bigger truths are she’s new, she’s popular in Alaska and she is an insurgent,” Feehery said. “As long as those are out there, these little facts don’t really matter.”
Jeepers.
Weisman must be jealous of Broder’s Wanker(h/t Atrios) emeritus award. He’s doing his best to catch up fast.
Parthenon, that passage is some serious wankery. That being said, some news outlets are pointing out the lies. Bloomberg Radio in their hourly news report broadcast parts of a McSame speech and a Obama speech and pointed out that McSame was lying, while Obama’s claims were right on the money. Interesting for a business station and interesting for such a short broadcast. Maybe the BBQ wasn’t up to par at the last McSame cookout.
while Obama’s claims were right on the money.
Chuckle. Right. Obama has NEVER lied during this campaign.
Hilarious. It’s just a lot of fun watching you guys get your panties all bunched up over lying when Obama has been skating through this entire campaign season with a variety of lies, half-truths and misleading statements. So please, get the hell over yourselves behaving as sudden purveyors of all that is truthful and righteous. It’s as transparent as Joe Biden’s hair plugs.
McCain’s been addicted to lying every since he said “til death do us part” to Carol
Hey, Oliver, all:
I’ve been running around (figuratively)posting comments on all the lefty/Dem blogs I can find.
We all know about the McCain campaign’s lying. And the absence of consequences, despite repeated debunkings. Maybe not forceful enough, but they’re out there, at least.
If we’ve learned anything about the major media, it’s that they drop any story like this if it doesn’t gain traction, if the ‘narrative’ doesn’t take hold.
We have to keep it out there. Write a letter to the editor. Do an op-ed. Keep commenting on MSM sites, and don’t let up.
If we make enough noise, the media will have to cover the noise. And when they do that, they’ll have to bring up the fact that McCain’s lying. If it comes from the grass/net roots, Obama doesn’t have to get all nasty with McCain and S.P. (!!) and risk looking ‘unpresidential’. (but yeah, I agree it’s a risk he should take.)
“I’m John McCain, and I approved this message.” If he approved it, he’s lying. I thought that “responsibility” was the point of making candidates say that in the first place.
and the article in question makes more of a case for mccain than obama. which is especially depressing when you consider that the republicans seem unable to reference ANYTHING in obama’s platform without lying about it. but this is the victory the republican party has won in this country: all things MUST be equal in the eyes of the mainstream media or they are suddenly open to more charges of liberal bias. if mccain is lying then so is obama. it’s pathetic and frustrating to watch because it really seems to get worse as time passes.
Parthenon, that passage is some serious wankery. That being said, some news outlets are pointing out the lies.
And that’s a very, very good thing. I like Factcheck myself, they seem to take a lot of pleasure from calling out any and all politicians who are stretching the truth or telling fairy tales. Which is awesome; I just wish they were more mainstream. Were I a network exec I’d give those guys a nightly half-hour show.
And one would hope any segment about the manufactured lipstick issue would be prefaced by “This is total bullshit, but…”