First thoughts: Double-edged sword

Posted: Thursday, July 17, 2008 9:16 AM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: First Thoughts

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, and Domenico Montanaro
*** The double-edged sword: With the news that the network anchors, including NBC’s Brian Williams, are planning to catch up with Obama on his overseas trip -- when they didn’t do the same for McCain when he traveled abroad -- the New York Times today raises this conversation starter: that the “news media are imbalanced in their coverage of the candidates.” There is no doubt that Obama, because of his historical candidacy as well as being the “new” candidate, is receiving more attention. But that presents both rewards and risks. Consider: Just how big of a gaffe would have McCain’s Sunni-Shiite mistake been had the network anchors all been there to cover it? The extra attention Obama receives also brings more scrutiny. And that's why his trip overseas presents both rewards and risks. And this is the lemons-vs.-lemonade debate the McCain campaign must be having. First, they need to figure out how to bracket this trip and keep pressure on Obama and the reporters covering him there. The time difference will present a challenge, as most of the news Obama makes will be during our broadcasts downtimes. Second, they may need to rethink how they are presenting McCain and the opportunities they are offering the media to cover him in unique and different settings. The irony to the extra coverage this trip is getting for Obama is that the RNC themselves helped hype this trip with their countdown clock on the number of days it's been since Obama last went to Iraq.

VIDEO: Presidential hopeful Barack Obama is heading on a five-country European and Middle East tour. NBC's chief White House correspondent, David Gregory, reports.

*** On target: As the political world anticipates Obama’s upcoming overseas trip, his campaign this morning released a shiny object for us to discuss: his June fundraising numbers. In an email to supporters, campaign manager David Plouffe announced that Obama raised $52 million last month -- which is his second-best haul (he raised more than $55 million in February) and it’s more than twice the amount of McCain’s $22 million haul for June (which was his best month). While Obama raised much more than the $30 million-plus that the Wall Street Journal reported last week, Obama’s $52 million is about what he should have raised for a candidate who is opting out of public funds for the general. Assuming that Obama rakes in at least $50 million each month from June until the end of October, that will be a minimum of $250 million. And when making the time calculation it takes to raise money, the ability to raise $250 million in five months was seen by many as the minimum a candidate would have to be able to raise to justify opting out and dismantling a finance team. By comparison, if you project that McCain will raise $20 million per month from June to August and combine that with the $84 million in public funds he’ll receive after the GOP convention, McCain will have $140 million-plus. Of course, the RNC has a significant advantage over the DNC -- but that race is narrowing. A DNC officials tells First Read it raised $22.4 million in June (up from its $4 million in May), and it’s cash on hand is $20 million (again, up from $4 million in May). By comparison, the RNC raised $25.7 in June and has $68.7 million cash on hand.

*** More numbers: A couple of more notes on Obama’s June haul: All but $2 million was in primary money. Also, contrary to the email that Plouffe issued, the Obama campaign tells us that they have $72 million cash on hand. When you combine that with the DNC’ $20 million, that’s $92 million cash on hand -- which is almost equal to combined McCain-RNC cash on hand of nearly $95 million. Still, McCain really doesn’t have a money problem. In fact, as Rick Davis bragged last week, money isn't going to be the issue many thought it would be just two months ago. Why is this? It appears many Republican donors are buying into the argument that the ONLY shot Republicans have of winning anything is the presidency. And this is hurting Republicans running for the House and Senate where Democrats are dominating on the financial front. Yesterday, the DSCC released a list of 11 races being held in GOP-held seats, and the Democrats were nearly on par or ahead in every race, according to the most recent fundraising report. Question: Are we seeing the reverse '96 effect taking place inside the GOP? In 1996, the word went out that Dole was a lost cause, and all of the GOP's resources went to saving House and Senate candidates in order to preserve their control of Congress. This cycle, the chance of the GOP winning control of either the House or the Senate appears beyond remote. Does that mean many of the professional GOP-givers are gravitating toward sending money to causes that help McCain? It sure looks like it.

*** Going overboard? Do we go overboard on the veepstakes vetting issue? Riddle us this: Would either Obama or McCain vet on the standard the media and the chattering class is holding? Would Obama have the experience or pull in any swing states? Would McCain be considered enough of a change agent? What state would he swing? Our point is that if both candidates think about this VP thing long enough, they'll realize that they got their nominations without all the things they are being told they need... Doesn't that mean it's likely they’ll pick running mates with whom they bond more than they will via some electoral idea? Discuss!

VIDEO: MSNBC's Mika Brzezinski talks with Mitt Romney about the presidential campaign.

*** Meet Mitt Romney: Speaking of veepstakes, over the next few weeks, First Read will run a series -- in no particular order -- of some things you might not know about the potential VP candidates. Today, we start on the Republican side with Mitt Romney. Most know his father was governor Michigan and ran for president in 1968, but Romney's mother, Lenore, also ran for office. She lost her bid for U.S. Senate in 1970… Romney received a draft deferment while serving as a Mormon missionary in France during the Vietnam War… When in France, he was declared dead after a near-fatal car accident… And don’t forget this: Right before the New Hampshire primary, Romney cast doubt on McCain's ability to match up with the Hope-and-Change machine, as ABC reported yesterday. "I frankly don't think that Senator McCain, despite his service and his length of experience, that that's going to be able to stand up to the message that Barack Obama has brought forward," he said. "I think Barack Obama would be able to do to John McCain exactly what he was able to do to the other senators who are running on the Democratic side."

*** Mr. Ozone comes to Washington: Al Gore delivers a speech on global warming that the AP’s Fournier previews after speaking with the former vice president. "Just as John F. Kennedy set his sights on the moon, Al Gore is challenging the nation to produce every kilowatt of electricity through wind, sun and other Earth-friendly energy sources within 10 years, an audacious goal he hopes the next president will embrace. The Nobel Prize-winning former vice president said fellow Democrat Barack Obama and Republican rival John McCain are ‘way ahead’ of most politicians in the fight against global climate change. Rising fuel costs, climate change and the national security threats posed by U.S. dependence on foreign oil are conspiring to create ‘a new political environment’ that Gore said will sustain bold and expensive steps to wean the nation off fossil fuels.” The real trick for Gore this time around in selling his campaign on climate change is how you pitch this public policy at a time when voters simply want their cost of living to go down and the biggest hit on cost of living these days is the price of gas.

*** On the trail: McCain holds a town hall in Kansas City, MO before heading to a fundraiser in Ferrysburg, MI. Obama is scheduled to be in Chicago.

*** Spouse watch: Michelle Obama hits a fundraiser in Seattle for Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire (D), who’s up for re-election in November. And Cindy McCain is on the bipartisan ONE Campaign trip to Africa.

*** Bill Clinton watch: The former president, in New York, appears at a Clinton Foundation announcement with leading drug manufacturers.

Countdown to Dem convention: 39 days
Countdown to GOP convention: 46 days
Countdown to Election Day 2008: 110 days
Countdown to Inauguration Day 2009: 187 days

Click here to sign up for First Read emails.
Text FIRST to 622639, to sign up for First Read alerts to your mobile phone.

EMAIL THIS

Comments

First Read: "-- the New York Times today raises this conversation starter: that the “news media are imbalanced in their coverage of the candidates.” "

Gee, you think? Reporting is one thing. Cheerleading is another. Down right campaigning for the man like Williams and others are doing is a yet another tragedy for our so called 'unbiased' media.

Joey Goebbels, Germantown WI (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 9:29 AM)

Let the hand waving and excuses start again for why the newsies are campaigning for Obama.

Jason Wilcox, Grantville, MO (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 9:30 AM)

The double-edged sword: McCain has been given free pass, leaving wife, Phil Gramm, No knowledge of foreign countries/cultures/religious affiliations, birth control and oh don't let me forget; flip flopping telling Obama that he needs to do what Obama has been doing for the past umteen years. McCain has switched, re-switched and double switched and that has not been given no weight as compared to Obama. Obama has made strides in reaching out to the nation and that is not reported, instead you report on negative this and negative that. New Yorker has made him take time away from campaign, but that hasn't stopped him. FOX and Jackson has taken away from important issues, but that hasn't stopped him. Let's get real, everyone can try to shake him but he is made up of the sterner stuff.

James Jonah Jameson (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 9:31 AM)

First Read what are you smoking this morning?

Are you seriously saying that Obama gets better media coverage???

Everything that comes out of his mouth get sliced and diced over and over again.

And then McBush makes some RIDICULOUS comment or statement and we BARELY hear about it.

If Obama said HALF of the stupid things that McBush has said then he would have been laughed out of the race.

Get a freaking clue First Read. We are not as stupid as you hope that we are. We understand that you in the MSM are trying your hardest to make this race seem close, otherwise your jobs would be BORING and the BIG GUYS upstairs would get a little hot under the collar.

We ain't falling for it. Go ahead and continue making fools of yourselves with shoddy reporting and laughable "journalistic talents".

Your children must be proud.

obama 08 (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 9:33 AM)

How did AlGore manage to pry himself away from that house of his that consumes energy like a foundry? Private jet up the coast to Washington for his big speech. Maybe fly out to the Hamptons when that's done for a long weekend of just deserved R&R.

Andy Stenson, Rochester NY (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 9:34 AM)

Chuck, while I agree with your assessment that the extra coverage on Obama also comes with extra scrutiny, it still frustrates me that you all refuse to even acknowledge that the MSM's narrative is determined by how close the race is. Most of the unequal coverage is due to the fact that if Obama gets too far ahead, then the race isn't interesting enough for all the pundits to pontificate on. When Obama's ahead, you bring him down. When it's close, you look to increase the gap. It's self-serving and, ultimately, dishonest. At least Chris Matthews was honest enough once to admit that he had a vested interest in the political drama.

Linda. Boston, MA (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 9:36 AM)

The obligation that the nominees of both parties have is to consider qualifications in case the Vice President (heaven forbid) should need to step into the Presidency. Old Politics suggest that they should pick someone that enhances their ability to challenge in an area that the nominee might need help in. Not sure the Old Politics play here.

My guess is that McCain will play it safe. I don't think Romney helps him, by the way, the right wing will not like his religion. I have a very personal experience and reason for finding a Mormon unacceptable too.

Don't know what Senator Obama will do. I hope he gives due consideration to Senator Biden.

sotiredofignorance (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 9:36 AM)

Will Big Al talk about the new 15% tax on every man, woman and business to support his so called climate change plans? Think that would have a Global Impact on the economy? Hope you all like soup and bread and long lines to get it.

Marcia Prance, Morgantown OH (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 9:37 AM)

It's not a riddle. McCain needs to select a VP that might be able bring in a swing state like Michigan. The problem he has with Romney is that he will lose as many as 5 percentage points in Bible best states of evangelicals if he picks Romney. McCain is not a change agent to take any swing states away from Obama.

Obama has a slightly different issue. He needs someone who is on the same page as he (is on.) Obama may not need the VP for geographic reasons. Why? He now has seragates to work for him in Virginia, Penn, Ohio, Indiana.Obama did not have too many seragates during the primaries. It was mostly Barack and Michelle. Obama will pick someone with foreign policy experience, someone who thinks along similar lines as he (Obama)thinks. Me thinks Biden protests too much. Still think it will be Biden.

Oh, by the way, Chuck Todd called Chris Matthews "Boss" last night. Chris seems happier on Hardball. Did Chris get a promotion? What is the politics at MSNBC? We all would like to know.

Ron Indiana (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 9:39 AM)

Yes, Teflon John has been given somewhat of a free pass by the msm; And, yes, had Mcbrainless said the Sunni-Shia thing in front of, say, Greg Craig, or an anchor, it would've been MUCH bigger news.

Class Warrior, D.C. (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 9:39 AM)

Extra scrutiny of Obama's words shouldn't be a problem for Barack. The man doesn't say anything of any value. How much can anyone twist the Hope and Change mantra of this guy?

Timber Reed, Oregon (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 9:40 AM)

52 million....compared to 22 million.

Small donors support obama and the country has spoken

GP Chicago (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 9:40 AM)

NObama (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 9:42 AM)

First Read states: “news media are imbalanced in their coverage of the candidates.” WOW! That's a shocker, isn't it? We've been saying that for MONTHS now. There is no such thing as "fair and balanced" journalism anymore. If McCain got HALF of the coverage for all his recent gaffes as Obama receives this race would over now.

Concerning the RNC: I've got news for them if they think the only "shot" at winning anything is the Presidency........they don't have THAT either. They have a flawed candidate. He's old, out of touch with America and has the wrong ideas on how to move this country forward. He's stuck in the 1950s. Their only "shot" of winning the Presidency is to have a different candidate. And it's too late for that. People want a change, not more of the same. When McFossil votes 95% of the time with the failed Bush policies, we would be getting more of the same. The RNC has No chance of winning many seats NOR the Presidency in 2008. Period.

Diane from Illinois (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 9:42 AM)

Double edged sword, riiiight. Barack could give the sig heil salute, and the lefties in the MSM would say he was waving at a homeless person.

J. Barnhart, Missouri (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 9:43 AM)

McCain if he's smart would launch a rural America tour while Obama's travelling the globe. Get a bunch of intimate talks lined up. Him around a table, drinking beer with real people.

Otherwise he is toast!!! The rest of world can't wait meet O. It will be like when the pope visits. 3 anchors covering him, When he gets to Germany over 100,000 people will come to see him.

Obama is starting an undeniable wave. After the trip will be the convention. And what can McCain do about it?

He better start whining like Hillary about the media coverage.

Even his VP pick will be neutered. Anyone with a 3 digit IQ knows it's Romney. He'd be dumb to pick anyone else with the economy the way it is & MI possibly in play.

By Sept 1 this race will be summarized as Obama and the old guy, if McCain doesn't pull a miracle out his a**.

A Charles, LA, CA (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 9:44 AM)

I agree that the media attention on Obama is a double-edged sword. While I'm very much looking forward to seeing videos/photos of the crowds coming out for Obama around the world, I know the media will magnify every mistake Obama makes, no matter how small. I only hope the coverage will be balanced in terms of positive and negative. Spinning every story to find the negative angle is draining for me as a viewer.

Further, I wonder if the MSM is afraid of McCain's volatile temper. You're right--the shia/sunni gaffe McCain made several times was not covered in the same way as Obama's mistakes.

Cindy Lou, TX (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 9:45 AM)

McDouble with fries will take us into a war with Iran.

BJ, CA (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 9:45 AM)

"Doesn't that mean it's likely they'll pick running mates with whom they bond more than they will via some electoral idea? Discuss!"

Discuss! You are funny. And I don't mean that sarcastically. OK:

My biggest hope is that Obama will pick a running mate he clicks with on a personal level. It should be a person competent enough to be his right hand, who will challenge him when he needs to be challenged, but who not set up an alternate center of power in his administration (see Cheney).

Amy B Portland, ME (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 9:48 AM)

"While Obama raised much more than the $30 million-plus that the Wall Street Journal reported last week, Obama’s $52 million is about what he should have raised for a candidate who is opting out of public funds for the general."
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Translation: The media had it all wrong last week. To cover up for our running with a bogus fundraising story, we will raise the expectations for next month to unprecedented levels to cover our behinds.

P.S. WOO-HOO! Obama raised $52 million! Way to go TEAM OBAMA!

P.S.S. Obama gets more media coverage and 75% of it is made up media drivel about patriotism and "can he take a joke". And now the media covers the media coverage and tries to imply that its and advantage for Senator Obama. Nothing like being followed around by a pack of jackals rooting for John McCain to boost your campaign.

Nashville_fan (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 9:48 AM)

Just because the press covers Sen. Obama more still doesn't excuse the amount of free passes given to Sen. McCain. McCain is the press' favorite and that is easily seen by the reluctance to report on his daily gaffes and missteps. I believe that the American media is there to attempt to derail Obama and distort his words much like they have done recently in showing incredible intellectual dishonesty in claiming the Iraqi withdrawal is some kind of 180 degree switch in Sen. Obama's position. To those who aren't brain-dead lemmings, there is a difference between strategy and tactics. Bush/McCain have no far reaching strategy except to stay and run like scared rabbits anytime a situation emerges on the ground. Obama has a strategy to begin to withdraw our troops with a goal of 16 months, take the fight to the true enemies who attacked us in the border regions of Afghanistan, and he will have the "generals on the ground" offer their best counsel to ensure that his strategy is implemented taking in concern the safety of American lives. The good thing about this foreign trip will be to watch the foreign media broadcasts side-by-side with their American counterparts and immediately detect the corporate slant.

In other mostly unreported MSM news, Sen. McCain has a problem with a religious advisor. A Catholic group has asked for the advisor's ouster but I haven't heard a peep from the MSM about this. Let it have been some religious advisor that went to 5th grade with Sen. Obama and we would have a front page story with the title "Religious MELTDOWN!" I've been noticing the new line of attack from the corporate media on Obama dealing with his humor. How low will you guys stoop to bring him down? Sen. Obama has a great sense of humor. I thought the Cousin Cheney story, "fired up ready to go", "Annie Oakley", Brush the Dirt off yo Shoulders, "You will not be the next NBA star or Li'l Wayne" commentary, and many more were very funny. Of course after corporate spin, he gets made out to look like he's talking down to someone or being a masogynist(sp?). Meanwhile Sen. McCain makes "Ape Rape" jokes, "Bomb, Bomb, Bomb, Iran" songs, and thinks the deaths of foreign citizens is funny but that's just good 'ol McCain being McCain. The bias is truly at a putrid level now. Imagine if Obama would have made any of McCain's "jokes", he would be done. Attack his "Americanism", his patriotism, and now his humor--what's next?

C.K. Steele Fort Lauderdale, FL (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 9:49 AM)

Obama has a slightly different issue. He needs someone who is on the same page as he (is on.)
--------------------
Ron in IN: That might be a little hard to do when Obama changes the page everyday. When he said "turn the page", he wasn't joking!

Obama CHANGE you can believe in DAILY (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 9:50 AM)

Diane, you're not even interesting any more. Cutting and pasting propaganda from left wing blogs here is not cool.

Not Diane (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 9:51 AM)

Bill Clinton watch. Who cares?!!!!

Linda, Allen, TX (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 9:53 AM)

I hate to point this out since I know that you guys can count.... if he needs a total of $250 million from June to Nov as you state (50 million a month) and he has now $72 million in the bank he need only average around $33 million a month between now and Nov to reach $250 million total. But please don't stop always rasing the BAR higher for him in hopes he won't make it so you have something else to "rag" on about him. I suspect he can raise $30 million amonth without breaking much of a sweat espicially since the GE donors have not really kicked in yet. BTW I'm not talking about just Hillary donors but his own big donors according to you provided over $120 million in primary cash.

Lyn (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 9:53 AM)

"Doesn't that mean it's likely they'll pick running mates with whom they bond more than they will via some electoral idea? Discuss!"

As long as Senator Obama does not pick Hillary Clinton, I will be happy with his choice.

Linda, Allen, TX (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 9:56 AM)

Ron Indiana, regards Chris Matthews, if he seems happier, although I no longer watch him as he is too much of a blowhard, it may be because he no longer is in competition with Tim Russert. A month or so before Tim died, there was an interesting piece on Matthews in the NYT sunday magazine in which it alluded to Matthews professional jealousy of Tim Russert and how insecure Matthews was in his dealings with Russert and the respect Russert had from the viewing audiences.

At the time of Tim's death, Matthews lauded him well, but also made a reference to Tim being a competitor of Matthews. Small point, but it underscored for me what I had previously read. I enjoy your posts, thank you for your insights.

gmhussein, Jupiter, Fl (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 9:59 AM)

Consider: Just how big of a gaffe would have McCain’s Sunni-Shiite mistake been had the network anchors all been there to cover it?
--------------------------------------------

Huh? Journalists have to be standing right in front of McCain when he makes a stupid gaffe in order to notice it? Lots of us non-journalists knew about it through this new-fangled invention called the the "Internets." You know, it's a series of tubes.

If you bend over backward any further to justify your biased anti-Obama pro-McCain covnerage, you're going to have to see a chiropracter

Houston (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 10:00 AM)

I'm still laughin' at the mccain camps notion that obama gets all the media attention. Well McCain, I think you should be thanking god for that because if Obama would have "misspoken" or made the "gaffes" that you have - the media would have been on him like white on rice - but you skated off with barely a mention. Naw, McCain, pipe down, believe me, if you had to tollerate the media scrutiny that obama did you would have been out of the race a long time ago. Also, if you were a personality that the country could get exited about, and if you drew the crowds that Obama does, yeah, then you might garner the additional coverage. But, the reality is, McCain is about as exciting as watching paint dry. I haven't listened to many of his speeches, because I can't stay away. McCain, pipe down and count your blessings, you've been given a gift.

Julie, Houston, TX (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 10:00 AM)

Your competitors at ABC News are reporting the UBS Bank helped wealthy Americans illegaly hide their money offshore from the IRS.

Since Phil Gramm, the Chief Economic Advisor to John McCain is the Vice-Chairman of UBS, what to you want to bet this is one of the reasons why Cindy McCain has refused to release her tax records?

Just another example that the GOP is no longer conservative, it's now a wholly owned subsidiary of Big Business.

Ed, Watertown MA (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 10:04 AM)

I can't believe all the yahoos on here complaining that McCain is getting a pass what a joke. Matthews and Olbermann are openly rooting for Obama every night.

Bill Steed, Mobile, AL (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 10:05 AM)

MSNBC seems to be devoid of shame. I'm so sick of these 42-long empty suits going on and on about nothing. They love McCain because although they talk tough they really are chicken-hawks. They won't actually fight a war but provided nothing but deafening silence before and during this tragic engagement. They might want to show their patriotism by doing their job -present the news in a truthful and substantive way.

Stacey (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 10:06 AM)

Can we all come to an agreement to stop with the “McBush”, “McAncient”, “McDont want to vote for a Republican” stuff! I am an ardent Barack Obama supporter, but this stopped being cute months ago!

Trent J Atlanta, Ga (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 10:07 AM)

everybody is trying to find something wrong with obamas trip overseas and no one has criticizm when mccain went overseas...another example of unfairness in the media

Awkward Exchange between McCain’s press aides and St. Louis Reporter
http://sensico.wordpress.com/2008/07/16/awkward-exchange-between-mccains-press-aides-and-st-louis-reporter/
or
http://sensico2.blogspot.com/2008/07/my-blogs.html

camie (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 10:07 AM)

I pledged to myself to give 100.00 bucks every three weeks to OBAMA. This friday is put up or shut up and i must admit that i thought this pledge was a little over the top but todays numbers give me much to smile about and reinforce my pledge. The american people are speaking loud and clear. CHANGE IS ON THE WAY
NICKB

NICK BARTOW, LESTER, PA. (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 10:08 AM)

Is it possible for the news media to cover Senator Obama's trip abroad AND the Bush/McCain FLIP on strategy with Afghanistan/Iraq at the same time? Or is that like walking and chewing gum for you guys?

The Bush Administration is meeting with Iran, planning to reduce troop presence in Iraq, and send more troops to Afghanistan - just like Senator Obama has been advocating all year.

Please cover this story. It is real and it is important. All Americans should know that Senator Obama was RIGHT AGAIN on Iraq/Afghanistan policy.

The Bush Admistration, John McCain and the media were WRONG about Afghanistan and Pakistan. Just admit it.

Nashville_fan (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 10:08 AM)

Ya think? The real hilarious part is when the actual vote is in it isn't going to resemble what you guys have been touting. Barack is the only one who seems to understand he DID NOT WIN ANYTHING BY A LEGIT LANDSLIDE...

Amy (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 10:11 AM)

So when does MSNBC and the rest of the media start telling the truth about McShames Gaffes???

This is becoming a JOKE

Nj (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 10:15 AM)

The Democratic Solider:

MSNBC -FR - why are you posting Maggie White's from Dallas, TX explicit racial comments?

Do you want to start a racial war? - Isn't things touchy as is.

============

Don't know about Maggie, but it appears Jesse Jackson is attempting to stir things up a bit.

William Beavers, IL (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 10:16 AM)

The Press Corps...including Mr. Brian Williams who pratcially slobered all over McCain when he interviewed him in early June are there to play the gotcha game called..."CATCH THE GAFFE". It's a new game where the first reporter to get the clip wins some kind of bonus points with their Cable News Network back home - maybe it's a $1,000 gas card..I don't know. This does not fool me. This is the "gotcha politics" we have been in these past 25 years or so.

I will watch the coverage of the Obama Trip on C-Span...unfiltered and without all the bloviating talking heads arguing over every word Obama utters.

Barbara C. - Fort Lauderdale, FL (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 10:16 AM)

Obama's Yes I Can and McCain's No I Can't moment.

http://tinyurl.com/6mwo9n

Truth fan (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 10:18 AM)

I have a very personal experience and reason for finding a Mormon unacceptable too
---------------
sotiredofignorance: then, you won't mind when people say they won't vote for Obama because he sat in a racist, hate-filled church for 20 years and even embraced the pastor as his mentor. I've had many LDS friends over the year. Believe me, I'd rather vote for a Mormon than somebody like BO who would embrace that hate in his church. I'd don't embrace the LDS beliefs, but they have a strength in family and supporting their community you wouldn't see at Trinity church where they're too busy hating.

NObama (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 10:18 AM)

Mr. Jameson-- I agree! Let's see some REAL McCain coverage by the media! Stories that would be plastered across the airwaves about anyone else just seem to slide by. The American people need to know the story-- and implications for the country.

Janet Salmons, Boulder, CO (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 10:18 AM)

I am in complete agreement with J. Trent in Atlanta, (one of my favorite cities) I feel as a ardent supporter of Barack Obama, I should honor him by being respectful of his opponent. When you reduce your ridicule or criticism to juvenile name calling your dilute the message of Senator Obama. Even as I drive my car with the Obama sticker, I am mindful to be polite at all times.

gmhussein, Jupiter, Fl (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 10:20 AM)

This whining about "imbalanced" coverage is ridiculous. Sure, Obama has gotten more coverage than McCain, but almost all of it has been NEGATIVE. The Times reporters won't tell you that, even though everyone knows it. "Journalists" don't like little details like that because they don't fit in with whatever bogus narrative their peddling at the moment. Ever since Obama took the lead in the primaries, there've been vicious daily attacks in the corporat media on Obama for flip-flopping, for not having a sense of humor, for being an angry black radical, for being "too liberal," "too naive," and on and on. Now the same Obama-hating media are complaining that they themselves have been giving him too much coverage. One thing it takes to be a journalist, apparently, is gall.

Houston (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 10:21 AM)

Whenever Obama makes a gaff the media always seems to be able to justify it.

In general, they can't can't give him enough ink.
Again this week, another cover story from Newsweek.

Enough. Stop reporting on the man and start reporting the substance.

mcm in vt (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 10:21 AM)

If the media covered all the flip flops of McBush, there really wouldn't be time for any other news.

Carly from California (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 10:23 AM)

"How many of heard that last week Obama proposed a new tax on carbon emissions?" NObama
Hey Nobama when are (you) and the rest of people like you going to realize "someone" has to pay to have a clean world to leave their children and grandchildren. I would gladly pay more taxes if it means we don't have to rely on fossile fuel - fight wars and damage our planet. Because in the long run, we are paying way more to destroy our planet and support foreign fuel than we would pay in taxes for a cleaner world and safer world. (and I'm not even getting into the health issue and what we all pay for health care for people who are sick because of our burning of fossile fuel.) Stop being so short sighted!!

Jean, Asheville, NC (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 10:23 AM)

the New York Times today raises this conversation starter: that the “news media are imbalanced in their coverage of the candidates.”

Gee, NYT, when did you realize that? And, why have you allowed your newspaper to be a part of it?

Interesting Al Gore going to speak about energy again. How many of heard that last week Obama proposed a new tax on carbon emissions? Now, that's not a direct tax to you, but it will raise the cost to you for every type of energy you use. Thanks, Obama, for making things even tougher for those of us who are struggling. We'd like to buy some of those $600 earrings like your wife buys.
NObama (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 9:42 AM)
------------------------------

What does earrings have to do with an Adminstration who spent the surplus. I hate to say this but the only why we are able to get out of this is to raise taxes to the pre bush levels. I last 6 years i have a easy time money wise, but to see other hurting. If taking an extra hundred dollars out of my check we help then do it. I guest i just have to cut back on 360 games and jordans. If you care about your country that mean you sould car about the citzens. Help them, not big business....

Kahn, Md (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 10:23 AM)

The only person that the media is obsessed with is John McCain. The media in this country is complety owned by the GOP and refuses to publish anything that would place any GOP member in a negative light. The also insist on posting everything about Obama in a negative light.
Take the example of the money raised. Just a week ago there were giant 40 pt headlines about how bad his fundraising supposedly was. When the truth comes out about how great it really was, barely a peep.

The press in this country has abandoned it mission and is no better than Izvestia of Pravda during the 70s and 80s. It is simply a mouthpiece for the ruling GOP.

Jack Rowley Atlanta, GA (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 10:23 AM)

Next >>

SEND A COMMENT

PLEASE READ: All comments must be approved before appearing in the thread; time and space constraints prevent all comments from appearing. We will only approve comments that are directly related to the blog, use appropriate language and are not attacking the comments of others.

Message (please, no HTML tags. Web addresses will be hyperlinked):

Your name, city and state (John Doe, Seattle, Wash.):

Your e-mail address (jdoe@msnbc.com):

Your website (it's okay if you don't have one):

Remember me? (We'll keep it private) Remember me?

TRACKBACKS

Trackbacks are links to weblogs that reference this post. Like comments, trackbacks do not appear until approved by us. The trackback URL for this post is: http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/trackback.aspx?PostID=1203669