Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Media Machine


In the waning hours of the Dem's nomination fight, its easy to see how the cable news channels are driving the narrative of this campaign. Anything to get a story, anything to get a buck. Much has been made of Hillary Clinton's reference to RFK's assasination. Yet it was clear that she only mentioned the event in passing, as part of a general timeline to argue that she should wait until everybody voted before she dropped out.

But, my god, the sky is falling. Keith Olberman said that he could never forgive her. But Keith, what are you smoking man? Why the hell have you got yourself so worked up? The anti-Clinton types see what they want to see, hear what they want to hear. To them, she is evil deceiver - capable of anything, credited with Machiavellian foresight, and bashed for having evil intentions in everything she does.

Don't you think its much more likely that she misspoke - only slightly, but in a problematic way? She has been under the radar for the last year and a half - every comment scrutinized, during every waking moment of every day.

How do seemingly smart people lose sight of that? The media sells their audiences to their advertisers. Thats how they make money. That is what drives this (seemingly endless) push for hot, ground-breaking, news.

Senior members of the media realize this. Check out John Harris's post on the subject in politico. See what I mean?

Friday, May 2, 2008