Agitated by McCain's 'Nasty' & 'Childish' Anti-Obama 'Attack' Ad --7/31/2008
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2. Barnicle: Subliminal Depiction of Obama as 'Foreign' in McCain Ad
3. Despite Standing O for Obama, Minority Journalists Deny Bias
4. CNN's Jack Cafferty: Now Its Obama's Campaign That's 'Flawless'
5. ABC's Shipman: Some Call Gore the 'Best' VP in 'Modern History'
6. Olbermann: NRA 'Trying to Increase Deaths,' 2nd Amend for Muskets
7. Letterman's 'Top Ten Signs Barack Obama is Overconfident'
ABC anchor Charles Gibson teased: "Tonight, McCain says Obama is all star power and no substance. Obama says McCain is using scare tactics. It's getting nasty. And it's only July." Reporter David Wright, who relayed how "Obama told an audience in Missouri the Republicans are just trying to scare voters," concluded with how "it's getting ugly early, and some Republicans are expressing concern about McCain's tone, in particular one former McCain aide calling the new celebrity ad 'childish.'" (That would be John Weaver: marcambinder.theatlantic.com ) On CBS, which put "Attack Ad" on screen, Katie Couric asserted: "John McCain sharpened his attack against Barack Obama, trying to turn his popularity against him. And late today, Obama fired back." For an expert assessment, Chip Reid went to the Politico's David Mark who declared that the McCain ad "seems a little juvenile." Politico's page for Mark: www.politico.com [This item, by the MRC's Brent Baker, was posted Wednesday night on the MRC's blog, NewsBusters.org: newsbusters.org ] Reid began by recounting Obama's media-fueled celebrity status: "Just about everywhere Barack Obama goes, the adoring crowds follow. 200,000 turned out to hear him speak last week in Germany. Here at home, his town hall meetings are standing room only. Political commentators compare him to a rock star. Now the McCain campaign has decided to try to use Obama's celebrity status against him." NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams teased: "On the broadcast tonight, going negative. And here's the question: What do Britney Spears and Paris Hilton have to do with Barack Obama. Well that's the questions being asked about the new John McCain attack ad and now the Obama campaign is hitting back." NBC reporter Kelly O'Donnell uniquely showed an earlier anti-McCain attack ad from the Obama campaign: "Team McCain maintain that Obama was the first to run a negative spot hitting McCain on TV three weeks ago." Viewers saw a very short clip: "On gas prices, John McCain's part of the problem." The MRC's Brad Wilmouth corrected the closed-captioning against the video to provide transcripts of the Wednesday, July 30 stories on ABC and CBS: # ABC's World News: CHARLES GIBSON, IN OPENING TEASER: Welcome to World News. Tonight, McCain says Obama is all star power and no substance. Obama says McCain is using scare tactics. It's getting nasty. And it's only July. ...
KATIE COURIC, IN OPENING TEASER, WITH "ATTACK AD" ON SCREEN: Also tonight, the McCain campaign compares Barack Obama to Paris and Britney. ...
CHIP REID: Just about everywhere Barack Obama goes, the adoring crowds follow. 200,000 turned out to hear him speak last week in Germany. Here at home, his town hall meetings are standing room only. Political commentators compare him to a rock star. Now the McCain campaign has decided to try to use Obama's celebrity status against him.
[This item, by Geoffrey Dickens, was posted Wednesday afternoon on the MRC's blog, NewsBusters.org: newsbusters.org ] The following exchange occurred on the July 30 edition of Hardball:
MIKE BARNICLE: You know we sit here in living rooms and dens across America and these ads come beamed across and you sort of, half pay attention to them. I think a lot of people just half pay attention to 'em. But there's an element in that ad, right toward the end of the ad where it has Obama's face up and the word "foreign," next to it with "more foreign oil." There it is, it's right there on the screen now. To read about the New York Times finding the word "rats" in a Republican ad in 2000, see: www.mediaresearch.org
April Yee wrote on Andrew Romano's blog on Newsweek.com on Monday about the question of whether minority journalists can cover the Illinois Senator objectively. She quoted Ernest Suggs of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, who objected to this question even coming up in the first place: "That mindset needs to change....It is offensive that because we have the same color or the same agenda, our journalistic ethics and responsibilities go out the window." For April Yee on Newsweek.com: "Can Minority Journalists Cover Obama Objectively?", go to: blog.newsweek.com Suggs might have a point, since two of the biggest cheerleaders for Obama in the media are white men: Lee Cowan and Chris Matthews. [This item, by Matthew Balan, was posted Wednesday afternoon, with video, on the MRC's blog, NewsBusters.org: newsbusters.org ] For the June 20 CyberAlert item on Cowan, "NBC: Michelle Obama Dresses 'As Brightly As Her Husband's Smile,'" see: www.mrc.org July 26 NewsBusters.org item by Brad Wilmouth on Matthews, "Matthews Defends 'Thrill Going Up My Leg,' Insists He's Fair," go to: newsbusters.org Les Payne, a black Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist for the New York City paper Newsday, is also quoted in the piece: "[Payne] said black journalists could cover Obama not just fairly, but also critically. 'The job of the black journalist in covering Barack Obama isn't to protect Barack Obama,' he said. 'We have to assume then that we are not in his pocket, that we are not beholden to him, that we are not in his swoon.'" Earlier in the blog post, Yee recounted how two journalists from the Dallas Morning News, Holly Yan and Matthew Jeffers, made a bet over how the crowd at the UNITY convention would react to Obama. After witnessing the response, Yan wrote that she "found the enthusiasm of some of the attendees 'grossly inappropriate.'" The MRC's Tim Graham wrote on Sunday about the passionate greeting Barack Obama received from many at the UNITY convention. Not only did the presumptive Democratic nominee receive standing ovations when he walked on stage and when he left, Obama received the "rock star" treatment from many of the journalists. One unnamed journalist even cried, "He touched me!" July 27 NewsBusters.org item by Graham on Obama's reception at the UNITY convention: newsbusters.org
For the July 29 CyberAlert item on Jack Cafferty labeling Obama's trip "almost flawless," go to: www.mrc.org Pretty flawless, Jack? How do you so quickly forget issues like the Illinois senator's church that he attended for two decades and his pastor, Reverend Wright? How about his "bitter" comments about people in Pennsylvania? [This item, by Matthew Balan, was posted Wednesday morning on the MRC's blog, NewsBusters.org: newsbusters.org ] Cafferty then listed possible reasons for Obama's lackluster performance: "One Democratic pollster tells The New York Times Obama still faces a lot of obstacles. He's young, African-American, relatively inexperienced, and has a background that not very many Americans can relate to.... Robert Novak wrote in his column that Obama's difficulty reaching the 50 percent mark is due to a, quote, 'overwhelmingly white undecided vote of 10 percent to 15 percent.'" He also extrapolated from two other quotes by Novak to bash McCain: "Novak, a Republican booster, describes McCain as 'wooden' and acknowledges -- quoting here -- 'Not even Bob Dole's dismal candidacy in 1996 generated less enthusiasm in GOP ranks than McCain's current effort'.... To be called more wooden than Bob Dole is to be called really wooden, Wolf." The full transcript of Jack Cafferty's commentary, which began 7 minutes into the 6 pm Eastern hour of Tuesday's (July 29) The Situation Room:
JACK CAFFERTY: It's a mystery to many -- why isn't Barack Obama farther ahead in the polls? CNN's poll of polls show Obama leading by five. He's up 45 to 40 over John McCain. In most polls, he rarely breaks 50 percent. A new USA Today/Gallup poll actually shows McCain leading Obama 49-45 percent. That's among likely voters. It seems like that Obama should be miles ahead of McCain when you consider the political climate. Americans can no longer stand President Bush or the Republican Party or the war in Iraq, and, of course, there's the deteriorating economy. And Obama has run a pretty flawless campaign, highlighted by that hugely successful trip overseas last week. John McCain, on the other hand, spent last week making one mistake after another.
Shipman didn't say who, exactly, considers Gore the best selection in history. She also failed to point out that Joe Lieberman, the Democrat tapped by Gore in 2000, wasn't elected Vice President. So, how would one qualify that as a "great choice?" Earlier in the piece, the GMA correspondent lauded the "emotional history of picking the first Jewish running mate [Lieberman]," the "bold move of two young southerners" [Bill Clinton and Gore] and blandly noted George W. Bush's selection of Dick Cheney as a "surprise." [This item, by the MRC's Scott Whitlock, was posted Wednesday morning on the MRC's blog, NewsBusters.org: newsbusters.org ] Shipman did offer one passing reference to bad choices by Democrats. Regarding the party's 1972 and 1984 nominees, she asserted: "You do not want, say, a repeat of Thomas Eagleton's candidacy, who was dogged by stories he'd had shock therapy or the messy finances of Geraldine Ferraro's husband, which was decidedly off message." However, much of the piece included gratuitous shots at George H.W. Bush's 1988 announcement that Dan Quayle would be his running mate. After playing the now worn out debate clip of Democratic candidate Lloyd Bentsen telling Quayle he was "no Jack Kennedy," Shipman slammed the politician for "embarrassing gaffes." The ABC reporter then lectured: "And even if they look good on paper and in pictures, they have to be ready and well prepared. Dan Quayle was not." She condescendingly added, "Advisers assumed as a Senator he'd be used to a few cameras and questions." Of course, one of the reasons Quayle seemed less than serious was because the media aggressively played up any gaffe and then caricatured him. Quayle may have misspelled potato, but he didn't express the hope that he could visit all 57 states, as Barack Obama has done. Journalists have ignored that and other verbal goofs by the Democratic presidential candidate. Finally, for all the Quayle bashing, he was elected Vice President. Lloyd Bentsen was not. Joe Lieberman was not. Perhaps Shipman should have factored these points into her reporting. A transcript of the July 30 segment, which aired at 7:16am: CHRIS CUOMO: Let's get right to the race to '08. The buzz on the so-called veepstakes has reached a fever pitch, with all eyes on the men and women thought to be on John McCain's and Barack Obama's short lists. But picking a VP is just the beginning of what can be a very tricky obstacle course. ABC's senior national correspondent Claire Shipman has more on all this from Washington. Good morning, Claire.
CLAIRE SHIPMAN: Good morning, Chris. Any day now, that's the speculation about these announcements. Will it be Mitt Romney for John McCain? Joe Biden or Governor Tim Kaine of Virginia for Barack Obama? Well, as the candidates put the finishing touches on this matchmaking game, they're looking very closely at history. Veepstakes rumors reached code red Tuesday. Frenzied speculation that Barack Obama, especially, might be ready for a pick. He huddled for hours with advisers Caroline Kennedy and Eric Holder as the spotlight turned to Virginia Governor Tim Kaine as somebody at the top of the list.
A month earlier, on the June 26 show, after the Supreme Court struck down Washington, D.C.'s handgun ban, Olbermann named Justice Antonin Scalia, whom he called a "clown," as "Worst Person" as the Countdown host ridiculously claimed that the Second Amendment only applies to the types of weapons that existed in 1791, like muskets, to be used in a militia: "You've got around 30,000 gun deaths in this country per year, another 75,000 non-fatal gun wounds, half the suicides are by gun; and this clown and his four colleagues decided that the 32-year-old ban on handguns in Washington, D.C., and the demand that firearms kept in the home be locked or disassembled was unconstitutional based on the Second Amendment." The Countdown host continued: "Despite years of fog created by the NRA and right-wing organizations, that isn't very complicated: For the purposes of forming a state militia, you're entitled to keep and bear arms. Obviously, those would have to be the kind of arms in use in 1791, when the Bill of Rights was passed -- the musket, the wheel-lock, the flint lock, the 13th century Chinese hand canon. Stuff like that. Scalia, of course, simply decided that the militia part of the Second Amendment is some sort of quaint anachronism that he could happily ignore. And there's the beautiful thing about our country -- they say anybody can grow up to be a Supreme Court justice. And in Antonin Scalia, there's your proof, and tonight's 'Worst Person in the World'!" [This item, by the MRC's Brad Wilmouth, was posted late Wednesday night on the MRC's blog, NewsBusters.org: newsbusters.org ] Below are transcripts of relevant portions of the July 30 and the June 26 Countdown show on MSNBC: # From the July 30 Countdown:
# From the June 26 Countdown: KEITH OLBERMANN: And our winner, Justice Antonin Scalia of the Supreme Court. You've got around 30,000 gun deaths in this country per year, another 75,000 non-fatal gun wounds, half the suicides are by gun; and this clown and his four colleagues decided that the 32-year-old ban on handguns in Washington, D.C., and the demand that firearms kept in the home be locked or disassembled was unconstitutional based on the Second Amendment. You remember the Second Amendment: "A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." Despite years of fog created by the NRA and right-wing organizations, that isn't very complicated: For the purposes of forming a state militia, you're entitled to keep and bear arms. Obviously, those would have to be the kind of arms in use in 1791, when the Bill of Rights was passed -- the musket, the wheel-lock, the flint lock, the 13th century Chinese hand canon. Stuff like that. Scalia, of course, simply decided that the militia part of the Second Amendment is some sort of quaint anachronism that he could happily ignore. And there's the beautiful thing about our country -- they say anybody can grow up to be a Supreme Court justice. And in Antonin Scalia, there's your proof, and tonight's "Worst Person in the World"!
From the Late Show with David Letterman, a "Top Ten" list written for the July 29 show, but edited out for time from what aired yet accidentally posted on the show's Web site, the "Top Ten Signs Barack Obama is Overconfident." Late Show home page: lateshow.cbs.com For video of Letterman presenting this list: lateshow.cbs.com 10. Proposed bill to change Oklahoma to "Oklobama" 9. Offered Bush 20 bucks for the "Mission Accomplished" banner 8. Asked guy at Staples, "Which chair will work best in an oval-shaped office?" 7. The affair with Barbara Walters 6. Having head measured for Mount Rushmore 5. Guy sits around eating soup all day 4. He's voting for Nader 3. Offered McCain a job in gift shop at Obama Presidential Library 2. Announced his running mate will be Andy Dick 1. Been cruising for chicks with John Edwards -- Brent Baker
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The McCain campaign's new television ad comparing Barack Obama to shallow celebrities such as Britney Spears and Paris Hilton so upset the network news operations that they all ran full stories, with ABC and NBC leading with the "attack ad." Though all tried to frame their stories as balanced looks at attacks against each other by both campaigns, it was the McCain ad which prompted the stories, the language used painted McCain as the aggressor and Obama as the victim fighting back ("responded," "fired back" and "hitting back") and two of the stories featured condemnations of the McCain ad as "childish" or "juvenile." 
GIBSON: Good evening. It is a pledge made by every candidate in every campaign, to run on the issues and avoid negative attacks. Just last month, John McCain pledged that throughout the campaign, he would "show my admiration and respect for Senator Obama." As for Obama, he pledged to "run a different campaign, run a positive campaign." Well, that was then. Today the attacks were flying so fast and furious, it was sometimes hard to keep up. ABC's David Wright is in Washington tonight. David? 
DAVID WRIGHT: Good evening, Charlie. The mud has, indeed, been flying, with Obama constantly comparing McCain to President Bush. And today, McCain comparing Obama to empty celebrities -- all sizzle, no substance. John McCain has been trying to raise doubts about his opponent. Today in Colorado, he was at it again. 
WRIGHT: McCain's spokesman shot back: "This is a typically superfluous response from Barack Obama. Like most celebrities, he reacts to fair criticism with a mix of fussiness and hysteria." Today the McCain side released a memo noting, among other things, Obama's fondness for Chocolate Protein bars, Black Forest Berry Honest Tea, and Arugula. In other words, high-maintenance like any big star. But Obama supporters are having none of it. Today they called attention to the shoes McCain has worn on stops throughout the Rust Belt -- Italian calfskin loafers that retail for $520 a pair. Late today, the Obama campaign responded to McCain's celebrity ad with a new ad of their own. 
COURIC: Turning now to the presidential campaign, which today seemed to be ripped from the pages of a celebrity magazine, with supporting roles played by Britney Spears and Paris Hilton. John McCain sharpened his attack against Barack Obama, trying to turn his popularity against him. And late today, Obama fired back. Here's Chip Reid. 
DAVID MARK, POLITICO.COM: No, I think it's going to backfire. John McCain's campaign is predicated on the idea of loyalty, somebody of honor. This seems a little juvenile. 
Mike Barnicle went into hyper-sensitive mode on Wednesday night's Hardball, as the substitute host feared the McCain campaign was questioning Barack Obama's citizenship, simply because a McCain ad placed the words "foreign oil" right next to Obama's face. Barnicle did pull back a bit, as he asked if he was "overreacting," but his initial reaction to the ad was reminiscent of the New York Times' claiming the word "Rats" popped up in a GOP ad back in 2000. 
BARNICLE: Am I overreacting to that? 
Apparently, it must have not been enough for Jack Cafferty on Monday to merely call Barack Obama's overseas trip "almost flawless" on Monday's The Situation Room. On Tuesday's program, Cafferty opined that it was a "mystery" that Obama didn't have more of a lead in the polls. "It seems like that Obama should be miles ahead of McCain when you consider the political climate. Americans can no longer stand President Bush or the Republican Party or the war in Iraq, and, of course, there's the deteriorating economy." He continued: "...Obama has run a pretty flawless campaign, highlighted by that hugely successful trip overseas last week. John McCain, on the other hand, spent last week making one mistake after another." 
During a segment on Wednesday's Good Morning America about the selection of Vice Presidents and what goes into the choice, reporter Claire Shipman gushingly introduced a clip of Al Gore's wisdom on the subject. She fawned: "But the man who is often named as the best choice in modern history, and who orchestrated a great choice himself, has some key advice." 
On Wednesday's Countdown show, MSNBC host Keith Olbermann claimed that pro-gun groups like the NRA "are trying to increase deaths by gun," as he used his "Worst Person" segment to attack a gun rights activist who infiltrated gun control groups to spy on them: "Mary Lou Sapone infiltrated the executive boards and learned the plans of organizations trying to decrease deaths by gun in this country, and apparently reported it back to organizations like the NRA, which are trying to increase deaths by gun in this country." 
KEITH OLBERMANN: The runnerup, Mary McFate, also known as Mary Lou Sapone. Mother Jones magazine reports this today. Ms. McFate is a 60-something woman, a quirky but constant participant in gun control organizations, like the Brady Campaign. Ms. Sapone is a 60-something woman, a former figure in the National Rifle Association and wealthy pro-gun activist. The magazine says they're the same person. As Mary McFate, Mary Lou Sapone infiltrated the executive boards and learned the plans of organizations trying to decrease deaths by gun in this country, and apparently reported it back to organizations like the NRA, which are trying to increase deaths by gun in this country. In other words, she was a Benedict Arnold for the gun lobby. 
