05.30.08
Posted in Politics, Race, men & women, sex tagged Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Racism, Sexism at 7:53 pm by soulful07
To hear Hillary Clinton tell it one of these is a magical wonderland full of choirs singing and everything is rosy because of it, while the other is a burden holding her back… or something to that effect. How does one quantify sexism vs. racism is there a woe is me off like You Got Served or American Idol? How do these things affect somebody who perchance deals with both issues? Hmmm I wondered so I asked an African American woman her thoughts and she summed it up lovely, “one is like getting hit by a train and the other is like having a bolder fall on top of you.” It would appear they both suck, yet it seems a bit ridiculous to say that one is a hindrance while the other has helped you get over because they each hold their own cross to bear so to speak.
The ugliness of this Democratic Primary has become “uglier” and “ugliest” at the same time. While I would like to say all parties aren’t guilty of it, some seem to have their hands in the pig pen a little more than others. The theme for the last few weeks have been that Hillary has had to endure greater hardships based upon her ovaries, as opposed to the black guy who seems to catch all the breaks. Feminist everywhere around the world should have recoiled at that statement or ideal of thought. Well that’s a bit of a generalization but you get my point. To say one is worse than the other goes against the equality concept doesn’t it, or am I simplifying things too much.
I don’t want to ever diminish the hardships facing women, or a female candidate for president for that matter, but I would like to be clear on a few things. The person with 35 years of experience, name recognition, a former BELOVED president (or BELOVED former president depending on how you look at it) on the stump, 150 super delegates in the bag before a single vote was cast, the largest group of influential fundraisers, party leaders, and insiders as friends and supporters, against an unknown black guy with an ARAB sounding name who just got elected to the senate a few years ago. Sure on paper way back in 2007 this Barack guy seemed like a sure bet. Seriously who are we kidding Hillary was crowned the Democratic nominee way back before this thing got started all she had to do was play out series. And to me there lies the problem with questions like who had a rougher time because it is subjective. While sexism is rampant in American society so is racism. For instance people with Arab sounding names are questioned about patriotism, people ask (and this is true) if he (Barack) would change his name so they could “feel” better about voting for him. Likewise I’m sure there are men and even women out there who wouldn’t vote for a woman because of equally ridiculous reasons. The difference here is racism is subtle like “where is your flag pin black guy” while nobody else is wearing one, and sexism is more visible like using terms like bitchy. Racism is subtle like scary black pastor is bad, scary white pastor with actual real washington influence is ok, meanwhile iron my shirt posters are viewed as a “joke” yet the dog whistle properties are both the same.
Frankly I can’t ever recall Barack Obama telling Hillary Clinton that her supporters are fools and wasting their time on her fairy tale presidential run, or that her win isn’t that big a deal in that state because a woman has won there before, or that you can’t reach certain voters because of your background, or as far as I know you aren’t a Manchurian Muslim sleeper cell presidential candidate, or calling her a drug dealer, or saying she isn’t good enough to pass a threshold of commander and chief while your hated rival is, or telling her even though you’re winning how about being my VP, or saying your only here because you’re a white woman, or you are lucky to be here because you’re a white woman, or all your wins are no big deal because white women are happy to see you but it has no baring in the “real” world, or all your caucus wins aren’t legitimate because they don’t count, or telling her all her hard work is a fluke because the press is giving you a free ride because of your sex and race, or I could go on and on but I think you get the picture.
Talking point number #3001 being tossed up the old flag pole today is that Hillary is the best candidate and therefore you must elect her. And it sounds reasonable at first then instantly I remember this is the same person with all the luxuries that most presidential candidates aren’t afforded such as, a former president on the stump, name recognition, and money… who lost to a empty suit (as many Hillary supporters like to jokingly call Senator Obama) and this line of reasoning falls apart. If she is the best why is she losing, luck, magic, fairies, pixie dust, or and I’m going to go out on a limb here, Hillary lost because of overconfidence, under planning, no clear message, poor money management, terrible inner circle, in fighting, sure sure lets elect the person who ran the most unorganized campaign in history with every ACE in the deck awarded to her before any of the other players were even dealt cards, that makes perfect sense. Then again by your logic if you today are losing because of sexism then wouldn’t it also be logical to deduce you will lose in November due to this same sexism or does it turn on and off like a light switch? Either way I’m tired of the bull, Hillary has lost every ounce of respect I once held for her, not because she is a woman, but because of all the crap she pulled out of a magic hat like this. Responsibility!!!! First and foremost, I would have a shred of respect to give back to her if she took RESPONSIBILITY. As leader of the free world this is what I want to see out of a LEADER, blaming everybody and everything for your misstates is exactly what a certain little shrub did when he was elected president in 2000 as I recall that didn’t turn out so well.
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05.18.08
Posted in Politics, Race, men & women, sex tagged 2008 Election, African Americans, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, John McCain, Nancy Keenan, Naral, Pro Choice, Pro Life, Racism, Sexism, white women at 2:55 am by soulful07
Wow… I wasn’t going to even broach this topic because of how delicate one must tread to not offend women, men, African Americans, white women etc… etc… etc… I really tried to stay away but this blog keeps calling me and quite frankly I’m freaking outraged at the outrage. It boggles the mind, to put this in prospective imagine that you were in a race but you can’t use the tires you wanted to finish the race, in the garage is another pair which fits your car perfectly, and not only that, chances are these same new tires will help you get to the finish line faster. Imagine that the driver was so upset about using the “other” tires that they would be willing to poke holes in all four PERFECTLY good tires and demand to drive of the original flat ones or nothing, thus allowing your competitor to finish the race take the trophy and basically ruin everything you worked your entire life for. This is exactly the position that many pro choice supporters are choosing to be in. I used to think ohh it is just the heat of the moment and everything will subside. Ummmmmm… no.
For those of ya’ll not in the know, women who support the right to chose are breaking out the pitch forks and bonfires and are set to march against Naral the pro choice organization because they have decided to break ranks and announce support for (pro choice) Barack Obama two weeks before the last vote. I actually put on my investigative journalist hat and did some research and wow is all I can say. Damn is another word that comes to mind. Women are pissed to say the least, I tried to sit through and read the vile offensive remarks left by pro choice supporters over this flap by the organization’s leaders. The repercussions are serous in nature, but outlandish on basis. Women from all around have threatened to quit their membership, vote for the republicans who hate their rights, create their own group, campaign with pro life people, and the list gets stupider and stupider as you read. Why you ask? Because they didn’t give their endorsement to the woman in the race. On first take it sounds reasonable pro choice members giving the endorsement to a woman makes perfect sense, because she personally and physically connects with the issues at hand in a way no man could ever do. However and this is the BIG however pro choice members as a organization giving their endorsement to the only woman in the race who is in no position to win is a head scratcher.
The situation becomes even more bizarre when you add to the fact that these same women who are fighting for these same important rights are willing to possibly give up Supreme Court nominations which could/will overturn everything they have fought for, and back, support, campaign for John McCain a nominee who is against everything they stand for. Ohh but it gets better they have thrown all their support behind the nominee (Hillary) who has a shaky at best record with regards to women’s issues and mostly jumped behind them when it was politically convenient. So if you are keeping score the guy (Barack) with an 100% pro choice senate rating is no good. But that’s not all the great fighters of the people have put the needs of one over the needs of the many on the line for a symbolic fight which will do nothing but harm to themselves and their credibility. That’s not just a head scratcher I think you have just reached the twilight zone. I’ve said it time and time again I looooove this Barack Obama presidential run, not because he is such a great guy or I agree with everything he says or does (because I don’t) nope I LOVE this thing because some how some way everybody’s true intentions are bubbling to the surface and you get to see what they are really really about.
The worst thing about all of this is the fact these people with the pitch forks know the stakes, but their feelings are more important than the actual freaking issues, and that’s where I hop off the sympathy bus. This is no longer a fight for women’s rights or politics this is about ovaries and who doesn’t have any, and I can’t respect that, just as I wouldn’t support a vote based on skin color. While Obama has recently gained a majority in the black minority vote, ninety something percent I think it is, believe it or not it wasn’t always like that Hillary once owned that vote. Hillary has also always owned the white woman and seniors vote. It wasn’t really “news” per say just an understanding, and today a section of the women voting bloc has decided to take their toys and leave the sandbox because their candidate is losing (fair and square). This tit for tat my way or else nonsense is everything that is wrong with American politics. Personally I don’t think you can complain about sexism then actually base your votes on sexism it kind of defeats and demeans the whole argument but I digress.
The thing that really grinds my gears and makes me blow my top is the fact that Hillary was given head start so to speak with everything possible going in her favor, money, name recognition, strategy, the former most beloved president as a surrogate, she was even spotted 150 super delegates before a single vote was cast (these people weren’t even interested in hearing the other candidates arguments) and yet here she is today losing. Much has been made about the reasons for why she is losing but frankly none of them have anything to do with things being “unfair”. No other nominee in presidential history was given such a head start and to complain about fairness when your opponent is a tall skinny black guy in America, with an Arab sounding name, who is has to fight off allegations about his patriotism based simply on a flag pin is ludicrous and outrageous to say the least. I could go on but you get my point this is a joke a rather selfish self centered joke, but none the less come November when nobody hears the punch line there will be no laughter just tears, but at least you would have showed them who was boss right?
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04.28.08
Posted in Politics, Race, Republicans tagged Barack Obama, Bill Moyers, CNN, Democrats, Fox News, PBS, Republican attack machine, Rev Wright, Voters, Wolf Blitzer at 12:39 am by soulful07
Reverend Wright wtf man, the way CNN and Fox news had built up your interview I was expecting you to jump on the table and body slam Bill Moyers. Everybody in America did… Imagine to my surprise several weeks ago when the most damning bit of sound bite I discovered was actually a quote from a US Ambassador on fox news of all channels wtf indeed. Imagine to my surprise I found myself actually agreeing with alot of the sermons when I had the ability to watch them in full context. “Context” you evil tool, how dare you inform me. Imagine to my surprise that Bill Moyers did a heartfelt interview covering a wide range of topics spending time on them rather than jumping to his feet and yelling. It would appear talking and waiting for a response is a more effective interview method, who knew *shrugs* (take notes Bill O’Reilly, Sean Hanity, Chris Wallace). Actually I knew exactly what was going to happen because I (like most people solely disappointed by the news coverage lately or lack thereof) did some research before forming an opinion about somebody.
I’ve tuned out of the mainstream media for a while, the battle royal between Clinton and Obama was beginning to get on my nerves. But it was nice to see an ACTUAL journalist in their natural habitat, I was under the impression they had been extinct for eons. The most interesting thing about this interview wasn’t so much what was said, however important it was, no the shocker was how it was billed. The news media can’t even just report something anymore, they have to include their take on things to make them bigger and better than needs be. Days before the interview I saw reporters salivating over what was going to be said and had begun taking things out of context before the damn thing was even aired. And what did we end up getting? A well rounded interview by a professional which actually humanized a person who was portrayed as a crazed lunatic.
America has a self esteem problem, I know most people thought it was just skinny models trying to look like Paris Hilton, ohh no America as a society has a self esteem problem with regards to their country. And because of this fear, people are more afraid of words then actual deeds. To me actually going into a country and killing people in my name is more offensive than saying God Damned America, but what the heck do I know. This self esteem issue has reared its ugly head before, remember when people held cd burning rallies to destroy Dixie Chics cds after they said they were ashamed of their President (today 70% of America agrees with them). But get this it wasn’t so much what they said, it was where they said it, in *gasp* are you ready for it… in ENGLAND those limey bastards. Likewise God Damning America isn’t such a bad thing when it’s said with regards to liberals Jews, gay people, and poor black people hit by a hurricane in New Orleans apparently. Yes I kid you not, the sentiment by a great many Pastors across America (Hagee, Falwell, Dobson etc…) is/was, God is Damning America because of the gays and various other liberal evil doers. So lets recap, saying God Damn America because of its horrible foreign policy and how it treats its citizens is BAD!!!! God Damning America because of liberals, abortions, and gays is GOOD!!! If you are confused just remember it’s all about the semantics.
So what is the aftermath of this great build up of titans in the interviewing circle? Nothing. That’s Wright, excuse me RIGHT… Nothing, no follow up, no hoopla, because the actual truth isn’t news worthy apparently. The build up to the story is more important than reporting the actual story. Now where on earth have I seen this type of reporting before hmmm oh yeah i forgot, the Iraq war. There was major anticipation news reporters went crazy showing you bombs fancy airplanes people rode in tanks then the war started and people shrugged their shoulders and went back to Anna Nicole’s baby. And this is why there are so many sheepeople in the world today, their attention span has been beat into submission. And when everything is done, after the climax of the evening news talking heads, people watching roll over, have a cigarette and take a nap.
For your viewing enjoyment
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/04252008/watch.html
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04.22.08
Posted in Politics, Race, sex tagged ABC, ABC Debate, Arabs, Barack Obama, Bullshit, CNN, Democrats, Dick Cheney, Fox News, George Stephanopoulos, Hillary Clinton, John McCain, Mainstream media, Martin Luther King Jr, MSNBC, Patriot, Patriotism, Racism, Republicans, Sexism, Voters at 3:57 am by soulful07
After watching that last ABC debate err… talk err… mud wrestling extravaganza “about” politics, I wanted to cling to my gun, but since I don’t have one and the bible was out of reach I’ll just use this computer to show how “bitter” I am. I’ve been sitting on these thoughts for a minute now, I didn’t think it needed to be stated because it was so obvious but apparently I was wrooooong so here goes. The theme building up lately has been to paint Barack as unpatriotic, the republicans have been working this angle for literally years now. I saw it coming a mile away but I didn’t really expect democrats to hop on board this idea. I could go on and on about how blatantly racist it is that the black guy with the Arab sounding name is the only person who is getting beat over the head with a flag, even though the other two people probably have alot more to answer for. And I could go on and on about how ridiculous it is that Barack Obama is the only person who (it seems) has to answer for what every black guy with a microphone thinks or says like he is their publicist. Or I could go on and on about how stupid it is that he is the only person who (it seems) has to answer for everybody he ever worked with, met on the subway, sat down next to at a diner, opened a door for, you catch my drift. The fact that these superb scientific benchmarks are only “applicable” to him has restored all my faith if in 4th estate better known as main stream media. And I appreciate every waking hour they have devoted to this in depth investigative research that has been used for years to determine who the next commander in chief will be. If you detected the slightest bit of sarcasm please continue reading on, if you didn’t I would suggest you go back to your elementary school and punch every teacher in the face for failing you.
I’ve been hearing this dog whistle for a while now and it’s starting to hurt my ears. What is a patriot? Does anybody even know anymore? It seems everybody and their gun toting grandmother wants their president to be one, but could anybody spot one if it fell out of the sky and landed on your head? It’s a catch phrase that has won and lost many an election, but it reminds me of a funny line from this movie called The Princess Bride. In the movie Vizzini kept uttering the word “inconceivable” and finally Inigo blurted out “you keep saying that word, but I don’t think it means what you think it does”. Mainstream Media, Republicans, Voters, Politicians, you keep saying “patriot” but I do not think it means what you think it does.
Is Dick Cheney a patriot, he thought it was so important to protect America that he fought tooth and nail to remain home from the Vietnam war 5 times. Is George Bush Jr a patriot, he stood up for telecommunication companies to spy on Americans without oversight and retroactive immunity. Is John McCain a patriot, he believed that Americans have had too many vacations Martin Luther King Day was just another excuse for liberals to have another long weekend, he has also stood out against for torture of everybody not American. Is Bill O’Reilly a patriot he fights everyday (on tv) for the rich white man minority, and has even served tours of duty in the war on Christmas. Is Sean Hanity, Ann Coulter, and the rest of the talking heads patriots for working overtime without regard for their sanity to insert republican talking points in the Democratic discourse.
It’s sad that in 2008 patriotism isn’t so much standing up for the principles of your country (like the constitution) on which it was founded that takes too much work. Patriotism in 2008 means wearing a flag made in China dripping with lead paint made by child factory workers. Nothing says I’m a patriot like waving a flag made in a different country which violates human rights. Obama’s problem isn’t that he is “not patriotic” enough, his problem is that he hasn’t exploited his patriotism into fancy photo ops during tours of flag factories. Obama’s bus isn’t named the Gettysburg straight talk eagle patriot flag Express, he doesn’t have a flag tattoo, his wife had the audacity (to coin a phrase) of being disappointed in anything about America, how dare she in this free country. The Obama name isn’t patriotic enough, he doesn’t have a dog, and a point 5 kid. Obama’s problem doesn’t stop there, he also had the nerve to assume that working with community organizers instead of working with a company shipping jobs overseas, crushing unions and destroying communities was the way to go.
Obama’s naivety is going to be a problem in November when is he going to learn, if you can’t bowl you won’t be able to solve the housing crisis. No war has ever been fought or won by anybody not wearing a flag pin (everybody knows it provides magic powers). Saying you are praying for me in this economic crisis is more important that actually making a plan and doing anything about it.
REAL Patriots jerks, clowns, jackasses for years have used flags, symbols, and catch praises to let us people know that words are more important than actions.
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04.07.08
Posted in 2008 Election, Barack Obama, CNN, Democrats, Ed Rendell, Hillary Clinton, Politics, Race, Republicans, crybaby, sex tagged 2008 Election, Air America, Barack Obama, Ed Rendell, Hillary Clinton, Liberals, Lose the election, Randi Rhodes at 4:45 am by soulful07
I wasn’t quite sure how I was going to write this particular blog. I have had many reservations about this race, and how things are beginning to play out. Adding more fuel to the fire doesn’t change things, but I think it does provide a little prospective on what has happened and is happening.
I’ve been paying attention to presidential elections for quite some time now. This particular race is special not from an first (African America or woman) prospective, no it’s something bigger. Don’t worry this isn’t one of those red light specials heaping magic praise on Obama. While I admire the guy I am more impressed with his campaign and the residual effects of this 2008 presidential race. True colors, you can’t make this stuff up, you can’t script it, you can’t even prepare for it but when you least expect it, these things show through.
Backs against the wall
When Hilary Clinton was perceived to be the front runner, she was friendly, laughing, and enjoying every minute of it. When Hilary Clinton was perceived to be losing in every perceivable fashion a very different person showed up to the plate. Over the last few days it was revealed that one of Hilary’s staunchest supporters for well over 16 years (Randi Rhodes) called her an f#@king whore. I can attest to the staunchest part because I used to listen to Air America and I heard her defend Hilary tooth and nail for years. I actually did some research and found the day the camel’s back broke so to speak for Randi. It was very what’s the word… Shocking… no, Revealing… no, interesting? Most definitely “interesting”, Randi laid it all out there, the brushing things (facts) aside, how outraged she was about her actions towards the party, again relating to the backs against the wall. Many many people have been thoroughly disgusted with the type of campaign Mrs. Clinton has run so far (myself included). For years I was told the Clintons ran the tightest ship in the business and quite frankly I believed it. They withstood attacks for many years, and the objective side of me ignored the fact that THESE ATTACKS WERE ALWAYS SELF INFLICTED, but people always rushed to bail them out every time. This tightest ship has run out of money two times already, failed to pay healthcare for its workers (ohh the irony), failed to pay bills (3 million still outstanding), it was also the very least prepared, and organized. One of my favourite games to play now is guessing which campaign banner Hilary was going to stand behind each speech. There was no theme just the wish to win when your back is against the wall.
Racism/ Sexism
One of the magical most interesting aspects of this campaign is the over use of racism/sexism. I’ve noticed the two candidates use these issues to their advantage on various occasions. Racism has worked to Senator Obama’s advantage a many times mainly because the republicans are scared shitless to use it against him. Hilary on the other hand has used sexism to her advantage so often I can’t keep track of it any more.
A new term has been created in the vernacular “Reverse Racism” and from my understanding it is when racist bastards like Sean Hanity cry about people being racist to a racist. In this world of being super politically correct everybody is jumping in front of words like they are bullets to protect my sensitive ears. It’s funny every election so far this primary season CNN… well pretty much every news source has reminded us, black people are supporting Barack Obama. Normally I just let these things go but when they were going over the stats in Wyoming and they tried but couldn’t spin it to match the only black people supporting him theme, I knew cable news was lost to us forever. The day they report Hilary has won the feminist vote I think I’m going to just turn my TV in and go back to cave drawings to figure out my news.
Donors
It’s a funny thing, the other day a group of 20 super rich donors to the Democratic Party wrote a letter threatening Speaker Polesi demanding she be even vaguer about her vague support! And I thought to myself it’s about time people stand up and make things even more confusing. At first I said to myself what gall, but in retrospect these people had made back room deals to get favors in return, and damnit this is America they should get their money’s worth. 2008 has taught us that in this space time continuum the poor guy with a 20 dollar donation is magically equal to the rich guy’s 1 million dollar donation (for now). And you know what, suprise suprise the rich guy is freaking pissed about it. While I’m not naive Obama has taken money from lots of rich people hell he even took money from the nuclear industry but, and this is a big but, the little people somehow have a say in things too for a change. I know, it blew my mind. Besides breaking ever record imaginable this thing is turning everything on its head every which way from Sunday. Personally I think it’s a good thing, for politics and the country.
“Liberals”
Some Democrats are racist, sexist, two way talking bastards. There I said it. Deal with it. It’s true. The dirty little secret is finally out, I admire the republicans for their forward stance on segregation and open oppression of the little man. It’s not about the shit they believe in, no no this is strictly about making people some money. And you know what, sure it’s an ass backwards and probably vile way of thinking, but I can respect somebody who isn’t a fraud. If and I’m talking the mother load here, if there is one thing I am glad is finally coming to the fore front, it is this under the table resentment from people who call themselves liberals. It only took a black guy and a woman at the same time to create the perfect storm but here it is. I don’t condone all the bitch talk on message boards and just in general conversation. But on the flip side many Hilary supporters are so hung up on having a woman in office they don’t or can’t even believe the racist shit coming out of their mouths and neither can I.
Entitlement
While I think Hilary is a smart woman and she is very qualified to be commander in chief as she puts it, I laughed my ass off when I saw her enter this race like it was supposed to be handed to her. She and Rudy rode in on the same horses and sadly those two will leave on this horse one way or another. Listening to talk radio is depressing, but listening to these uninformed callers makes you want to jump out of a window. The thing that is most sad are the people who feel Barack should wait his turn like everybody is waiting to go down a slide in the school yard playground. Wait your turn? What kind of nonsensical argument is that to make? It isn’t even grounded on anything but day in and day out I hear house wives and various other intelligent women demand Barack sit his butt down and wait in line. I’m sorry but if wait your turn is the only argument you have for Hilary to be president it speaks volumes about why she shouldn’t be president.
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03.24.08
Posted in 2008 Election, Barack Obama, CNN, Democrats, Fox News, Hillary Clinton, John McCain, Politics, Race, Republicans, Technology, Wolf Blitzer tagged Barack Obama, CNBC, CNN, Dan Rather, FOX, Hillary Clinton, John McCain, Mainstream media, MSNBC, New York Times, Rev Wright, Ted Koppel, The Washington Post, The Wire at 5:13 pm by soulful07
I guess the best thing to do is ask the question… what happened to journalist? Deep inside this paradox lies the trillion dollar Iraq war, Lacy Peterson question. What happened to journalistic integrity? And i guess a even bigger question is when did these institutions of “facts” become institutions of “opinion”? I guess what I am asking is, when did we replace these guys
With these guys?
I, like a small minority of free thinkers (I guess you can call it that) have long since unplugged from the matrix if you will. No not because of some vast grand conspiracy, no not at all, I got out while the getting was good, because I simply couldn’t take it anymore. It’s hard to notice the drivel passed around as news until you take a step back and watch all the news channels at once. The current state of the mainstream media could be equated down to a group of people in a crowded room yelling FIRE!!! After the panic these same people walk around and interview people about how they feel about being scared and/or confused.
My favourite thing about the news is how news anchors and reporters protray themselves as being shocked at the reactions of people they have spent a whole week stirring up. Actually I have another analogy try this on for size, today’s mainstream media is like a child with a large magnifying glass focusing the suns ray onto an ant hill. If done effectively it could provide light to the busy ants working below but instead it is used to burn a few ants in hopes of starting a frenzy. Too harsh you say… possibly, or maybe it’s not harsh enough. I think the most discouraging thing about watching 24 hour news media outlets is the narrative. It is hard to grasp at first, but when you flip through all the news shows at the same time, you begin to see news isn’t simply reported as just the facts, news has become mere sound bites and ideas tossed through your TV screen. The “narrative leads” is another way of looking at it. As you change channels it is fairly easy to see the catch phrase of the day. How is it that four 24 hour news channels with its hundreds of reporters, news anchors, and editors all decided on one phrase for the whole day. The odds of that are astounding… or not, the cynic in me thinks that somebody is copying off of somebody else’s work. And as such, are no longer “reporting” but “repeating”. Whatever happened to the crack team of investigators, whatever happened having different ideas, and interpretations of events?
Never has it become more obvious then this last week’s shit storm called the “Rev Wright controversy”. While I don’t agree with some of his views it took me 2 minutes of top notch investigating to discover that his most controversial of statements weren’t actually his words, but a quotation from a US ambassador. It was like celestial choirs were singing and the sky opened up and I believe my quote at the time was “wtf”. The sad realization sank in, news isn’t reported it is created. I refuse to believe that there is a team of monkeys wearing hats with the words press on it doing research for all 500 newspapers, magazines, and television shows. Somebody somewhere must have been said to someone hey buddy go research Obama’s crazy pastor, and this smart investigative fellow/lady must have, after doing the long strenuous 2 minutes of leg work I did, discovered this gaffe and told their supervising editors. Surely somewhere between all these thousands of people thrust with the most important task of reporting the news would have a said maybe we should provide some context or maybe even investigate the other candidates? No? Yeah I know but then THAT would have been news.
After the slight air of frustration had subsided I thought about doing a special comment like Keith Olbermann one of the few people in the media who is even bothering to do any research (or their job). I was and still am stuck by an article written by one of the creators of the TV show The Wire. He spoke about the newspaper in the show and one of the most shocking things about its portrayal. He goes on to say that the newspaper had missed or overlooked every important story of the day. My biggest fear isn’t so much that today’s media has missed, or done a poor job reporting every important news story of the day, no my biggest fear is that it was done on purpose for ratings.
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03.14.08
Posted in 2008 Election, Barack Obama, CNN, Democrats, Fox News, Hillary Clinton, John McCain, Politics, Republicans, Wolf Blitzer tagged Barack Obama, CNN, Democrats, Hillary Clinton, John McCain, News, Republicans at 7:54 am by soulful07
Like most of the country I’ve been glued to CNN’s coverage of the 2008 presidential election. My political views have always been moderate to some degree, but it’s kind of hard not to get caught up in this whole democrat primary race. Anybody who knows me well expects the cynical side of me to jump up and defend or bash Sen. Obama or Sen. Clinton. And while it’s easy to do I’m more drawn to the two differences between how both of them have run their respective campaigns.
If you have half a pulse and have drunk Googled recently I’m sure you would have run into the trillion debates on the internet for or against either candidate. The insta-pundits have weighed the options, put forth the facts, and broken down the stats. If I had to chose one solely on how they RAN things so far I would have to go with Barack Obama. But this isn’t a love fest, there are things that he is doing, or has done that pisses me off. Hillary on the other hand will go down in history as the (18-1*) 2007 New England Patriots of politics .
How on Gods green lovely earth do you squander all that money, your HUGE I’m talking substantial lead in super delegates, and public support?!?!!? I remember listening to talk radio back in 2004 and they were hyping her up like she was the Babe Ruth of politics. It’s like watching an Olympic athlete run a 100 yard dash and trip on their shoe lace inches from the finish line, it is the wailing of the arms and rolling on the ground that I can’t get over. Everything was graceful until she realized she was f$#king losing to somebody named Obama. Make no mistake she will lose, and when she does I think she pretty much owes everybody an explanation starting with feminist and the lobbyist and just work her way down the line till she finally gets to little kittens.
This race has gotten ugly, no pun intended (well maybe a little pun) I know the news is loving this, “Sen. Obama is lucky to be here because of his race”. That is one of those statements that when it came out of Mrs. Ferraro mouth (multiple times) and went into my ear all I could think of is, are you out of your cotton picking mind?!?! Not only does it not make sense, but the irony is so delicious, but I’m not even going to go there. I’ve been waiting for the other shoe to drop the whole primary. You know what I’m talking about, Wolf Blitzer opening his eyes wide and saying “OH MY GOD a black guy has black people voting for him… and and and wait, I’ve gone over the numbers again and this can’t be right, women are voting for Hillary… and it gets more spooky republicans are voting for McCain… my head is going to explode news at 11”.
While anybody with eyeballs and their very own CNN analyst can tell you Sen. Obama has benefited greatly from black voters. Just as Sen. Clinton has benefited from women, and Sen. McCain has benefited from Moses and half of the Old Testament voters. I understand all the hoopla, but the amount of time spent trying to explain this phenomenon has made me wonder why I pay my cable bill.
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