Wednesday, October 8, 2008

The Media Is In The Tank For Obama, The Toilet May Be More Appropriate....Wait Until You Hear This One.

I found this article interesting. I couldn't decide what to make of it. Is it a big deal "how" he runs his campaign and "how" he treats the people following his campaign? I would love to hear some thoughts. Also, in the comment section of this article there were more than a few people saying this article was racist. What do you think? Senator Obama did state that one of his qualifications for being President was running his campaign. Regardless, it is kind of funny. Many of the other comments on the site were saying the media deserved to be treated like crap.

(CBS)From CBS News' Dean Reynolds: (NASHVILLE, TENN.) - After most of the previous 12 months covering Barack Obama's campaign for the presidency, it was interesting, instructive and, well, relaxing to follow John McCain for the last few days. The differences between the two are striking.

Obama is the big time orator, McCain is the guy who struggles with a teleprompter or even note cards strategically placed nearby. Obama's crowds are larger, more enthusiastic. McCain's events are smaller, but to my eye, better choreographed. And now with the addition of Sarah Palin to some of his events, McCain can boast of crowds that match Obama's in energy.

There is an urgency to the McCain campaign now that I don't think was there before. Due to the fact that he is running second, no doubt, but it may also be because McCain has a finishing kick. Whatever the case, he is sharper on the stump than he was before. (Though I would suspect a candidate running behind would want to schedule two or three appearances per day, instead of the one McCain usually does.)

It is true that McCain enjoys taking questions from the audience in town hall-style settings. That doesn't mean he is the master of that kind of forum, it just means he's good at it. He likes to converse with voters. Obama does it well too, but seldom achieves that intangible bond with the people that all politicians crave -- or fake.

Behind the scenes, where the public is not allowed, there are other differences. Obama's campaign schedule is fuller, more hectic and seemingly improvisational.

The Obama aides who deal with the national reporters on the campaign plane are often overwhelmed, overworked and un-informed about where, when, why or how the candidate is moving about. Baggage calls are preposterously early with the explanation that it's all for security reasons.


If so, I would love to have someone from Obama's campaign explain why the entire press corps, the Secret Service, and the local police idled for two hours in a Miami hotel parking lot recently because there was nothing to do and nowhere to go. It was not an isolated case.


The national headquarters in Chicago airily dismisses complaints from journalists wondering why a schedule cannot be printed up or at least e-mailed in time to make coverage plans. Nor is there much sympathy for those of us who report for a newscast that airs in the early evening hours. Our shows place a premium on live reporting from the scene of campaign events. But this campaign can often be found in the air and flying around at the time the "CBS Evening News with Katie Couric" is broadcast. I suspect there is a feeling within the Obama campaign that the broadcast networks are less influential in the age of the internet and thus needn't be accomodated as in the days of yore. Even if it's true, they are only hurting themselves by dissing audiences that run in the tens of millions every night.

The McCain folks are more helpful and generally friendly. The schedules are printed on actual books you can hold in your hand, read, and then plan accordingly. The press aides are more knowledgeable and useful to us in the news media. The events are designed with a better eye, and for the simple needs of the press corps. When he is available, John McCain is friendly and loquacious. Obama holds news conferences, but seldom banters with the reporters who've been following him for thousands of miles around the country. Go figure.

The McCain campaign plane is better than Obama's, which is cramped, uncomfortable and smells terrible most of the time. Somehow the McCain folks manage to keep their charter clean, even where the press is seated.

The other day in Albuquerque, N.M., the reporters were given almost no time to file their reports after McCain spoke. It was an important, aggressive speech, lambasting Obama's past associations. When we asked for more time to write up his remarks and prepare our reports, the campaign readily agreed to it. They understood.

Similar requests are often denied or ignored by the Obama campaign aides, apparently terrified that the candidate may have to wait 20 minutes to allow reporters to chronicle what he's just said. It's made all the more maddening when we are rushed to our buses only to sit and wait for 30 minutes or more because nobody seems to know when Obama is actually on the move. Maybe none of this means much. Maybe a front-running campaign like Obama's that is focused solely on victory doesn't have the time to do the mundane things like print up schedules or attend to the needs of reporters.

But in politics, everything that goes around comes around.

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

Now that's funny.

Anonymous said...

It is interesting, but palpable hatred of this writer -in my opinion- reduces his criticisms to something akin to the whiny and bitter rants of a spoiled child. He even ends the article with a less than subtle threat against Obama?

It is terrific that this man found an accommodating experience with the McCain camp, but at the end of the day, I am more interested in their policies than how they handled the ego of this reporter. I am trying to be sympathetic (really I am), but it really does sound like this person has a very high opinion of himself.

-The American Liberal

Anonymous said...

I'm sorry for the second post, but you mentioned that some people felt this was racist? Based on the text you provided, this doesn't even come close to passing the litmus test for racism.

While, I am on that subject a bit -"that one"- isn't racist either. Kudos to Michelle Obama for taking the time to clarify and squash that negativity.

Warmest Regards,
-The American Liberal

Anonymous said...

OK,

McCains folks are obsessive-compulsive, well organized. Obamas spontaneous and improvisational. The Obama plane always stinks. What exactly is the take away from this article as it pertains to the election? That if he's elected McCain will always be ready for company at The White House?

Randy

Anonymous said...

Obama has no manners, but he seems to have no difficulty keeping friends: Rezko, Ayers, Doen, Wright. People should stop insinuating that he's not a good guy to pal around. BA

Anonymous said...

I agree with the first poster. It is really funny. I agree with Smart Girl. I don't know if it has any meaning to it, but it gives you a thought.

Anonymous said...

I think this is a prelude of Obama as president. If he is disorganized in running the details of his campaign, he is likely to be disorganized in the oval office. As for the plane stinking, I think he would also stink as a president.

Anonymous said...

I would normally just find this an odd gossip type tidbit, but I believe Obama has used two things to suggest he has executive experience - running his campaign and his work as a "community organizer" with ACORN.

Well we can all see what ACORN is about - fraudulent voter registration - in the headlines now with cases in Ohio and Missouri.

Finding out that his plane is stinky is just weird. But noting that his agenda is run like a celebrity - with the assumption that everyone can just wait on you, without much regard for their schedules or other commitments, that actually does say a lot. This is his executive resume, remember?

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...

I like the behind the scenes stuff.

Honestly though. Since when does talking about a stinky plane equal hate or racism? Obama is just a man; he's not perfect. Yet liberals get really offended at even a hint that he might be anything less than perfect. A sure sign that they are actually starting to believe their own spin. Lay off the Kool Aid!

Stacy said...

Anonymous-this is hardly a site for hate. If you want hate you may visit Kos any time. That is hate. I listen to both sides in a respectful manner.

I asked in my blog for people's opinions on this article. It was not my article. I raised questions and you were free to leave your answers.

Anonymous said...

I found no hate or racism in the article. I did find a difference in consideration for people -- the journalists. One side is self-centered and not thoughtful of others. The other side is just the opposite: being thoughtful and caring for the people.

I would expect the same kind of behavior in the White House.

Anonymous said...

Very interesting, but right on target with what happened at the Obama rally at Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia. The participants left so much of a mess in the city streets that the City forced the campaign committee to return and get it cleaned up! At the Palin rally at the Home Depot Tennis Center in Carson, California, it was quite the opposite!

Anonymous said...

I laughed at first too. Do I think it's a game changer? No, but how someone treats other people does matter.

Anonymous said...

In Re: Stacy's question. I don't see any thing overtly racist about this article.
But the comments are laughable. The Obama groundgame has crushed 2 of the most powerful political machines ever assembled, the Clinton and McCain/Palin. Yet there are people here who think he will run a disorganized oval office? Gee, we can't have that, he might start an unnecessary war or something.
You guys have descended into character assasinatin hell. I ask you, if you applied the same standards of measurement to yourselves, how would you rate?

Randy

Anonymous said...

A hell of a lot better than you Randy.

Stacy said...

Both sides...please try to remain respectful. I know there is a lot of emotion in this election. Just try.

Anonymous said...

Randy,
We are not running for president. McCain and Obama are the ones running and I think it's important to look at them in as great detail as we can. This is our home and the home where I am raising children. I want someone I can trust to make decisions that will keep me and my family safe, both physically and financially. What scares me way beyond the smell of a plane and the lack of respect for reporters is who really is Barack or is it Barry Obama. Is he a Christian or Muslim? And why isn't he showing us his birth certificate? Wouldn't it be a lot easier than spending a lot of money to justify not showing a birth certificate? And who is this man who has had a pastor for many years that doesn't love America? Who is this man who has ties with Ayers? I don't know ANYONE like Ayers and I truly don't think I know anyone who knows anyone with a history of blowing up American buildings. It is suspicious to say the least. Not to mention his record of voting in the senate like a socialist. (I prefer capitalism myself). But of course has changed his stance during his campaign on many issues. I don't feel like I know this man. Frankly, I don't trust him. I can understand why people might want to vote for a democrat if liberal issues are in line with their world view, but I don't understand how people can trust this man at such a vulnerable time when there is clearly uncertainty as to who this man is and what motives might be. What he says in his campaign doesn't parallel his history.

Tenacious Texan said...

This was talked about on Fox News. The reporter seemed rather impressed with the McCain camp after spending some up close and personal time with them... Kinda like Joe Biden and his well documented fondness of John McCain.

Anonymous said...

You do know that Fox News is a business not a news organization right?

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