How will the media treat President Kerry? And vice versa?

[carolinayellowdog]

Hey,

Although it becomes easier every day to be optimistic about Kerry winning the election, I can't shake pessimism about how he will be treated by the media once elected, and what that implies about the next four years. The old Republican teflon/Democratic velcro double standard will persist in the media and possibly intensify. Even if Bush is out, his former enablers will never admit any shortcomings in his presidency and will relentlessly attack Kerry at every opportunity. Worse, the Republican slime machine will only pick up steam from Dubya's defeat, and Democrats will likely feel more beleagured and besieged than we do now. I doubt that we will be allowed one week of relief and happiness before the Mighty Wurlitzer starts a four year campaign to destroy Kerry.

Are there any grounds for hoping that the media double standard can change? Perhaps if the campaign is handled masterfully and some highly visible Republicans turn against Bush. Failing that, can Kerry handle the biased media so as to turn their destructiveness against them? Clinton managed to do that but even five years ago rightwing media domination was much less extreme than it is now.

CYD

[liberalnurse]

1. They will compare him to Clinton......negatively of course...

and not give him a 6 month holiday either.......Congress will fight him constantly and the repugs will have the media by the ear first. It will be a miserable battle. He will have to show his command in some way, some how to garner respect.

[BiggJawn]

2. He won't be able to ANYTHING right.

unfavourable comparisons to the Shrub, and oh, just wait til John throws the brakes on Congress' runaway spending train.....

"See! See! Kerry's RAISING YOUR TAXES!!!!!!"

I hope he has the attitude of "Fuck the Press, even if I DIED, they'd still find fault with it..."

[seabeyond]

3. and no bj for kerry in oval office

they will be lookin

[YIMA]

4. They'll rake him over the coals.

The press isn't interested in reporting the facts, they just want to keep the sheeple happy for the corporate plutocrats.

[patricia92243]

5. How did they treat Clinton? There is your answer.

[NewJeffCT]

6. I suspect it will be that Clinton got off easy

The Mighty Wurlitzer has only gotten stronger the past 3 1/2 years since Clinton left office.

I'm not so optimistic that we can win yet, though. the Bush campaign hasn't even gotten warmed up and they have already painted Kerry as a flip-flopper.

[qb]

7. He should use "access" as a lever just like Bush does

except he should make it clear that those who practice journalistic integrity and seek the truth, even if it is embarassing to the Kerry administration, will be rewarded. Those who take FAUX NEWS cheapshots will be exposed and punished.

He should use the podium to hammer on sleazy journalism every chance he gets.

[devilgrrl]

8. They'll be all over him like a cheap suit...

the nanosecond he's sworn in. He won't be able to win with the media whores and will get the Clinton treatment 24/7.

[CBHagman]

9. Oh, he'll get treated like crap.

Unless he can get key allies in the media. If he can warm them up a bit, he'll do well, but I'm not optimistic about that. The press was BRUTAL to Clinton and Gore, though Clinton did manage to get some help through his natural charisma. They're going to be unmerciful to anyone with half a brain or tendency to speak at a level above 12th grade.

Even this morning, T.R. Reid of the Washington Post made a snotty comment about Al Gore. What is it with the corporate media and their almost visceral hatred of both Gore and Clinton?

I am still dumbfounded that even Bush critics hasten to tell me that Bush is "likeable." My guess is that because Bush favors those in the upper income brackets, the corporations are going to be his personal prostitutes for the foreseeable future.

My prayer every day is that the nation will finally catch on to just what George W. Bush is. It's not pretty, and people need to wake up to it.