Media in overdrive: Making Dean sound like Godzilla

[janekat]

All day today - on CNN and MSNBC they've been ripping Dean apart for attacking the other Dems. THIS after the last week of Dean saturation. I was thinking that they were being Dean cheerleaders but now I'm wondering if they were building him up - only to tear him down. NOW they're talking about Dean and medicare on Crossfire.

Either that or the media is trying to make it look as if the Dems are all squabbling and fighting with each other. It seems to have worked because now Bush's poll numbers are up. Pat Buchanan claims that this was because the public is getting tired of all of the Dem bickering...

I wish someone would sit these guys down (Dean, Gephardt and Kerry) and tell them to knock it off. Someone like Clinton or McAuliffe. Don't know if they'd listen to him.

[ixion]

1. obviously, it's only okay for the media and the GOP to attack Dems

Puh-leeze... :eyes:

Really... the more I think about this, the more it pisses me off. Where are these people when the GOP is attacking them for being unpatriotic? Are they not guilty of unfairly attacking Al Gore while giving Monkey Boy a pass? :wtf: :argh: :grr:

[donotpassgo]

2. Yeah...McCauliffe is the one to do it...

I don't want that douchebag 100 yards from anything related to this election.

[janekat]

4. Yeah -we have no hope - there is no Dem leader

n/t

[janekat]

3. OMG - now Begala ripping him apart

I'm stunned.

[Julien Sorel]

9. He's a divisive, vicious little rodent.

I've actually been waiting for someone to point this stuff out, because Dean has largely received a free ride on his behavior to date. It sounds like the toll just went into effect, and not one minute too early.

[pruner]

12. unfortunately for you, nobody watches Crossfire anymore

that's why it's on this time of day and not at 7 pm.

[Julien Sorel]

16. Let's hope Crossfire is just the beginning.

[salin]

22. I find it most unfortunate that you advocate

the press going after any of these candidates. Don't you get that the press will be brutal, distorting and a big block to ANY democratic candidate? And they are saving the best of the awful behavior for when one candidate emerges through the primary process.

I hate watching people cheer on cutting of their own nose.

Foolish wish.

[Julien Sorel]

26. Not in the slightest.

Dean's penchant for viciously attacking any and all Dems who get in his way is destructive and hateful. If he gets negative feedback from the media for it, it will likely stop, or else his campaign will be derailed. Of course, that would leave him without a campaign strategy. Darn. From my standpoint, that would be killing two birds with one stone.

[donotpassgo]

41. When you support a democrat, then you can flame Dean.

n/t

[thebigidea]

44. calling someone a rat isn't destructive and hateful?

at least admit the hypocracy whilst wallowing in it. it makes you look less comical.

[Hep]

61. No

I think his is a comical position no matter where he's wallowing.

He attacks anyone who gets in his way? This is just a product of all the misinformation about Dean. How much has Dean really said about Clark? How much of it is false?

[Hep]

60. from your standpoint!

Glad I'm not where YOU are! Damn!

I guess you just aren't going to vote if Dean wins the nomination. Stick it to the man!

[thebigidea]

42. let's hope this sort of new american patriotism peters out

calling Dean a rodent seems pretty catchy, why not try an ad featuring him morphing into Bin Ladin, too?

then you can appear from underneath a big american flag, yell real feisty-like about Dean's procilivities... including his penchant for HATING FREEDOM.

whaddya say?

[Closer]

58. Just wondering

Does anyone here, besides Billy himself, take billyblunter seriously?

:shrug:

[madfloridian]

64. Billy who? Must be the one on ignore.

:hi:

[thebigidea]

39. you're calling Dean a rat?

uh, which website was this again?

[pruner]

5. McAuliffe is just about the last person I'd listen to if I were them

it's been years since he's been right about anything.

[blm]

6. They always build a Dem up to tear down the other Dems

and then they'll always tear that Dem down, too, because they are slaves to their corporate media masters.

[Cush]

8. yup

[janekat]

13. I don't remember ever seeing such an obvious "execution"

n/t

[sangh0]

21. Can you say

"Dukakis"??? "Clinton"???

[salin]

24. Gore?

and any Democratic candidate who has any momentum? The silly trivial snotty discussions of Kerry's hair (wtf?) and his looking "French"... They are just getting in practice for the main event.

[sangh0]

31. I didn't include Gore

because Gore had no need to be "built up" by the media before he gained exposure. He did it on his own.

I was thinking of "dark horses" who needed media assistance to get their name out, only to see the media turn on them once they had achieved recognition.

[salin]

34. sorry... was focused on the tear down

dynamic - not the buildup to tear down. My bad.

So was that part of the McCain dynamic - some in the media really gave him some short sweet kisses in the beginning...

[sangh0]

45. I don't know

Did the media attack McCain, or was it Bush* and his minions? I certainly didn't follow the coverage down south (I'm in the NE) but ISTR the media reporting Bush*'s attacks (McCain has a black kid, McCain is emotionally unstable, gave info to the VietCong while in captivity, etc) as scandalous.

Of course, it didn't matter how it was reported OUTSIDE the state, because we couldn't vote in their primary

[salin]

47. There you go. I watched 'midwestern'

coverage - out of state. Point taken. The coverage on Michigan (both camps reporting ugly push polling) seemed to lean a bit towards McCain - but I was not IN Michigan but between Indy and St. Louis (for coverage) at the time.

[janekat]

29. They spent 15 minutes of a 30 minute show ripping apart Dean

I'm not a Dean fan - but I thought it was a bit over the top - especially after the media has spent the last month or two building him up. It's almost like they're pissed at him for disappointing them or something - very weird.

[janekat]

7. 15 minutes of ripping Dean apart....

it is "Attack Dean" day.

[JohnKleeb]

10. heh at least they mention him

The life of a Kucinich supporter :D, every small bit counts.

[Julien Sorel]

14. Dennis Kucinich?

Or David Carradine? You decide:

[JohnKleeb]

15. Seperated at birth huh

I see a bit of resemblance going. Who is Carradine?

[Julien Sorel]

19. He starred in a lot of B movies and a TV show called

'Kung Fu' that was very popular when I was a kid. He looks a lot like Kucinich to me in your pic.

[JohnKleeb]

25. oh ok

Seperated at birth stuff rocks. I got one for you too.

[ShimokitaJer]

27. If you're talking "separated at birth"...

don't forget me and Brad Pitt.

[JohnKleeb]

30. heh sure

:eyes:
Really heh.
Seriously ever since I first saw Milosevic and Gingrich I thought those two look a lot alike, in fact I think it was as early as 6th grade. Yes I knew who Newtie was.

[ShimokitaJer]

35. I'll let you judge for yourself, JohnKleeb

since I believe I'll be meeting you at the Saturday protest.

I'll be the one who looks like Brad Pitt... but with dark hair... and a bit shorter... and carrying about fifty extra pounds.

[JohnKleeb]

37. youre gonna be there neat

Yes I will be there. 50 extra pounds heh. Well do you agree about Milosevic and Gingrich?

[ShimokitaJer]

40. I'd call them brothers in spirit

and yes, there is a strong physical resemblance too.

[diplomats]

11. A few polls have Bush up

but some have him down, and some have him the same. That CBS poll that had him climbing from 51 to 54 percent only surveyed 721 people and has a margin of error of 4 percent. He's also overseas and could be getting bit of a break because of that. But that's temporary.

[janekat]

18. It's almost like this whole thing is manufactured - subliminal seduction

They say "Bushs's poll numbers are going up" - people hear it - it puts the idea in their head - then magicly - his numbers go up.

[salin]

17. This is one of my concerns about OUR constant infighting, here at DU

we add to the cacaphony, give more airing to some of the slams used by the media, just feeding the whole cycle.

It is different when we ask critical questions - and then go into dialogue with supporters. But when it turns into the ongoing "gotcha" the cycle (ask a leading question... post a slanted/biased article... then defenders call names and get vigilant in defense of said candidate, while the originator and others against the candidate hurl increasingly invective words at the supporters... ) Brush it all aside and there is shockingly little dialogue, stunningly few people who 'saw the light' (one way or the other), and almost nothing new is learned by those just seeking information. At times WE play into the cycles you are witnessing on tv. It makes me very sad.

I don't buy the 'media has selected one candidate' theories floated around here (either... chosen one who will then lose... or has chosen one who they MUST feel will be the hardest to beat and thus they are selectively attacking only that candidate.) These media whores are out to keep knocking down ANY candidate on ANY grounds - its their bloodsport. It is most disgusting when at the same time they do this, on issue after issue they extend to the president a completely free pass.

[janekat]

23. Don't agree - the media definitely "picked" Bush to win over Gore

Bush - gets pass on going AWOL. Gore - media makes up stories about how he lies about inventing the internet.

[salin]

28. In the general election without a doubt

I am refering to our own du rhetoric - where each camp asserts that the media has either a) picked a rival candidate which MUST mean that candidate will lose! or has b) selected who they think will be the hardest to beat and is intentionally knocking that person out.

What I am saying - I have seen cases for that same thing from supporters of just about every democratic candidate.

I think the media is trying to keep the candidates all off-kilter. Prevent any real momentum. Keep anyone from emerging... benefits boybush whose numbers are down.

Oh yes, the media picked W over Gore. But for a brief while the media had a little affair with McCain - his story made good copy. But once Bush was well on his way - they started pumping his stock up higher than Enron in 1990.

[Kahuna]

20. The 60 Mins. II, piece last night wasn't bad...

I wonder how much they cut out of Dean calling Clark a republican? :evilgrin:

I also liked the part when they showed the gorgeous and presidential looking Clark and saying that Deanies are concerned that Clark looks presidential.

I've seen Clark three times. I have to admit. The camera loves him. I've taken two videos. I can be looking at Clark eye on, and then when I look at him in the view finder he just lights up. I've never seen anything like it.

[thebigidea]

46. the camera loves him, it massages his face

it chews on his eyebrows and lights up the screen... burns the cable out due to sheer erotic power.

I call it the Alan Colmes Effect.

[janekat]

49. At least Clark looks good in comparison... Maybe the others will see that.

Makes him look like he's above the fray.

[annxburns]

55. The camera does (heh heh) ...

.... I never thought of Clark as that good-looking or "hot". I think it's because he looks a little like my dear departed dad. But I was sitting around with my mother and her friends (they are Clark's age) and he came on TV (walking around NH). Anyway, their comments made me blush. I don't know how big a segment of the population it is but he probably would do quite well with the retired ladies vote. I had to leave the room - I'm too young for that kind of talk.

[ShimokitaJer]

32. Maybe this means we'll FINALLY stop hearing about...

how Dean's success is due to undercover Republicans trying to make sure he's the candidate.

We all know the Dem candidate is going to be attacked, and Dean's simply the front runner. Consider this a taste of things to come for whoever eventually gets the nod.

[hedda_foil]

33. Trippi responds!

I just posted this as its own thread but it belongs here too.

www.blog.deanforamerica.com

Thursday, October 23, 2003
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Setting the Record Straight
Campaign Manager Joe Trippi issued the following statement today:

BURLINGTON--"Governor Dean's opponents have been attacking him and distorting his positions for months. I suspect this is because they would rather attack than talk about why, with a combined three-quarters of a century in Washington, D.C., they have delivered few real results. When you look at the field of candidates there is a clear contrast between a record of results and a record of rhetoric. As both a doctor and a Governor, Howard Dean's record speaks for itself. He delivered healthcare to thousands with his own hands, provided a prescription drug benefit for seniors and healthcare for children, he increased environmental protections and balanced the budget.

"We know the American people understand the difference between results and rhetoric, and when other candidates distort Governor Dean's record of results--as they have for months--we're going to set the record straight."

As you can see by the headlines below, the other campaigns made a strategic decision to attack Governor Dean after he surged ahead of them in the polls. Below are three pages of headlines on these attacks. Also, click on links to Governor Dean's ads below and see them for yourself.

New Hampshire Ad - "Iraq"


Windows Media Player

QuickTime

Iowa Ad - "Did It"


Windows Media Player

QuickTime

ATTACKS BY FELLOW DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES ON GOVERNOR DEAN

STARTING SEPTEMBER 1

Democrat hopefuls rip chief rival Dean; Kerry, Lieberman turn up heat on front-runner - AP, 9/1

Kerry slams Dean - Boston Globe, 9/1

Democratic White House Hopefuls Focus Attacks On Dean - The Bulletin's Frontrunner, 9/2

Kerry launches campaign, takes aim at Bush, Dean - Seattle Times, 9/3

Kerry Changes Stance, Takes On Dean New Campaign Tactic Highlights Differences Between Candidates - Boston Globe, 9/4

Rivals rip surging Dean - on paper; Democrats blast him in debate handouts - Dallas Morning News, 9/5

Lieberman Leads Attacks On Dean In First Debate - WSJ, 9/5

Dean's Quick Rise Makes Him Target Of His Own Party - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 9/7

Lieberman Criticizes Dean About His Remarks on Israel - NY Sun, 9/8

Taking a risk, Lieberman takes on front-running Dean - AP, 9/9

Edwards Critical of Dean Over Race Remark - AP, 9/10

Lieberman, Kerry rip Dean; Dems turn feisty in 2nd debate - Boston Globe, 9/10

Gephardt rips into Dean on health care - AP, 9/12

Presidential Candidate Congressman Gephardt Unleashed A Stinging Attack On Rival Howard Dean - FOX News, 9/12

Gephardt Attacks Dean on 2 Social Programs - NYT, 9/13

Gephardt accuses Dean of backing GOP policies - Baltimore Sun, 9/13

Gephardt criticizes Dean for past positions - Des Moines Register, 9/13

Gephardt plays hardball with front-runner Dean - Manchester Union Leader, 9/13

Gephardt Shifts Attacks to Dean - WP, 9/13

After Climbing To The Top, Dean Discovers He's A Target Rivals Set Sights On Front-Runner - Boston Globe, 9/14

In A Shift Of Strategy, Kerry Takes On Dean - Boston Globe, 9/14

Gephardt is latest to attack Dean - Chicago Tribune, 9/14

Gephardt Aims At Dean, Linking Him To Gingrich - St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 9/14

Kerry rips Bush but adds Dean hit - AP, 9/15

Gephardt Steps Up Criticism Of Dean, Says He Agreed With 'Gingrich Republicans' - Frontrunner, 9/15

Gephardt: An Attack A Day Keeps The Doctor At Bay? - Hotline, 9/15

Dean becomes a target - Newsday, 9/15

Gephardt Uses Web Site to Criticize Dean - AP, 9/16

Gephardt: Moredeanbashing.com - Hotline, 9/16

Kerry Openly Criticizes Dean's Stance On Tax Cuts For Middle Class Families - Frontrunner, 9/16

Still under attack, Dean goes easy on his rivals - AP, 9/17

Kerry Steps Up Attacks On Dean Over Trade - Frontrunner, 9/23

Kerry Attacks Rival Dean Over Protectionism - NYT, 9/23

Despite interest in Clark, Dean is still top target of other candidates - Philadelphia Inquirer, 9/25

Among the 10, Two Are Tested the Most; Newcomer Clark Avoids Serious Gaffes; Dean Withstands Sharper Challenges - WP, 9/26

10 Democratic rivals debate national woes, attack well-financed Dean and ignore newcomer Clark - Knight-Ridder, 9/26

Democrats spare Clark in his first debate and go after Dean - AP, 9/26

Democratic Candidates Focus Attacks On Dean In Primary Debate - Frontrunner, 9/26

Clark survives debate, as hopefuls target Dean; Candidates' attacks include a comparison to Gingrich - Dallas Morning News, 9/26

Debate Rivals Target Dean - Hartford Courant, 9/26

Debate: All Eyes On The General, All Attacks Aimed At Dean - Hotline, 9/26

Gephardt, Kerry attack Dean over prior views - Washington Times, 9/26

Dean Is Targeted by Rivals - LA Times, 9/26

Bush, Dean under attack in 10-way Democratic debate - Myrtle Beach Sun-News, 9/26

Fellow Dems Diss Dean As Sparks Fly In Debate - NY Post, 9/26

Attacking the Leader; Debate barbs aimed at front-runner Dean - NY Newsday, 9/26

Party unity? The candidates were united, in going after Howard Dean - Phila. Inquirer, 9/26

Dean Takes The Heat From Rivals - Baltimore Sun, 9/26

Clark Debut Doesn't Change Democrats' Focus on Dean - NY Times, 9/27

Democratic rivals target Bush -- and Dean - Salon.com, 9/27

Gephardt attacks Dean Medicare record - AP, 9/29

Democrats: Candidates Criticize Dean's Record On Medicare - American HealthLine, 9/29

Gephardt Compares Dean's Record On Medicare To Gingrich's - Frontrunner, 9/29

Gephardt: Takes His Sparring With Dean To The Sunday Shows - Hotline, 9/29

Attacks on Dean may leave voters dizzy - St. Petersburg Times, 9/29

Dean Rivals Try To Turn His Comments On Key Issues Against Him - Frontrunner, 10/2

Kerry Attacks Dean For Bush Pact - NYT, 10/2

Rivals Target Dean's Blunt Comments - WP, 10/2

Kerry Attacks Dean Over '93 Nuclear Waste Accord - Frontrunner, 10/6

Kerry maintains attacks on Dean over Medicare - DMR, 10/7

Kerry: Still Hammering Away At Dean On Medicare - Hotline, 10/7

Clark, Dean Are Targeted in Debate - LA Times, 10/10

Gephardt roasts Dean on past political moves - Myrtle Beach Sun-News, 10/12

Mutual Threat Unites 2 Rivals Opposing Dean - NYT, 10/12

Gephardt and Kerry unite against Dean - IHT, 10/13

Dean Continues To Draw Fire From Rivals At Des Moines AARP Forum - Frontrunner, 10/16

Other Candidates Again Target Dean; At Iowa Seniors Forum, He Is Chided for Views on Medicare, Bush Tax Cuts - WP, 10/16

'Divers' Dedicated to Dig Dirt on Dean - AP, 10/21

Edwards raps Dean on health plan - Manchester Union Leader, 10/21

Kerry Criticizes Dean Oversight of Vermont Egg Farm - AP, 10/22

Posted by Joe Rospars at 03:45 PM

[janekat]

51. Dean's just as much of a knucklehead as those two - he may have

started it all up in fact.

[Hep]

62. Yeah

there would have been NO negative comments had Dean not started it!

I know you're not suggesting that, but what are rou railing against? Criticism? Public criticism? Lying?

I know that I won't knowlingly lie about any other candidate, and I will concede when someone shows me up on it. And I will admit Dean's lies if anyone can convince me of it.

But if we're going to extend the definition of "attack" to include any and all criticism, then we'd have to stop perceiving attacks as bad. Then we have to issue a new dictionary and frankly, I can't afford a new dictionary.

[salin]

36. How do they get everyone to go along with this?

Seriously - coordinated ? Hard to believe that ALL are "in on it". Bandwagon effect? Reflexive activity (trained so much to go after dems in the Clinton era that it is now second nature)? Some I get (they are wingers), some I think have tried to appear unbiased for so long that they let opposite bias slip in (think: Aaron Brown), but others - witness Begala - are on the left, skewer bush, and yet go along with the big play? How do they get such great coordinated compliance?

[ShimokitaJer]

38. It's the "echo chamber" effect

There have been so many attacks on Dean that they've now reached a critical mass where people can recite many of them by heart. When it comes down to talking about him, it's far easier to simply spout the "common wisdom" than it is to think seriously. The real test will come when these same "journalists" are faced with corrections -- will they admit they were wrong or start dissembling?

[salin]

43. but if they just keep recycling superficial echo chamber 'wisdom'

(good point, btw), when will anyone confront them with refutations/corrections? That would only happen if we force it to happen.

I think - combining Sangha's and Janekat's comments (the buildup to tear down) is concerted - externally perhaps - but by those who know how to get that 'conventional wisdom' and buzz going within the beltway media gliteratti.

Then the dynamic you refer to gets kicked into high gear. And they sit around almost in gossipy tones and recycle what has been orchestrated - wittingly and for some unwittingly.

[sangh0]

48. I think you're on the right track

There's a lot of the bandwagon effect, as well as the lazy factor, which Franken discusses in his book. Another critical factor, IMO, is the willingness of the RNC pundit/shills to act in a coordinated manner. They represent a critical mass of opinion and the rest of the media is forced to respond to their chatter based on the premise of "if so many people are talking about this, it must be worth reporting, even if they are dummies". Sort of a "If there's smoke, there's fire" thing.

[salin]

65. Bingo

and the effort to coordinate what that 'critical mass' (well the 'mass' part is correct) - I am sure is either RNC or WH coordinated (probably Rove to RNC (less dirty) to the targetted shills).

[janekat]

54. Remember Tucker Carlson's statement yesterday - he apparently knew

something.... He said something like that Dean would be finished. Novak just said today to one of Dean's guys "Let's just face it - your guys in free-fall isn't he?" THIS when Dean has only gone down about 2 points or something as in first place in a lot of states.

[ShimokitaJer]

57. Well, if Tucker Carlson said he was finished...

I guess Dean has nothing to worry about. At least he didn't promise to eat his tie this time.

[janekat]

59. Tucker knew yesterday that today everyone was going to "attack Dean"

So did Dean apparently because he put out negative ads. I was trying to figure out why he was doing it - because you don't usually do that when you're in the lead. Dean apparently got a "heads up."

[salin]

66. good catch

very slimey and telling indeed.

[janekat]

56. I think they've all turned on him all of a sudden - I think Dean might

have "gone over the top" in some of his rhetoric this week.

[Isome]

50. MSNBC showed a Dean ad...

It was described as the "attack" ad against other Democratic candidates. I listened and didn't hear an "attack". Is it just me?

BTW, Dean isn't my candidate so I have no bias in that regard. Also, I'm willing to bet dollars to doughnuts that John & Jane Q. Public don't witness any infighting(via ads, candidates' press releases, conferences, etc ) among the Democrats, but they clearly hear the repeated references to it by mainstream media.

[killbotfactory]

53. It's not you, they just redefined what an attack ad was.

Responding to attacks = attack!
Defending your record = attack!
Self-promotion = attack!

[killbotfactory]

52. It's nonsense. Dean is MechaGodzilla

And they're portraying the dems as bickering because the dems are bickering. That's what happens in primaries, but I guess the extent of the media's knowledge only poceeds 3 years back at any one point in time.

[quaker bill]

63. Dean just gets stronger when attacked

He is running as an outside the beltway insurgent. The fact that the insiders and their pundits don't like him builds on this image and gets his name out there.

Dean wishes to be the center of attention, this is not a problem for his campaign.