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Cha Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-29-10 04:23 PM
Original message
"WITHOUT PRECEDENT -- EXCEPT FOR ALL THE OTHER TIMES "
"..Obama's plans, in other words, are generating some criticism, but there's really not much new here. The president's Memorial Day schedule is a "story," despite being fairly routine.

Which, as it turns out, one of the defining trends of the political discourse over the last 16 months. Several months ago, Atrios noted, "When Dems are president, perfectly normally ways of doing things are rebranded as somehow odd."

Ain't that the truth.

* Teleprompters: This trend of characterizing routine developments as controversial started very early in the Obama presidency. Every modern president has used teleprompters, but Republicans and the media thought it was hilarious and wildly important when Obama did the same thing.

* Bowing: Several presidents have been photographed bowing to foreign heads of state, but Republicans and the media thought it was absolutely scandalous when Obama did the same thing when meeting leaders where bowing is customary.

* Talking to school kids: Presidents Reagan and H.W. Bush spoke to school children in national addresses, even taking a little time to push their political agendas. When Obama delivered a speech encouraging kids to do well in school, Republicans freaked out; Fox News compared the president to Saddam Hussein; and the New York Times literally ran a front-page story about it.

* Czars: For a half-century, presidents have relied on so-called "czars" for various policy areas. By one count, George W. Bush had 36 czar positions filled by 46 people during his two terms. No one cared. Obama's use of czars became the subject of months of media scrutiny, and even congressional hearings in response to Republican apoplexy.

* Oval Office attire: Several modern presidents have been seen in the Oval Office without wearing a suit jacket. When Obama did it, Republicans ran to the press to complain, and the media actually published pieces on the subject.

* Criticizing partisan media: White House complaints about unfair media coverage are as old as the republic. When the Obama White House noted what is plainly true about Fox News -- it's a Republican outlet -- the media went a little berserk, with the Washington Post and NPR characterizing the administration's criticism as "Nixonian."

* Reconciliation: Republican policymakers have relied on reconciliation to get around filibusters for decades. When Obama recommended the same tactic for health care, the GOP pretended it was an outrageous assault on the political process, and the media pretended Republicans' cries were legitimate.

* Industry bailouts: Government bailouts of struggling American industries and major companies have been common for decades. When Obama rescued GM, it was used as an example of his purported desire to a communist dictator.

* Campaign intervention: Every president has had a hand in campaign activities, with several presidents offering jobs to candidates to get them out of various races. When the Obama White House intervened in Pennsylvania's Democratic Senate primary -- offering a House member an unpaid advisory gig -- the media found it fascinating and Republicans called for the FBI and a special prosecutor to intervene.

* Memorial Day: Many presidents have not appeared at Arlington on Memorial Day. When Obama does it, there's a "controversy."

I'm all in favor of holding presidents to high standards. They have enormous power and leadership responsibilities, and it stands to reason that much will be expected of them. I enthusiastically endorse demanding the most of our leaders.

But for a year and a half, the political world seems to have created whole new rules for Obama, which aren't applied to others -- and haven't even been applied to other presidents.

This week's flaps over Sestak and Memorial Day plans only reinforce how truly ridiculous the phenomenon has become."

—Steve Benen 11:00 AM Permalink | Trackbacks | Comments (33)
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_05/024030.php#more

All right here in black and white..mediawhoredom on parade.

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madamesilverspurs Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-29-10 04:50 PM
Response to Original message
1. And this is getting sent to everyone on my list.
Even my fundie brother. Heh.


-
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Cha Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-29-10 04:58 PM
Response to Reply #1
2. Good! Steve Benen is tireless in gathering
historical facts.
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azmouse Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-29-10 07:12 PM
Response to Original message
3. The Republicans have been busy little a**holes, haven't they?
Now if they would only focus that energy for the good of the country instead using it for evil.
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HughMoran Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-29-10 08:03 PM
Response to Original message
4. That says it all
Perhaps it's because the Republican Party is dominated by insecure white men who act childishly when they lose, whereas the Democratic Party is diverse and has a large female majority who tend to be less violent/childish - using intellect and facts versus infantile hate speech.
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Cha Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-30-10 10:58 AM
Response to Reply #4
7. We do know the gNOp is dominated by
the exact description you gave and from where I stand..it's not only the men.

The men in the Democratic party also tend to use intellect with reality being their base as opposed to living life seen through the prism of a vicious fantasy life.

The corporatemediawhores are at the crux of any breakdown in United States of America.
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treestar Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-29-10 10:48 PM
Response to Original message
5. That's a good list
Of all the mini-crisis the media has drummed up.
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Arkana Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-30-10 10:10 AM
Response to Original message
6. It's that whole "Presidentin' while black" thing.
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Cha Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-30-10 10:59 AM
Response to Reply #6
8. Yeah, that's extra special to them but
they were all about bringing Clinton down too.
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goclark Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jun-05-10 01:43 PM
Response to Reply #8
14. Clinton and Carter were treated the same way
24/7

Recall them calling Carter's Brother and family members "Trailer Trash." They talked about his Mother and his children, same with Clinton. The things they would say about Chelsea were truly trash! :puke:

They talked about Carter and Clinton as being "Southern" and country bumpkins all the time. Of course we knew them to be highly intelligent.

Funny how they didn't/still don't talk about Colin Power, Condi or Clarence. They even back off of Mike Steele. They never really talked about Condi being GW's girlfriend ~ well there were a few stories in the Rags but nothing major.

Now if President Obama took a woman ~ White or Black, to a Baseball Game when his wife was out of town, that would be front page news for months.

Color didn't seem to matter to them then and now with those African Americans.

What disappoints me is that some Democrats buy into the "They just say that stuff because he is Black."

That is just what the Rethugs want White Americans to do ~ that way they can get them to be afraid of him as a leader ~ their motive is to get other White Americans to vote Republican. Tbey would be delighted if Condi ran for President, they would campaign for her night and day.

And here we have a BLACK Man on the Supreme Court that is married to a WHITE Tea bagger and they don't care one inch.

It's not about BLACK or WHITE, it's about POWER.



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Cha Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jun-05-10 06:14 PM
Response to Reply #14
15. There's definetly psych OPs going on with
the corporatemediawhores..they're so obvious. I feel bad for those who get sucked in by them and regurgitate what they hear as "gospel".

I feel sorry for them but I also think they're part of the problem.
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treestar Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-31-10 07:15 PM
Response to Reply #6
10. Yep
Black Executive Syndrome.
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Cha Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-30-10 07:50 PM
Response to Original message
9. I'm keeping this one
kicked too.
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activa8tr Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jun-02-10 05:22 PM
Response to Original message
11. GREAT POINTS!!!!!!!!!!!! n/t
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Cha Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jun-02-10 06:01 PM
Response to Reply #11
12. OT..
I like your comment in your profile.:)
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goclark Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jun-05-10 09:05 PM
Response to Reply #11
16. Excellent points
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Cha Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jun-03-10 01:46 PM
Response to Original message
13. Kick for Romanoff..
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Lindsey Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jun-06-10 07:52 PM
Response to Reply #13
17. Good post. Thanks n/t
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