Sep 13
Palin’s Problem
Here’s an interesting OpEd piece on Sarah Palin, the woman selected by John McCain, the man who has consistently blasted Barack Obama’s lack of experience. I note for the record that this Op Ed writer, who seems happy to be on the media-bashing bandwagon, bases his major points about Palin on an interview conducted and broadcast in one of the mainstream media outlets, so the portion of his argument that is a sweeping generalization about the media universally embracing Palin is flawed. His other points, however, are definitely worth considering.
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September 13th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
Bob Herbert, voice of reason and impartiality, using the unbiased New York Times as an outlet for his objectivity…..
September 13th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
Regardless of the NY Times political leanings — perceived or real — this is an OP/ED piece. What part of OP/ED means “impartiality?”
September 13th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
I’m sorry, but I’ve read the article twice, and I can’t see where a “portion of his argument…is a sweeping generalization about the media universally embracing Palin.” What am I missing?
September 13th, 2008 at 9:42 pm
Well, when I see this:
How is it that so much of the mainstream media has dropped all pretense of seriousness to hop aboard the bandwagon and go along for the giddy ride?
I think that’s a pretty sweeping generalization. Particularly when he then follows up with a piece inspired by a mainstream media report on Palin.
September 14th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
Ah. Sorry, I totally missed that the first two times. In his defence, I understood it to mean ‘a large proportion’ but not necessarily ‘all’ or even ‘most.’ Still, I don’t know why he should be surprised. It’s a political campaign. Friendly reporters are granted access to the candidates more readily than unfriendly. He’s been around long enough to understand that. So from that point of view, I understand your comment.
However, I do think your particular perspective (your career) has led you to grasp onto one sentence out of the entire article, and lend it more weight than it deserves. His point was not about the mainstream media, but about Sarah Palin, and the fact that, “her problem (and now ours) is that she is not well versed on the critical matters confronting the country at one of the most crucial turning points in its history.”
September 14th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
Also, why is your spam filter capturing posts containing the word, “article?”
September 14th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
I do think your particular perspective (your career) has led you to grasp onto one sentence out of the entire article, and lend it more weight than it deserves. His point was not about the mainstream media, but about Sarah Palin, and the fact that, “her problem (and now ours) is that she is not well versed on the critical matters confronting the country at one of the most crucial turning points in its history.”
To be fair, Paul, I didn’t see that remark as the central point of the piece. I do see that the point is that she is not well-versed in critical issues, despite the fact that her running mate has constantly rammed the value of experience and being “ready to lead from Day One” down our throats prior to selecting her for the #2 spot.
But because I do work in the media, I am particularly sensitive to complaints about the media constantly failing to do its job, particularly when those complaints come in articles or reports that were inspired by specific examples of the media doing precisely that which it supposedly never does. If he’s seen it in the mainstream media, why take the swipe that the mainstream media isn’t asking the questions? Why not keep your WHOLE argument focused on the issue that IS important?
As for the spam filter, for a while I had a series of spam messages that used the words “article” and “articles.” Those words have now been removed from the spam trigger. Thanks for letting me know.
September 15th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
I do think it’s funny that both sides (Democrat and Republican) believe the media is in bed with the other.