Time Klein Indicts Mainstream Media

Joe Klein of Time Magazine, who was not a Weatherman but is a weathervane of liberal Democratic opinion, blasts the irresponsibility of the mainstream media!

Discussing what the Pennsylvania primary did to Obama, “who entered the primary as a fresh breeze and left it stale, battered and embittered,” Klein writes:

In the course of six weeks, the American people learned that he was a member of a church whose pastor gave angry, anti-American sermons, that he was “friendly” with an American terrorist who had bombed buildings during the Vietnam era, and that he seemed to look on the ceremonies of working-class life — bowling, hunting, churchgoing and the fervent consumption of greasy food — as his anthropologist mother might have, with a mixture of cool detachment and utter bemusement. All of which deepened the skepticism that Caucasians, especially those without a college degree, had about a young, inexperienced African-American guy with an Islamic-sounding name and a highfalutin fluency with language. And worse, it raised questions among the elders of the party about Obama’s ability to hold on to crucial Rust Belt bastions like Pennsylvania, Michigan and New Jersey in the general election — and to add long-suffering Ohio to the Democratic column.

Since all of that “new” information was old, had long been available to anyone who would look at it, the fact that it lay in plain sight but unseen by our guardian watchdogs in the mainstream media is a clear and telling indictment of the press’s irresponsibility.

Now, it’s true that Klein himself doesn’t see that he’s indicting himself and his colleagues, but that’s nothing new. He doesn’t see many things, such as the relevance of “so-called character issues” in a presidential campaign. No matter that Klein would no doubt say (actually, he did say) that none of this “new” information speaks to character and judgment, that it is merely “sludge,” “caricature,” “scurrilous trash.” He either doesn’t see or doesn’t attach any significance to Obama’s elitist attribution of xenophobia, racism, etc., to the bitter clinging of the angry rubes, at least in part because he shares it. Re-read the following:

[All the sludgy trash slung by ABC] deepened the skepticism that Caucasians, especially those without a college degree, had about a young, inexperienced African-American guy with an Islamic-sounding name and a highfalutin fluency with language.

Well, sure. Only poor, dumb whites would entertain any reservations about Obama.

Say What? (6)

  1. mj April 24, 2008 at 9:48 am | | Reply

    “a young, inexperienced African-American guy with an Islamic-sounding name and a highfalutin fluency with language.”

    Pretty funny. Isn’t this exactly what started Obama’s trouble? Assuming that people really act as lefties wish they did?

    Maybe they question him because he has no record of accomplishment they support, and that the actions of his entire professional career contradict his brand position as a post-racial candidate? No that can’t be. According to leftist mantra non-leftists are too stupid to have those thoughts. It must be because his middle name is Hussein.

  2. CaptDMO April 24, 2008 at 10:00 am | | Reply

    Obama, “who entered the primary as a fresh breeze and left it stale, battered and embittered,”

    Really? I guess Mr. Klein didn’t see Mr. Obama’s conciliatory parting words to his supporters before he simply picked up and moved on to the next venue.

    Is the ‘ol standby of misogyny and racism all Mr. Klein has left to assure a per word paycheck from his boss?

  3. revisionist April 24, 2008 at 10:21 am | | Reply

    The real problem with Obama is his connection to today’s radicals, not just yesterdays. Bill Ayers is a “Distinguished” Professor of Education, and he and his ilk are partly to blame for the disastrous academic performance of Latino and Black students, leading to the constant demands for AA that Obama supports.

    The real questions the MSM won’t ask of Obama — do you support the “Social Justice” movement in teaching as promoted by Ayers? Do you share Ayers hatred of capitalism? Would you appoint people with Ayers’ philosophy to positions in the Dept. of Education?

    See Sol Stern’s devastating analysis of Ayers’ “work” as an Education Professor in the latest City Journal.

    http://www.city-journal.com/2008/eon0423ss.html

  4. Shouting Thomas April 24, 2008 at 10:23 am | | Reply

    Vote for us or you are a redneck, racist, sexist, xenophobic son-of-a-bitch!

    This is a great sales pitch! This will certainly convince me to vote Democratic.

  5. vnjagvet April 24, 2008 at 11:36 pm | | Reply

    sarc> Just like it convinced 55% of the Democrats in Pennsylvania, shouting Tom. And 60% + everywhere but State College, Harrisburg and Philadelphia/sarc>

    That message will not sell with ethnic European American Catholics anywhere in the country, either.

    I suspect guys like Tim Russert’s Dad would not be impressed by that logic.

  6. GW April 25, 2008 at 5:37 pm | | Reply

    Great post. Linked.

Say What?