Referendum on Obama, my ass

[ProSense]

Referendum on Obama, my ass

by RKA
Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 06:04:36 PM PDT

I generally like Chuck Todd, but just now on Countdown he was repeating to Rachel Maddow the narrative that everyone in the media and the right seem to agree on: that this election is a referendum on Barack Obama.

What makes me so mad is that this is just the narrative-builders' way of covering up all of John McCain's weaknesses. After all, if the election is a referendum on Obama, then the media doesn't need to cover John McCain's flip flops, his 95% mimicing of Bush, his inability to keep Iraq and Iran straight, his colorful personal life, his financial corruption, etc as they would for similar issues with Obama.

Basically, the corporate media is fashioning a "referendum on Obama" narrative which allows them to maintain a double standard of exaggerating Obama's problems while hushing up McCain's.

This is not journalism. It's pro-GOP corporate media propoganda.

One might think that the election might be a referendum on gas prices.

Or a referendum on health care.

Or a referendum on the economy.

Or a referendum on the war.

Or a referendum on Republican policies.

You know, the stuff that actually matters to voters and not the elitist corporate media.

But the media want to make it all about Obama.

I think I know why they are repeating this meta-meme so much now. It's the summertime. A lot of people are not paying attention now. So the media is taking the opportunity to lay a contrived narrative groundwork in anticipation for the personal assault they plan on Obama this fall after Labor day in collusion with the right wing attack machine.

Since the election will "be all about Obama," according to the narrative-manufacturers, they will be able to justify in their cynical minds making news cycle after news cycle in the fall devoted to distorting Obama's positions and attacking him personally. It will be vicious.

Meanwhile, John McCain will gets lots and lots of passes. Because if this election is a referendum on Obama, they will so conveniently reason, then that means that John McCain is the default and so he doesn't have to do anything other than make BBQ and dish up ironic jokes on the lapdog express in order to get a pass on everything he does.

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[Kdillard]

1. K and R

[eleny]

2. That ticked me off royally

As if it's not a referendum on Bush. Bull.

[Big Blue Marble]

3. Todd is wrong.

This election is a referendum on the last 7.5 years of the bungled Bush Administration, the Iraq war, our
economy, energy policy, and where this country goes from here.

How interesting to change the subject and attempt to make the election about Obama.
Over 80% of citizens of this country think it is going to hell in a hand basket and we are supposed
to believe this will about Obama? How convenient. Let us how the American voters are really paying attention
this time.

[babylonsister]

4. The money quote: It's pro-GOP corporate media propoganda. That's

all that needs to be said.

[bridgit]

5. There's a couple things happening here it would seem, firstly...

McCain is not getting a free pass, not really. Kristol was all but trying to soothsay Mike Murphy to his rescue today. McCain is not cutting it...poor John and republicans know it, and secondly...

'the media' didn't *just now make it happen* that it is all about Obama. That was the way it was all along, all through the primary season. I would think politicians of all people, and/or their campaign folks, would be careful in what they ask for,

Let's move past some dis-info about referendums for a moment. You want scrutiny for your candidate? You just might get it :( It is therefore quite important, if one still retains their perspective; to support even what seems like Obama's evolving stances on a range of issues. My belief is that it will all come out in the wash. He's here. He isn't going to quit. He's doing it. Doing what well-less than a handful of Dems are willing or able to do.

The Media (and i'd really like a little jerk-off emoticon at this point)...

I'm more convinced they not so much give McCain passes on stuff; as they know how goofy what he says sounds to the ear. Nobody's buying it and I mean nobody, cept his donor base which is slight, and nutty!

He's a smart guy, knows his numbers; but I'm not big into Todd. And Rachel, while I like what she's doing; is along for the M$M ride :):(

McCain will not be president. The presidency is Barack Obama's regardless of the so-celled 4th state's intervention.

[grantcart]

6. Unfortunately Todd is correct and here is why

If you look beyond the poll numbers there is a very very clear image that is crystallizing behind the simple for whom question.

That is that McCain has completely lost his brand image of being Maverick and there is little enthusiasm for his campaign. He has high negatives and in Arizona Obama scores with higher high positives than McCain does in their own state.

Everyone in the country knows that Obama is smarter and a better leader than McCain.

It all comes down to a single question - to the people in the middle - do you feel comfortable with Senator Obama and the change he is talking about.

Senator Obama has already won the arguments that you want and the country isn't even listening to the Republicans anymore. They will try and scare people and make them uncomfortable and the Obama campaign will try and get people to relax and see him in more intimate terms. That is why they went to showing the family in a natural setting and why they are going for smaller family type stuff like in Montana. Expect a lot of that kind of thing between now and the Convention.

The reason that it is becoming a referendum on Obama is a victory of sorts, the ideas he represents have won the intellectual part of the electorate and if they can connect with Obama in an emotional feel good sense then Obama will not just win, but win by a landslide. If not then it will be a very close election.

[RNdaSilva]

7. Agree...

[MarjorieG]

8. The question becomes if they allow the truth to shine though to result in that comfort.

So preventing that comfort is what it's about.

[ProSense]

10. No, he's not correct.

Obama is a Senator. He isn't controlling policy. Claiming this:

It all comes down to a single question - to the people in the middle - do you feel comfortable with Senator Obama and the change he is talking about.

This is the same as saying: Do you see a difference between Obama and Bush?

That's complete BS. Change is any friggin Democrat vs any friggin Republican.

It was Gore vs. Bush, Kerry vs. Bush.

This election is a referendum on McBush. Do you want more of the same or not?

The media keeps selling this bullshit about independents and moderates as if these are crazy people. Kerry won that group, albeit by a small margin.

What was the MSM doing in 2004? They were creating distortion after distortion to cover for the GOP's BS terror alerts, Swift Liars, etc.

When the news organizations sell BS, and people who should know better help to advance it, BS becomes the norm.

This is bullshit.




edited typos

[uponit7771]

12. unnn, come on man...let's not start counting chickens. I agree with your narrative but it's hubris..

...that usually stabs the person in the but in the end....look at Hillary after super Tuesday.

It does seem though that EVERY reThug I've talked to or heard has given up the ghost of McSame winning.

They don't like him, we don't like him and the media doesn't get ratings from McSame stories.

[kentuck]

9. I say bullshit !

It is a referendum on George W Bush and his policies and anyone that follows those policies. That is the referendum.

[uponit7771]

11. The fact that they wont call McSame on his Bull outside of Olberman is a tell tale.

I don't trust any of them right now

[Bullet1987]

13. They know McCain isn't shit without them

So they're trying to prop him up and carry his water.

[European Socialist]

14. It is a question of which flip-flopper you prefer.

I'll hold my nose and vote Obama--he will abuse me less.

[ProSense]

15. Why are you repeating the MSM's BS?

What specifically has Obama flipped flopped on?

[European Socialist]

17. The Bigger story is how McCain was incensed at what a..

flip-flopper Mitt Romney was, when he is probably the worst of all. Be mad the M$M didn't go after McCain--not that they went after Obama.

[ProSense]

21. Oh, that's nonsense. Let's be mad that the media didn't go after

Bush, not that they went after Kerry.

Let's be mad the media didn't go after Bush, not that they went after Gore.

The media sold this war. There is nothing to admire about them.

[BklynChick]

16. the more I see of Chuck Todd, the more and more convinced I am that he a Rethug

[IndianaJones]

18. I can't wait to see the spam from you when he doesn't do anything about the Bush admin crimes. nt.

[ProSense]

20. Do you know me that well? How on earth do you know what my expectations are? n/t

[mrreowwr_kittty]

22. You mean like how Bill Clinton let Reagan/Bush the Elder get away with everything?

So that all the same players could show up in Dumbya's admin?

[Jawja]

19. This election is a referendum

on Bush and the GOP and the Corporate Media can't spin it any other way.