John McCain and the Swifties...

[Junkdrawer]

OK. I'm trying to understand exactly how the Swifties came to dominate the election news. If I have time, I may put together a chronology. But my preliminary searches show that the Swifties first effort, a cease-and-desist demand on June 2nd that Kerry not use certain Swift Boat group photos, made a resounding thud. Drudge, Limbaugh and a little CNN.

Then the group put together their first media buy and their 'ad' comes out August 5th. We'll never know, but my guess is that that may have bombed too, except for one thing:

John McCain denounced it and called on Bush to denounce it. Suddenly it's news. Columnists left right and center weigh in. John O'Neill appears everywhere. Within two weeks we get to Swift Boat Weekend when NOTHING ELSE MAKES THE POLITICAL NEWS.

Now, I'm not saying that John McCain necessarily did this on purpose. Someone put a microphone in front of his face and he weighed in. What I AM saying is that a little strategic loss can, with the media's help, take a small story and turn it into monster.

[A_Possum]

1. No, I don't think McCain's comment did it

The ad and the book did it. The talkshows were already scheduled with smearvets before McCain spoke, I'm sure.

Any publisher knows how to do that kind of book/ad media blitz.

[Junkdrawer]

3. Lots of books have come out. MoveOn buys huge chunks of time...

But you get a "controversy" when the big names weigh in.

[expatriot]

2. they were buying ads on TV, america was seeing it... thus its news.

the ad-buy made it news.

[Leilani]

4. John McCain s defense of Kerry was the only voice

heard for a while, until Kerry camp geared up to fight back.

The smears, lies, distortions, etc were broadcast FAR & WIDE, with not much balance, except, McCain said: {These same people did this to me in SC. Prez Bush should denounce this group & ads.)

Every press story mentioned the McCain statement. Many people here may not like him, but he told the TRUTH, & DEFENDED his friend.

[Junkdrawer]

6. Re: Far and Wide. Where and when?

CNN's first story was the June 2nd story. Their next two were August 5th: One story on the ad buy and one on McCain.

Look: I'm just trying to reconstruct events. Usually my first observations are wrong, but preliminary searches point to McCain's denial as a big factor in the trajectory of the story.

[Leilani]

9. I am talking about the echo chamber

of talk radio & 24 hr cable. I am not talking networks, mainstrean newspapers.

It was being repeated & spread...building on the internet, also.

And since the book was written & due to come out, & the 1st ad had been done & was about to appear, the story just grew, & the talking heads helped the process along.

This was a well thought out, planned attack on Kerry, by Bush supporters, & linked to Karl Rove. It was unveiled as planned.

But Kerry is fighting back, which they may not have counted on.

[blm]

5. The right bulk-ordered the book which gave it best seller status.

THAT was the story and so the right was able to push the vets onto ALL the shows they wanted.

It was CORPORATE CABLE, the George Bush cheerleaders, who made sure this story got play.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

7. Kerry's reprimand quickly followed McCain's

once McCain weighed in, Kerry had to follow.
I would like to see a timeline.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

8. Nope, McCain didn't propel these guys into the spotlight. Since Rove

had manufactured this "controversy" with the appearance of the first ad, cable news had already determined that they were going to book these guys and give them a hearing. When these guys were on TV news it was not McCain's denunciation that they were asked about. They were asked about their "charges" but not seriously asked to put up proof or blow town. The media should have given them a "hearing" the way Matthews did to Thurlow on his phone interview, and then no more.

Some of this (calling Swifties out on their lack of evidence) is apparently starting to happen, very late. I think some of the media types are starting to be very embarrassed to be exposed for the lazy shrubco whores that they are, by people like Tom Oliphant and Jon Stewart (TDS made essentially the same point as Oliphant but in a hilarious way).

[David Zephyr]

10. CNN Made Played This "Story" Just As Karl Rove Wished.

"the story that won't go away" --- Wolf Blitzer.