MSNBC on the Media: Gunning for Hillary, Worshiping Obama

Posted by D. Cupples (photo from Senate.gov ) |  MSNBC's Dan Abrams commented on the frenzy surrounding Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, suggesting that the media is shaping public opinion:

"It's starting to feel as if many in the inside Washington media are spreading the fever, prematurely delivering Clinton's eulogy.  Despite impressive rallies in New Hampshire, they're suddenly savoring Obama's every word... possibly creating a self-fulfilling prophecy.... This is about a candidate who nationally, at worst, is running even with Obama.... It sure feels like a close game being called in the third inning...."

Abrams' guest Pat Buchanan -- certainly no fan of Hillary Clinton -- seems to agree (video on next page):

Buchanan commented:

"The Media are always at your feet or at your throat.... There's a pile on....  You're seeing all these people rushing and canonizing Barack Obama... but then they'll turn around and rip him up too....

"All of a sudden, Barack Obama does exceedingly well in Iowa.... And Hillary is yesterday, and the Clintons are finished.  That's the story in their [reporters'] minds.  And so you run around looking for evidence to prove the point, and you can find it.  You can just pick out items to fill in the preconceived story.  And that's what's going on."

Rachel Maddow of Air America Radio isn't a Hillary Clinton fan, either, but feels like defending Clinton if only because she's up against a "scrum," against massive media onslaughts, Maddow told Abrams. 

Huffington Post editor Roy Sekoff sees Hillary's current reversal of fortune as stemming from problems with Hillary, not media influence. He thinks Abrams gives the media too much credit.

It's an interesting debate: the video below is about 10 minutes and worth watching.

Another strange phenomenon: even hyper-right wingers have praise for Obama, including Rush Limbaugh and Joe Scarborough. (Washington Post)  I suspect that if Obama wins the primary, those same people will turn on him like sharks on a wounded surfer.  Or, as Pat Buchanan said, "they'll turn around and rip him up too."

Memeorandum has other bloggers' commentary.

Related BN-Politics Post:

* Election Coverage: Beware of Coll-Sounding Soundbite

* Achenbach on Iowa and New Hampshire; Polls Still Conflict
 

Comments

[Victory Peterson]

I used to despise you and now I find myself shocked, SHOCKED, to recognize that you are one of the few sane and sensible people left in the field of political commentary. Keep up the rational commentary on MSNBC. I think those other talking heads are uninformed and misusing their status as 'news purveyors' to promote Barack Obama. I'm just about finished watching any of it.

[D. Cupples]

Victory,

I detect irony, but I'm not quite sure what you're saying.