In theory, presidential campaigns are a valuable opportunity for journalists to evaluate candidates’ positions on important issues so citizens can make an informed choice. Actual media coverage is different, of course. And it’s striking how some media voices diminish the importance of what the candidates are saying, treating it as meaningless theater that need not bear any relation to what they really think.
It’s remarkably cynical–and arguably dangerous as well. But that seems to be the approach when it comes to Republican candidate Mitt Romney. As Jim Naureckas already pointed out, there’s a tendency in the corporate media to argue that Romney’s flipflops are a strength, not a liability.
In the meantime, one should apparently be comforted by the fact that, soon enough, the “real” Romney will prevail. Here’s Washington Post columnist Richard Cohen today (1/10/12):
Conservatives fear Romney is not telling the truth about his ideological conviction. Others, such as myself, are counting on it. We will forgive him these trespasses since to want to eliminate much of the Cabinet, reject all science regarding climate change, white-out the Federal Reserve or the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, round up all undocumented immigrants, mindlessly turn education over to local authorities, end the government’s role in just about everything, and prohibit abortion, contraception and the errant midday sexual thought (pretty much the entire conservative platform right there) would severely hurt the American economy, not to mention ruining any chance of fun.
And Nicholas Kristof in the New York Times (“Waiting for Mitt the Moderate,” 1/5/12):
If we do see, as I expect we will, a reversion in the direction of the Massachusetts Romney, that’s a flip we should celebrate. Until the Republican primaries sucked him into its vortex, he was a pragmatist and policy wonk rather similar to Bill Clinton and President Obama but more conservative. (Clinton described Romney to me as having done “a very good job” in Massachusetts.) Romney was much closer to George H.W. Bush than to George W. Bush….
So, in the coming months, the most interesting political battle may be between Romney and Romney. Now, do we really want a chameleon as a nominee for president? That’s a legitimate question. But I’d much rather have a cynical chameleon than a far-right ideologue who doesn’t require contortions to appeal to Republican primary voters, who says things that Republican candidates have all been saying and, God forbid, actually means it.
These are remarkable endorsements of a fraudulent and insincere brand of politics.
Romney is an embarrassment
So, Romney lies, and purportedly would be similar to Obama once in office.
And Obama lied, and is actually similar to Romney as President.
And they both get Clinton’s stamp of approval.
Welcome to “the liberal media”‘s wet dream.
We don’t have to wait for the real Willard to emerge. He already has. He “specialized in buying distressed companies, laying off employees, cleaning up the balance sheet, selling the company, handing out bonus checks to his co-vultures (and pink slips to the workers), and pocketing millions for himself.” He’s a corporate raider. He couldn’t have cared less about those working families.
Willard also refuses to release his tax returns. Why? Where are the tax returns, Willard?
It unnerves me to no end when “progressive” talk radio hosts and guests laugh it up about the flip-flopping Romney; about his sordid work as a vulture capitalist, destroying jobs and wrecking pension programs. They really think that the media will eventually “do their job” and expose Romney, that the Obama camp is going to take Romney’s record and use the very words of his opponents to do Romney in. This will not happen, and I expect that by July, when the numbers start rolling in, the Democrats will be in full, screaming panic.
The worst thing will be when Obama’s triangulators decide that the plain old truth about Romney will offend the “independents,” and so will begin to inexplicably lay off Willard. There will be commercials aplenty about the President’s great accomplishments; meanwhile, equally there will be ads deploring the wreckage that the President is “responsible” for. The latter will be a collection of bald-faced lies, but no matter. Couple that with the Major Media insisting that what we’re hearing today is ancient history, and therefoe there’s no need to “rehash” Romney’s career as a corporate monster and serial liar. Remember when John Kerry, war hero (truth), became, in tha span of about a month, War Coward? And George Bush, draft dodger and deserter (truth), rose above it all and his record was ruled off-limits? Anybody who spends any time at all watching modern Presidential politics and the behavior of our Major Media knows these things. I hope I’m wrong: maybe things like those detailed in this and other articles at FAIR blog will stop happening, and Ed Schultz’ assertion that the media will “do their job” will magically happen. I expect things to get much worse; the Media want a close horse-race, and the truth is utterly irrelevant in these kind of things.
P.S.: Speaking of George Bush, the events surrounding his exaltation by the Right-wing elements of the Supreme Court should give even a casual observer of the current events pause. The Republicons will try to steal the election; they’re busy, right now, disenfranchising voters by the score. Lying and cheating and stealing are an essential part of their program, and if they can steal what they think is rightfully theirs, they will do it, and will thank God for it (sincerely) when they have it.
Elaine, thank you for mentioning “Willard” – if there is any lie that really shows how dishonest he is was when he told a crowd back in November that “Mitt” IS his first name. It’s not, and in fact is “Willard”. How can anyone even begin to trust someone who will be dishonest about HIS OWN NAME?
If we had an honest and free press, they should have reported this over and over again until people finally laughed Romney off the campaign trail. But that will never happen when you have companies like NBCUniversal in league with Bain. Life (corporate, that is) goes on…
The best the Republicans have to offer is someone everyone KNOWS is lying-they are just hoping he is lying the way they want him to? Why can’t we have any authenticity that is not based on bizarre readings of the Bible, interpreting Christian love to mean throwing the poor in the streets? How is it the choice has become so cynical?
Sigh. The pundits, too lazy or too timid to do any real analysis, fall back on being too clever by half.
I’ll be darn 2 shape shifters running for President. How could that happen in a country so willing to face truths?
Hi, TimN. Good post.
I hear ya, TimN!
Funniest article in a long time.Reminds me of the old saying “Im rubber your glue……”People you sound as if you are describing Obama in every word written above.Every slap fits him to a tee.Mitt is a piker in comparison.
As far as how we conservatives feel about him ……He s not perfect.Only a million times better than what is in there now.A step at a time,a step at a time as they say.He has worked with the left.And found the effort wanting.Thats good.He understands their character.But this is all so much fluff.The real match begins when it is Mitt and his Vp debating Bam and his.THEN we on the right will see what the cat has dragged in.As far as BAM we know a disaster when we see it.