TalkLeft has some interesting criticisms about how Barack Obama is handling the press. Obama hasn’t held a press conference in 10 days, has limited his appearance to friendly outlets like The Daily Show, and snapped at a reporter who gave him a foreign-policy question at a Pennsylvania diner.
Senator Obama has never run a truly competitive campaign in his life, and while Hillary Clinton is hardly a model of transparency, John McCain certainly is. Even though the press is on Obama’s side, he can’t expect to dodge them forever—especially if he wins the nomination and has to face up against someone who knows how to work the press corps.
Democrats are taking a risk on a candidate who is likable, but untested. It’s their choice to make, but the kneejerk defenses of Obama aren’t exactly the way a party should vet a candidate for national office.
“Senator Obama has never run a truly competitive campaign in his life, and while Hillary Clinton is hardly a model of transparency, John McCain certainly is.”
It’s easy to be a “model of transparency” when the media’s giving you a free ride on your unethical past as they are with McCain. The true test will come if and when McCain is put on the hot seat about his criminal ties to the Keating Five and giving his loving ex-wife the heave-ho, Gingrich-style, in favor of a hot young beer heiress the first time she fluttered her eyelashes at “Mr. Integrity”. Will McCain be able to take it in stride, or will we see some of that famous McCain temper when the press quits rubbing his thighs in adulation? Only time will tell…
I think “Keating Five†is a pretty low level issue. You may recall that the Senate Ethics Committee concluded that McCain’s involvement was minimal and criticized hin for “questionable conduct.” Also, I might keep in mind that Robert Bennett, the special investigator for the Ethics Committee at the time said that there was “no evidence†against McCain and suggested that the Committee not pursue charges against McCain.
Bennett said that the Committee pursued charges against McCain because, without him, the case would have been entirely against Democrats.
I can see why McCain might get pissed at somebody bringing this smear up again after 17 years.
I would hardly call the New York Times widely criticized hit piece of Februry 21, 2008 giving a free ride.
Bob