The oldest trick in the book
By Libby
Digby has already put McCain's apology for his front man at a recent rally into the proper context but I would add this. Yes, it's good that McCain denounced the idiot hatejock but let's not get all starry eyed over it. I mean the guy is a radio personality and surely that's not the first time he's made such remarks. I assume he makes a living from exactly this sort of slander. If McCain didn't expect him to come out and do his schtick, he certainly should have.
It's a classic trial lawyer trick to insert inadmissible content into the narrative. Ask a question that's clearly out of bounds. The judge upholds opposing counsel's objection and instructs the jury to ignore what has just been said in their deliberations. But it's like asking someone not to think of the word hippopotamus. The mere suggestion allows you to think of nothing else.
I have to say, it was a pretty good tactical move. Let the surrgogate look like the bad guy and then take the high road with a heartfelt -- tut tut, we don't countenance name calling in this campaign. But give me a break. As Digby illustrates, Johnny hasn't exactly taken the high road on this sort of smear in the past.
[cross-posted to The Reaction]
Digby has already put McCain's apology for his front man at a recent rally into the proper context but I would add this. Yes, it's good that McCain denounced the idiot hatejock but let's not get all starry eyed over it. I mean the guy is a radio personality and surely that's not the first time he's made such remarks. I assume he makes a living from exactly this sort of slander. If McCain didn't expect him to come out and do his schtick, he certainly should have.
It's a classic trial lawyer trick to insert inadmissible content into the narrative. Ask a question that's clearly out of bounds. The judge upholds opposing counsel's objection and instructs the jury to ignore what has just been said in their deliberations. But it's like asking someone not to think of the word hippopotamus. The mere suggestion allows you to think of nothing else.
I have to say, it was a pretty good tactical move. Let the surrgogate look like the bad guy and then take the high road with a heartfelt -- tut tut, we don't countenance name calling in this campaign. But give me a break. As Digby illustrates, Johnny hasn't exactly taken the high road on this sort of smear in the past.
[cross-posted to The Reaction]
Labels: Election 08, Hatemongers, Media, Republicans, spin
posted by Libby Spencer at 10:25 AM
3 Comments:
It's all so boring and predictable. The Times writes about him being overly influenced by a lobbyist and the party of perpetual slander screams "smear."
Then Johnny makes a public display of denouncing one of his own as though to take the high road while slogging on through the slimy swamp. Then who can blame him if he has to deal with terrible people by using their tactics?
Hopefully there are enough people of some intelligence left in this country to see through this juvenile display. All this says to me is that their campaigns lack real substance so they fall back on some tired old trick to put up a smoke screen to hide behind. Pitiful!
Obviously, the negative politics has reached its expiration date with Dems. The question will be whether the GOP is also reaching an end point. They got nothing without hate politics and for the core 20% fringe, maybe it's only 17% now, that kind of shit is their favorite breakfast.
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